Clement of Alexandria — Stromata 9
Such a fear , accordingly, leads to repentance and hope. Now hope is the expectation of good things, or an expectation sanguine of absent good; and favourable circumstances are assumed in order to good hope, which we have learned leads on to love . Now love turns out to be consent in what pertains to reason, life, and manners, or in brief, fellowship in life, or it is the intensity of friendship and of affection, with right reason, in the enjoyment of associates. And an associate ( ἑταῖρος ) is another self; just as we call those, brethren, who are regenerated by the same word. And akin to love is hospitality, being a congenial art devoted to the treatment of strangers. And those are strangers, to whom the things of the world are strange. For we regard as worldly those, who hope in the earth and carnal lusts .
Be not conformed, says the apostle, to this world: but be transformed in the renewal of the mind , that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God . Romans 12:2 Hospitality, therefore, is occupied in what is useful for strangers; and guests ( ἐπίξενοι ) are strangers ( ξένοι ); and friends are guests; and brethren are friends. Dear brother, says Homer. Philanthropy, in order to which also, is natural affection, being a loving treatment of men , and natural affection, which is a congenial habit exercised in the love of friends or domestics, follow in the train of love . And if the real man within us is the spiritual, philanthropy is brotherly love to those who participate, in the same spirit.
Natural affection, on the other hand, is the preservation of good-will, or of affection; and affection is its perfect demonstration; and to be beloved is to please in behaviour, by drawing and attracting. And persons are brought to sameness by consent, which is the knowledge of the good things that are enjoyed in common. For community of sentiment ( ὁμογνωμοσύνη ) is harmony of opinions ( συμφωνία γνωμῶν ). Let your love be without dissimulation, it is said; and abhorring what is evil , let us become attached to what is good , to brotherly love , and so on, down to If it be possible, as much as lies in you, living peaceably with all men . Then be not overcome of evil , it is said, but overcome evil with good. And the same apostle owns that he bears witness to the Jews , that they have a zeal of God , but not according to knowledge .
For, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God . Romans 10:2-3 For they did not know and do the will of the law; but what they supposed, that they thought the law wished. And they did not believe the law as prophesying, but the bare word; and they followed through fear , not through disposition and faith . For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, Romans 10:4 who was prophesied by the law to every one that believes . Whence it was said to them by Moses , I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are not a people; and I will anger you by a foolish nation, that is, by one that has become disposed to obedience .