Davide Dainese - Clement of Alexandria's Refusal of Valentinian ἀπόρροια

In the works of Clement of Alexandria the term “ἀπόρροια” has two different meanings, located in Strom. V (anthropological meaning) and in Fr. 23 (trinitarian meaning).

The first passage rejects the valentinian concept of ἀπόρροια, which Clement seems to replace, in Strom. VI, 16, 134-137, by the notion of “ἰδίωμα χαρακτηριστικόν of the Holy Spirit”. He chooses this solution to avoid problems posed by valentinian anthropology, conceiving an ontological relation between human soul and Holy Spirit. I will show how Clement develops his idea of participation in the Holy Spirit as he matures, resulting in his doctrine of the soul. Clement’s refusal of valentinian ἀπόρροια is noteworthy because this term will play a crucial role in Origen, and not only in his trinitarian doctrine (Clement’s Fr. 23), but also in his ecclesiology and anthropology. Hence that indicates an important difference between Clement and Origen, since it loosens the connection between the two authors.