Early Christian Views on Heresies and Heretics
Early Christian writers treated heresies as dangerous false teaching that split the church and pulled people away from the truth. Writers like Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, and Cyprian often linked heresy with division, deception, and rejection of sound doctrine. Bible passages such as Matthew 7:15, 1 John 4:1, Titus 3:10, and 2 Peter 2:1 were often used to warn Christians to reject false teachers and guard the faith.
146 early-church witnesses · 247 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about heresies and Heretics?
Early Christian writers strongly taught that heresies and heretics were dangerous errors that split the church and should be avoided. Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian, Origen, and others link heresy with division, false teaching, and separation from the true faith.
Many also use Bible passages like Matthew 7:15, 1 John 4:1, 1 Corinthians 11:19, Galatians 5:20, Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10, and 2 Peter 2:1 to explain why Christians must reject false teachers and protect church unity. The evidence is broad and consistent across the second and third centuries, though some writers focus more on church division and discipline, while others focus on false doctrine and false prophets.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians usually saw heresy as false teaching that breaks church unity.
- Many writers tied heresy to false prophets, false teachers, and deception.
- Some texts focus on avoiding heretics; others focus on correcting and rebuking them.
- The strongest Bible links are Matthew 7:15, 1 John 4:1, Titus 3:10, Romans 16:17, Galatians 5:20, and 2 Peter 2:1.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians say heresies were evil and divisive?
The strongest sources describe heresies as evil, divisive, and destructive to church unity. They link heresy with schism, dissension, and perversion of doctrine rather than treating it as a neutral disagreement.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching
1. Many offshoots of numerous heresies have already been formed from those heretics we have described.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching
1. Let us now look at the inconsistent opinions of those heretics (for there are some two or three of them), how they do not agree in treating the same points, but alike, in things and names, set forth opinions mutually discordant.
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Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching
Moreover, when he blames divisions and schisms, which are clearly evils, he immediately adds heresies as well. Now, when he adds something to evil things, he of course admits that it is itself an evil. In fact, it is even greater, because he tells us that he believed their schisms and divisions existed because he knew that heresies also had to exist, as 1 Corinthians 11:19 says. For he shows that it was because he expected the greater evil that he readily believed the lesser ones existed. So he was very far from thinking that heresies were good, even in matters of this kind. Instead, his purpose was to warn us beforehand that we should not be surprised at temptations of an even worse kind, since, he says, they tend to make manifest those who are approved, as 1 Corinthians 11:18 says. In other words, they make known those whom the heresies were not able to corrupt. In short, since the whole passage points to preserving unity and stopping divisions, and since heresies separate people from unity no less than schisms and divisions do, there is no doubt that he places heresies under the same condemnation as schisms and divisions. And by doing this, he shows that those who have fallen in
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Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching
Of these the practical effects are false doctrines, called in Greek heresies, a word used in the sense of that choice which a man makes when he either teaches them (to others) or takes up with them (for himself).
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
...s if making a comparison of those devoted to philosophy with those called heretics, the Word most clearly says, "Better is a friend that is near, than a brother that dwells afar off," Proverbs 27:10. "And he who relies on falsehoods, feeds on the winds, and pursues winged birds," Proverbs 9:12. I do not think that philosophy directly declares the Word, although in many cases philosophy attempts this and persuasively teaches us probable arguments. But it assails the sects. Accordingly it is added, "For he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and wandered in the tracks of his own husbandry." Such are the sects that deserted the primitive Church. Now he who has fallen into heresy passes through an arid wilderness. He abandons the only true God. He is destitute of God, seeking waterless water, reaching an uninhabited and thirsty land, collecting sterility with his hands. And those destitute of prudence, that is, those involved in heresies, "I enjoin," Wisdom remarks, saying, "Touch sweetly stolen bread and the sweet water of theft," Proverbs 9:17. The Scripture plainly applies the terms bread and water to nothing else but those heresies which employ bread and water in the obla
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...ch are contrary to the truth; and from those who tempt from outside, that is, from those who follow heresies and persuade you to commit fornication away from the one husband, namely Almighty God. “Lest, as the serpent deceived Eve,” 2 Corinthians 11:3, she who is called Life, so we too, led on by the crafty attractions of heresies, may transgress the commandments. But the second part establishes monogamy. For we must not think, as some have thought, that it means the binding of a woman to a husband, as if it meant the joining of flesh with corruption. For he is rebuking the opinion of ungodly men who openly assign the invention of marriage to the devil. By this the lawgiver is put in danger of being attacked with curses. I think Tatian the Syrian dares to hand down teachings like this. For he certainly writes these words in his book On Perfection According to the Savior: “Agreement indeed joins itself to prayer; but fellowship with corruption destroys intercession.” He very carefully shuts marriage out by making a concession. For when Paul again allowed husband and wife to come together because of Satan and lack of self-control, 1 Corinthians 7:5, Tatian declared that the one wh
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
But since many heresies have existed, and the people of God have been torn into divisions by the urging of demons, I must briefly mark out the truth and place it in its proper home. Then, if anyone wants to draw the water of life, he will not be carried off to broken cisterns that hold no water, but will know the rich fountain of God. Being watered by it, he may enjoy everlasting light. Before all things, it is fitting for us to know both that He Himself and His ambassadors foretold that there must be many sects and heresies, which would break the unity of the sacred body, and that they warned us to be on our guard with the greatest prudence, lest we should ever fall into the snares and deceits of our adversary, with whom God has willed that we should contend. Then we must know that He gave us sure commands, which we ought always to keep in our minds. For many, forgetting them and leaving the heavenly road, have made crooked paths for themselves among twists and cliffs. By these paths they could lead the careless and simple part of the people into the darkness of death. I will explain how this happened. There were some of our religion whose faith was less firm, or who were less lea
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
But since many heresies have existed, and the people of God have been rent into divisions at the instigation of demons, the truth must be briefly marked out by us, and placed in its own peculiar dwelling-place, that if any one shall desire to draw the water of life, he may not be borne to broken cisterns which hold no water, but may know the abundant fountain of God, watered by which he may enjoy perpetual light.
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Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching
... these arguments are sound, why should we not defend, in the same way, the existence of heresies in Christianity? And about these, Paul seems to me to speak in a very striking way when he says, "For there must be heresies among you, that they who are approved may be made manifest among you." For just as that man is approved in medicine who, because of his experience in the various medical heresies, and his honest examination of most of them, has chosen the better system, and just as the great proficient in philosophy is he who, after becoming acquainted by experience with the different views, has given his adhesion to the best, so I would say that the wisest Christian was he who had carefully studied the heresies of both Judaism and Christianity. But he who finds fault with Christianity because of its heresies would also find fault with the teaching of Socrates, from whose school many others with conflicting views have come. Indeed, the opinions of Plato might also be charged with error, because Aristotle separated from his school and founded a new one, on which subject we have remarked in the previous book. But it seems to me that Celsus became acquainted with certain heresies
More related quotations from this section 24 shown
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
These heretics have been sent out by Satan to slander the divine name of the Church before the Gentiles. And the devil's purpose is this: when people hear the teachings of those heretics, now in one form and now in another, they may think that all of us are the same kind of people. Then they may turn their ears away from the preaching of the truth. Or else, by looking at all the teachings of those heretics without rejecting them, they may speak evil against us. The followers of Carpocrates claim that souls pass from body to body, so that they may complete the full measure of all their sins. But when not one of these sins is left, the Carpocratians say that the soul is then set free and goes away to that God above the angels who made the world. And they say that in this way all souls will be saved. But if some souls, during one lifetime in the body, should already become involved ahead of time in the full measure of transgressions, then, according to these heretics, they no longer undergo metempsychosis. Souls of this kind, after paying off all their trespasses at once, will, the Carpocratians say, be freed from ever living in a body again. Some of these heretics also brand their ow
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Alexander of Lycopolis, Of the Manicheans Direct teaching
... dealing with fine and subtle questions. So now they come forward as the fathers and originators of sects and heresies. And by them the shaping of morals is hindered and made unclear. For those who want to become the heads of sects do not reach any certain truth in their teaching, and the common people are stirred up even more to strife and contention. And since there is no rule or law by which the things under debate may be resolved, but instead, as in other matters, this ambitious rivalry runs to excess, there is nothing to which it does not bring harm and injury.
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
... Testaments could be brought forward as witness that this is how the true faith stands. But because heretics, always fighting against the truth, are used to dragging out the controversy against pure tradition and the Catholic faith, because they take offense at Christ, and because Scripture also declares that He is God, and we also believe this, we must rightly contend that Christ is also God, so that every heretical slander may be removed from our faith. Yet we must do this in such a way that it does not fight against the truth of Scripture, nor against our faith, by which Scripture declares that God is one, and by which we also hold and believe this. For both those who say that Jesus Christ Himself is God the Father, and those who want Him to be only a man, have gathered the sources and reasons for their error and perversity from there. When they saw that it was written that God is one, they thought they could hold that opinion only by supposing that either Christ must be believed to be only man, or else truly God the Father. And they were used to joining their clever arguments together in such a way as to try to defend their own error. And so those who say that Jesus Christ i
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
... Testaments could be brought forward as witness that this is how the true faith stands. But because heretics, always fighting against the truth, are used to dragging out the controversy against pure tradition and the Catholic faith, while taking offense at Christ, and because the Scriptures also declare Him to be God, and we also believe this, we must rightly contend that Christ is also God, so that every heretical slander may be removed from our faith. Yet we must do this in such a way that it does not go against the truth of Scripture, or against our faith, which declares and believes from Scripture that there is one God. For both those who say that Jesus Christ Himself is God the Father, and those who want Him to be only a man, have drawn from there the sources and reasons for their error and perversity. When they saw that it was written that God is one, they thought they could hold their opinion only by supposing that either Christ was only a man, or else that He was truly God the Father. And they used to join together their clever arguments in such a way as to try to defend their own error. So those who say that Jesus Christ is the Father argue like this: If God is one, and
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
..., but God. And yet the divine Scripture easily convicts and exposes the frauds and artifices of the heretics. For if it had said only this, “The Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore that Holy Thing which is born of you shall be called the Son of God,” perhaps we would have had to strive against them in another way, and seek other arguments, and take up other weapons with which to overcome both their snares and their wiles. But since the Scripture itself, abounding in heavenly fullness, strips away the calumnies of these heretics, we easily rely on what is written, and overcome those errors without any hesitation. For it said, not as we have already stated, “Therefore the Holy Thing which shall be born of you,” but it added the conjunction. For it says, “Therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of you,” so as to make it plain that that Holy Thing which is born of her, that is, that substance of flesh and body, is not the Son of God primarily, but consequently, and in the second place. But primarily, the Son of God is the Word of God, incarnate by that Spirit of whom the angel says, “The Spirit shall come upon you, and
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
..., but God. And yet the divine Scripture easily convicts and exposes the frauds and artifices of the heretics. For if it had only said this, "The Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore that Holy Thing which is born of you shall be called the Son of God," perhaps we would have had to contend against them in another way, and to seek other arguments, and to take up other weapons, by which to overcome both their snares and their wiles. But since Scripture itself, rich in heavenly fullness, strips away the slanders of these heretics, we easily depend on what is written and overcome those errors without any hesitation. For it did not say, as we have already stated, "Therefore the Holy Thing which shall be born of you." It added the conjunction, for it says, "Therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of you." In this way it makes plain that that Holy Thing born from her, that is, that substance of flesh and body, is not the Son of God primarily, but consequently, and in the second place. But primarily, the Son of God is the Word of God, incarnate by that Spirit of whom the angel says, "The Spirit shall come upon you, and the pow
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...such people we say this: among you Jews, and among the most famous philosophers of the Greeks, many sects have appeared. Yet you do not say that a person should hesitate to practice philosophy or Judaism because the sects among you disagree with each other. Also, the Lord foretold that heresies would be sown among the truth, like weeds among the wheat. What was predicted would happen could not fail to happen. The reason is that everything beautiful is followed by some ugly stain. So then, if someone breaks his commitments and turns away from the confession he made before us, should we stop holding to the truth because he has proved false to his profession? No. Just as a good person must not prove false or fail to confirm what he has promised, even though others break their commitments, so we also are in no way bound to break the rule of the Church. And we especially keep our confession in the most important points, while they go against it.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
For he said, ‘Many shall come in My name, clothed outwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.’ ” And, ‘There shall be schisms and heresies.’ And, ‘Beware of false prophets, who shall come to you clothed outwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.’ And, ‘Many false Christs and false apostles shall arise, and shall deceive many of the faithful.’ There are, therefore, and there were many, my friends, who, coming forward in the name of Jesus, taught both to speak and act impious and blasphemous things;
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Of the heresies, some receive their appellation from a [person's] name, as that which is called after Valentinus, and that after Marcion, and that after Basilides, although they boast of adducing the opinion of Matthew [without truth];
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Take heed to them, that ye lose not what ye have wrought.” And again does he say in the Epistle: “Many false prophets are gone out into the world.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
And the heresiarchs, astonished at the art of these (sorcerers), have imitated them, partly by delivering their doctrines in secrecy and darkness, and partly by advancing (these tenets) as their own.
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Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness
Proverbs 18:3 Before them, indeed, many heresies existed, which, having dared more than was right, have fallen into madness.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
whence also heresies grew up among us along with the productive wheat;
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Hippolytus, Connection to 2 Peter 2:1 Supporting witness
And there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies."
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Asterius Urbanus, The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus Supporting witness
For indeed some of the other heresies have also a great multitude of martyrs;
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
And (heresiarchs) admiring, as if unknown to the multitude, (this philosophy, and) following it, have framed heterodox doctrines devised by themselves.
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Asterius Urbanus, The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus Supporting witness
...m there forward in continuous succession. Among those who were present at that time and heard those false utterances, some were indignant and rebuked him as one in a frenzy, under the power of demons, possessed by a spirit of delusion, stirring up the multitude, and they kept him from speaking any more. For they were mindful of the Lord's distinction and warning, by which He warned them to be watchful and on guard against the coming of false prophets. But there were others who, as if lifted up by the Holy Spirit and the prophetic gift, and being not a little puffed up, completely forgot the Lord's distinction. They encouraged that maddening, deceitful, and seductive spirit, while they themselves were tricked and led astray by him, so that no one could silence him any longer. And so, by a kind of device, or rather by such a process of craft, the devil devised destruction against those who disobeyed the Lord's warning. Being unworthily honored by them, he secretly stirred up and inflamed the minds of those who had already departed from the faith according to truth, so that they might play the harlot with error. For he also stirred up two other women, and filled them with the false
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
...and that the gifts that were once among your people have been transferred to us. Just as there were false prophets during the time of your holy prophets, there are now many false teachers among us, whom our Lord warned us to be cautious of. Thus, we lack nothing, as we know He foresaw all that would happen to us after His resurrection from the dead and ascension to heaven. He said we would be put to death and hated for His name’s sake, and that many false prophets and false Christs would appear in His name and deceive many—and this has happened. Many have taught godless, blasphemous, and unholy doctrines, claiming them in His name, and have taught, and are still teaching, those things that come from the unclean spirit of the devil, which were put into their hearts. Therefore, we are very anxious that you are not misled by such people, since we know that everyone who can speak the truth but does not will be judged by God, as God testified through Ezekiel, when He said, ‘I have made you a watchman to the house of Judah. If the sinner sins and you do not warn him, he will die in his sin, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn him, you shall be innocent.’ For thi
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
And just as there were false prophets contemporaneous with your holy prophets, so are there now many false teachers amongst us, of whom our Lord forewarned us to beware;
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Irenaeus, Connection to Titus 3:10 Supporting witness
as Paul also says, "A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."
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Polycarp, Connection to Matthew 24:11 Supporting witness
from those who in hypocrisy bear the name of the Lord, and draw away vain men into error.
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Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness
For in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate;
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Anonymous, Connection to Romans 16:17 Supporting witness
For these are they "who by good words and fair speeches lead astray the hearts of the simple, and, while offering them blessings, lead them astray."
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Background
6. He shall also judge false prophets, who, without having received the gift of prophecy from God, and not possessed of the fear of God, but either for the sake of vainglory, or with a view to some personal advantage, or acting in some other way under the influence of a wicked spirit, pretend to utter prophecies, while all the time they lie against God.
Did early Christians connect heresy with division and schism?
Yes. The sources link heresy with division, schism, and separation from the apostolic faith. They treat heresy as a danger to church unity, not merely as a private mistake.
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness
...righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not all one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that “we are members one of another?” Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, “Woe to that man by whom offences come! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yes, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about his neck, and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.” Your schism has subverted the faith of many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness
...s, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love allows no schisms; love gives rise to no seditions; love does all things in harmony. By love, all the elect of God have been made perfect; without love, nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love, the Lord has taken us to Himself. Out of the Love He bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness
Who among you is noble-minded? Who is compassionate? Who is full of love? Let them declare, "If because of me there has been sedition, disagreement, and division, I will leave, I will go wherever you want, and I will do whatever the majority commands; only let the flock of Christ live in peace with the presbyters appointed over it." Whoever acts in this way will gain great glory in the Lord, and every place will welcome them. For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." Those who live a godly life, never to be repented of, have done and always will do these things.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness
... preached to you the word of salvation. But flee from all abominable heresies, and those that cause divisions, as the beginning of evils.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness
But flee from all abominable heresies, and those that cause schisms, as the beginning of evils.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
Deservedly thus do heresies and schisms arise day by day, more frequently and more fruitfully grow up, and with serpents' locks shoot forth and cast out against the Church of God with greater force the poison of their venom;
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
5. For from this have arisen, and still arise, schisms and heresies, in that the bishop who is one and rules over the Church is contemned by the haughty presumption of some persons;
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
2. And lest their raging boldness should ever cease, they are striving here also to distract the members of Christ into schismatical parties, and to cut and tear the one body of the Catholic Church, so that, running about from door to door, through the houses of many, or from city to city, through certain districts, they seek for companions in their obstinacy and error to join to themselves in their schism.
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Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching
In short, since the whole passage points to the maintenance of unity and the checking of divisions, inasmuch as heresies sever men from unity no less than schisms and dissensions, no doubt he classes heresies under the same head of censure as he does schisms also and dissensions.
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Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching
Heresies, at the present time, will no less rend the church by their perversion of doctrine, than will Antichrist persecute her at that day by the cruelty of his attacks, except that persecution make seven martyrs, (but) heresy only apostates.
More related quotations from this section 6 shown
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
Next, he reproaches us for the existence of heresies in Christianity, as if this were a reason to accuse it. He says that when Christians greatly increased in number, they were divided and split into factions, with each person wanting to have his own party. He also says that, because they were separated by their numbers, they refute one another, while still having, so to speak, one name in common, if indeed they still keep it. And he says this is the only thing they are still ashamed to give up, while other matters are decided in different ways by the various sects. In reply to this, we say that different kinds of heresies have never arisen from any matter unless the principle involved was important and beneficial to human life. For the science of medicine is useful and necessary to the human race, and there are many disputes in it about the way bodies should be cured. For this reason, many heresies are admittedly found in the science of medicine among the Greeks, and also, I suppose, among those barbarous nations that claim to practice medicine. Again, philosophy professes truth, and promises knowledge of existing things for the guidance of life. It tries to teach what is benefici
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
...me, and I to the world,” we will show that this statement is false. For there are certain heretical sects that do not accept the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, such as the two sects of Ebionites and those called Encratites. So those who do not regard the apostle as a holy and wise man will not use his words and say, “The world is crucified to me, and I to the world.” And so in this point also, Celsus is speaking falsely. He also continues to dwell on the charges he brings against the diversity of sects that exist. But it does not seem to me that he is accurate in the language he uses, or that he has carefully observed or understood how those Christians who have made progress in their studies say that they have greater knowledge than the Jews. Nor does he seem to understand whether they accept the same Scriptures but interpret them differently, or whether they do not recognize these books as divine. For we find that both of these views exist among the sects. He then goes on: “Although they have no foundation for the doctrine, let us examine the system itself; and first, let us mention the corruptions they have introduced through ignorance and misunderstanding, when in discussing e
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
44. And there is no doubt that divisions will arise when the falling away takes place. And when divisions arise, love is chilled. The words, "Blessed is he who waits and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days," also have their value, just as the Lord said: "But he who endures to the end will be saved." Therefore let us by no means admit the falling away, lest iniquity abound, and the abomination of desolation—that is, the adversary—overtake us. And He said to him, "to evening"—that is, to the consummation, and then morning. What is morning? It is the day of resurrection. For that is the beginning of another age, just as the morning is the beginning of the day. And the one thousand four hundred days are the light of the world. For at the appearing of the light in the world, as He says, "I am the light of the world," the sanctuary shall be purged of the adversary, as he said. For it cannot by any means be purged except by his destruction.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
and further, that being thus separated through their numbers, they confute one another, still having, so to speak, one name in common, if indeed they still retain it.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
44. And that divisions will arise when the falling away takes place, is without doubt.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
There were some of our religion whose faith was less established, or who were less learned or less cautious, who rent the unity and divided the Church.
Did early Christians say believers should reject or avoid heretics?
Several sources instruct Christians to reject heretics, keep away from them, or separate from those teaching contrary doctrine. The emphasis is on preserving the church from corruption and maintaining fidelity to what was handed down.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...uct the catechumens in the basic elements of religion, and then baptize them. Avoid the atheistical heretics, who are past repentance. Separate them from the faithful, and excommunicate them from the Church of God. Charge the faithful to stay completely away from them, and not to take part with them either in sermons or prayers. For these are enemies of the Church, and they lay snares for it. They corrupt the flock and defile the heritage of Christ. They only pretend to wisdom, and they are the vilest of men. About them Solomon the wise said, "The wicked doers pretend to act piously." For he says, "There is a way that seems right to some, but the ends of it look to the bottom of hell." Proverbs 14:12 These are the ones about whom the Lord declared His mind with bitterness and severity, saying that they are false Christs and false teachers. Matthew 24:24 They have blasphemed the Spirit of grace, and done despite to the gift they had from Him after the grace of baptism. Forgiveness shall not be granted to them, neither in this world nor in that which is to come. Matthew 12:32 They are both more wicked than the Jews and more atheistical than the Gentiles. They blaspheme the God ove
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...ess heresies. Stay away from them as you would from a fire that burns those who come near it. Avoid schisms also, for it is not lawful either to turn your mind toward wicked heresies or to separate from those who hold the same belief out of ambition. For some who dared to establish such practices in former times did not escape punishment. Dathan and Abiram, who rose up against Moses, were swallowed up by the earth. But Korah, and the two hundred and fifty men who raised a rebellion with him against Aaron, were consumed by fire. Miriam also, who spoke against Moses, was put outside the camp for seven days, for she said that Moses had taken an Ethiopian wife. No, consider also Azariah and Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26. The latter was king of Judah, but he dared to seize the priesthood and wanted to offer incense, which was not lawful for him to do. Azariah the high priest and the eighty priests opposed him. When he would not obey, leprosy appeared on his forehead, and he hurried to go out, because the Lord had rebuked him.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...ation? But you, brothers, who have been taught from the Scriptures, should be careful not to create divisions in belief or divisions in unity. For those who set up unlawful opinions are signs of destruction to the people. In the same way, you of the laity should not go near those who teach doctrines contrary to the mind of God, nor should you share in their impiety. For God says, "Separate yourselves from the midst of these men, lest you perish together with them." And again: "Depart from the midst of them, and separate yourselves, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you."
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Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching
... brother, that you wanted me to tell you what I think about those who seem to have been baptized by heretics and schismatics. So that you may know what several of us fellow bishops, together with the brother presbyters who were present, recently decided in council on this matter, I have sent you a copy of that same letter. For I do not know by what presumption some of our colleagues are led to think that those who have been immersed by heretics should not be baptized when they come to us, because they say there is one baptism, which is one for this reason: the Church is one, and there cannot be any baptism outside the Church. For since there cannot be two baptisms, if heretics truly baptize, then they themselves have this baptism. And anyone who, by his own authority, grants this advantage to them gives in to them and agrees with them, so that the enemy and adversary of Christ seems to have the power to wash, purify, and sanctify a man. But we say that those who come from there are not re-baptized among us, but baptized. For in fact they receive nothing there, where there is nothing. But they come to us so that here they may receive where there are both grace and all truth, beca
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Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching
Moreover, since we and heretics have not one God, nor one Lord, nor one Church, nor one faith, nor even one Spirit, nor one body, it is manifest that neither can baptism be common to us with heretics, since between us there is nothing at all in common.
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Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness
For as they are heretics, they cannot be true Christians, because it is not from Christ that they get that which they pursue of their own mere choice, and from the pursuit incur and admit the name of heretics.
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Irenaeus, Connection to Titus 3:10 Supporting witness
and these men Paul commands us, "after a first and second admonition, to avoid.". "Such was the horror which the apostles and their disciples had against holding even verbal communication with any corrupters of the truth; as Paul also says, "A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
But if the baptism of heretics can bring the regeneration of the second birth, then those who are baptized among them must be counted not as heretics, but as children of God. For the second birth, which takes place in baptism, begets sons of God. But if the bride of Christ is one, and that is the Catholic Church, then she alone bears sons of God. For there are not many brides of Christ, since the apostle says, "I have espoused you, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ," in 2 Corinthians 11:2. And again: "Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, for the King has greatly desired your beauty." And: "Come with me, my spouse, from Lebanon; you shall come, and shall pass over from the source of your faith," in Song of Songs 4:8. And: "I have come into my garden, my sister, my spouse," in Song of Songs 5:1. We see that one person is presented everywhere, because the bride also is one. But the synagogue of heretics is not one with us, because the bride is not an adulteress or a harlot. Therefore she also cannot bear children of God; unless, as seems to appear to Stephen, heresy does indeed bring them forth and cast them out, while th
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
...h. That means he judged the baptism of all heretics to be valid and lawful. And although particular heresies have their own particular baptisms and different sins, by keeping communion with the baptism of them all, he gathered up the sins of them all and piled them into his own bosom. He also ordered that nothing should be changed except what had been handed down. But who is really the innovator? Is it the one who, keeping unity, claims for the one Church the one baptism? Or is it not plainly the one who, forgetting unity, accepts the lies and corruptions of a profane washing? "Let nothing be changed," he says, "let nothing be maintained except what has been handed down." From where does that tradition come? Does it come down from the authority of the Lord and of the Gospel, or does it come from the commands and letters of the apostles? For God bears witness and warns that the things written must be done, saying to Joshua the son of Nun, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it" Joshua 1:8. Also, when the Lord sent His apostles, He commanded that t
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching
...forward against the quiet and peace of the Church will result in nothing but discords, strifes, and schisms. And in this no other fruit can be found except this alone: that one man, whoever he is, should be vain-gloriously declared among certain fickle men to be of great prudence and constancy. And, gifted with the arrogance of heretics, whose only consolation in destruction is not to seem to sin alone, he should be renowned among those most like and agreeable to himself, as having corrected the errors and vices of all the churches. For this is the desire and purpose of all heretics: to frame as many slanders of this kind as possible against our most holy mother the Church, and to think it a great glory to have discovered anything that can be charged against her as a crime, or even as a folly. And since it becomes no faithful man of sound mind to dare to hold such a view, especially no one ordained in any clerical office at all, and much more in the order of bishops, it is a shocking thing for bishops themselves to devise such scandals, and not to fear to set forth too irreverently, against the precept of the law and of all the Scriptures, with their own disgrace and danger, the
Common Questions
Did early Christians think heresy was serious?
Yes. They often treated heresy as a serious danger that could divide the church and lead people away from the truth.
Which early Christian writers spoke most clearly about heretics?
Irenaeus, Tertullian, Cyprian, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen all speak clearly about heresies and false teachers.
Did early Christians use Bible verses against heresy?
Yes. They often used Matthew 7:15, 1 John 4:1, 1 Corinthians 11:19, Galatians 5:20, Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10, and 2 Peter 2:1.
Source Index for Heresies and Heretics
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 247 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 146
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 101
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.