Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor 1.12

Since we have already worked through these matters, it is fitting for us to set out the true life that has been formed in us by our Pedagogue Jesus, and the man in Christ. His character is not overwhelmingly frightening, nor is it altogether relaxed through kindness. He both commands and gives shape to the commandments in such a way that we are able to carry them out. It seems to me that He Himself formed the man from earth, regenerated him with water, made him grow by the Spirit, and educated him by the Word, guiding him toward adoption and salvation with holy commandments, so that, having transformed the man from the ground into a holy and heavenly being, He might fulfill that divine utterance: "Let us make man according to our image and likeness" (Gen 1:26). Christ has become the full realization of what God spoke, whereas the other man is regarded only in the image. But we, children of a good Father, nurslings of a good Pedagogue, let us fulfill the Father's will, let us listen to the Word, and let us truly follow the saving life of our Savior. From this point on, as we practice the heavenly citizenship by which we are deified, let us anoint ourselves with the chrism of everlasting joy and imperishable fragrance, having the Lord's citizenship as a manifest example of incorruptibility and following the footsteps of God — to whom alone it belongs to consider and to care how and in what way the life of human beings might become healthier. He also prepares us for the self-sufficiency of life and for freedom from excess, and for a ready and easy journey toward an eternity of well-being, teaching each of us to be his own steward. "Do not be anxious about tomorrow," He says, declaring that the life enrolled in Christ must be self-sufficient and self-serving and also day-by-day. For we are educated not in war but in peace. War indeed demands great preparation, and luxury requires lavish outlay; but peace and love, unencumbered and untroubled sisters, need no arms and no wasteful preparation. Their nourishment is the Word, the Word entrusted with the indicative and pedagogical rule, from which we learn what is inexpensive and unpretentious, what is whole and philanthropic and loving of beauty, being conformed to God by one Word in familiarity with virtue. But work at it and do not grow weary; for you will become such as you do not hope, nor can you imagine. Just as there is one sort of training for philosophers, another for orators, and another for athletes, so a noble disposition, suited to a love of beauty, arises from the pedagogy of Christ; and the serious and dignified actions of the life are in harmony with journey and rest, food and sleep, bed and diet, and the rest of the education. For this sort of training is not overstrained but well-tempered. Therefore the Word is also called Savior, because He discovered rational medicines for human beings toward sensitivity and salvation, watching for the opportune moment, convicting of harm, explaining the causes of the passions, cutting out the roots of irrational desires, commanding what must be avoided, and offering all the antidotes of salvation to the sick — for this is the greatest and most kingly work of God, to save humanity. Patients do not resent the physician who advises nothing for their health; how then shall we not acknowledge the greatest gratitude to the divine Pedagogue, who does not keep silent nor pass over the disobediences that lead to destruction, but convicts them, severs the impulses that stretch toward them, and teaches the submissions that lead to the right citizenship? We must therefore acknowledge the greatest gratitude to Him. For what else do we say the rational animal — I mean the human being — needs, except to behold the divine? And to behold human nature, I say, one must live as truth guides, having embraced the Pedagogue Himself and His commandments in a superhuman way, as is fitting and harmonious with each other; according to that image we also, having been harmonized with them, must conform ourselves to the Pedagogue, making the Word harmonious with our deeds, to live in being.