Miscellanies 3.4.35
Summary: False prophets are known by their works; if the commandments against shameful deeds are good, the “Opposers” are fighting the good and doing evil.
Greek text · Stählin 2:211–212
Φαίημεν δʼ ἂν καὶ πρὸς τούτους, ὅτι τοὺς ψευδοπροφήτας καὶ τοὺς ὅσοι τὴν ἀλήθειαν ὑποκρίνονται ἐξ ἔργων γινώσκεσθαι παρειλήφαμεν. διαβάλλεται δὲ ὑμῶν τὰ ἔργα· πῶς ἔτι τῆς ἀληθείας ἀντέχεσθαι ὑμᾶς ἐρεῖτε; ἢ γὰρ οὐδέν ἐστι κακὸν καὶ οὐκέτι μέμψεως ἄξιος ὃν αἰτιᾶσθε ὡς ἀντιτεταγμένον τῷ θεῷ, οὐδὲ κακοῦ τινος γέγονε ποιητικός (συναναιρεῖται γὰρ τῷ καρπῷ καὶ τὸ δένδρον), ἤ, εἰ ἔστι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὑπάρξει, εἰπάτωσαν ἡμῖν, τί λέγουσιν εἶναι τὰς δοθείσας ἐντολὰς περὶ δικαιοσύνης, περὶ ἐγκρατείας, περὶ ὑπομονῆς, περὶ ἀνεξικακίας καὶ τῶν τούτοις ὁμοίων, φαύλας ἢ ἀστείας. καὶ εἰ μὲν φαύλη εἴη τὰ πλεῖστα ἀπαγορεύουσα ποιεῖν τῶν αἰσχρῶν ἡ ἐντολή, καθʼ ἑαυτῆς νομοθετήσει ἡ κακία ἐπὶ καταλύσει τῇ ἰδέᾳ, ὅπερ ἀδύνατον· εἰ δὲ ἀγαθή, ἀντιτασσόμενοι ταῖς ἀγαθαῖς ἐντολαῖς ἀγαθῷ ἀντιτάσσεσθαι καὶ τὰ κακὰ πράσσειν ὁμολογοῦσιν.
English · Claude translation
To these too we would say that we have received the teaching that false prophets and all who feign the truth are known by their works. Your works are condemned; how will you still say that you hold fast to the truth? For either there is no evil, and the one you accuse as opposed to God is no longer worthy of blame, nor has he become the maker of any evil (for the tree is destroyed together with its fruit); or, if evil exists, let them tell us what they say the commandments given about justice, self-control, patience, forbearance, and the like are: bad or good. If the commandment that forbids doing most shameful things were bad, vice would legislate against itself for the destruction of its own form, which is impossible. But if it is good, then, opposing the good commandments, they confess that they oppose the good and do evil.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The allusions are Matt 7:15–20 and Matt 12:33.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 3.4.35 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/3/4/35/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 3.4.35 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/3/4/35/).
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