Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–c. 215 CE), one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the early Church, offers in The Paedagogus (The Instructor) a guide to living a virtuous and spiritually disciplined Christian life. As the second work in his trilogy, following Protrepticus (Exhortation to the Greeks), The Paedagogus moves beyond the call to conversion, providing practical instruction for believers seeking to embody faith in daily life.
 
In this work, Clement presents Christ as the divine teacher who shapes human character through moral guidance, Scripture, and the imitation of His example. He emphasizes the cultivation of virtue in every aspect of life—personal conduct, social relationships, the use of wealth, and even diet and leisure—showing that true Christian ethics permeate both public and private spheres. Drawing on classical philosophy, particularly Platonic and Stoic traditions, Clement demonstrates that reason and faith are complementary, and that moral excellence is inseparable from spiritual formation.