Ascending the Mysteries: Clement of Alexandria's Visionary Journey

The ancient mysteries, both lesser and great, played a significant role in shaping early Christian thought, particularly through the writings of Clement of Alexandria. In his detailed exploration, Scott Brown delves into these themes in his paper Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark, providing insights into how Clement adapted these concepts to describe a spiritual ascent towards divine truth.

The Ascent through the Mysteries

Clement’s depiction of the initiation process as an ascent reflects a journey from the material cosmos to higher, divine truths. This metaphorical rising above the earth is evident in his writings, where he illustrates the initiate's progression from understanding the material world to contemplating spiritual realities (e.g., Strom. VI.10.80.3). This ascent is not just a physical journey but a profound intellectual and spiritual transformation.

Philo of Alexandria, another influential thinker, eloquently describes this ascent:

"And again, being raised up on wings, and so surveying and contemplating the air, and all the commotions to which it is subject, it [the human mind] is borne upwards to the higher firmament, and to the revolutions of the heavenly bodies. And also being itself involved in the revolutions of the planets and fixed stars according to the perfect laws of music, and being led on by love, which is the guide of wisdom, it proceeds onwards till, having surmounted all essence intelligible by the external senses, it comes to aspire to such as is perceptible only by the intellect: and perceiving in that, the original models and ideas of those things intelligible by the external senses which it saw here full of surpassing beauty, it becomes seized with a sort of sober intoxication like the zealots engaged in the Corybantian festivals, and yields to enthusiasm, becoming filled with another desire, and a more excellent longing, by which it is conducted onwards to the very summit of such things as are perceptible only to the intellect, till it appears to be reaching the great King himself." (Opif. 23.70–71)

Metaphor and Reality in Ascent

As Charles L. Quarles notes, Philo's depiction of this ascent is largely metaphorical, representing the intellectual and spiritual journey of the mind rather than a literal voyage through the heavens. This extended metaphor encapsulates the elation and rapture of being deeply engrossed in intellectual contemplation, detached from the mundane troubles of the world.

Similarly, Clement’s use of heavenly ascent imagery, especially when applied to living humans, is mainly literary and conventional. It signifies progression in virtue and knowledge and advancement within the ecclesiastical hierarchy. However, Clement's descriptions of the soul’s ascent after death are often highly mystical and unconventional, reflecting genuine mystical experiences that he believed the soul could encounter both in life and after death. These mystical and visionary aspects of the great mysteries highlight a duality in Clement’s thought: while the ascent imagery is largely metaphorical for the living, it also points to a profound, mystical reality awaiting the soul.

Scott Brown's Insights

Scott Brown's research emphasizes the nuanced understanding of these spiritual journeys in Clement's teachings. Brown points out that Clement's descriptions, while often metaphorical, also contain a deeply mystical and visionary dimension, particularly regarding the soul's experience after death. This dual nature underscores the complexity of Clement’s mystical theology and his vision of the soul’s ultimate union with the divine.

For a more comprehensive exploration of these themes, Scott Brown’s paper Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark offers an in-depth analysis. Brown's meticulous scholarship illuminates the intricate connections between Greek philosophical traditions and early Christian mysticism, enriching our understanding of Clement's visionary ascent.

Conclusion

The metaphorical ascent through the mysteries, as depicted by Clement and Philo, illustrates a profound journey of intellectual and spiritual transformation. Clement’s writings bridge Greek philosophical traditions and early Christian thought, offering a vision of the soul’s ascent to divine truths. Scott Brown’s insightful analysis helps us appreciate the depth and complexity of these ancient teachings, revealing the mystical and visionary aspects of Clement’s theology.