Section LXXXVII

That men may escape this sentence, God the Word, Christ, is present to them by his power and graces. He, says Clement of Alexandria¹,

was not only the cause that we should formerly exist—for he was then in God—but also gave us τὸ εὖ εἶναι, well-being, and has now lately appeared to men, who alone is both, God and man, ἁπάντων ἡμῖν αἴτιος ἀγαθῶν, that he might impart to us happiness in every respect. Παρ᾽ οὗ ζῆν ἐκδιδασκόμενοι, εἰς ἀΐδιον ζωὴν παραπεμπόμεθα. For, taught by him to live rightly, we are transmitted to eternal life… For he who from the beginning was Savior has now appeared: he appeared, ὁ ἐν τῷ ὄντι ὤν, he who is Being in Him who is, the Word who was with God and by whom all things were made. Διδάσκαλος ἐπεφάνη, he appeared in the habit of a teacher; and he who, ὡς δημιουργός, as the Maker of the world, gave us life in the first creation, ὡς διδάσκαλος, as teacher, taught us the manner of living well, ἵνα τὸ ἀεὶ ζῆν ὕστερον ὡς θεὸς χορηγήσῃ, that afterward, as God, he might lavish eternal life.

But he has not now for the first time taken pity upon our error, ἀλλ᾽ ἄνωθεν ἀρχῆθεν, but long ago from the beginnings of the world; but now at last, appearing, he liberated those who were to perish from the jaws of destruction. For even unto this day that malignant serpent leads the human race by his deceits into disgraceful and wretched servitude and rages against them after the manner of barbarians, who are said² to bind their captives to the corpses of the dead until they rot together… The same Lord is our one helper and avenger, who from the beginning prophetically announced salvation and now openly invites us to obtain it.

Nor does he invite once or in one manner, but frequently and in many ways:

For our Savior, Clement proceeds³, employs various voices and tries various ways εἰς ἀνθρώπων σωτηρίαν,

that he may save men. While he threatens, he admonishes; while he censures, he corrects; while he mourns, he has mercy… He speaks in Isaiah; he in Elijah; he in the mouth of the Prophets… The Lord himself speaks to thee, who⁴, “although he was in the form of God, did not judge it robbery that he was equal to God, but emptied himself,” ὁ φιλοικτίρμων θεὸς σῶσαι τὸν ἄνθρωπον γλιχόμενος, the merciful God desiring to save man. The Word of God himself therefore speaks openly to thee, that he may strike shame into unbelief. Ναί φημι, ὁ λόγος ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἄνθρωπος γενόμενος· ἵνα δὴ καὶ σὺ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου μάθῃς, πῇ ποτε ἄρα ἄνθρωπος γένηται θεός· εἶτ᾽ οὐκ ἄτοπον, ὦ φίλοι, τὸν μὲν θεὸν ἀεὶ προτρέπειν ἡμᾶς ἐπ᾽ ἀρετήν, ἡμᾶς δὲ ἀναδύεσθαι τὴν ὠφέλειαν, καὶ ἀναβάλλεσθαι τὴν σωτηρίαν; The Word of God, I say, was made man, that thou too mightest learn from man by what art man can be made God. But how preposterous this would be, friends: that while God never ceases to exhort us to virtue, we, having spurned his benefit, should reject the salvation offered!

Especially since

the Holy Spirit, who⁵ is the mouth of the Lord, utters these things⁶: “No longer, son, neglect the chastisement of the Lord, nor fail when thou art reproved by him.” Ὢ τῆς ὑπερβαλλούσης φιλανθρωπίας· οὐδ᾽ ὡς μαθηταῖς ὁ διδάσκαλος, οὐδ᾽ ὡς οἰκέταις ὁ κύριος, οὐδ᾽ ὡς θεὸς ἀνθρώποις, πατὴρ δὲ ὡς ἤπιος νουθετεῖ υἱούς. O incredible love toward men! He does not conduct himself as a master toward disciples, nor as a lord toward servants, nor as God toward men, but as a gentle father admonishes his sons⁷.

Wherefore⁸,

certain men are the more impious, ὅσῳ φιλανθρωπότερος ὁ θεός,

the more benign and humane God is. For when God willed that we should be made sons from servants, οἱ δὲ καὶ υἱοὶ γενέσθαι ὑπερηφανήκασιν, they disdain to be assumed into the number of sons. O incredible madness! Are you ashamed of the Lord? Ἐλευθερίαν ἐπαγγέλλεται· ὑμεῖς δὲ εἰς δουλείαν ἀποδιδράσκετε· σωτηρίαν χαρίζεται· ὑμεῖς δὲ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑποφέρεσθε· ζωὴν δωρεῖται αἰώνιον· ὑμεῖς δὲ τὴν κόλασιν ἀναμένετε καὶ τὸ πῦρ δὲ προσκοπεῖτε, ὃ ἡτοίμασεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. He indeed promises liberty, but you flee into servitude. He lavishes salvation, but you rush into your destruction. He grants eternal life, but you await punishment⁹ and expect that fire which the Lord prepared for the devil and his angels.