Miscellanies 4.9.75
Summary: Christ first drank the cup for sinners, and the apostles suffered for their churches; those who follow them should be ready to drink it for the church; those who witness in life and in court surpass mere lip-confessors, and the one moved by love is the true martyr.
Greek text · Stählin 2:281–282
πρῶτος τοίνυν ὁ κύριος διὰ τὴν τῶν ἐπιβουλευόντων αὐτῷ ἀνθρώπων καὶ τὴν τῶν ἀπίστων ἀποκάθαρσιν ἔπιεν τὸ ποτήριον· ὃν μιμούμενοι οἱ ἀπόστολοι ὡς ἂν τῷ ὄντι γνωστικοὶ καὶ τέλειοι ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ἃς ἔπηξαν ἔπαθον. οὕτως οὖν καὶ οἱ κατʼ ἴχνος τὸ ἀποστολικὸν πορευόμενοι γνωστικοὶ ἀναμάρτητοί τε εἶναι ὀφείλουσι καὶ διʼ ἀγάπην τὴν πρὸς τὸν κύριον ἀγαπᾶν καὶ τὸν πλησίον, ἵνʼ, εἰ καλοίη περίστασις, ὑπὲρ ἐκκλησίας ἀσκανδάλιστοι τὰς θλίψεις ὑπομένοντες τὸ ποτήριον πίωσιν. ὅσοι δὲ ἔργῳ μὲν παρὰ τὸν βίον, λόγῳ δὲ ἐν δικαστηρίῳ μαρτυροῦσι κἂν ἐλπίδα ἐκδεχόμενοι, κἂν φόβον ὑφορώμενοι, βελτίους οὗτοι τῶν στόματι μόνον ὁμολογούντων τὴν σωτηρίαν. ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ ὑπερβαίη τις ἐπὶ τὴν ἀγάπην, τῷ ὄντι μακάριος οὗτος καὶ γνήσιος μάρτυς, τελείως ὁμολογήσας καὶ ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὃν ἀγαπήσας ἀδελφὸν ἐγνώρισεν, ὅλον ἑαυτὸν ἐπιδοὺς διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, οἷον παρακαταθήκην εὐγνωμόνως καὶ ἀγαπητικῶς ἀποδιδοὺς τὸν ἀπαιτούμενον ἄνθρωπον.
English · Claude translation
The Lord, then, first drank the cup for the purification of the men who plotted against him and of the unbelievers; imitating him, the apostles, as truly knowing and perfect, suffered for the churches they founded. So also those who, knowing, walk in the apostolic footsteps must be sinless and, through love for the Lord, love their neighbor too, so that, if circumstances call, they may drink the cup for the church, enduring afflictions without offense. And those who bear witness by deed throughout life and by word in court, whether awaiting hope or fearing, are better than those who confess salvation with the mouth only. But if someone rises further, to love, he is truly blessed and a genuine martyr, having confessed perfectly both to the commandments and to God through the Lord, whom, having loved, he recognized as brother, giving himself wholly for love of God, as though gratefully and lovingly returning a deposit, the man that was demanded.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The allusions are Matt 20:22 and Matt 26:39.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.9.75 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/9/75/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.9.75 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/9/75/).
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