The Instructor 2.10.101
Summary: The Word dwells in us as in a temple, which sexual sin defiles; the fate of those who sinned at Peor is a warning, and Sirach warns against following desires.
Greek text · Stählin 1:217–218
ταύτῃ τοι καὶ Πλάτων ἐν Φιλήβῳ ὁ τῆς βαρβάρου μαθητὴς φιλοσοφίας ἀθέους κέκληκε μυστικῶς τοὺς τὸν θεὸν τὸν ἔνοικον αὐτοῖς, τὸν λόγον, διαφθείροντας καὶ μιαίνοντας τὸ ὅσον ἐφʼ ἑαυτοῖς ἐν τῇ τῶν παθῶν οἰκειώσει. οὐκ ἄρα ποτὲ θνητῶς βιωτέον ἁγιαζομένους θεῷ οὐδὲ μήν, ὥς φησιν ὁ Παῦλος, οὐ χρὴ πόρνης ποιεῖν μέλη τὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μέλη οὐδὲ μὴν νεὼν τῶν παθῶν τῶν αἰσχρῶν τὸν νεὼν τοῦ θεοῦ ποιητέον. μέμνησθε γὰρ τὰς τέτταρας καὶ εἴκοσι χιλιάδας διὰ πορνείαν ἀπωσμένας, τὰ δὲ παθήματα τῶν πορνευσάντων, ὡς ἤδη μοι λέλεκται, »τύποι« παιδαγωγοῦντες ἡμῶν τὰς ἐπιθυμίας εἰσίν. ἡμῖν δὲ ὁ παιδαγωγὸς παραινεῖ σαφέστατα· »ὀπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν σου μὴ πορεύου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρέξεών σου κωλύου·« »οἶνος γὰρ καὶ γυναῖκες ἀποστήσουσι συνετούς, καὶ ὁ κολλώμενος πόρναις τολμηρότερος ἐκβήσεται, σῆψις καὶ σκώληξ κληρονομήσουσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐξαρθήσεται ἐν παραδειγματισμῷ μείζονι«, καὶ πάλιν (οὐ γὰρ ἀποκάμνει ὠφελῶν)· »ὁ δὲ ἀντοφθαλμῶν
English · Claude translation
So Plato too, the pupil of the barbarian philosophy, in the Philebus mystically called godless those who, as far as in them lies, corrupt and defile the God who dwells in them, the Word, by becoming familiar with the passions. Those who are sanctified to God must never live as mortals; nor, as Paul says, must we make the members of Christ members of a harlot, nor make the temple of God a temple of shameful passions. Remember the twenty-four thousand rejected for sexual immorality; the sufferings of those who committed sexual immorality, as I have already said, are “examples,” instructing our desires. The Instructor advises us most clearly: “Do not go after your desires, and restrain yourself from your appetites”; “For wine and women will make the intelligent fall away, and he who cleaves to harlots will become more reckless; decay and worms will inherit him, and he will be removed as a greater example.” And again (for he does not grow weary of helping): “He who shuts his eyes
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The reference to Plato's Philebus is uncertain; the passage cited has not been identified with confidence. The allusions are 1 Cor 6:15, 1 Cor 3:16–17, Num 25:9 (24,000; 1 Cor 10:8 has 23,000), and 1 Cor 10:6. The quotations are Sir 18:30 and Sir 19:2–3; the last quotation continues in the next section.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.10.101 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/10/101/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.10.101 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/10/101/).
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