Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 2) - XVIII - Book V of 'The stromata or miscellanies'

Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 2) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Book 5 of 'The stromata or miscellanies'.

My summary
Firstly today Clement spoke about the importance of faith and hope, for both Christians and Greeks.

Then Clement looks at symbols in both the Old Testament and pagan writings which were in fact prophecies about Christ.

To end the Book, Clement quotes at length from both the Old Testament and the Greeks to demonstrate Greek plagiarism from the Hebrews.

What grabbed me
I'm a bit sceptical about the allegorical interpretations.  And the parallels between the Bible and pagan works.

But I did enjoy the description of Christian faith at the beginning of the Book: 'Of the Gnostic so much has been cursorily, as it were, written. We proceed now to the sequel, and must again contemplate faith; for there are some that draw the distinction, that faith has reference to the Son, and knowledge to the Spirit. But it has escaped their notice that, in order to believe truly in the Son, we must believe that He is the Son, and that He came, and how, and for what, and respecting His passion; and we must know who is the Son of God. Now neither is knowledge without faith, nor faith without knowledge. Nor is the Father without the Son; for the Son is with the Father. And the Son is the true teacher respecting the Father; and that we may believe in the Son, we must know the Father, with whom also is the Son. Again, in order that we may know the Father, we must believe in the Son, that it is the Son of God who teaches; for from faith to knowledge by the Son is the Father.'

A very good presentation of what a Christian must believe.

Next week's reading
Commence Book 6 of 'The stromata or miscellanies' by reading Chapters 1 to 8.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.