Clement of Alexandria A Project of Christian Perfection [Hardcover]

This book examines Clement's project which brings together ethical, intellectual and spiritual development of a Christian while highlighting the need of search for integrity in the life of faith and reason. Approaches to Clement have traditionally either assessed the philosophical context of his thought or studied the adaptation of Greek legacy into a new Christian context as underpinning Clement's work. In this new study Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski challenges and develops these approaches providing new and refreshing insights into Clement's understanding of Christian perfection.Introduction Part one 1.1.Life and works re-examined 1.2.The Catechetical school as a part of Clement's puzzle. 2. Hellenistic Judaism and its role in Clement's project. 2.1. Moses as the archetype of perfection: Philo of Alexandria and Clement. 2.2. The role of the metaphor of the High Priest: Philo, Clement and the Letter to the Hebrews. 2.3. The Hebrew attitude of fo&boj and its role in Clement's project. 3. Philosophical scholae inspiring Clement's project. 3.1. Pythagoras and Plato: their influence on Clement's ideal. 3.2. The Stoics and philosophical therapy. 3.3. Clement's eclecticism as a hermeneutical method. 4. Alternative hetero-Gnostic models of perfection in Clement's work. 4.1. Traditions - Scriptures - diversity. 4.2. Basilides and Valentinus and their schools in Clement's dossier. 4.3. The libertine groups and the extreme ascetic sects. PART TWO 5. The path to perfection. 5.1. Becoming a Gnostic - becoming Cherubim-like. 5.2. Becoming a contemplative Gnostic - becoming the Gnostic Levite. 5.3. The climax of perfection. 6. Ekklesia Gnostike - the natural habitat of the Christian Gnostic. 6.1. Membership and the marks of the church. 6.2. The manifold functions of the Church. Conclusion Bibliography Biblical Index Modern Authors