The Concept of Divine Transcendence in Cleanthes' Hymn to Zeus

Many ancient and modern scholars have presumed that Stoic cosmology is confined to a dualistic framework. This study attempts a radical reconsideration of Stoic theology by reinterpreting Cleanthes' "Hymn to Zeus"—a prayer in the Homeric style, a point of consensus among the hymn's few specialists—against the traditional interpretation of the Stoic divine. In his hymn, according to the research hypothesis, Cleanthes presents a clear vision of a transcendent deity possessing sovereignty, who governs the cosmos through His law.
This interpretation moves beyond the traditional Stoic model based on two principles—God and matter—where God is united with nature and diffused throughout the cosmos. The analysis reveals a cosmic framework in Cleanthes' thought that represents a coherent tripartite hierarchical structure. This framework positions Zeus as a transcendent deity, a supreme ruler, while the Logos is a principle subordinate to His command. Cleanthes portrays the cosmos itself as a passive recipient of His divine ordinance.
The research delineates how Cleanthes constructed this hierarchy through logical proofs, where action is attributed to God, yet mediated through intermediaries to demonstrate His majesty—He has no need for direct action. Conversely, the cosmos is described in passive terms, and the divine reason (Logos) is framed as an instrument in the hands of the supreme God. This interpretation affirms the reality of divine providence—in contrast to the Epicurean doctrine—and clarifies the reasons for which humanity holds a privileged position within that providence