{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/002/0020331.htm","path":"chr/ecf/002/0020331.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/002/0020331.htm","text":"Those, who denounce fear, assail the law; and if the law, plainly also God, who gave the law. For these three elements are of necessity presented in the subject on hand: the ruler, his administration, and the ruled. If, then, according to hypothesis, they abolish the law; then, by necessary consequence, each one who is led by lust, courting pleasure, must neglect what is right and despise the Deity, and fearlessly indulge in impiety and injustice together, having dashed away from the truth.\nYea, say they, fear is an irrational aberration, 2223 and perturbation of mind. What sayest thou? And how can this definition be any longer maintained, seeing the commandment is given me by the Word? But the commandment forbids, hanging fear over the head of those who have incurred 2224 admonition for their discipline.\nFear is not then irrational. It is therefore rational. How could it be otherwise, exhorting as it does, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Than shalt not bear false witness? But if they will quibble about the names, let the philosophers term the fear of the law, cautious fear, (\u03b5\u1f50\u03bb\u03ac\u03b2\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1) p. 355 which is a shunning (\u1f14\u03ba\u03ba\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2) agreeable to reason. Such Critolaus of Phasela not inaptly called fighters about names (\u1f40\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bc\u03ac\u03ba\u03bf\u03b9). The commandment, then, has already appeared fair and lovely even in the highest degree, when conceived under a change of name. Cautious fear (\u03b5\u1f50\u03bb\u03ac\u03b2\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1) is therefore shown to be reasonable, being the shunning of what hurts; from which arises repentance for previous sins. \u201cFor the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; good understanding is to all that do it.\u201d 2225 He calls wisdom a doing, which is the fear of the Lord paving the way for wisdom. But if the law produces fear, the knowledge of the law is the beginning of wisdom; and a man is not wise without law. Therefore those who reject the law are unwise; and in consequence they are reckoned godless (\u1f04\u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03b9). Now instruction is the beginning of wisdom. \u201cBut the ungodly despise wisdom and instruction,\u201d 2226 saith the Scripture.\nLet us see what terrors the law announces. If it is the things which hold an intermediate place between virtue and vice, such as poverty, disease, obscurity, and humble birth, and the like, these things civil laws hold forth, and are praised for so doing. And those of the Peripatetic school, who introduce three kinds of good things, and think that their opposites are evil, this opinion suits. But the law given to us enjoins us to shun what are in reality bad things\u2014adultery, uncleanness, p\u00e6derasty, ignorance, wickedness, soul-disease, death (not that which severs the soul from the body, but that which severs the soul from truth). For these are vices in reality, and the workings that proceed from them are dreadful and terrible. \u201cFor not unjustly,\u201d say the divine oracles, \u201care the nets spread for birds; for they who are accomplices in blood treasure up evils to themselves.\u201d 2227 How, then, is the law still said to be not good by certain heresies that clamorously appeal to the apostle, who says, \u201cFor by the law is the knowledge of sin?\u201d 2228 To whom we say, The law did not cause, but showed sin. For, enjoining what is to be done, it reprehended what ought not to be done. And it is the part of the good to teach what is salutary, and to point out what is deleterious; and to counsel the practice of the one, and to command to shun the other. Now the apostle, whom they do not comprehend, said that by the law the knowledge of sin was manifested, not that from it it derived its existence. And how can the law be not good, which trains, which is given as the instructor (\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c2) to Christ, 2229 that being corrected by fear, in the way of discipline, in order to the attainment of the perfection which is by Christ? \u201cI will not,\u201d it is said, \u201cthe death of the sinner, as his repentance.\u201d 2230 Now the commandment works repentance; inasmuch as it deters 2231 from what ought not to be done, and enjoins good deeds. By ignorance he means, in my opinion, death. \u201cAnd he that is near the Lord is full of stripes.\u201d 2232 Plainly, he, that draws near to knowledge, has the benefit of perils, fears, troubles, afflictions, by reason of his desire for the truth. \u201cFor the son who is instructed turns out wise, and an intelligent son is saved from burning. And an intelligent son will receive the commandments.\u201d 2233 And Barnabas the apostle having said, \u201cWoe to those who are wise in their own conceits, clever in their own eyes,\u201d 2234 added, \u201cLet us become spiritual, a perfect temple to God; let us, as far as in us lies, practice the fear of God, and strive to keep His commands, that we may rejoice in His judgments.\u201d 2235 Whence \u201cthe fear of God\u201d is divinely said to be the beginning of wisdom. 2236\nInstead of \u1f14\u03ba\u03ba\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2, it has been proposed to read \u1f14\u03ba\u03bb\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2, a term applied by the Stoics to fear; but we have \u1f14\u03ba\u03ba\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2 immediately after.\n354:2224\nAccording to the correction and translation of Lowth, who reads \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u1ff6 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03c7\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd instead of \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2, etc., of the text.\n355:2225 355:2226 355:2227\nProv. 1:17, 18, \u201cSurely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird, and they lay wait for their own blood.\u201d\n355:2228 355:2229 355:2230\nEzek. xxxiii. 11, xviii. 23, 32.\n355:2231\nAdopting the conjecture which, by a change from the accusative to the nominative, refers \u201cdeters,\u201d and \u201cenjoins,\u201d to the commandment instead of to repentance, according to the teaching of the text.\n355:2232 355:2233\nProv. 10:4, 5, 8.\n355:2234 355:2235 355:2236","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol II: CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Chapter VII.\u2014The Utility of Fear. Objections Answered.","type":"page"}