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This Lux Patrum volume presents The Instructor (Paedagogus) by Clement of Alexandria, one of the foundational works of early Christian moral and spiritual formation, in a carefully produced Greek–English facing-page edition. Written at the turn of the third century, The Instructor offers a distinctive vision of the Christian life ordered by reason, virtue, and the healing discipline of Christ the divine Teacher.

In this work, Clement presents Christ as the true Paedagogus, who trains believers in habits of self-control, moderation, and charity across every aspect of daily life—food, drink, clothing, speech, sexuality, and social conduct. Drawing deeply on Scripture while engaging classical philosophy and Greco-Roman ethical discourse, Clement articulates a profoundly incarnational account of Christian ethics, in which bodily practices are integral to spiritual formation.

The English translation is the classic version by W. L. Alexander, valued for its fidelity to the Greek and clarity of expression, here presented alongside the modern critical Greek text. This bilingual format enables readers to study Clement’s nuanced ethical reasoning and distinctive theological vocabulary directly in the original language, while also remaining accessible to students and nonspecialists.

Praise for Lux Patrum:

“Scholars and students in the Anglo-sphere have long lacked a reliable and easily accessible text and translation of the Dionysian corpus. Here the critical text is placed side by side with the under-appreciated translation of John Parker. This handsome and sturdy volume will be of immense value for all who teach and study these elegant and vital texts.”

– Lewis Ayres, The University of St Thomas (Angelicum) & Durham University, UK

“The Lux Patrum reprint of the literary corpus of Dionysius the Areopagite, which includes the original Greek text as well as John Parker’s expert translation, makes for a handsome volume and is a true gift to scholars of early Greek Christianity. It will undoubtedly enhance continuing investigation of the Dionysian corpus, with its profound legacies both East and West.“

– Paul Blowers, Milligan University