The Concept of Veiling in Clement’s Works

Clement of Alexandria often spoke about the necessity of veiling deeper truths to protect them from misunderstanding or misuse. This veiling serves to ensure that only those who are adequately prepared and initiated can grasp the deeper, more esoteric meanings.

The Stromateis and Veiled Wisdom

1. Introduction to the Stromateis:
   • The opening line of the Stromateis refers to it as a collection of notes on true philosophy ("τῶν κατὰ τὴν ἀληθῆ φιλοσοφίαν γνωστικῶν ὑπομνημάτων στρωματεῖς"). The very nature of the work, as suggested by its title (which means "patchwork" or "miscellanies"), indicates a deliberate veiling or scattering of deeper truths.
2. Method of Instruction:
   • Clement's pedagogical method involves concealing the full extent of knowledge, revealing it only to those who are capable of understanding it. He believed that true wisdom should be imparted gradually and carefully.

The Letter to Theodore and the Secret Gospel of Mark

1. Guarding the True Exegesis:

   • The last line of the Letter to Theodore states: "Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἀληθὴς καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἀληθῆ φιλοσοφίαν ἐξήγησις" (This, then, is the true and accurate explanation according to the true philosophy).
   • This suggests that the interpretation provided in the letter is aligned with the principles of true philosophy, which, as per Clement, involves a certain level of concealment and esoteric knowledge.

2. Parallel with Stromateis:

   • The reference to "true philosophy" in both the Letter to Theodore and the opening of the Stromateis suggests a deliberate connection. The true exegesis of the Secret Gospel of Mark is to be understood within the framework of true philosophy, which Clement presents in a veiled, patchwork manner in the Stromateis.

Implications of This Interpretation

1. Esoteric Teaching:

   • The true exegesis of the Secret Gospel of Mark is not to be taken at face value but understood through a deeper, more philosophically rigorous approach that Clement advocates. This involves discerning the hidden meanings and the esoteric wisdom that are not immediately apparent.

2. Protection of Sacred Knowledge:

   • Just as the Stromateis veils true philosophical knowledge to protect it from the uninitiated, the Letter to Theodore indicates that the true interpretation of the Secret Gospel is also veiled. This protects the sacred knowledge from being misunderstood or misused.

3. Gradual Revelation:

   • Those who seek to understand the Secret Gospel must approach it with the same seriousness and readiness as those studying the Stromateis. The truths are revealed gradually, to those who show themselves capable of understanding them.

The connection between the last line of the Letter to Theodore and the first line of the Stromateis implies that the true exegesis of the Secret Gospel of Mark is to be guarded and understood in the manner of the veiling shown in the Stromateis. This means that deeper spiritual truths are concealed to protect them, and are revealed only to those who are adequately prepared to understand them through true philosophy. This interpretation emphasizes Clement's commitment to the esoteric tradition and the careful dissemination of sacred knowledge.