Excerpts from Theodotus 74.2
Summary: The new star at Christ's birth abolished the old order of the stars; Christ moves believers from Fate to his providence.
Greek text · Stählin 3:130
»εἰρήνη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις.« διὰ τοῦτο ἀνέτειλεν ξένος ἀστὴρ καὶ καινὸς καταλύων τὴν παλαιὰν ἀστροθεσίαν, καινῷ φωτί, οὐ κοσμικῷ λαμπόμενος, ὁ καινὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ σωτηρίους τρεπόμενος, ὡς αὐτὸς ὁ κύριος ἀνθρώπων ὁδηγὸς ὁ κατελθὼν εἰς γῆν, ἵνα μεταθῇ τοὺς εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν πιστεύσαντας ἀπὸ τῆς Εἱμαρμένης εἰς τὴν ἐκείνου πρόνοιαν.
English · Claude translation
“Peace on earth and glory in the highest.” That is why a strange and new star rose, abolishing the old arrangement of the stars, shining with a new light, not of this world, turning to new and saving paths, as the Lord himself, the guide of men, who came down to earth to transfer those who believed in Christ from Fate to his providence.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- Compare Ign. Eph. 19.2–3, where the star's appearance ends magic and the old order.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 74.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/74/2/).
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Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 74.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/74/2/).
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