Clement of Alexandria — Stromata 12

Basilides , in the twenty-third book of the Exegetics , respecting those that are punished by martyrdom , expresses himself in the following language: For I say this, Whosoever fall under the afflictions mentioned, in consequence of unconsciously transgressing in other matters, are brought to this good end by the kindness of Him who brings them, but accused on other grounds; so that they may not suffer as condemned for what are owned to be iniquities, nor reproached as the adulterer or the murderer, but because they are Christians ; which will console them, so that they do not appear to suffer. And if one who has not sinned at all incur suffering — a rare case — yet even he will not suffer anything through the machinations of power, but will suffer as the child which seems not to have sinned would suffer.

Then further on he adds: As, then, the child which has not sinned before, or committed actual sin in itself, but has that which committed sin , when subjected to suffering, gets good, reaping the advantage of many difficulties; so also, although a perfect man may not have sinned in act, while he endures afflictions, he suffers similarly with the child. Having within him the sinful principle, but not embracing the opportunity of committing sin , he does not sin ; so that he is not to be reckoned as not having sinned .

For as he who wishes to commit adultery is an adulterer, although he does not succeed in committing adultery ; and he that wishes to commit murder is a murderer, although he is unable to kill; so also, if I see the man without sin , whom I specify, suffering, though he have done nothing bad, I should call him bad, on account of his wishing to sin . For I will affirm anything rather than call Providence evil . Then, in continuation, he says expressly concerning the Lord, as concerning man: If then, passing from all these observations, you were to proceed to put me to shame by saying, perchance impersonating certain parties, This man has then sinned ; for this man has suffered — if you permit, I will say, He has not sinned ; but was like a child suffering.

If you were to insist more urgently, I would say, That the man you name is man, but that God is righteous: For no one is pure, as one said, 'from pollution.' Job 14:4 But the hypothesis of Basilides says that the soul , having sinned before in another life, endures punishment in this — the elect soul with honour by martyrdom , the other purged by appropriate punishment. How can this be true , when the confessing and suffering punishment or not depends on ourselves? For in the case of the man who shall deny, Providence, as held by Basilides , is done away with. I will ask him, then, in the case of a confessor who has been arrested, whether he will confess and be punished in virtue of Providence or not? For in the case of denying he will not be punished.