SOURCE: “Clement of Alexandria's Attitude toward Greek Philosophy,” in The Phoenix, Supplementary Vol. I, 1952, pp. 139-46.

In the following essay, Muckle discusses Clement's view that philosophy enabled the Greeks to begin the assent to the truth of the Gospel.

It is uncertain where Titus Flavius Clemens (ca.150-ca.216) was born. It is generally considered by scholars today that he was a native¹ of Athens and that he received his early education in that city. After his conversion to Christianity, he travelled considerably, like St. Justin Martyr, seeking a teacher to give him higher instruction. His journeys took him from Greece to Southern Italy, to Palestine, and finally to Egypt, where at Alexandria he found the greatest teacher, likely Pantaenus.²

Clement remained at Alexandria as student and teacher for over twenty years (ca.180-ca.202). Although he himself makes no reference to it, Eusebius³ and St. Jerome⁴ say...