Who Is the Rich Man That Is Saved? 5.4
Summary: Sayings that seem simple but bear on salvation itself, like this one, must be read with the mind fixed on the Savior's spirit and hidden meaning.
Greek text · Stählin 3:163
ὅπου δὲ καὶ τὰ νομιζόμενα ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ διοῖχθαι τοῖς ἔσω καὶ αὐτοῖς τοῖς τῆς βασιλείας τέκνοις ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ καλουμένοις ἔτι χρῄζει φροντίδος πλείονος, ἦ πού γε τὰ δόξαντα μὲν ἁπλῶς ἐξενηνέχθαι καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μηδὲ διηρωτημένα πρὸς τῶν ἀκουσάντων, εἰς ὅλον δὲ τὸ τέλος αὐτὸ τῆς σωτηρίας διαφέροντα. ἐσκεπασμένα δὲ θαυμαστῷ καὶ ὑπερουρανίῳ διανοίας βάθει, οὐκ ἐπιπολαίως δέχεσθαι ταῖς ἀκοαῖς προσῆκεν, ἀλλὰ καθιέντας τὸν νοῦν ἐπʼ αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ σωτῆρος καὶ τὸ τῆς γνώμης ἀπόρρητον.
English · Claude translation
And where even the things thought to have been opened up by him to those within, those whom he himself calls children of the kingdom, still need further thought, surely the things that seem to have been spoken simply, and for that reason were not even questioned by those who heard them, but which bear on the whole goal of salvation itself, and are covered with a wonderful and supercelestial depth of meaning, should not be received superficially by the ears, but by directing the mind to the very spirit of the Savior and the secret of his thought.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- “Those within” and “children of the kingdom” recall Mark 4:10–11 and Matt 13:38.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Quis div. 5.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-quis-dives/5/4/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Quis div. 5.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-quis-dives/5/4/).
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