The Great Mysteries and the Innermost Sanctuary: Clement of Alexandria’s Vision

Clement of Alexandria’s mystical teachings present a profound vision of spiritual ascent, where the initiation into the great mysteries is intertwined with entering the innermost sanctuary of divine truth. In his comprehensive paper Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark, Scott Brown explores these complex connections, providing valuable insights into Clement’s thought. This post delves into how Clement connects the great mysteries with the metaphorical innermost sanctuary, highlighting the significance of purity and spiritual preparation.

The Overlap of Great Mysteries and the Innermost Sanctuary

In Stromateis V.4.19.1—20.1, Clement makes it clear that the contents of the great mysteries and the metaphorical innermost sanctuary are effectively the same: the immaterial cosmos. To be initiated into the great mysteries is to enter the innermost sanctuary and perceive its contents through the allegorical exegesis of the scriptures. The Letter to Theodore brings these ideas together cryptically, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual readiness to access these divine truths.

Allegorical Exegesis and Spiritual Ascent

Clement uses allegorical exegesis to unveil the divine truths hidden in scriptures. He describes the uninitiated as blind and deaf, unable to understand or perceive the sacred truths. This lack of spiritual insight is likened to those who are out of tune, disorderly, and hylic—focused on material rather than spiritual matters. Clement stresses that only those who have undergone purification and prior instruction can approach the divine mysteries.

The Necessity of Purity

Clement highlights the importance of purity for accessing divine truths. He writes:

“For it is not proper,” as it seemed to Plato, “for (the) impure to come in contact with pure” (Phaedo 67b1–2).

This notion finds its counterpart in the saying “All things are pure to the pure” (Titus 1:15), quoted in the Letter to Theodore. In both texts, sanctuary and veil are metaphors for divine truths concealed in scriptural symbolism. To approach this sanctuary and remove the concealing veils, one must be pure, having consecrated one’s life to God and purged oneself of worldly passions—a process equated with the completion of the lesser mysteries.

Points of Contact with the Letter to Theodore

Clement’s passage in Stromateis has several points of contact with the Letter to Theodore:

1. Mystery-initiation and inner sanctuary metaphors: Both texts use these metaphors to describe the spiritual journey.
2. Expression “the innermost sanctuary of the truth”: This phrase highlights the ultimate goal of spiritual ascent.
3. Image of the truth being veiled: Both texts emphasize the hidden nature of divine truths.
4. Plato’s notion of purity: The idea that only the pure can access the divine is central to both texts.

Conclusion

Clement of Alexandria’s teachings on the great mysteries and the innermost sanctuary offer a rich and detailed vision of spiritual ascent. By connecting the initiation into the great mysteries with the process of entering the innermost sanctuary, Clement provides a structured journey toward divine union. 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 Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark is an invaluable guide.