Andrew Guffey: On the Existence of "the Encratites"

Did "the Encratites," as a defined social group in early Christianity, exist? Skepticism is warranted, just as skepticism regarding the existence of "the Gnostics" or "the Therapeutae" is warranted. The early Christian heresiologists had vivid imaginations, after all, as did Philo, perhaps. And yet, there is enough evidence from literary sources beyond the heresiologists, and even some very meager epigraphic evidence to suggest that there was a relatively coherent and identifiable network of early Christians who identified strongly with enkrateia, and may have identified themselves as "Encratites." While acknowledging the limitations of our sources, this paper sets out evidence for the existence of an Encratite network, if not a distinct social group or sect, in early Christianity. The paper will suggest that a common set of practices (prohibitions, actually) in connection with the term enkrateia points to a relatively stable, though not sectarian, group of Christians who associated by affinity. The paper briefly argues further that, taken together, the sources allow us to trace a basic geography for Encratites and the development of Encratites' relationship to what eventually emerged as "orthodox" Christianity.