Knowledge and Tradition in Clement of Alexandria Cover Image

Знање и традиција код Климента АлександријскогClement of Alexandria; knowledge; tradition; allegory; gnostic; Christianity; philosophy
Knowledge and Tradition in Clement of Alexandria

Author(s): Filip Ivanović
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
Keywords: Clement of Alexandria; knowledge; tradition; allegory; gnostic; Christianity; philosophy

Summary/Abstract: One of the most important exponents of the School of Alexandria, Clement of Alexandria (ca. 150. - ca. 215.) is the author of a famous trilogy, consisting of Protrepticus, Paedagogus, and Stromata, which correspond to the three ways of acting of the Logos, namely to convert the pagans to the true faith, to cure the soul from passions, and to uplift the soul to the methodic and intellectual life of spiritual perfection. Logos thus acts through exhortation, training, and teaching. Clement considers himself to be the guardian of the Apostolic tradition and takes the task of conserving this tradition, which consists of cosmological and theological truths. With that goal in mind, the Alexandrian talks about the relation between pagan philosophy and Christianity, allegorical interpretation of the Scripture, the need of revealing and concealing the knowledge, which, in order to be correctly understood, has to be interpreted in accordance with the tradition. The intention of this short article is to point out these concepts and their connections in the way Clement sees them.

  • Issue Year: 24/2013
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 264-274
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Serbian