Miscellanies 4.6.25
Summary: Christ's beatitudes apply to spiritual and material states; the one who is persecuted, poor, or hungry for righteousness' sake is a witness, a martyr, to righteousness.
Greek text · Stählin 2:259
Ὁ σωτὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἅγιος καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πνευματικῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν αἰσθητῶν τὴν πενίαν καὶ τὸν πλοῦτον καὶ τὰ τούτοις ὅμοια ἔταξεν· εἰπὼν γὰρ μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης σαφῶς ἡμᾶς διδάσκει ἐν πάσῃ περιστάσει τὸν μάρτυρα ζητεῖν· ὃς ἐὰν πτωχὸς ᾖ διὰ δικαιοσύνην, μαρτυρεῖ δικαιοσύνην ἀγαθὸν εἶναι ἣν ἠγάπησεν, κἂν πεινῇ κἂν διψῇ διὰ δικαιοσύνην, μαρτυρεῖ δικαιοσύνην τὸ ἄριστον τυγχάνειν.
English · Claude translation
Our holy Savior applied poverty, wealth, and the like both to spiritual and to sensible things. For in saying, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,” he clearly teaches us to seek the martyr in every circumstance. The one who is poor for righteousness' sake bears witness that righteousness, which he loved, is good; and if he hungers and thirsts for righteousness' sake, he bears witness that righteousness is the best.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotation is Matt 5:10. Clement again plays on “martyr” (witness).
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.6.25 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/6/25/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.6.25 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/6/25/).
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