Abstract:
This article discusses Clement of Alexandria’s doctrine of Scripture based on the terms “voice” of God, “first principle,” and “demonstration” that he uses for Scripture. By studying the usage of these terms and the related passages, it will be made clear that Clement regards Scripture as a vessel of God’s voice, favoring what is now called the theory of verbal inspiration. Moreover, the divine voice, like the voice of sirens, leaves no choice for the listeners but to submit and follow. This absolute submission is rational, because Scripture is a first principle, whose truth does not depend on any demonstrations. However, those who firmly believe in its truth will find abundant demonstrations in it that will guide them to a better and deeper understanding of its teachings.
Machine summary:
Clement of Alexandria and His Doctrine of Scripture Hamed Fayazi 1 Received: 15-03-2017 / Accepted: 29-06-2017 This article discusses Clement of Alexandria’s doctrine of Scripture based on the terms "voice" of God, "first principle," and "demonstration" that he uses for Scripture.
By studying the usage of these terms and the related passages, it will be made clear that Clement regards Scripture as a vessel of God’s voice, favoring what is now called the theory of verbal inspiration.
In another passage, widely cited, Clement writes: He, then, who of himself believes the Scripture and voice of the Lord, which by the Lord acts to the benefiting of men, is rightly [regarded] faithful.
Other more direct evidence is Clement’s use of the "voice of the Lord" at the end of this passage, where he says, "[G]rasping by faith the indemonstrable first principle, and receiving in abundance, from the first principle itself, demonstrations in reference to the first principle, we are by the voice of the Lord trained up to the knowledge of the truth.
Therefore, as is reasonable, grasping by faith the indemonstrable first principle, and receiving in abundance, from the first principle itself, demonstrations in reference to the first principle, we are by the voice of the Lord trained up to the knowledge of the truth.
" Through studying the usage of these terms, we showed that Clement regards Scripture as inspired by God and a vessel of His voice.