Miscellanies 4.9.71
Summary: Heracleon distinguishes confession in faith and life, which is universal, from confession by voice before authorities, which is partial; not all the saved, such as Matthew, Philip, and Thomas, confessed by voice and died.
Greek text · Stählin 2:280
Τοῦτον ἐξηγούμενος τὸν τόπον Ἡρακλέων ὁ τῆς Οὐαλεντίνου σχολῆς δοκιμώτατος κατὰ λέξιν φησὶν ὁμολογίαν εἶναι τὴν μὲν ἐν πίστει καὶ πολιτείᾳ, τὴν δὲ ἐν φωνῇ. ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐν φωνῇ ὁμολογία καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐξουσιῶν γίνεται, ἣν μόνην, φησίν, ὁμολογίαν ἡγοῦνται εἶναι οἱ πολλοὶ οὐχ ὑγιῶς, δύνανται δὲ ταύτην τὴν ὁμολογίαν καὶ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ ὁμολογεῖν. ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ εὑρεθήσεται οὗτος ὁ λόγος καθολικῶς εἰρημένος· οὐ γὰρ πάντες οἱ σῳζόμενοι ὡμολόγησαν τὴν διὰ τῆς φωνῆς ὁμολογίαν καὶ ἐξῆλθον, ἐξ ὧν Ματθαῖος, Φίλιππος, Θωμᾶς, Λευῒς καὶ ἄλλοι πολλοί. καὶ ἔστιν ἡ διὰ τῆς φωνῆς ὁμολογία οὐ καθολική, ἀλλὰ μερική. καθολικὴ δὲ ἣν νῦν λέγει, ἡ ἐν ἔργοις καὶ πράξεσι καταλλήλοις τῆς εἰς αὐτὸν πίστεως. ἕπεται δὲ ταύτῃ τῇ ὁμολογίᾳ καὶ ἡ μερικὴ ἡ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐξουσιῶν, ἐὰν δέῃ καὶ ὁ λόγος αἱρῇ. ὁμολογήσει γὰρ οὗτος καὶ τῇ φωνῇ, ὀρθῶς προομολογήσας πρότερον τῇ διαθέσει.
English · Claude translation
Heracleon, the most esteemed of the school of Valentinus, explaining this passage, says word for word: “Confession is of two kinds: one in faith and conduct, the other in voice. Confession in voice takes place also before the authorities, which alone,” he says, “most people wrongly consider to be confession; but hypocrites too can make this confession. But this saying will not be found to have been spoken universally; for not all who are saved made confession by voice and departed, among whom are Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and many others. And confession by voice is not universal but partial. The universal one is the one he now speaks of, in works and actions corresponding to faith in him. And the partial one before the authorities follows this confession, if it is necessary and reason requires. For this man will confess with his voice too, having rightly confessed before in his disposition.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- This is Heracleon, fragment 50, preserved only here. It is an important early witness that Matthew, Philip, Thomas, and Levi were believed not to have died as martyrs.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.9.71 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/9/71/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.9.71 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/9/71/).
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