The Stromata, or Miscellanies, Book IV

Book IV

• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.1 — Order of Contents. It will follow, I think, that I should treat of martyrdom, and of who the perfect man is. With these points shall be included what follows in accordance with the demands of the points to be spoken…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.2 — The Meaning of the Name Stromata or Miscellanies. Let these notes of ours, as we have often said for the sake of those that consult them carelessly and unskilfully, be of varied character—and as the name itself…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.3 — The True Excellence of Man. The most of men have a disposition unstable and heedless, like the nature of storms. “Want of faith has done many good things, and faith evil things.” And Epicharmus says, “Don’t forget to…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.4 — The Praises of Martyrdom. Whence, as is reasonable, the gnostic, when galled, obeys easily, and gives up his body to him who asks; and, previously divesting himself of the affections of this carcase, not insulting…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.5 — On Contempt for Pain, Poverty, and Other External Things. Fit objects for admiration are the Stoics, who say that the soul is not affected by the body, either to vice by disease, or to virtue by health; but both…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.6 — The Blessedness of the Martyr. Then he who has lied and shown himself unfaithful, and revolted to the devil’s army, in what evil do we think him to be? He belies, therefore, the Lord, or rather he is cheated of his…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.7 — Women as Well as Men, Slaves as Well as Freemen, Candidates for the Martyr’s Crown. Since, then, not only the Æsopians, and Macedonians, and the Lacedæmonians endured when subjected to torture, as Eratosthenes says…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.8 — Christ’s Sayings Respecting Martyrdom. On martyrdom the Lord hath spoken explicitly, and what is written in different places we bring together. “But I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess in Me before men, the Son…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.9 — Those Who Offered Themselves for Martyrdom Reproved. When, again, He says, “When they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the other,” He does not advise flight, as if persecution were an evil thing; nor does He…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.10 — The Objection, Why Do You Suffer If God Cares for You, Answered. But, say they, if God cares for you, why are you persecuted and put to death? Has He delivered you to this? No, we do not suppose that the Lord wishes…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.11 — Basilides’ Idea of Martyrdom Refuted. Basilides, in the twenty-third book of the Exegetics, respecting those that are punished by martyrdom, expresses himself in the following language: “For I say this, Whosoever…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.12 — Valentinian’s Vagaries About the Abolition of Death Refuted. Valentinian, in a homily, writes in these words: “Ye are originally immortal, and children of eternal life, and ye would have death distributed to you,…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.13 — The Love of All, Even of Our Enemies. How great also is benignity! “Love your enemies,” it is said, “bless them who curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you,” and the like; to which it is added, “that ye…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.14 — On Avoiding Offence. “We know that we all have knowledge”—common knowledge in common things, and the knowledge that there is one God. For he was writing to believers; whence he adds, “But knowledge (gnosis) is not in…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.15 — Passages of Scripture Respecting the Constancy, Patience, and Love of the Martyrs. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Wherefore the Scripture…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.16 — Passages from Clement’s Epistle to the Corinthians on Martyrdom. Moreover, in the Epistle to the Corinthians, the Apostle Clement also, drawing a picture of the Gnostic, says: “For who that has sojourned among you…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.17 — On Love, and the Repressing of Our Desires. “The decorous tendency of our philanthropy, therefore,” according to Clement, “seeks the common good;” whether by suffering martyrdom, or by teaching by deed and word,—the…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.18 — Chap. XIX.—Women as well as Men Capable of Perfection. In this perfection it is possible for man and woman equally to share. It is not only Moses, then, that heard from God, “I have spoken to thee once, and twice,…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.19 — A Good Wife. The woman who, with propriety, loves her husband, Euripides describes, while admonishing,— And again he subjoins the like:— Then, describing her as gentle and kind even in misfortunes, he adds:— And:—…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.20 — Description of the Perfect Man, or Gnostic. Here I find perfection apprehended variously in relation to Him who excels in every virtue. Accordingly one is perfected as pious, and as patient, and as continent, and as…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.21 — The Same Subject Continued. For it is not suitable to the nature of the thing itself, that they should apprehend in the truly gnostic manner the truth, that all things which were created for our use are good; as, for…vatican.va