What were the two levels of Christian believers described by St. Clement of Alexandria?

St. Clement of Alexandria distinguished between two levels of Christian believers to mediate between legalistic orthodox Christians and heretical gnostics:1

• The Pistic Christian: These believers respond through discipline and live according to the level of God’s law. They emphasize faith demonstrated in legalistic and moral terms.1
• The Christian Gnostic: These believers respond through both discipline and love, living on the level of the gospel. For Clement, this level represents a spiritual and mystical knowledge (gnōsis) that serves as an extension of faith rather than a departure from it.1

By defining these two paths, Clement sought to integrate those educated in Greek paideia into the church while maintaining the foundational importance of faith held by the broader Christian community.1