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11 - The Alexandrians

from A - LITERARY GUIDE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2008

By
Ronald Heine
Edited by
Frances Young ,
Lewis Ayres  and
Andrew Louth
Assisted by
Augustine Casiday
Frances Young
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Lewis Ayres
Affiliation:
Emory University, Atlanta
Andrew Louth
Affiliation:
University of Durham
Augustine Casiday
Affiliation:
University of Durham
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Summary

The Alexandrian Christian literature known to us begins at the end of the second century with the works of Clement (c. 150–215), and his later contemporary, Origen (c. 185–254). What we surmise about what preceded them is based on scraps and hints. Eusebius, relating what was probably only a legend, says that Mark, the associate of Peter, took Christianity to Alexandria (HE 2.16.1). Apollos is the first Christian associated with the city whose name we know. He is described as learned in the Scriptures, but having a somewhat imperfect understanding of the faith (Acts 18:24–6). Scholars are generally agreed that Christianity had been established in Alexandria by the middle of the first century, and that there was a strong strain of heterodoxy, or at least of diversity, there until the early third century. The two famous gnostic teachers, Basilides and Valentinus, had been associated with the city in the first half of the second century.

Clement, who was probably born in Athens of pagan parents, came to Alexandria c. 180 on his educational pilgrimage (Strom. 1.1.11.1–2). There he attended the lectures of the Christian Pantaenus, and succeeded him as leader of the school. In 202–3, during the persecution of Septimius Severus, he fled Alexandria, and joined his friend Alexander in either Cappadocia or Jerusalem. Clement died in exile, some time before 215 (Eusebius, HE 6.11; 6.14.8).

Eusebius is our main source for the list of Clement’s works. He knew the Stromateis in eight books, the Hypotyposeis also in eight books, the Protrepticus in one book, the Paedagogus in three, a book entitled Who is the Rich Man Who is Saved?, a treatise On the Pascha, the discourses On Fasting, On Slander, and Exhortation to Endurance, or To the Recently Baptized, and a book entitled the Ecclesiastical Canon, or Against the Judaizers (HE 6.13.1–3).

Keywords

ClementApocalypse of PeterAlexandriaChristianityEusebiusStromateisEpistle of BarnabasOrigen
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The Cambridge History of Early Christian Literature , pp. 113 - 130
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2004

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