The Encratites were a heretical sect known for their ascetic practices.
The Encratites have sprung from Saturninus and Marcion. They preach against marriage. They have thereby set aside the original creation of God. So they indirectly blame Him, for He made the male and female for the propagation of the human race. Some of their leaders have also instituted abstinence from animal food. They thereby show themselves to be ungrateful to God, who made all things. Furthermore, they deny the salvation of the first created man [Adam]. However, it is only recently that this last opinion has been introduced among them. A certain man named Tatian first introduced this blasphemy. Irenaeus (c. 180, E/W), 1.353
Others, however, call themselves Encratites. They acknowledge some things concerning God and Christ in the same manner as the church. However, as to their manner of life, they spend their days puffed up with pride. They imagine that they make themselves better by foods. So they abstain from animal foods and drink only water. They forbid their people to marry. For the rest of their lives, they devote themselves to ascetic practices. But persons of this description should be considered Cynics rather than Christians. For they do not pay attention to the words spoken against them through the apostle Paul. For he foretold the novelties that would later be introduced by certain ones, saying, “The Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times certain ones will depart from sound doctrine, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils . . .forbidding to marry, abstaining from meats that God has created to be partaken of with thanksgiving.” Hippolytus (c. 225, W), 5.124
There are certain heretical sects that do not receive the epistles of the apostle Paul—such as the two sects of Ebionites, as well as those who are termed Encratites. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.571