New "Deep Dive" Podcast Episode 18: Was There a Collection of Letters at the End of the Original Stromateis? (Part Five)

Podcast 18 

Summary 

The text presents a detailed analysis of Clement of Alexandria's Stromateis, a complex and enigmatic work, and argues that its original conclusion may have included a series of epistles, with To Theodore being one of them. Scholars debate the authenticity of To Theodore, with some seeing it as a later forgery and others suggesting that it complements the Stromateis' structure and themes. The text examines this debate through the lens of Clement's relationship to Platonic thought and the history of epistolary conclusions in philosophical writing. It suggests that Clement's Stromateis was a deliberate attempt to establish Christianity as a philosophically robust system comparable to the great philosophical traditions of the time, and that his use of epistles may have been a strategic tool for engaging in a broader intellectual and theological dialogue. 

The debate concerning the authenticity of To Theodore significantly impacts how scholars understand Clement of Alexandria's Stromateis. 

● If To Theodore is an authentic letter written by Clement, it suggests that he intended his work to have a cohesive structure and conclusion, potentially mirroring the format of Plato's corpus, including his collection of letters. It would mean that the Stromateis was not simply a collection of random notes and reflections but a carefully planned work with a specific argumentative trajectory. 

● Itter's analysis of To Theodore reveals a complex mystagogical framework, particularly the concept of "seven veils," which he argues aligns with the seven books of the Stromateis. This perspective suggests that the letter was not a standalone piece but an integral part of a larger, structured work meant to guide the reader through stages of initiation and purification, culminating in esoteric teachings. This interpretation positions the Stromateis as a sophisticated and systematic text with a hidden layer of meaning. 

● Conversely, arguments against the authenticity of To Theodore, such as Osborn's analysis of its thematic connections to the Stromateis, raise questions about the originality of Clement's work. Osborn argues that the letter's seamless continuation of arguments and themes from the Stromateis suggests it was forged after the work's publication. This perspective challenges the idea of Clement as an innovative thinker, implying that he might have heavily borrowed from existing traditions and possibly distorted Christian teachings to fit into a Platonic framework. 

● The ongoing stylometric analyses of To Theodore, as exemplified by Tuccinardi and Quesnell's work, further complicate the matter. These studies highlight the difficulty in definitively determining the letter's authenticity based solely on linguistic similarities to Clement's other works. The absence of a larger collection of Clement's letters hinders a conclusive comparison and raises the possibility that To Theodore, even if authentic, might represent a distinct style used for specific purposes, such as private or public correspondence. 

● The debate ultimately forces a reconsideration of Clement's intentions and the nature of the Stromateis. It prompts questions about whether Clement aimed to create a truly original Christian philosophy or adapt existing frameworks, such as Platonism, to present Christianity in a way that appealed to the intellectual elite of his time. The Stromateis can be viewed as either a groundbreaking synthesis of Christian thought and Greek philosophy or a potentially reactionary attempt to legitimize Christianity by aligning it with prevailing philosophical trends. 

The lack of a definitive answer regarding the authenticity of To Theodore leaves room for multiple interpretations of the Stromateis. Scholars and readers must grapple with questions surrounding Clement's originality, his potential motivations for adopting a Platonic approach, and the overall structure and purpose of the Stromateis.