Clement of Alexandria — Commentary on Scripture

1 Peter 1:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by His great mercy has regenerated us." For if God generated us of matter, He afterwards, by progress in life, regenerated us.

"The Father of our Lord, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" who, according to your faith, rises again in us; as, on the other hand, He dies in us, through the operation of our unbelief. For He said again, that the soul never returns a second time to the body in this life; and that which has become angelic does not become unrighteous or evil, so as not to have the opportunity of again sinning by the assumption of flesh; but that in the resurrection the soul returns to the body, and both are joined to one another according to their peculiar nature, adapting themselves, through the composition of each, by a kind of congruity like a building of stones.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:6

Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than that of gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ; whom, having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

The Stromata Book 4

1 Peter 1:9

"For you," he says, "who are kept by the power of God, by faith and contemplation, to receive the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls." Hence it appears that the soul is not naturally immortal; but is made immortal by the grace of God, through faith and righteousness, and by knowledge. "Of which salvation," he says, "the prophets have inquired and searched diligently," and what follows. It is declared by this that the prophets spake with wisdom, and that the Spirit of Christ was in them, according to the possession of Christ, and in subjection to Christ. For God works through archangels and kindred angels, who are called spirits of Christ.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:10

"Of which salvation," he says, [1 Peter 1:10] "the prophets have inquired and searched diligently," and what follows. It is declared by this that the prophets spoke with wisdom, and that the Spirit of Christ was in them, according to the possession of Christ, and in subjection to Christ. For God works through archangels and kindred angels, who are called spirits of Christ.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:11

Here is it stated that the prophets spoke with wisdom and that the Spirit of God was in them because they belonged and were subject to Christ. For the Lord works through archangels and their associate angels, who are called the spirit of Christ.

From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:12

But on the other side hear the Saviour: "I regenerated thee, who wert ill born by the world to death. I emancipated, healed, ransomed thee. I will show thee the face of the good Father God. Call no man thy father on earth. Let the dead bury the dead; but follow thou Me. For I will bring thee to a rest of ineffable and unutterable blessings, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of men; into which angels desire to look, and see what good things God hath prepared for the saints and the children who love Him."

Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?

1 Peter 1:12

"Which are now," he says, [1 Peter 1:12] "reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you." The old things which were done by the prophets and escape the observation of most, are now revealed to you by the evangelists. "For to you," he says, "they are manifested by the Holy Ghost, who was sent;" that is the Paraclete, of whom the Lord said, "If I go not away, He will not come." [John 16:7] "Unto whom," it is said, "the angels desire to look;" not the apostate angels, as most suspect, but, what is a divine truth, angels who desire to obtain the advantage of that perfection.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:14

And Peter in his epistle says the same: "So that your faith and hope may be in God, because you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth," "as obedient children, not behaving after the fashion of the lusts in which in your ignorance you formerly indulged; but as he who has called you is holy, so also must you be holy in all your conduct; as it is written, Be ye holy for I am holy."

The Stromata Book 3

1 Peter 1:17

Knowing, then, the duty of each, "pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: for as much as ye know that ye were not deemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The Instructor Book 3

1 Peter 1:19

"By precious blood," he says, [1 Peter 1:19] "as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Here he touches on the ancient Levitical and sacerdotal celebrations; but means a soul pure through righteousness which is offered to God.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:20

"Verily foreknown before the foundation of the world." [1 Peter 1:20] Inasmuch as He was foreknown before every creature, because He was Christ. "But manifested in the last times" by the generation of a body.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:23

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed." The soul, then, which is produced along with the body is corruptible, as some think.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 1:25

"But the word of the Lord," he says, "endures for ever:" as well prophecy as divine doctrine.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 2:1

Wherefore also Peter says: "Laying therefore aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envy, and evil speaking, as new-born babes, desire the milk of the word, that ye may grow by it to salvation; if ye have tasted that the Lord is Christ."

The Instructor Book 1

1 Peter 2:5

He dwells on the earth clothed in flesh, and His abode with men is effected by the conjunction and harmony which obtains among the righteous, and which build and rear a new temple. For the righteous are the earth, being still encompassed with the earth; and earth, too, in comparison with the greatness of the Lord. Thus also the blessed Peter hesitates not to say, "You also, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy temple, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." [1 Peter 2:5]

Fragments Not Given in the Oxford Edition

1 Peter 2:5

Peter says, [1 Peter 2:5] "You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house;" meaning the place of the angelic abode, guarded in heaven. "For you," he says, "who are kept by the power of God, by faith and contemplation, to receive the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Hence it appears that the soul is not naturally immortal; but is made immortal by the grace of God, through faith and righteousness, and by knowledge.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood." [1 Peter 2:9] That we are a chosen race by the election of God is abundantly clear. He says royal, because we are called to sovereignty and belong to Christ; and priesthood on account of the oblation which is made by prayers and instructions, by which are gained the souls which are offered to God.

(as quoted by Cassiodorus) From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus

1 Peter 2:11

So also the admirable Peter says: "Beloved, I exhort you as strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from carnal lusts, which war against the soul, and conduct yourselves well among the heathen; for this is the will of God that by doing good you should put to silence the activity of foolish men, as free and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as God's slaves."

The Stromata Book 3

1 Peter 2:12

Above all, we are to keep in mind what was spoken sacredly: "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by the good works which they behold, glorify God."

The Instructor Book 3

1 Peter 2:18

For as it is enjoined on them, "to be subject to their masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward," as Peter says; so fairness, and forbearance, and kindness, are what well becomes the masters.

The Instructor Book 3