which became full-grown only in the middle of the second century. These early Gnostics seem to have taught that there were two classes or categories of Christian. On the one hand there were hoi polloi, the common herd, who were united by pistis, faith. On the other hand there were hoi teleioi, the élite, who had been initiated into gnosis, special knowledge. Paul was horrified by this Christian elitism and set himself firmly against it. In his proclamation of Christ he hijacked the Gnostics’ word