The Christian Platonists of Alexandria, Charles Bigg

SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS LECTURE I - INTRODUCTION. PHILO AND THE GNOSTICS

THE MUSEUM OF ALEXANDRIA Influence of the Pagan University upon Christian thought only distant and indirect THE EGYPTIAN JEWS were the active mediators between European and Oriental ideas Their wealth, numbers, and privileges The Septuagint and consequent outbreak of literary Activity Propaganda Hellenism Aristeas Aristobulus Greek Philosophy stolen from the Jew Logos Doctrine before Philo PHILO Opposition to Anthropomorphism Negative Conception of Deity Limitation of the Analytic Method in Philo Evil of Matter Hence Creation and Providence delegated to Subordinate Powers Relation of Powers to Angels, Logoi, Ideas, Demons The Two Powers of Goodness and Justice Their indistinct Personality Relation to earlier Jewish speculations The Logos History of the Term Relation of the Logos to GOD Wisdom Intelligible World Schechinah Eldest Son Second God Relation of the Logos to the Two Powers Book of Creation King's Architect Charioteer Relation of the Logos to the World Seal High Priest's Vesture Creator Helmsman, Pilot of Creation Vicegerent of God Relation of the Logos to Man Heavenly Man Mediator as Prophet and Law as High Priest and Atoner The Two Lives, corresponding to the distinction between GOD and the Logos Faith and Wisdom The Three Paths Vision, Ecstasy Relation of Philonism to historic Judaism Relation of Philonism to the Christian Church Facilitated the definition of the Trinity Impeded the understanding of the Atonement Intellectualism—its good and evil THE GNOSTICS Subordinate interest of Gnostic Metaphysics Their predominant Ethical motive Plutarch and the Heathen Gnostics The Christian Gnostics Their Dualism Their Exegesis Their Theory of Salvation Christology of Theodotus The Three Natures of Man Eschatology Relation of Gnosticism to Platonism, Mazdeism, Ebionitism, St Paul General Character and Effects of Gnosticism

LECTURE II - CLEMENT THE ALEXANDRINE CHURCH Founded according to tradition by St Its wealth and importance at the end of the second century Its conservatism in ritual and discipline Changes effected by Demetrius The College of Presbyters The Suffragan Bishops The Catechetical School Object of the Institution Course of Instruction The first Master Athenagoras (?) Pantaenus T FLAVIUS CLEMENS His Life His Character and Attainments His Love of Literature And of Philosophy Unity of Truth Science a Covenant of God Apologists not unfriendly to Philosophy Philosophy brought into discredit by the Gnostics His position on one side Rationalist, on another Mystic The Canon of Scripture How far settled in Clement's time 'Paulinism' The Unity of Scripture Denied on moral grounds by the Ebionites and by the Gnostics Clement defends the Moral Law by maintaining the essential identity of Justice and Goodness And the Sacrificial Law on the ground of its permanent doctrinal value Allegorism the Key to the Unity of Scripture General character of Alexandrine Allegorism Opposition to popular Theology Reserve THE HOLY TRINITY Universal admission of the doctrine in some shape or other Previous Speculation on the subject The Prophoric Logos THE FATHER Method of Clement The Revelation of Scripture Analysis or Elimination The Monad The Son the Consciousness of God Relation of Clement to Neo-Platonism Futility of his Method THE SON His Personality Terminology of Clement Use of Philonic phraseology Clement rejects the term ' Prophoric Logos' Subordinationism strictly secondary in Clement THE HOLY SPIRIT His Personality not yet clearly denned How far explained by Clement Office of the Holy Spirit Jealousy of Pantheism THE INCARNATION AND REDEMPTION The Human Soul of Jesus Semi-Docetism The Passion of Jesus undesigned by God Christ the Light of the World Hellenism in Clement's view of Redemption The Ransom Forgiveness Reconciliation and Propitiation Clement's Typology Manifestation of Christ as Man in the Lower Life, as Physician, Shepherd, Tutor, Lawgiver In the higher Life as God, as Light, Truth, Life As High Priest Redemption the consummation of the spiritual development of mankind LECTURE III - CLEMENT Creation Denial of Pre-existence and of Eternity of Matter The Six Days allegorised The Soul of Man The Origin of Evil Opposition to Gnosticism The Freedom of the Will Departure from Plato and St Rejection of Determinism Indifferentism Doctrine of Original Sin unknown to Clement Adam potentially not actually perfect The Soul does not descend from Adam Allegorism of the Fall Infant Baptism not the rule at Alexandria Faith and Grace The Baptism of Regeneration The Two Lives Historical Conditions of Clement's view Gnosticism and Paulinism Legalism Necessity of Discipline enhanced by the rapid expansion of the Church Social, moral, spiritual inequality amongst the brethren familiar Documentary sources of his view Heathen Philosophy Apostolic Fathers Scripture Characteristic Notes of the Two Lives Faith, Fear, Holiness Knowledge, Love, Righteousness The Compromise between the Church and the World Criticism of this Via Media How different from Gnosticism Breach of continuity between the Two Lives Egotism Clement's treatment of Faith And of Hope The Lower Life as described in the Pedagogue Stoicism Aristotelianism The Higher Life Described in terms borrowed from the Greek Mysteries Indefectibility of Knowledge Object of Knowledge Holiness the indispensable condition of Knowledge Necessity of mental cultivation Love Relation to Knowledge How affected by Stoicism and Platonism Apathy Disinterested Love Relation of Clement's view to Mysticism Stress laid upon Holiness And upon Righteousness And upon due use of the Means of Grace Silent Prayer The indefectibility of Gnosis excludes Ecstasy Songs The Church One Holy The Priesthood The Gnostic the only Hiereus Sacrifice Penance Spiritual Direction The Eucharist Not separate at Alexandria from the Agape The Public Agape The Doke The House-Supper The Eucharistic Grace It is Gnosis Eschatology Resurrection Pagan doctrine of Immortality Variety of opinion in the Church Resurrection of 'this flesh' Chiliasm Belief in the nearness of the End of the World Clement's own view The glorified body The double office of Fire Punishments Spiritual in nature The prayers of the Saints Possibility of Repentance till the Last Day The State of the Blessed All purged by Fire The Seven Heavens The Ogdoad of Rest The Poena Damni The Beatific Vision

LECTURE IV - ORIGEN His Life and Character His Works Textual Criticism The New Testament The Hexapla Origen's knowledge of Hebrew The Controversy with Africanus Exegesis The Scholia The Homilies Church-buildings, Liturgy, Character of the Congregation Origen as a Preacher The Commentaries Their general plan Origen's services as an Expositor of the real sense of Scripture Allegorism General difference between Clement and Origen The Law of Correspondence The Three Senses of Scripture How distinguished The Negative use of Allegorism Denial of the Literal Sense Reasons for this Biographical interest of Origen's view The Positive use of Allegorism The Discovery of Mysteries Economy or Reserve The Two Lives in Origen Scope and Purpose of Alexandrine Reserve Erroneous inferences that have been drawn from it How far capable of defence It is seen at its worst on its Apologetic side Its Positive use Differing judgments In application to the Old Testament it confounds symbol with proof In application to the Church of the Present it is the expression of spiritual freedom and enlightenment

LECTURE V - ORIGEN The Regula Fidei Anxiety of Origen to keep within the Canon His teaching always Scriptural The Three Methods of Pagan Theology The Christian Method THE NATURE OF GOD The Negative Attributes The Positive Attributes God not Impassible Our knowledge of Him inadequate but true God is Perfect, not Absolute Limitation of Creation Eternity of Creation Optimism Divine Power conditioned by Goodness and Wisdom THE HOLY TRINITY Theodotus The Noetians Hypostasis The Mystery of the Economy THE FATHER THE SON His Hypostasis Coetemity Epinoiai of the Son Essential—Wisdom, Word, Light, Truth Accidental—Propitiation, Redemption, Mediation In what sense the office of Mediation ceases THE HOLY SPIRIT His Relation to the other Persons undetermined The title ' God' Coeternity and Coequality His Office THE UNITY IN TRINITY The Translations of Rufinus Persons numerically but not locally distinct The Allegorism of the Shew Bread The Eternal Generation Rejection of the terms ' Projection,' * Prophoric' Unity of Perfect Harmony Unity of Substance The term Homoousios Unity of Derivation Subordinationism Origen's view Scriptural, not Metaphysical Prayer to the Son How limited by Origen Conservatism of his language , THE INCARNATION The God-Man The Human Soul of Jesus The Flesh of Jesus The last trace of Docetism The Humanity of Jesus eternal

LECTURE VI - ORIGEN Creation The Eternity before and after this World Disorder of Creation Injustice, Inequality Pre-existence The First Heaven and Earth Free Will The Visible Heaven and Earth The Soul of Man Philosophical objections to Origen's theory Scriptural objections Predestination Grace Original Sin Origen did not at first hold this tenet Grounds of his later belief Infant Baptism Law of Purification ' Seed of Abraham' Fall of Adam Descent of Sinless Souls The 'Reign of Death' Sense of Guilt stronger in Origen than in Clement The Four Revelations The Natural Law Position of the Gentiles The Law of Moses Not the cause of Sin Idea of Development not so clear in Origen as in Clement PACE The Gospel The Two Lives Faith and Wisdom The object of Faith Levitical Typology Ransom Propitiation The Duplex Hostia The Church One and Catholic The Promise to Peter Rome The Clergy Symbolised by the Mosaic Hierarchy The Dominion of Grace Confession Penance Origen's View The Eucharist Growing sense of reverence and mystery In what sense the Eucharist is a Mystery The Presence of Christ, in what sense Real The Eternal Gospel The Spiritual Church Meaning and scope of the Eternal Gospel Hades and Paradise The Day of Judgment The Resurrection of the Flesh The ' Germinative Principle * Details of his View The Aeons to Come Enduring Freedom Rise and Fall of the Soul Uncertainty of Origen's opinion The' Refiner's Fire' Punishment, its nature and object General Principles of Origen Scriptural basis The word • Eternal' The voice of Scripture

LECTURE VII - THE REFORMED PAGANISM The Second Century an Age of Revival ORIENTAL HENOTHEISM MlTHRA Previous history of Mithraism Redemption Atonement The Taurobolium The Mithraic Messiah Mithraic Eschatology Hierarchy Sarapis Connection with Ebionitism and Valentinianism And with Christianity THE PHILOSOPHERS The Belief in the Immortality of the Soul THE PYTHAGOREANS Their General Character Their Rivalry with Christianity * 242 The Life of Apollonius Its Origin and Purpose Outline of the Book The Imperial Eirenicon THE TRINITARIAN PLATONISTS The Platonic Letters Platonic Monotheism, Ditheism, Tritheism 250 Numenius of Apamea His Trinity His Obligation to Philo And to Christianity His relation to Plotinus The Consummation of All Things The Beatific Vision THE UNITARIAN PLATONISTS Celsus The True Word Origen's Reply Celsus not an Epicurean His character, attainments, and temper The One God The Demons Special Providence Mediation The Two Lives Chief Points in the Debate Knowledge of God in Christ A Priori Objections of Celsus Historical Objections of Celsus Miracles Prophecy Sufferings of the Apostles Nature and Origin of Evil Resurrection of the Body Celsus' attempt at Reconciliation

LECTURE VIII - SUMMARY CLEMENT His after History The Index of Gelasius Photius Neglect of Clement's Writings Is Clement a Saint ? FACE ORIGEN His books condemned by Theophilus and Epiphanius Condemnations of the Home Synod and the Fifth Council 276 Treatment of his Name Importance of the Historical point of view ALEXANDRINE EXEGESIS In what sense it survived SPECIAL DOCTRINES Pre-existence PAULINISM How far understood by the Alexandrines Free Will and Grace Doctrine of the Alexandrines Doctrine of Augustine Redemption Doctrine of Origen of Augustine of Anselm Resurrection Restitution Clement and Origen not strictly speaking Universalists 292 In what sense Punishment is Eternal Other opinions on the subject The Monks of Egypt and Palestine Diodorus and Theodore The two Gregories Jerome The Doctrine of Purgatory In the Greek Church In the Roman Church Distinction between the Doctrine of Purgatory and the speculations of Origen Relation of Origenism to our own belief QUIETISM Relation of the Quietists to Clement Substantial justice of their condemnation Reasonableness Services against Gnosticism, Chiliasm, and Montanism Their Preaching of the Fatherhood of God