Miscellanies 1.2.19
Summary: Even if philosophy were useless, showing it so is useful; one must understand the Greeks to refute them; and wide learning commends the truth to hearers and catechumens.
Greek text · Stählin 2:13
ὑπὲρ δὲ τῶν ὑπομνημάτων τῶν περιειληφότων κατὰ τοὺς ἀναγκαίους καιροὺς τὴν Ἑλληνικὴν δόξαν τοσοῦτόν φημι τοῖς φιλεγκλήμοσι· πρῶτον μὲν εἰ καὶ ἄχρηστος εἴη φιλοσοφία, εἰ εὔχρηστος ἡ τῆς ἀχρηστίας βεβαίωσις, εὔχρηστος· ἔπειτα οὐδὲ καταψηφίσασθαι τῶν Ἑλλήνων οἷόν τε ψιλῇ τῇ περὶ τῶν δογματισθέντων αὐτοῖς χρωμένους φράσει, μὴ συνεμβαίνοντας εἰς τὴν κατὰ μέρος ἄχρι συγγνώσεως ἐκκάλυψιν. πιστὸς γὰρ εὖ μάλα ὁ μετʼ ἐμπειρίας ἔλεγχος, ὅτι καὶ τελειοτάτη ἀπόδειξις εὑρίσκεται ἡ γνῶσις τῶν κατεγνωσμένων. πολλὰ δʼ οὖν καὶ μὴ συμβαλλόμενα εἰς τέλος συγκοσμεῖ τὸν τεχνίτην. καὶ ἄλλως ἡ πολυμαθία διασυστατικὴ τυγχάνει τοῦ παρατιθεμένου τὰ κυριώτατα τῶν δογμάτων πρὸς πειθὼ τῶν ἀκροωμένων καὶ θαυμασμὸν ἐγγεννῶσα τοῖς κατηχουμένοις καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν συνίστησιν.
English · Claude translation
About my notes, which at the necessary times include Greek opinion, I say this much to the fault-finders. First, even if philosophy were useless, if the demonstration of its uselessness is useful, it is useful. Next, one cannot even condemn the Greeks using bare statement about their doctrines, without entering into a detailed exposure of them to the point of understanding. For refutation with experience is very trustworthy, since knowledge of what is condemned is found to be the most perfect proof. Many things, even if they do not contribute to the end, adorn the craftsman. And besides, wide learning commends the one who sets out the chief doctrines, for the persuasion of his hearers, and, producing admiration in the catechumens, it also recommends the truth.
About this passage
Notes
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (accent and breathing: οἷόν): τῶν Ἑλλήνων οἶόν τε → τῶν Ἑλλήνων οἷόν τε.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 1.2.19 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/1/2/19/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 1.2.19 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/1/2/19/).
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