Originally Posted by Solon (Post 196049)

Apotheosis (humans becoming gods) is an important part of my current research. I stumbled across this yesterday.

ναί φημι, ὁ λόγος ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος γενόμενος, ἵνα δὴ καὶ σὺ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου μάθῃς, πῇ ποτε ἄρα ἄνθρωπος γένηται θεός



The writings of Clement are vast and interesting. He was clearly well read and worked to incorporate both Hebrew scripture and Greek literature into his writings on Christianity.

One of my favorite of his tracts is "The Rich Man's Salvation" where he explains (to the relief, I'm sure, of the rich who had begun to accept Christianity in big numbers) that the story of the Rich Young Man (Mark 10.17-25) was symbolic - not literal. Jesus doesn't really want us to sell all our stuff. Instead, he wants us to get rid of our wants and greed and lust. Those are our only "possessions." Everything else belongs to God, so we should hold onto the good stuff (houses, money, etc.) Indeed, if we give too much to the poor, we can't do very much good and we just end up wishing we had more stuff - both sins. So, jet the bad desires and keep the nice possessions.

It's as fine of a piece of rationalization as you'll ever read.

Originally Posted by SeattleUte (Post 196059)

Where did you find the quote?

Originally Posted by Solon (Post 196066)

Sorry - I forgot to put the citation in. I edited the post.

Originally Posted by SeattleUte (Post 196078)

That's a wonderful quote. I love the vernacular too. I warn you, however, that Clement is the very essence of what FARMS would call an agent of the Great Apostasy.

Originally Posted by SeattleUte (Post 196078)

That's a wonderful quote. I love the vernacular too. I warn you, however, that Clement is the very essence of what FARMS would call an agent of the Great Apostasy.

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug (Post 196457)

you don't know what you're talking about. FARMS always quotes stuff like this to support their contention that deification was taught in the early church.

Originally Posted by SeattleUte (Post 196480)

Oh really, FARMS is a fan of Clement? Did you know he died after 200? Your heros at FARMS of course claim that Greek influence=Great Apostasy, as we've established (grant you, Pelagius, embarrassed by such manifest ignorance, has tried to show a split opinion within FARMS on this).