Clement of
IN DEFENSE OF GREEK LEARNING
The Greeks should not be condemned by those who have merely glanced at their writings, for comprehension of these works requires careful investigation. Philosophy is not the originator of false practices and base deeds as some have calumniated it; nor does it beguile us and lead us away from faith.
Rather philosophy is a clear image of truth, a divine gift to the Greeks.
Before the advent of the Lord, philosophy helped the Greeks to attain
righteousness, and it is now conducive to piety; it supplies a preparatory
teaching for those who will later embrace the faith. God is the cause of all
good things: some given primarily in the form of the Old and the New Testament;
others are the consequence of philosophy. Perchance too philosophy was given to
the Greeks primarily till the Lord should call the Greeks to serve him, Thus
philosophy acted as a schoolmaster to the Greeks, preparing them for Christ, as
the laws of the Jews prepared them for Christ.
The way of truth is one. But into it, as into a perennial river, streams flow
from all sides. We assert that philosophy, which is characterized by
investigation into the form and nature of things, is the truth of which the
Lord Himself said, “I am the truth.” Thus Greek preparatory culture, including
philosophy itself, is shown to have come down from God to men.
Some do not wish to touch either philosophy or logic or to learn natural
science. They demand bare faith alone, as if they wished, without bestowing any
care on the vine, straightway to gather clusters from the first. I call him
truly learned who brings everything to bear on the truth; so that from
geometry, music, grammar, and philosophy itself, he culls what is useful and
guards the faith against assault. And he who brings everything to bear on a
right life, learning from Greeks and non-Greeks, this man is an experienced
searcher after truth. And how necessary it is for him who
desires to be partaker of the power of God to treat of intellectual subjects by
philosophising.
According to some, Greek philosophy apprehended the truth accidentally, dimly,
partially. Others will have it that Greek philosophy was instituted by the
devil. Several hold that certain powers descending from heaven inspired the
whole of philosophy. But if Greek philosophy does not comprehend the whole of
truth and does not encompass God’s commandments, yet it prepares the way for
God’s teachings; training in some way or other, molding character, and fitting
him who believes in