The Instructor

work by Clement of Alexandria

Also known as: “Paidagogos”

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June 29, 2026

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The Instructor is a significant work by St. Clement of Alexandria, a Christian theologian and teacher at the School of Alexandria in the late 2nd century CE. This work is part of a trilogy, alongside the Protreptikos (Exhortation) and the Stromateis (Miscellanies).12

In The Instructor, Clement aimed to guide new Christians in living a moral life according to Christian teachings. He presented Christ as the divine instructor, leading believers toward righteousness and understanding. The work emphasizes ethical conduct and the practical application of faith in daily life, distinguishing between mere intellectual knowledge and true spiritual understanding. Clement sought to bridge the gap between Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine, making faith accessible to those educated in the Hellenistic tradition.1

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St. Clement of Alexandria
Views on wealth of St. Clement of Alexandria
From the tenor of the Paidagōgos, one can conclude that the majority of Clement’s audience came from the ranks of Alexandrian middle and upper classes, with a few intelligent poorer members coming from the Alexandrian masses. The problem of wealth was disturbing to the pistic Christians, who interpreted literally the…
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From the tenor of the Paidagōgos, one can conclude that the majority of Clement’s audience came from the ranks of Alexandrian middle and upper classes, with a few intelligent poorer members coming from the Alexandrian masses. The problem of wealth was disturbing to the pistic Christians, who interpreted literally the…
Read More