How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
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Clement Of Alexandria
AD 215
Ab omni cupid irate, et"emundare conscientiam a mortuis operibus, ad serviendum Deo viventi."
Nor was he content with the name, but he sets forth also the manner of the offering. Who (he says) through the Holy Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, that is, the victim was without blemish, pure from sins. For this is [the meaning of] through the Holy Spirit, not through fire, nor through any other things.
Shall purge your conscience (he says) from dead works. And well said he from dead works; if any man touched a dead body, he was polluted; and here, if any man touch a dead work, he is defiled through his conscience. To serve (he says) the Living and true God. Here he declares that it is not [possible] while one has dead works to serve the Living and true God, for they are both dead and false; and with good reason [he says this].
6. Let no man then enter in here with dead works. For if it was not fit that one should enter in who had touched a dead body, much more one that has dead works: for this is the most grievous pollution. And dead works are, all which have not l...
435. – Having shown the signification of things pertaining to the Old Testament and the first tabernacle, the Apostle now describes the condition of things pertaining to the second tabernacle, which represented the New Testament. Here he does two things: first, he sets forth that signification; secondly, he proves something he had presupposed (v. 13).
436. – It should be noted that if the things already said are considered, five things have already been said of the second tabernacle, namely, who entered it, because it was the high priest; secondly, the dignity and the condition of the place he entered, because it was called the holy of holies; thirdly, how he entered, because he entered with blood; fourthly, when he entered, because once a year; fifthly, why he entered, because it was to expiate for sins. But here the Apostle explains all this, first of all, who enters, namely, Christ. For the high priest is the prince among the priests. But Christ was such: ‘And when the prince of ...
