Works in Greek and Latin

...pitying those who are worn down [by ignorance]. For God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham original: "ἐκ τῶν λίθων τούτων ἐγεῖραι τέκνα τῷ Ἀβραάμ"; a reference to the preaching of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:9 and Luke 3:8.; He, having pitied the great ignorance and hardness of heart of those who were petrified against the truth, raised up a seed of piety that perceives virtue, out of those stones—the nations who had put their trust in stones Clement plays on the word "stones" to refer both to the hardness of the human heart and the literal stone idols of the Gentiles.. Again, therefore, He called certain venomous and shifty hypocrites who lie in wait for righteousness "offspring of vipers" original: "γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν"; see Matthew 3:7.. But even if one of these serpents should repent of his own will, following the Word, he becomes a man of God. Others He describes allegorically as "wolves clothed in sheepskins," hinting at those who are rapacious in human form.

And so, all these wildest of beasts and such stones as these, the heavenly song itself has transformed into gentle men. "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another," as the Apostolic scripture says; "but when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy" A direct quotation from Titus 3:3-5.. Behold how much power the New Song has: it has made men out of stones and men out of wild beasts. Those who were otherwise dead, having no part in the life that truly exists, became alive again simply by becoming listeners of the song.

This Song also adorned the entire universe in a melodious way, and brought the discord of the elements into an orderly arrangement of symphony, so that the whole world might become a harmony for Him. He released the sea to flow freely, yet forbade it to encroach upon the land; the land, on the other hand, which was being carried about, He made firm and fixed the sea as its boundary. Indeed, He even softened the impulse of fire with air—as if blending a Dorian harmony The Dorian mode was traditionally associated with stability and masculine courage. with a Lydian one The Lydian mode was often associated with softness or mourning; Clement suggests the Logos balances these cosmic "extremes."—and by tempering the harsh coldness of the air with the embrace of fire, He melodiously mixed these furthest notes of the universe.

This is the incorruptible song, the support of all things and the harmony of all, which, extending from the center to the edges and from the extremities to the center, has harmonized this universe—not according to Thracian music, which is similar to that of Jubal Genesis 4:21 credits Jubal with the invention of the harp and flute; the Latin text on this page uses the variant "Tubal.", but according to the Father's will of God, which David emulated. But He who is from David, and yet existed before him, the Word of God, despising the lyre and the harp as lifeless instruments, has harmonized this world—and indeed the "small world" Greek: "σμικρὸν κόσμον" (mikron kosmon); the human being as a microcosm reflecting the order of the universe., man, both his soul and body—by the Holy Spirit. He plays to God through this many-voiced instrument, and sings to this instrument, namely man. "For you are My lyre, and My flute, and My temple": a lyre because of harmony, a flute because of the spirit, a temple because of the Word; so that the first might strike a chord, the second might breathe, and the third might contain the Lord. Indeed, David the king, the harper, whom we mentioned a little while...

...who is stained with ignorance. Let the prophetic voice come as a witness for us, sounding in harmony with the truth, which pities those who are crushed in ignorance and folly. For God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham; He, having pitied the great ignorance and hardness of heart of those who threw stones against the truth, raised up a seed of piety toward God, which would perceive virtue, out of those stones—namely the Nations who believed in stones. Therefore, He again called certain poisonous ones, impostors and pretenders lying in wait for justice, the "offspring of vipers." But if any of these serpents is led by repentance, following the Word willingly and of his own accord, he is made a man of God.

Others He calls allegorically "wolves dressed in sheep's clothing," meaning those who are rapacious in human form. Therefore, all these most savage beasts and such stones, the heavenly song itself has transformed into gentle men. For we were, we too were once foolish, disobedient, wandering, serving various pleasures and desires, living in malice and envy, worthy of hatred, and inflamed with mutual hatred, as the Apostolic scripture says. But when the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared, not from works in righteousness which we did, but according to His mercy, He saved us.

See how much the New Song could do: it made men from stones, and made men from wild beasts. Moreover, those who were otherwise dead, who were not participants in that life which truly is, lived again after they were merely listeners of the song. This Song also adorned this entire world with a rhythmic and harmonious grace, and reduced the disagreement of the elements into an order of consonance, so that the whole world might become a harmony for Him. And He indeed left the sea loose, but prohibited it from invading the land; the land, in turn, which was being carried here and there, He made stable and solid, and He fixed the sea as its boundary.

Now indeed He also softened the violence of fire with air, as if tempering a Dorian harmony with a Lydian one, and He soothed the savage coldness of the air with the embrace of fire, tempering these extreme sounds of the universe rhythmically and harmoniously. And indeed this incorruptible song, the firmament of the universe and the harmony of all things, extended from the middle to the ends and from the extremes to the middle, has harmonized this universe—not from Thracian music, which is similar to the music of Tubal, but from the paternal will of God, which David admired.

But He who arose from David, and was before him, the Word of God, despising the lyre and the harp as inanimate instruments, when He had harmonized this world, and also the small world, namely man—both his soul and body—with the Holy Spirit, He plays to God through an instrument of many voices, and sings to this instrument, namely man: "For you are my lyre, and flute, and temple: a lyre on account of harmony, a flute on account of the spirit, a temple on account of the word." So that the lyre indeed may resound, the flute may breathe, but the temple may contain [the Lord].

A

Matthew 3.

Luke 3.

Matthew 7.

B

To Titus 3.

C

D

E

Genesis 4.