Clement vs Irenaeus: Early Christian ideologies: Philo was Pythagorean

Clement does add a description that tells us more about who this Philo might be. He is twice called "the Pythagorean". This epithet is used of Philo in only one other ancient source, namely the historian Sozomen, who informs us that according to "Philo the Pythagorean" the best of the Hebrews retired to Lake Mareotis and practised philosophy there... the epithet "Pythagorean" which Clement attaches to Philo is unexpected. ...Clement calls various people "the Pythagorean" if, as he thinks
were members of the ancient Pythagorean school, e.g. Philolaus,
Epicharmus, Athamas, Hippodamus, and so on.3' On two occasions
Clement calls Numa, King of Rome, a "Pythagorean...ne. The secrecy is Pythagorean

Why Does Clement of Alexandria Call Philo "The Pythagorean"?

David T. Runia

Vigiliae Christianae

Vol. 49, No. 1 (Mar., 1995), pp. 1-22 (22 pages)

Published By: Brill

Irenaeus of Lyons insisted that Christian truth was public, fixed, and preserved openly through the public apostolic succession of bishops and standard written scriptures. In works like Against Heresies, he argued against the Gnostic idea that Jesus passed down secret, unwritten oral teachings to a spiritual elite. [1, 2]

Clement of Alexandria (representing the Alexandrian school) was more comfortable blending Greek philosophy with Christian theology. He spoke positively of a "true Gnostic" and held that deeper, advanced teachings or "secret things" could be transmitted orally rather than locked strictly into standard public writing (Stromata 1.1.13.3)