The Divine Chorus in Clement of Alexandria’s Thought: A Path to the Great Mysteries

Clement of Alexandria’s mystical teachings on the divine chorus and the great mysteries provide a profound and structured vision of spiritual ascent. These teachings reflect a blend of Platonic and early Christian mystical traditions, offering insights into the journey toward divine truth. In his enlightening paper Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark, Scott Brown explores these connections, highlighting the depth and complexity of Clement’s thought. This post delves into Clement’s conception of the divine chorus and its role in accessing the great mysteries.

The Divine Chorus: Plato vs. Clement

Clement’s idea of the divine chorus shares similarities with Plato’s, yet it also diverges significantly in composition. For Plato, the divine chorus consists of Greek philosophers and pagan gods who have mastered their passions and achieved an ordered, musical, and non-hylic (immortal) state. In contrast, Clement’s divine chorus includes the fellowship of gnostics and angels:

“So is he (the true gnostic) always pure for prayer. He also prays with angels, as being already of angelic rank (ἰσάγελος), and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the holy chorus standing with him (τὸν τῶν ἁγίων χορὸν συνιστάμενον ἔχει)” (Stromateis VII.12.78.6).

While Plato’s chorus imagines a union of philosophers and gods, Clement envisions a communion of gnostics and angels. Despite this difference, both share an experience of the great mysteries of philosophy through prayer and contemplation.

The Great Mysteries and Mystic Exegesis

The Letter to Theodore employs a similar set of interrelated metaphors—adytum, truth veiled in scripture, requisite purity, and initiation in the great mysteries. These metaphors imply that the truth unveiled through mystic exegesis is not meant for everyone but is restricted to those who have achieved a high level of perceptiveness, understanding, internal harmony, self-control, and purity. This level of spiritual and intellectual maturity merits access to the inner sanctuary.

Attaining the Inner Sanctuary

Clement’s teachings emphasize that only true gnostics can access the great mysteries. These individuals have undergone rigorous spiritual and intellectual preparation, purifying themselves and mastering their passions. The inner sanctuary, therefore, is reserved for those who have consecrated their lives to God and achieved a state of internal harmony and purity.

Scott Brown's Insights

Scott Brown’s analysis sheds light on how Clement intertwines Platonic and early Christian mystical traditions to convey the process of spiritual ascent. Brown emphasizes the significance of purity and self-control as prerequisites for accessing the divine truths concealed in scripture, highlighting the exclusive nature of the great mysteries.

For those interested in exploring these themes further, Scott Brown’s paper Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark offers an essential resource. Brown meticulously examines Clement’s cosmology and soteriology, providing readers with a comprehensive perspective on the spiritual ascent envisioned by early Christian mystics.

Conclusion

Clement of Alexandria’s teachings on the divine chorus and the great mysteries offer a rich and detailed vision of spiritual ascent. By connecting Platonic and Christian mystical traditions, Clement provides a structured journey toward the highest forms of knowledge and union with the divine. Scott Brown’s insightful analysis helps us appreciate the depth and complexity of Clement’s mystical theology, offering valuable insights into the hidden mysteries of early Christian spirituality. For a thorough exploration of these profound ideas, Brown’s paper is an invaluable guide.