Abstract

SOAJE DE ELIAS, Raquel. Urbanity and Morality in The Pedagogue of Clement of Alexandria: The Contribution of Biblical Wisdom. Scripta Mediaevalia [online]. 2018, vol.11, n.1, pp.39-69. ISSN 1851-8753.

It is a known fact that the Christianity of the first three centuries, expanded as a mainly urban cult, which is an important factor for the analysis of the assimilation of evangelical teachings by the urban layers of the population of the Roman Empire. In this context, this work focuses on the study of urbanity in the work The Pedagogue of Clement of Alexandria, in order to analyze the contribution of the Holy Scriptures in the design of an ideal Christian model, appropriate for the refined elite of the catechetical school of Alexandria, mostly of Greek descent. Secondly, an attempt is made to investigate how Clement reconciles this urbanity with Christian morality, using the Greek mold of παιδεία. It is not only about recommendations of a social or moral nature, that induce his disciples to act according to the teachings of the Pedagogue to identify themselves as Christians, but rather a deeper manifestation that translates into the Christian virtue of charity, which elevates the mere external forms of behavior towards a supernatural plane, giving them a superior sense in order to achieve salvation.

Keywords : Clement of Alexandria; Urbanity; Morality; Wisdom; biblical.