Library Theodoret Compendium of Heretical Fables
Book 2
On the Elkesaites
The Elkesaites, taking their name from a certain Elxai who began the heresy, gathered myths from various heresies and composed their own error. Concerning the first principle of all things they agree with us. For they say there is one unbegotten, and they call him Craftsman of all. But they do not say one Christ, but one above and one below; and that this one long ago dwelt in many, and later came down. Jesus they say at one time is from God, at another they call him spirit, at another they say he had a virgin as mother. In other writings, not even this. And they say that he again transmigrates and goes into other bodies, and is shown differently at each time.
They also use charms and invocations of demons, and baptisms upon a confession of the elements. They embraced the error of astrology and magic and mathematics, and called themselves Prognostics. They utterly rejected the Apostle; and they composed a certain book which they said had fallen from the heavens. Whoever has heard this, they claim, receives forgiveness of sins beyond what Christ bestowed. Against this heresy Origen wrote truly. Alcibiades, coming from Apamea in Syria, organized it.
Greek: Theodoret of Cyrus, Haereticarum fabularum compendium / Αἱρετικῆς κακομυθίας ἐπιτομή (CPG 6223; PG 83, 336–556). English: study translation for BWAB Library—not a modern copyrighted translation. The full five books are hosted here.