Chapter 20
The examples from nature
| 1 Οἱ οὐρανοὶ τῇ διοικήσει αὐτοῦ σαλευόμενοι ἐν εἰρήνῃ ὑποτάσσονται αὐτῷ. | The heavens are moved by His direction and obey Him in peace. |
| 2 ἡμέρα τε καὶ νὺξ τὸν τεταγμένον ὑπ' αὐτοῦ δρόμον διανύουσιν, μηδὲν ἀλλήλοις ἐμποδίζοντα. | Day and night complete the course appointed by Him without hindering each other. |
| 3 ἥλιός τε καὶ σελήνη, ἀστέρων τε χοροὶ κατὰ τὴν διαταγὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ δίχα πάσης παρεκβάσεως ἐξελίσσουσιν τοὺς ἐπιτεταγμένους αὐτοῖς ὁρισμούς. | The sun and moon and the chorus of stars unfold in harmony within the courses assigned to them, according to His direction without any deviation at all. |
| 4 γῆ κυοφοροῦσα κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἰδίοις, καιροῖς τὴν πανπληθῆ ἀνθρώποις τε καὶ θηρσὶν καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς οὖσιν ἐπ' αὐτῆς ζώοις ἀνατέλλει τροφήν, μὴ διχοστατοῦσα μηδὲ ἀλλοιοῦσά τι τῶν δεδογματισμένων ὑπ' αὐτοῦ. | The earth, bearing fruit in fulfillment of His will in its proper season, puts forth food that abundantly supplies for both men and animals and all living things which are on it, without dissension and without changing anything which He has decreed. |
| 5 ἀβύσσων τε ἀνεξιχνίαστα καὶ νερτέρων ἀνεκδιήγητα κλίματα τοῖς αὐτοῖς συνέχεται προστάγμασιν. | Also, the incomprehensible depths of the the abysses and the indescribable judgments of the underworld realms are enclosed by the same ordinances. |
| 6 τὸ κύτος τῆς ἀπείρου θαλάσσης κατὰ τὴν δημιουργίαν αὐτοῦ συσταθὲν εἰς τὰς συναγωγὰς οὐ παρεκβαίνει τὰ περιτεθειμένα αὐτῇ κλεῖθρα, ἀλλὰ καθὼς διέταξεν αὐτῇ, οὕτως ποιεῖ. | The basin of the boundless sea is gathered together by His workmanship into its reservoirs doesn’t pass the barriers that surround it for just as He ordained it, that’s what’s done. |
| 7 εἶπεν γάρ· Ἕως ὧδε ἥξεις, καὶ τὰ κύματά σου ἐν σοί συντριβήσεται. | For He said, "Thus far will you come and your waves will break within you" {Job 38:11}. |
| 8 ὠκεανὸς ἀπέραντος ἀνθρώποις καὶ οἱ μετ' αὐτὸν κόσμοι ταῖς αὐταῖς ταγαῖς τοῦ δεσπότου διευθύνονται. | The ocean is impassable by men and the worlds beyond it are directed by by the same ordinances of the Master. |
| 9 καιροὶ ἐαρινοὶ καὶ θερινοὶ καὶ μετοπωρινοὶ καὶ χειμερινοὶ ἐν εἰρήνῃ μεταπαραδιδόασιν ἀλλήλοις. | The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter succeed one another in peace. |
| 10 ἀνέμων σταθμοὶ κατὰ τὸν ἴδιον καιρὸν τὴν λειτουργίαν αὐτῶν ἀπροσκόπως ἐπιτελοῦσιν· ἀέναοί τε πηγαί, πρὸς ἀπόλαυσιν καὶ ὑγείαν δημιουργηθεῖσαι, δίχα ἐλλείψεως παρέχονται τοὺς πρὸς ζωῆς ἀνθρώποις μαζούς· τά τε ἐλάχιστα τῶν ζώων τὰς συνελεύσεις αὐτῶν ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ καὶ εἰρήνῃ ποιοῦνται. |
At the proper season, the winds from their various quarters fulfill their ministry without disturbance.
The ever-flowing streams created for enjoyment and health, give to men their life-sustaining breasts without fail. Yes, even the smallest living things come together in harmony and peace. |
| 11 ταῦτα πάντα ὁ μέγας δημιουργὸς καὶ δεσπότης τῶν ἁπάντων ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ ὁμονοίᾳ προσέταξεν εἶναι, εὐεργετῶν τὰ πάντα, ὑπερεκπερισσῶς δὲ ἡμᾶς τοὺς προσπεφευγότας τοῖς οἰκτιρμοῖς αὐτοῦ διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, | The great Creator and Master of the universe have ordered all these things to be in peace and harmony, doing good to all things, especially to the rest of us who have taken refuge in His compassionate mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ, |
| 12 ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ ἡ μεγαλωσύνη εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν. |
to whom be the glory and the majesty for ever and ever. Amen. |
Summary
In Chapter 20, Clement crafts a magnificent grand synthesis of Stoic-influenced natural philosophy, Jewish creation theology, and Christian doxology. Having commanded the Corinthians to look to the Creator in Chapter 19, he now presents the entire physical universe (κόσμος) as an unbroken, living liturgy of submission to God’s sovereign decree.
From the celestial spheres and planetary orbits to the agricultural seasons, oceanic boundaries, subterranean depths, and even the smallest insects, every tier of creation observes its appointed limits (ὁρισμοί) without rebellion, deviation, or mutual interference (μηδὲν ἀλλήλοις ἐμποδίζοντα).
Clement’s rhetorical purpose is devastatingly clear: if inanimate matter, wild beasts, oceans, and cosmic forces maintain perfect peace (εἰρήνη) and concord (ὁμόνοια) out of obedience to the Creator (ὁ μέγας δημιουργὸς καὶ δεσπότης), how monstrous and unnatural is the factional sedition (στάσις) of the Corinthian Christians who refuse to yield to their ordained elders!
Significant Greek Expressions
τῇ διοικήσει αὐτοῦ... ὑποτάσσονται (By His administration... are subject to Him): Combines dioikēsis (governance, administration, providential management) with hypotassō (to subject oneself / be arranged in orderly rank under authority). Order in creation flows directly from providential governance.
ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ δίχα πάσης παρεκβάσεως (In harmony without any deviation): Employs homonoia (oneness of mind / concord)—Clement’s premier political and ecclesiastical virtue—alongside parekbasis (stepping aside, deviation, transgression). Planets and stars never stray from their assigned orbits, contrasting sharply with the schismatics who crossed the boundary of traditional church order.
μὴ διχοστατοῦσα (Neither dissenting / taking opposite sides): From dichostateō (to stand apart, revolt, cause division). Clement personifies the earth as a faithful subject that never mutinies against God’s agricultural decrees.
ὁ μέγας δημιουργὸς καὶ δεσπότης (The great Creator and Master): Pairs dēmiourgos (a classical Stoic/Platonic term for the divine Artificer or Creator of the universe; cf. Hebrews 11:10) with despotēs (Sovereign Master). Clement harmonizes Hellenistic cosmic terminology with Biblical sovereign theology.
ἀπροσκόπως (Unhindered / without stumbling): An adverb (aproskopōs) describing how the winds fulfill their sacred service (leitourgia). Creation performs its assigned liturgical function without causing offense or obstacle.
τοὺς πρὸς ζωῆς... μαζούς (Breasts for life): A vivid poetic metaphor describing natural water springs (ἀέναοι πηγαί) as nourishing breasts (mazoi) provided continuously (δίχα ἐλλείψεως, without failure) by a benevolent Creator.
οἱ μετ̓ αὐτὸν κόσμοι (The worlds beyond it): A fascinating cosmological expression. Clement reflects ancient geographic and philosophical speculation regarding antipodal or trans-oceanic "worlds" (kosmoi) lying beyond the impassable Atlantic ocean (ὠκεανὸς ἀπέραντος), all remaining under the unified rule of the one Despotēs.
ἡμεῖς οἱ προσπεφευγότες τοῖς οἰκτιρμοῖς αὐτοῦ (We who have fled for refuge to His mercies): Shifts from universal creation to the specific privilege of the Church. Creation experiences God’s general beneficence (euergetōn), but believers who take refuge in Christ experience His grace "far more abundantly" (ὑπερεκπερισσῶς).