Theology 101: Christ vs. Greek philosophy, Calvin vs. Clement

Clement of Alexandria. Engraving: Public domain.

In the Presbyterian Church (USA), we often remind ourselves that faith seeks understanding.

From the earliest centuries of the Church, Christians have wrestled with an important question, “How does our faith relate to human wisdom, philosophy, and reason?”

Clement of Alexandria was an early Christian teacher who lived around the year 150 to 215. He lived in a world shaped by Greek philosophy, especially the writings of Plato and the Stoics.

Instead of rejecting philosophy, Clement believed it was a gift from God. Just as the Law of Moses prepared the Jews for Christ, he believed philosophy prepared the Greeks.

Clement taught that Christ is the eternal Word, or Logos, so any truth discovered by philosophers really came from Christ.

He thought philosophy trained the mind and helped believers think more clearly, but it always had to be completed in Jesus.

For Clement, philosophy was like a teacher that could guide people closer to the fullness of truth found in Christ.

The Reformation leaders came centuries later and had a different view.

John Calvin, who lived from 1509 to 1564, valued learning but was much more careful about philosophy. He said human reason is useful in many areas, such as medicine, government, and everyday life. However, when it comes to knowing God, reason by itself is blind.

Calvin believed that God placed a natural sense of the divine in every human being, which is why philosophers sometimes discovered truths about God and morality.

But he also warned that because of human sin, philosophy can never bring us into saving knowledge of God. Only Scripture, through the work of the Holy Spirit, can do that.

Calvin respected the early Church Fathers but believed some, like Clement, leaned too much on philosophy. For him, philosophy had value, but it had to remain a servant of theology and not become its master.

What does this mean for us today?

We can follow Clement in recognizing that all truth belongs to God. When philosophers, scientists, or artists discover something true, it is Christ’s truth, even if they do not realize it.

At the same time, we can follow Calvin by remembering that only the Word of God can bring us into a saving relationship with Christ.

Human reason can help us think well, but it can never take the place of Scripture.

As the Church, this balance is part of our Reformed tradition.

We value learning.

We ask hard questions.

We use reason as a gift.

Yet we also remember that our faith rests not on human wisdom, but on the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

On a separate note…

By the way, Clement of Alexandria held a remarkable view for his time. He believed that men and women were created equal in the eyes of God and should share equally in the life of the church.

Clement wrote that salvation and spiritual growth are open to both sexes in the same way, and that women are called to the same virtues and responsibilities as men.

He even argued that women should be able to take part in leadership within the Christian community.

This was unusual in the ancient world, where women were often kept from positions of authority.

Clement’s teaching shows us that the idea of equality between men and women has deep roots in Christian history.

For us today, it is a reminder that the gifts of the Spirit are given to all, and that the body of Christ is strongest when every voice and every leader is welcomed.