Clement Against Bishop Hyginos?

[Secret Alias]

For [they allege] that the truth was not delivered by means of written documents, but viva voce: wherefore also Paul declared, "But we speak wisdom among those that are perfect, but not the wisdom of this world." And this wisdom each one of them alleges to be the fiction of his own inventing, forsooth; so that, according to their idea, the truth properly resides at one time in Valentinus, at another in Marcion, at another in Cerinthus, then afterwards in Basilides, or has even been indifferently in any other opponent, who could speak nothing pertaining to salvation. For every one of these men, being altogether of a perverse disposition, depraving the system of truth, is not ashamed to preach himself. [Irenaeus 3.3.1]

But since this tradition is not published alone for him who perceives the magnificence of the word; it is requisite, therefore, to hide in a mystery the wisdom spoken, which the Son of God taught. (Ἐπεὶ δὲ μὴ κοινὴ ἡ παράδοσις καὶ πάνδημος τῷ γε αἰσθομένῳ τῆς μεγαλειότητος τοῦ λόγου, ἐπικρυπτέον οὖν τὴν ἐν μυστηρίῳ λαλουμένην σοφίαν, ἣν ἐδίδαξεν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ) Now, therefore, Isaiah the prophet has his tongue purified by fire, so that he may be able to tell the vision. And we must purify not the tongue alone, but also the ears, if we attempt to be partaken of the truth.[Stromata 1.12.55.1 (p.35, l.16) BP1]

It is clear, then, that the truth has been hidden from us; and if that has been already shown by one example, we shall establish it a little after by several more ... For it is not spurious words which those inspired by God and those who are gained over by them adduce, nor is it snares in which the most of the sophists entangle the young, spending their time on nought true. But those who possess the Holy Spirit "search the deep things of God," -- that is, grasp the secret that is in the prophecies (οὐ γὰρ κιβδήλους οἱ ἔπιπνοι ἐκ θεοῦ λόγους προφέρουσιν οὐδ' οἱ παρὰ τούτων ἐμπορευόμενοι οὐδὲ μὴν πάγας, αἷς οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν σοφιστῶν τοὺς νέους ἐμπλέκουσι πρὸς οὐδὲν ἀληθὲς σχολάζοντες, ἀλλ' οἱ μὲν τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα κεκτημένοι ἐρευνῶσι τὰ βάθη τοῦ θεοῦ, τουτέστι τῆς περὶ τὰς προφητείας ἐπικρύψεως ἐπήβολοι γίνονται) [Stromata 2.2.7.3 - 4 (p.116, l.25) BP1]

"Lo, I make new things," saith the Word, "which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man." With a new eye, a new ear, a new heart, whatever can be seen and heard is to be apprehended, by the faith and understanding of the disciples of the Lord, who speak, hear, and act spiritually. (<οἱ δὲ> πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἀμφισβητοῦντες μάλα εὐλαβῶς ἄνωθεν ἐξ ἀοράτου ποθὲν ἀμύνονται, νοητὰ ἄττα καὶ ἀσώματα εἴδη βιαζόμενοι τὴν ἀληθινὴν οὐσίαν εἶναι ἰδοὺ δή, ποιῶ καινά, ὁ λόγος φησίν, ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν οὐδὲ οὖς ἤκουσεν οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη· καινῷ ὀφθαλμῷ, καινῇ ἀκοῇ, καινῇ καρδίᾳ ὅσα ὁρατὰ καὶ ἀκουστὰ <καὶ> καταληπτὰ διὰ τῆς πίστεως καὶ συνέσεως, πνευματικῶς λεγόντων, ἀκουόντων, πραττόντων τῶν τοῦ κυρίου μαθητῶν) For there is genuine coin, and other that is spurious; which no less deceives unprofessionals, that it does not the money-changers; who know through having learned how to separate and distinguish what has a false stamp from what is genuine. So the money-changer only says to the unprofessional man that the coin is counterfeit. But the reason why, only the banker's apprentice, and he that is trained to this department, learns. [Stromata 2.4.15.3 - 4](p.120, l.16) BP1]

For it is written in the Epistle to the Corinthians, "Through Jesus Christ our foolish and darkened mind springs up to the light. By Him the Sovereign Lord wished us to taste the knowledge that is immortal." And, showing more expressly the peculiar nature of knowledge, he added: "These things, then, being clear to us, looking into the depths of divine knowledge, we ought to do all things in order which the Sovereign Lord commanded us to perform at the appointed seasons. Let the wise man, then, show his wisdom not in words only, but in good deeds. Let the humble not testify to himself, but allow testimony to be borne to him by another. Let not him who is pure in the flesh boast, knowing that it is another who furnishes him with continence. Ye see, brethren, that the more we are subjected to peril, the more knowledge are we counted worthy of. (διὰ τούτου ἠθέλησεν ὁ δεσπότης τῆς ἀθανάτου γνώσεως ἡμᾶς γεύσασθαι. ῥητότερον καὶ τὸ τῆς γνώσεως ἰδίωμα ἐμφαίνων ἐπήγαγεν· προδήλων οὖν ὄντων ἡμῖν τούτων, καὶ ἐγκεκυφότες εἰς τὰ βάθη τῆς θείας γνώσεως, πάντα τάξει ποιεῖν ὀφείλομεν, ὅσα ὁ δεσπότης ἐπιτελεῖν ἐκέλευσεν, κατὰ καιροὺς τεταγμένους. ὁ σοφὸς τοίνυν ἐνδεικνύσθω τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ μὴ λόγοις μόνον, ἀλλ' ἐν ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς· ὁ ταπεινόφρων μαρτυρείτω μὴ ἑαυτῷ, ἀλλ' ἐάτω ὑφ' ἑτέρου αὑτὸν μαρτυρεῖσθαι ὁ ἁγνὸς τῇ σαρκὶ μὴ ἀλαζονευέσθω, γινώσκων ὅτι ἕτερός ἐστιν ὁ ἐπιχορηγῶν αὐτῷ τὴν ἐγκράτειαν) [Stromata 4.17.110.3 (p.296, l.28 - *) BP1]

The same work, then, presents a difference, according as it is done by fear, or accomplished by love, and is wrought by faith or by knowledge. Rightly, therefore, their rewards are different. To the Gnostic "are prepared what eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man" (τῷ μὲν γνωστικῷ ἡτοίμασται ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν οὐδὲ οὖς ἤκουσεν οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη) but the mere believer He testifies a hundredfold in return for what he has left, -- a promise which has turned out to fall within human comprehension. (τῷ δὲ ἁπλῶς πεπιστευκότι μαρτυρεῖ ἑκατονταπλασίονα ὧν ἀπολέλοιπεν, ἣν ἐπαγγελίαν εἰς σύνεσιν ἀνθρώπων πίπτειν συμβέβηκεν) [Stromata 4.18.114.1 (p.298, l.19) BP1]

The man of understanding and perspicacity is, then, a Gnostic. And his business is not abstinence from what is evil (for this is a step to the highest perfection), or the doing of good out of fear (ἔργον δὲ αὐτοῦ οὐχ ἡ ἀποχὴ τῶν κακῶν (ἐπιβάθρα γὰρ αὕτη προκοπῆς μεγίστης), οὐδὲ μὴν ποιεῖν τι ἀγαθὸν ἤτοι διὰ φόβον). For it is written, "Whither shall I flee, and where shall I hide myself from Thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I go away to the uttermost parts of the sea, there is Thy right hand; if I go down into the depths, there is Thy Spirit." Nor any more is he to do so from hope of promised recompense. For it is said, "Behold the Lord, and His reward is before His face, to give to every one according to his works; what eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, and hath not entered into the heart of man what God hath prepared for them that love Him." But only the doing of good out of love, and for the sake of its own excellence, is to be the Gnostic's choice. [Stromata 4.22.135 § 3 (p.308, l.13) BP1]

ἄντικρυς γοῦν περὶ πάσης γραφῆς τῆς καθ' ἡμᾶς ἐν τοῖς ψαλμοῖς γέγραπται ὡς ἐν παραβολῇ εἰρημένης· ἀκούσατε, λαός μου, τὸν νόμον μου, κλίνατε
τὸ οὖς ὑμῶν εἰς τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου· ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ 5.4.25.2 στόμα μου, φθέγξομαι προβλήματα ἀπ' ἀρχῆς. καὶ ὁ γενναῖος ἀπόστολος τὰ ὅμοια ὧδέ πως λέγει· σοφίαν δὲ λαλοῦμεν ἐν τοῖς τελείοις, σοφίαν δὲ οὐ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου οὐδὲ τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου τῶν καταργουμένων· ἀλλὰ λαλοῦμεν θεοῦ σοφίαν ἐν μυστηρίῳ, τὴν ἀποκεκρυμμένην, ἣν προώρισεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων εἰς δόξαν ἡμῶν· ἣν οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου ἔγνωκεν· εἰ γὰρ ἔγνωσαν, οὐκ ἂν τὸν κύριον τῆς δόξης ἐσταύρω5.4.25.3 σαν. οἱ φιλόσοφοι δὲ οὐκ ἐνηργήθησαν ἐνυβρίσαι τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ κυρίου· ἀπόκειται τοίνυν τὴν οἴησιν τῶν ἐν Ἰουδαίοις σοφῶν 5.4.25.4 ἐπιρραπίζειν τὸν ἀπόστολον· [Stromata 5.4.25 § 2 - 4(p.341, l.14) BP1]

καθαρὸς μὲν <οὖν> τὴν καρδίαν πᾶσαν, κατορθώσας δ' εὖ μάλα καὶ τὴν πολιτείαν ἐπ' ἄκρον, πέρα τοῦ ἱερέως ἐπὶ μεῖζον αὐξήσας, ἀτεχνῶς ἡγνισμένος καὶ λόγῳ καὶ βίῳ, ἐπενδυσάμενος τὸ γάνωμα τῆς δόξης, τοῦ πνευματικοῦ ἐκείνου καὶ τελείου ἀνδρὸς τὴν ἀπόρρητον κληρονομίαν ἀπολαβών, ἣν ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν καὶ οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσεν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἀνέβη, υἱὸς καὶ φίλος γενόμενος, πρόσωπον ἤδη πρὸς πρόσωπον ἐμπίπλαται τῆς ἀκορέστου θεωρίας. [Stromata 5.6.40 § 1 (p.353, l.22) BP1]

σοφίαν δὲ λαλοῦμεν ἐν τοῖς τελείοις, σοφίαν δὲ οὐ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου οὐδὲ τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου τῶν καταργουμένων· [5 .10.65 § 5 (p.370, l.5) BP1]

βεβαιῶν ταῦτα ἐν τῇ πρὸς Κορινθίους ἐπιστολῇ ὁ ἀπόστολος ἀναφανδὸν εἴρηκεν· σοφίαν δὲ λαλοῦμεν ἐν τοῖς τελείοις, σοφίαν δὲ οὐ τοῦ αἰῶνος
τούτου οὐδὲ τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου τῶν καταργουμένων· ἀλλὰ λαλοῦ5.12.80.5 μεν θεοῦ σοφίαν ἐν μυστηρίῳ, τὴν ἀποκεκρυμμένην. καὶ πάλιν ἀλλαχοῦ λέγει· [5.12.80 § 4 (p.379, l.11) BP1]

ὥσπερ δὲ ἐν τῇ βαρβάρῳ φιλοσοφίᾳ, οὕτως καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἑλληνικῇ ἐπεσπάρη τὰ ζιζάνια πρὸς τοῦ τῶν ζιζανίων οἰκείου γεωργοῦ. ὅθεν αἵ τε αἱρέσεις παρ' ἡμῖν συνανεφύησαν τῷ γονίμῳ πυρῷ οἵ τε τὴν Ἐπικούρου ἀθεότητα καὶ τὴν ἡδονὴν καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα παρὰ τὸν ὀρθὸν λόγον ἐπέσπαρται τῇ Ἑλληνικῇ φιλοσοφίᾳ κηρύσσοντες νόθοι τῆς 6.8.68.1 θεόθεν δωρηθείσης γεωργίας Ἕλλησιν ὑπάρχουσι καρποί. ταύτην σοφίαν τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου τὴν φιλήδονον καὶ φίλαυτον ὁ ἀπόστολος λέγει, ὡς ἂν τὰ τοῦ κόσμου τοῦδε καὶ τὰ περὶ αὐτὸν μόνον διδάσκουσαν ὑποκειμένην τε ἀκολούθως κατὰ προστασίαν τοῖς τῇδε ἄρχουσι· διὸ καὶ στοιχειωτική τίς ἐστιν ἡ μερικὴ αὕτη φιλοσοφία, τῆς τελείας ὄντως ἐπιστήμης ἐπέκεινα κόσμου περὶ τὰ νοητὰ καὶ ἔτι τούτων τὰ πνευματικώτερα ἀναστρεφομένης, ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν καὶ οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσεν οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνέβη ἀνθρώπων, πρὶν ἢ διασαφῆσαι τὸν περὶ τούτων λόγον ἡμῖν τὸν διδάσκαλον, ἅγια ἁγίων καὶ ἔτι τούτων κατ' ἐπανάβασιν τὰ ἁγιώτερα ἀποκαλύψαντος τοῖς 6.8.68.2 γνησίως καὶ μὴ νόθως τῆς κυριακῆς υἱοθεσίας κληρονόμοις [6.8.68 § 1 (p.465, l.31) BP1]

καὶ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν, φησίν, ἐκλεκτότεροι οἱ κατὰ τὴν τελείαν γνῶσιν καὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας αὐτῆς ἀπηνθισμένοι καὶ τῇ μεγαλοπρεπεστάτῃ δόξῃ τετιμημένοι, κριταί τε καὶ διοικηταί, ἐπ' ἴσης ἔκ τε Ἰουδαίων ἔκ τε Ἑλλήνων, οἱ τέσσαρες καὶ εἴκοσι, διπλασιασθείσης τῆς χάριτος· ἐπεὶ καὶ αἱ ἐνταῦθα κατὰ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν προκοπαὶ ἐπισκόπων, πρεσβυτέρων, διακόνων μιμήματα, οἶμαι, ἀγγελικῆς δόξης κἀκείνης τῆς οἰκονομίας τυγχάνουσιν, ἣν ἀναμένειν φασὶν αἱ γραφαὶ τοὺς κατ' ἴχνος τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐν τελειώσει δικαιοσύνης κατὰ τὸ 6.13.107.3 εὐαγγέλιον βεβιωκότας. [6.13.107 § 2 (p.485, l.30) BP1]