Clement of Alexandria: STROMATA (MISCELLANIES), Part II, Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

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For if "by the law is the knowledge of sin," [2686] as those allege who disparage the law, and "till the law sin was in the world;" [2687] yet "without the law sin was dead," [2688] we oppose them. For when you take away the cause of fear, sin, you have taken away fear; and much more, punishment, when you have taken away that which gives rise to lust. "For the law is not made for the just man," [2689] says the Scripture. Well, then, says Heraclitus, "They would not have known the name of Justice if these things had not been." And Socrates says, "that the law was not made for the sake of the good." But the cavillers did not know even this, as the apostle says, "that he who loveth his brother worketh not evil;" for this, "Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal; and if there be any other commandment, it is comprehended in the word, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself." [2690] So also is it said, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." [2691] And "if he that loveth his neighbour worketh no evil," and if "every commandment is comprehended in this, the loving our neighbour," the commandments, by menacing with fear, work love, not hatred. Wherefore the law is productive of the emotion of fear. "So that the law is holy," and in truth "spiritual," [2692] according to the apostle.

[2686] Rom. iii. 20.

[2687] Rom. v. 13.

[2688] Rom. vii. 6.

[2689] 1 Tim. i. 9.

[2690] Rom. xiii. 8-10.

[2691] Luke x. 27.

[2692] Rom. vii. 12, 14.

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