What is St. Clement’s justification for the use of allegorical interpretation?

In St. Clement’s view, allegory drives believers to discover hidden meanings in the Holy Bible. According to some scholars, the authors of the books of the Holy Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit to use symbols in order to conceal the most sublime doctrines from simple readers whose intellect was not equipped to grasp them, while at the same time inspiring the curiosity in the souls of the more spiritually and intellectually mature. Discovering the deeper hidden meanings in Scripture is a gradual process whereby God guides the souls to whom He has chosen to reveal Himself, conveying them from the sensible realm to the spiritual realm. In this way, by contemplating the most obscure texts of Scripture, the true Gnostic (one who possesses knowledge) is transported from the present world to connect to the other world.

172 Anthropomorphism: the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to God

173 Cf. J. N .D. Kelly, Early Christian Doctrines , 4th ed. (London: Adam & Charles Black, 1968): pp. 74–75.

174 St. John Cassian, Conferences 14.8 (NPNF II/11:437–438).

175 F. L. Cross & E. A. Livingstone (eds.), Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church , 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press, 1990): p. 37.