Christ the Educator

Chapter 8

CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 233 Chapter 8 (41 ) If any of you will completely avoid self-indulgence by the careful cultivation of frugality, he will be developing a habit of enduring involuntary hardships readily. If he makes a further practise of looking on voluntary sufferings as a training for persecution, then when he is confronted with labors and fears and pains he cannot evade, he will not be unpractised in steadfastness. We have no fatherland on earth, that we may learn to despise earthly possessions. Therefore, frugality is exceedingly rich, for it is a quality that is not at all reluctant to spend money on things it requires and that need to be paid for, for as long a time as the need exists. The word payment implies the notion of expenses. Now how the husband and wife should live together, the nature of self-service and management of the home, the use of servants, and in addition, the time for marriage and the things becoming to wives, all these we will explain in a treatise on married life.1 Now we are treating only of the things proper to our education, stressing the life Christians should live, in general outline. The greater part, indeed, has been said or taught already, but we shall discuss now what is still left. No small influence upon salvation is exerted by examples. 'See,' the tragedian remarks, 'Telemachus did not kill the wife of Odysseus, because she did not wed another husband in addition to the one she had, but kept the marriage chamber in her house intact.'2 He condemns adultery as immoral by presenting us with a beautiful image of chastity in love for a husband. Again, the Spartans used to compel the Helots (that is the name of their servants) to get drunk while they 1 Cf. above, p. 139 n. 12. 2 Euripides, Orestes 588·590. 234 CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA themselves remained sober, then they would point to their drunken deeds as a cure and correction for themselves. (42) They disciplined themselves by watching the misconduct of these servants at close range, that they might not fall into similar misbehavior, and drew the useful moral of keeping themselves free of blame. Some men are saved by being taught; others, by teaching themselves. They must earnestly strive either to acquire virtue or, at least, to find instruction. 'He is best of all who understands all things by his own efforts.'3 Such a man was Abraham, who ever sought after God. 'And noble, too, is he who listens carefully to one who speaks well.' Such are the disciples who listened to the Word; therefore, the first one heard himself called a friend, and the others, apostles, because the one concerned himself about the one and same God, and the others preached Him; yet, both were good. There are disciples, in turn, of both of these: those who gain profit in seeking and those who gain salvation in finding. But, 'he who neither understands by his own efforts, nor lays up to heart what he hears from another, is a man of no account.' This is the sort the pagans are, of no account. It is they who do not follow Christ. (43) The benign Educator bestows aid on us in different ways, now offering advice, now rebuke; He holds up to us the dishonor reaped by those who have sinned, and reveals the punishment they have merited, both to attract our notice and to warn us. In this way does He devise a gentle means of restraining us from evil, by such a picture of those who have already suffered. He forcibly deters those who are bent on evil by these images, hinders some who are ready to dare similar crimes, strengthens others in their endurance, draws 3 This and the following two quotations are from Hesiod. Op. 293. 295·297. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 235 still others from evil, and heals many, converting them to a better life by letting them see such an image. For, who is there who, following someone down a path and seeing him fall into a ditch, would not be careful not to stumble over the same obstacle, and would not avoid the consequences of sin?4 Again, what athlete intent upon the path of glory, who sees a contestant before him receive a prize, will not also desire the crown, and imitate his predecessor...