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This is an excerpt from Clement of Alexandria from his writing:
Who is the Rich Man
that Shall be Saved?
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2, page 591, Section 2
Note that his quote is not in defense of "camel" versus "rope", but rather in defense of Our LORD Who+ calls all to HIMSELF+, to be freed of both poverty and riches... and the love of or fear of serving Mammona.
Also note that Clement of Alexandria, who "had followed Tatian to the East ... after Justin and Irenaeus, is to be reckoned as the founder of Christian literature," according to the introduction of his writing, page 165 of ANF Vol. 2 (or page 1 of the introduction to his writings.)
Clement lived between AD 153 - 193 or 217... and would have been quoting Scriptures from BEFORE THE WRITING OF THE PESHITTA.
Clement of Alexandria says:
"Perhaps the reason of salvation appearing more difficult to the rich than to poor men, is not single but manifold.
For some, merely hearing, and that in an off-hand way, the utterance of the SAVIOR, "that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven," despair of themselves as not destined to live, surrender all to the world, cling to the present life as if it alone was left to them,
And so diverge more from the way to the life to come, no longer inquiring either whom the LORD and MASTER+ calls rich, or how that which is impossible to man becomes possible to GOD.
But others rightly and adequately comprehend this, but attaching slight importance to the works which tend to Salvation, do not make the requisite preparation for attaining to the objects of their hope.
And I affirm both of these things of the rich who have learned both the SAVIOR'S+ power and HIS+ glorious salvation. "
( More to come.)
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