Encratites and Ascetic Heresy
Early Christian writers say the Encratites were a heretical ascetic group that rejected marriage and, in some reports, meat and wine. Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen all connect them with false self-control rather than true Christian teaching. The main Bible texts tied to this issue are 1 Timothy 4 and Colossians 2, which warn against forbidding marriage and making rules about foods.
122 early-church witnesses · 225 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the Encratites and Ascetic Heresy?
Early Christian writers treated the Encratites as a heretical ascetic sect that rejected marriage and, in many cases, meat and wine. Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and others describe them as forbidding marriage, avoiding animal food, and using a false claim of self-control to win followers. Tatian is named in several early witnesses as the leader or chief figure tied to this movement, and some writers also say he rejected parts of Paul’s letters.
The Bible texts most often linked to this topic are 1 Timothy 4:3-5 and Colossians 2:18, 23, which warn against man-made ascetic rules that go beyond the gospel. The evidence is broad and consistent on the main teaching, though some later cards only repeat the same polemic or give background on fasting and moderation rather than direct Encratite doctrine. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers commonly describe the Encratites as forbidding marriage and restricting foods and wine.
- Irenaeus and Hippolytus treat Encratite asceticism as heresy, not a normal Christian practice.
- 1 Timothy 4:3-5 and Colossians 2:18, 23 are the main Bible passages used against this kind of teaching.
Questions Answered by the Sources
What did early Christians say the Encratites believed?
The sources describe the Encratites as an ascetic sect that preached against marriage and, in some witnesses, also against animal food and wine. Several writers present them as a heretical offshoot and not simply as a group practicing ordinary Christian self-control.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching
Many offshoots of numerous heresies have already formed from the heretics we have described. This happens because many of them—even all of them—want to be teachers and break away from the specific heresy they were part of. They create one set of teachings from a completely different system of beliefs, and then others do the same, insisting on teaching something new and claiming to be the originators of any opinion they manage to create. For example: Emerging from Saturninus and Marcion, those known as Encratites (self-controlled) preached against marriage, thereby dismissing the original creation of God, and indirectly blaming Him who made male and female for human reproduction. Some in their ranks also introduced abstinence from animal food, showing themselves ungrateful to God, who created all things. They also deny the salvation of the first man created. This idea was recently invented among them. A man named Tatian first introduced this blasphemy. He was a follower of Justin, and as long as he was with him, he expressed no such views; but after Justin's martyrdom, he left the Church, and, filled with pride at the thought of being a teacher, as if he were better than others, he
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
What the conceit is of the Encratites, and that their opinions have been formed not from the Holy Scriptures, but from themselves, and the Gymnosophists among the Indians.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
Others, however, styling themselves Encratites, acknowledge some things concerning God and Christ in like manner with the Church.
How did early Christians argue against forbidding marriage and certain foods?
Hippolytus and others explicitly tie the error to 1 Timothy 4:1-5, arguing that forbidding marriage and commanding abstinence from foods is contrary to apostolic teaching. The Bible cards in this set provide the main Bible passage behind that rebuttal.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching
To give an example: Springing from Saturninus and Marcion, those who are called Encratites (self-controlled) preached against marriage, thus setting aside the original creation of God, and indirectly blaming Him who made the male and female for the propagation of the human race.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
They suppose, that by meats they magnify themselves, while abstaining from animal food, (and) being water-drinkers, and forbidding to marry, and devoting themselves during the remainder of life to habits of asceticism.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Like those called Encratites in the present day, they know not marriage nor begetting of children.
Was Tatian connected with the Encratites?
Multiple early Christian fragments identify Tatian as a leader, chief, or patriarch of the Encratites and associate him with arguments against wine, marriage, and some Pauline letters. The sources are polemical, but they clearly connect his name with the sect in the compiled evidence.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
The majority, however, of those who belong to this (heretic's school) abstain from animal food likewise, (and) by this affectation of asceticism (make many their dupes).
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Tatian, Fragments of Tatian Direct teaching
Tatian, who maintaining the imaginary flesh of Christ, pronounces all sexual connection impure, who was also the very violent heresiarch of the Encratites, employs an argument of this sort: If any one sows to the flesh, of the flesh he shall reap corruption;
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Tatian, Fragments of Tatian Supporting witness
On this, perhaps, Tatian the chief of the Encratites endeavours to build his heresy, asserting that wine is not to be drunk, since it was commanded in the law that the Nazarites were not to drink wine, and now those who give the Nazarites wine are accused by the prophet.— Hieron.: Com. in Amos.
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Tatian, Fragments of Tatian Supporting witness
Tatian, the leader of the Encratites, rejected some of Paul's letters himself. Yet he believed that this letter, meaning the one addressed to Titus, should especially be declared to belong to the apostle. In this, he paid little attention to the claim of Marcion and others who agree with him on this point.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Acts 15:29 Background
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Was Tatian linked to the Encratites?
Yes. Several early notices call Tatian the leader, chief, or patriarch of the Encratites. These same notices also say he built a heresy from Scripture and rejected some of Paul's letters.
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Tatian, Fragments of Tatian Direct teaching
...drink, and you commanded the prophets, saying, "Do not prophesy." Perhaps Tatian, the leader of the Encratites, tries to build his heresy on this. He claims that wine should not be drunk, because the law commanded that the Nazarites were not to drink wine. And now the prophet accuses those who give wine to the Nazarites.
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Tatian, Fragments of Tatian Supporting witness
Tatian, the patriarch of the Encratites, who himself rejected some of Paul's Epistles, believed this especially, that is [addressed] to Titus, ought to be declared to be the apostle's, thinking little of the assertion of Marcion and others, who agree with him on this point.— Hieron.: Præf. in Com. ad Tit.
Which Bible verses did early Christians use against Encratite teaching?
The clearest verses are 1 Timothy 4:3-5 and Colossians 2:18, 23. They warn against forbidding marriage, commanding abstinence from foods, and promoting self-made religion or severity to the body.
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1 Timothy 4:3 Direct teaching
who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
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Colossians 2:23 Supporting witness
These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
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Colossians 2:18 Supporting witness
Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
For there are certain heretical sects which do not receive the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, as the two sects of Ebionites, and those who are termed Encratites.
Common Questions
Who were the Encratites?
They were an early heretical group described as rejecting marriage and, in some reports, meat and wine.
Did early Christians reject all asceticism?
No. They rejected ascetic rules that forbade marriage or treated foods as unclean, while still valuing self-control.
Which Bible verses are used against Encratite teaching?
1 Timothy 4:3-5 and Colossians 2:18, 23 are the clearest passages tied to this topic.
Source Index for the Encratites and Ascetic Heresy
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 225 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 122
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 103
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.