Heretics take the name of their founders

Church Fathers: 

Ignatius 

“Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but [truly] will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one.“– Ignatius to the Romans, chapter 3

It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in reality: as some indeed give one the title of bishop, but do all things without him. Now such persons seem to me to be not possessed of a good conscience, seeing they are not stedfastly gathered together according to the commandment. – Ignatius to the Magnesians chapter 4

Justin martyr 

“I wish to tell you why it has become many-headed. It has happened that those who first handled it [i.e., philosophy], and who were therefore esteemed illustrious men, were succeeded by those who made no investigations concerning truth, but only admired the perseverance and self-discipline of the former, as well as the novelty of the doctrines; and each thought that to be true which he learned from his teacher: then, moreover, those latter persons handed down to their successors such things, and others similar to them; and this system was called by the name of him who was styled the father of the doctrine ”–Dialogue with Trypho (Chapters 1-9)

“Trypho: I believe, however, that many of those who say that they confess Jesus, and are called Christians, eat meats offered to idols, and declare that they are by no means injured in consequence.

Justin: The fact that there are such men confessing themselves to be Christians, and admitting the crucified Jesus to be both Lord and Christ, yet not teaching His doctrines, but those of the spirits of error, causes us who are disciples of the true and pure doctrine of Jesus Christ, to be more faithful and steadfast in the hope announced by Him. For what things He predicted would take place in His name, these we do see being actually accomplished in our sight. For he said, ‘Many shall come in My name, clothed outwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.’ Matthew 7:15 And, ‘There shall be schisms and heresies.’ 1 Corinthians 11:19 And, ‘Beware of false prophets, who shall come to you clothed outwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.’ Matthew 7:15 And, ‘Many false Christs and false apostles shall arise, and shall deceive many of the faithful.’ Matthew 24:11 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; and these are called by us after the name of the men from whom each doctrine and opinion had its origin. (For some in one way, others in another, teach to blaspheme the Maker of all things, and Christ, who was foretold by Him as coming, and the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, with whom we have nothing in common, since we know them to be atheists, impious, unrighteous, and sinful, and confessors of Jesus in name only, instead of worshippers of Him. Yet they style themselves Christians, just as certain among the Gentiles inscribe the name of God upon the works of their own hands, and partake in nefarious and impious rites.) Some are called Marcians, and some Valentinians, and some Basilidians, and some Saturnilians, and others by other names; each called after the originator of the individual opinion, just as each one of those who consider themselves philosophers, as I said before, thinks he must bear the name of the philosophy which he follows, from the name of the father of the particular doctrine. “–Justin Martyr,  Dialogue with Trypho (Chapters 31-47)

Irenaeus (130 AD – 202 AD)

“For, prior to Valentinus, those who follow Valentinus had no existence; nor did those from Marcion exist before Marcion; nor, in short, had any of those malignant-minded people, whom I have above enumerated, any being previous to the initiators and inventors of their perversity.”–Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 3 chapter 4

Clement of Alexandria (AD)

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]; for as the teaching, so also the tradition of the apostles was one. – Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, Book 7, chapter 17

Tertullian ( 155 AD – 240 AD)

“But Christian, so far as the meaning of the word is concerned, is derived from anointing. Yes, and even when it is wrongly pronounced by you Chrestianus (for you do not even know accurately the name you hate), it comes from sweetness and benignity. You hate, therefore, in the guiltless, even a guiltless name. But the special ground of dislike to the sect is, that it bears the name of its Founder”.–Tertullian Apology chapter 3 

Since this is the case, in order that the truth may be adjudged to belong to us, as many as walk according to the rule, which the church has handed down from the apostles, the apostles from Christ, and Christ from God, the reason of our position is clear, when it determines that heretics ought not to be allowed to challenge an appeal to the Scriptures, since we, without the Scriptures, prove that they have nothing to do with the Scriptures. 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. Thus, not being Christians, they have acquired no right to the Christian Scriptures; and it may be very fairly said to them, Who are you? When and whence did you come? As you are none of mine, what have you to do with that which is mine? Indeed, Marcion, by what right do you hew my wood? By whose permission, Valentinus, are you diverting the streams of my fountain? By what power, Apelles, are you removing my landmarks? This is my property. Why are you, the rest, sowing and feeding here at your own pleasure? This (I say) is my property. I have long possessed it; I possessed it before you. I hold sure title-deeds from the original owners themselves, to whom the estate belonged. I am the heir of the apostles. Just as they carefully prepared their will and testament, and committed it to a trust, and adjured (the trustees to be faithful to their charge), even so do I hold it. As for you, they have, it is certain, always held you as disinherited, and rejected you as strangers — as enemies. But on what ground are heretics strangers and enemies to the apostles, if it be not from the difference of their teaching, which each individual of his own mere will has either advanced or received in opposition to the apostles?”

“Since this is the case, in order that the truth may be adjudged to belong to us, as many as walk according to the rule, which the church has handed down from the apostles, the apostles from Christ, and Christ from God, the reason of our position is clear, when it determines that heretics ought not to be allowed to challenge an appeal to the Scriptures, since we, without the Scriptures, prove that they have nothing to do with the Scriptures. 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. Thus, not being Christians, they have acquired no right to the Christian Scriptures; and it may be very fairly said to them, Who are you? When and whence did you come? As you are none of mine, what have you to do with that which is mine? Indeed, Marcion, by what right do you hew my wood? By whose permission, Valentinus, are you diverting the streams of my fountain? By what power, Apelles, are you removing my landmarks? This is my property. Why are you, the rest, sowing and feeding here at your own pleasure? This (I say) is my property. I have long possessed it; I possessed it before you. I hold sure title-deeds from the original owners themselves, to whom the estate belonged. I am the heir of the apostles. Just as they carefully prepared their will and testament, and committed it to a trust, and adjured (the trustees to be faithful to their charge), even so do I hold it. As for you, they have, it is certain, always held you as disinherited, and rejected you as strangers — as enemies. But on what ground are heretics strangers and enemies to the apostles, if it be not from the difference of their teaching, which each individual of his own mere will has either advanced or received in opposition to the apostles?”– Tertullian, Prescription against Heretics, chapter 37

In short, all heresies, when thoroughly looked into, are detected harbouring dissent in many particulars even from their own founders. The majority of them have not even churches. Motherless, houseless, creedless, outcasts, they wander about in their own essential worthlessness. – Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, chapter 42

We know, I say, most fully their actual origin, and we are quite aware why we call them Valentinians, although they affect to disavow their name. They have departed, it is true, from their founder, yet is their origin by no means destroyed; and even if it chance to be changed, the very change bears testimony to the fact. – Tertullian, Against the Valentinians, chapter 4

Origen of Alexandria 

…So, then, seeing Christianity appeared an object of veneration to men, not to the more servile class alone, as Celsus supposes, but to many among the Greeks who were devoted to literary pursuits, there necessarily originated heresies — not at all, however, as the result of faction and strife, but through the earnest desire of many literary men to become acquainted with the doctrines of Christianity. The consequence of which was, that, taking in different acceptations those discourses which were believed by all to be divine, there arose heresies, which received their names from those individuals who admired, indeed, the origin of Christianity, but who were led, in some way or other, by certain plausible reasons, to discordant views. And yet no one would act rationally in avoiding medicine because of its heresies; nor would he who aimed at that which is seemly entertain a hatred of philosophy, and adduce its many heresies as a pretext for his antipathy. And so neither are the sacred books of Moses and the prophets to be condemned on account of the heresies in Judaism. – Origen, Against Celsus, Book 3, chapter 12

“He next pours down upon us a heap of names, saying that he knows of the existence of certain Simonians who worship Helene, or Helenus, as their teacher, and are called Helenians. But it has escaped the notice of Celsus that the Simonians do not at all acknowledge Jesus to be the Son of God, but term Simon the power of God, regarding whom they relate certain marvellous stories, saying that he imagined that if he could become possessed of similar powers to those with which be believed Jesus to be endowed, he too would become as powerful among men as Jesus was among the multitude. But neither Celsus nor Simon could comprehend how Jesus, like a good husbandman of the word of God, was able to sow the greater part of Greece, and of barbarian lands, with His doctrine, and to fill these countries with words which transform the soul from all that is evil, and bring it back to the Creator of all things. Celsus knows, moreover, certain Marcellians, so called from Marcellina, and Harpocratians from Salome, and others who derive their name from Mariamme, and others again from Martha. We, however, who from a love of learning examine to the utmost of our ability not only the contents of Scripture, and the differences to which they give rise, but have also, from love to the truth, investigated as far as we could the opinions of philosophers, have never at any time met with these sects. He makes mention also of the Marcionites, whose leader was Marcion.” – Origen Against Celsus, Book 5, Ch. 62

Eusebius

“But (they say that) 4 Cerinthus, who founded the sect which was called, after him, the Cerinthian, desiring reputable authority for his fiction, prefixed the name.”— Church History by Eusebius, Book 3, Chapter 28

“But Thebuthis, because he was not made bishop, began to corrupt it. He also was sprung from the seven sects among the people, like Simon, from whom came the Simonians, and Cleobius, from whom came the Cleobians, and Dositheus, from whom came the Dositheans, and Gorthæus, from whom came the Goratheni, and Masbotheus, from whom came the Masbothæans. From them sprang the Menandrianists, and Marcionists, and Carpocratians, and Valentinians, and Basilidians, and Saturnilians. Each introduced privately and separately his own peculiar opinion. From them came false Christs, false prophets, false apostles, who divided the unity of the Church by corrupt doctrines uttered against God and against his Christ.”– Church History by Eusebius, Book 4, Chapter 22 

Basil the Great

“These also called their names upon their lands.” For the name of the ungodly is not written in the book of the living, nor is it counted among the Church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven. But their names remain on the earth, because they preferred this fleeting and short life to eternal habitations. Do you not see those who build marketplaces and gymnasia in the cities, who raise walls and repair aqueducts, how their names are called upon these earthly constructions? And indeed, some even, having marked their names upon herds of horses, contrived to extend their memory alongside their life. And having shown grandeur in their tombs, they inscribed their names upon their monuments. These are they who think on earthly things and reckon the glory here, and to be remembered among men, sufficient for their happiness. And if you see any among those puffed up with falsely-named knowledge, who align themselves with the confessions of certain wicked doctrines, and instead of the name of Christians, call themselves after one of the heresiarchs—Marcion, or Valentinus, or one of the more current ones—know that these too have called their names upon the earth, having assigned themselves wholly to perishable and earthly men. — Basil the Great, Homily on Psalm 48 (PG 29.448,449)

Athanasius:

For what have they discovered in this heresy like to the religious Faith, that they vainly talk as if its supporters said no evil? This in truth is to call even Caiaphas a Christian, and to reckon the traitor Judas still among the Apostles, and to say that they who asked Barabbas instead of the Saviour did no evil, and to recommend Hymenæus and Alexander as right-minded men, and as if the Apostle slandered them. But neither can a Christian bear to hear this, nor can he consider the man who dared to say it sane in his understanding. For with them for Christ is Arius, as with the Manichees Manichæus; and for Moses and the other saints they have made the discovery of one Sotades , a man whom even Gentiles laugh at, and of the daughter of Herodias. For of the one has Arius imitated the dissolute and effeminate tone, in writing Thaliæ on his model; and the other he has rivalled in her dance, reeling and frolicking in his blasphemies against the Saviour; till the victims of his heresy lose their wits and go foolish, and change the Name of the Lord of glory into the likeness of the ‘image of corruptible man ,’ and for Christians come to be called Arians, bearing this badge of their irreligion. For let them not excuse themselves; nor retort their disgrace on those who are not as they, calling Christians after the names of their teachers , that they themselves may appear to have that Name in the same way. Nor let them make a jest of it, when they feel shame at their disgraceful appellation; rather, if they be ashamed, let them hide their faces, or let them recoil from their own irreligion. For never at any time did Christian people take their title from the Bishops among them, but from the Lord, on whom we rest our faith. Thus, though the blessed Apostles have become our teachers, and have ministered the Saviour’s Gospel, yet not from them have we our title, but from Christ we are and are named Christians. But for those who derive the faith which they profess from others, good reason is it they should bear their name, whose property they have become. 3. Yes surely; while all of us are and are called Christians after Christ, Marcion broached a heresy a long time since and was cast out; and those who continued with him who ejected him remained Christians; but those who followed Marcion were called Christians no more, but henceforth Marcionites. Thus Valentinus also, and Basilides, and Manichæus, and Simon Magus, have imparted their own name to their followers; and some are accosted as Valentinians, or as Basilidians, or as Manichees, or as Simonians; and other, Cataphrygians from Phrygia, and from Novatus Novatians. So too Meletius, when ejected by Peter the Bishop and Martyr, called his party no longer Christians, but Meletians , and so in consequence when Alexander of blessed memory had cast out Arius, those who remained with Alexander, remained Christians; but those who went out with Arius, left the Saviour’s Name to us who were with Alexander, and as to them they were hence-forward denominated Arians. Behold then, after Alexander’s death too, those who communicate with his successor Athanasius, and those with whom the said Athanasius communicates, are instances of the same rule; none of them bear his name, nor is he named from them, but all in like manner, and as is usual, are called Christians. For though we have a succession of teachers and become their disciples, yet, because we are taught by them the things of Christ, we both are, and are called, Christians all the same. But those who follow the heretics, though they have innumerable successors in their heresy, yet anyhow bear the name of him who devised it. Thus, though Arius be dead, and many of his party have succeeded him, yet those who think with him, as being known from Arius, are called Arians. And, what is a remarkable evidence of this, those of the Greeks who even at this time come into the Church, on giving up the superstition of idols, take the name, not of their catechists, but of the Saviour, and begin to be called Christians instead of Greeks: while those of them who go off to the heretics, and again all who from the Church change to this heresy, abandon Christ’s name, and henceforth are called Arians, as no longer holding Christ’s faith, but having inherited Arius’s madness. — Athanasius, Discourse 1 Against the Arians, chapter 1 

Ephraim the Syrian ( 306 AD – 373 AD)

Let us take it further, That we even be heard by the deaf. You I make an arbiter! You choose, O hearer, Which is greater and more praiseworthy: That you be called Christian , Or named Marcionite, That they call you Christian, Or a Daisanite weed! Response: Blessed is the one for whom all ardently long! While as yet Bardaisan is, And Marcion is named, Let us go to the ancients, Who are older than Marcion; Let us see how the ancient churches Were named, And with that name let us be named! Let us throw and cast off appellations Of names that came afterward! Response: Blessed is the one who has been perpetuated by his names!– Ephraim the Syrian, Hymns Against Heresies, Hymn 23

The flock of Bardaisan, he has marked and named with his own name — and after the name of Mani is likewise his flock designated. — As stolen lambs they have been marked with that ugly sign — the sign of thieves. After the name of our Redeemer — his sheep are named. Christ has gathered around himself — the Christian lambs.  RESPONSORY: Praise of your goodness! Mani and Bardaisan defiled the churches — like harlots, and they gave their own names — in place of that beautiful name, whereas his Bride with his name — has been named by the suitors of the Bride, the Apostles, the sons of truth. — He resembles his Begetter whose synagogue — was named with his name by Moses and his followers. Moses, who shone forth, puts the erring to shame — for he did not speak in his own name, but in the name of his Lord. — The prophets who spoke thereafter spoke in the name of the Lord — and in the name of God. And there is not one among them who dared — to speak in his own name. In the name of the Lord the prophets (spoke), — the apostles in the name of Jesus. Did they truly know no shame and no blush of embarrassment, that their writings are composed in the names of men? And not a single scribe is found who would rise and read: “Thus says the Lord of Hosts,” but (all read): “Thus spoke Marcion, the madman, and Mani and Bardaisan.” Even their names alone suffice to disgrace their communities. Did they truly not fear, though the Apostle rebuked the one who said: “I am of Cephas”? And if even after the name of Cephas the sheep were not named, though he was the prince of the Apostles, the bearer of the keys, and the shepherd of the flocks, woe then to him who has dared to mark foreign sheep with his own name! So break forth and come, rams, lambs and sheep, you who were stolen by the erring, and renounce the marks and names of the thieves, and come, let yourselves be marked with the name of God, the praiseworthy, and be called “Christians,” so that in the mark and in the name, in all things, you may become the Christian flock! – Ephraim the Syrian, Hymns Against Heresies, Hymn 56

Macarius Magnes

Let us elucidate that topic of yours which comes next, namely, what is said about the Antichrist, for he [Christ] says, “See that no one shall lead you astray, for many shall come in my name.” Matthew 24:4–5 If I provide you with the entries and words recorded in Chronographies, you will recognize beyond doubt the prescience of Christ, since many misusing the title “Saviour” have enticed many by the way they seemed, and led them in the end to their own destruction. For example, Mani in Persia, who made a show of using the name of Christ, corrupted with error many satrapies and many lands of the East, and even corrupts them today, secretly invading the inhabited world with his destructive seeds. Another in Phrygia, Montanus, having in this way been called by the name “Lord,” putting on a fictitious show of asceticism, showing that he was the dwelling place of a wicked demon, has led into error all of Mysia up to Asia; and so strong was the demon lurking and hidden in him that almost the [entire] inhabited world was drowned in the spell of error. What shall I tell you about Cerinthus and Simon, or Marcion, Bardaisan, Droserius, or Dositheus of Cilicia, or myriad others, the throng of which I hesitate to mention, as all these and their followers, having appropriated the name of Christianity, have wrought their unspeakable error in the world? They have made countless prisoners [their] spoils. For example, those who believe in these antichrists or antigods no longer want to use the name “Christians,” but from the name of their leaders they love to be called “Manichaeans,” “Montanists,” “Marcionites,” “Droserianists,” and “Dositheists.” You see the destructive legions of many antichrists fearfully spurred on against Christ and the Christians, and yet you say that none of those the Saviour predicted has come? You observe the ranks of armed antigods, and yet you reject the Saviour’s foreknowledge? One must not reject, but agree with what he said! Macarius Magnes, Apocriticus 4.15

Jerome

I might spend the day in speaking to the same effect, and dry up all the streams of argument with the single Sun of the Church. But as we have already had a long discussion and the protracted controversy has wearied out the attention of our audience, I will tell you my opinion briefly and without reserve. We ought to remain in that Church which was founded by the Apostles and continues to this day. If ever you hear of any that are called Christians taking their name not from the Lord Jesus Christ, but from some other, for instance, Marcionites, Valentinians, Men of the mountain or the plain, you may be sure that you have there not the Church of Christ, but the synagogue of Antichrist. For the fact that they took their rise after the foundation of the Church is proof that they are those whose coming the Apostle foretold. And let them not flatter themselves if they think they have Scripture authority for their assertions, since the devil himself quoted Scripture, and the essence of the Scriptures is not the letter, but the meaning. Otherwise, if we follow the letter, we too can concoct a new dogma and assert that such persons as wear shoes and have two coats must not be received into the Church. — Jerome, The Dialogue Against the Luciferians chapter 28

Socrates Scholasticus

With the Arians the Melitians mingled themselves, who a little while before had been separated from the Church: but who these Melitians are must now be stated. By Peter, bishop of Alexandria, who in the reign of Diocletian suffered martyrdom, a certain Melitius, bishop of one of the cities in Egypt, in consequence of many other charges, and more especially because during the persecution he had denied the faith and sacrificed, was deposed. This person, being stripped of his dignity, and having nevertheless many followers, became the leader of the heresy of those who are to this day called from him Melitians throughout Egypt.— Socrates Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History, Book 1, Ch.6

Adamantius 

Did the Lord Himself write that He was crucified, and rose on the third day? Does He write in this way? MEGETHIUS: (heretic): The Apostle Paul added that. ADAMANTIUS: Was Paul present at the crucifixion of Christ? MEGETHIUS: He himself plainly wrote the Gospel. ADAMANTIUS: If now I should show that he was not present, but even persecuted the members of the Church after this, would you become a Christian?! MEGETHIUS: But surely I am a Christian? ADAMANTIUS: How can you be a Christian when you did not condescend to bear the name of Christian? You do not call yourself a Christian, but a Marcionite. MEGETHIUS: And you people say you belong to the Catholic Church, so you are not Christians, either! ADAMANTIUS: If we possessed the surname of some human being, then you would be right. But if we are called “Catholic” because we have a truly catholic existence is this wrong? You must show, therefore, that it is proper to carry the name of a human being. I will show that it is not only improper to bear the name of a bishop, but also that of an apostle. Who was the greater — Marcion or Paul? MEGETHIUS: Paul. ADAMANTIUS: Then listen, if you will, to the more distinguished Paul, when he demands, “It has come to my hearing”, he says “through Chloe’s folk, that there is wrangling among you: one of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ or ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas’. Has Christ been divided up? [Surely Paul was not crucified for you? Surely you were not baptized into the name of Paul?]” MEGETHIUS: You gave me a name, but actually I am called a follower of Christ, and there are some here who are called followers of Socrates. ADAMANTIUS: I refuse the name of Socrates, for I do not acknowledge him. EUTR. If you are giving one another names, you must both refuse them. ADAMANTIUS: I do not acknowlege Socrates. Does Megethius also refuse Marcion? MEGETHIUS: Marcion was my bishop. ADAMANTIUS: Since the death of Marcion, there have been so many successor-bishops among you, or rather, pseudo-bishops: why, then, have you not been named after the successors, instead of after the schismatic Marcion?– Dialogue with Adamantius, First Part, 809a-810a

Pacian of Barcelona:

…For such are the heresies which have sprung forth from the Christian head, that of the mere names the roll would be immense. For to pass over the heretics of the Jews, Dositheus the Samaritan, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees, it were long to enumerate how many grew up in the times of the Apostles, Simon Magus, and Menander, and Nicolaus, and others hidden by an inglorious fame. What again in later times were Ebion, and Apelles, and Marcion, and Valentinus, and Cerdon, and not long after them, the Cataphrygians, and Novatians, not to notice any recent swarms! — Pacian of Barcelona, On the Catholic Name, Letter 1, chapter 1

Suppose, this very day, I entered a populous city. When I had found Marcionites, |322 Apollinarians, Cataphrygians, Novatians, and others of the kind who call themselves Christians, by what name should I recognise the congregation of my own people, unless it were named Catholic? Come tell me, who bestowed so many names on the other peoples? Why have so many cities, so many nations, each their own description? The man who asks the meaning of the Catholic Name, will he be ignorant himself of the cause of his own name if I shall enquire its origin? Whence was it delivered to me? Certainly that which has stood through so many ages was not borrowed from man. This name “Catholic” sounds not of Marcion, nor of Apelles, nor of Montanus, nor does it take heretics as its authors. — Pacian of Barcelona, On the Catholic Name, Letter 1, chapter 5

Ammonius of Alexandria

Acts 20:29-30. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” “To draw away the disciples after them”—for this is the aim of heretics: that they may gather the people to themselves, not to the Lord; that they may glory in themselves, with the disciples being called after the name of the heretics. Thus they are designated by such names: from Manes, Manichees; from Arius, Arians; from Nestorius, Nestorians; and so also with the other sects of heresies. Paul, foreseeing this, restrains and rebukes those who said: “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas,” not wanting their fellowship to be published under a human name, but that all should be called Christians in the name of Christ, even if they had been taught by different teachers. For when all teachers intend the same goal—namely, to proclaim the true faith—the disciples are not named after a private teacher, but are called by the common name, Christians. But if teachers depart in any way from the dogmas of the Church, then instead of the catholic designation, their disciples are drawn under the private name of their master. — Ammonius of Alexandria (Fragments on Acts, PG 85.1582)

But if teachers depart in any way from the dogmas of the Church, then instead of the catholic designation, their disciples are drawn under the private name of their master. — Ammonius of Alexandria (Fragments on Acts, PG 85.1582)

Severian of Gabala

What I am about to say has been said, but I shall still say it. God in his wisdom has allowed heresies to get a name for their teachings from their originators so that it may be clear that what is decreed by them is not God’s teaching but human invention-Macedonians from Macedonius, Arians from Arius, Eunomians from Eunomius, and likewise the other heresies. But wishing to preserve the faith of the apostles intact, he did not allow them to be named after a man; even if they call us Homoousiasts, they are not referring to a man but proclaiming the faith. The fact that being called after people is the mark not of the faithful but of heretics Paul states in reproaching the Corinthians: “I hear there are divisions among you; one says, I belong to Paul, I belong to Apollos, I belong to Cephas.” (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). Do you see that being called after people arises from schisms? Is not Peter more deserving of credence than Macedonius? Do not the names of the apostles give way to the glory of Christ? Are you not scorning the faith, the undivided kingdom, the integral glory? Enough for the time being: we have the lamp and the light, “the Law being a lamp for my feet and a light for my paths.” (Psalm 118:105). Why a lamp? Why a light? A lamp for the catechumens, a light for the initiated. – Severian of Gabala, Commentary in Genesis, Homily 4

[1 Corinthians 1:1-2] He heals the division that had arisen by calling them one Church and God’s people, and he places before them “in Christ Jesus,” not “in this one or that one.” We must observe how in a few brief phrases he repeatedly mentions Jesus Christ, teaching from the very opening lines that we ought to be named from no one else but from our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the constant remembrance of Jesus Christ he applies the remedy for the wound caused by divisions and by their various party-names. — Severian of Gabala, Fragments on 1 Corinthians (in catena)

Caesarius of Arles:

Therefore, as I said above, dearly beloved, the man who refused to marry the wife of his dead brother was deprived of his shoes and spit in the face; if a man agreed to accept his brother’s widow, the sons who were born were not called by the name of the man who had begotten them, but of the one who had died. This fact we see fulfilled in the apostles. When their brother died, that is, when Christ was dead who had said: “Go, take word to my brethren” (Matthew 28:10), the apostles received His wife, that is, the Church. Thus, indeed, the Apostle Paul says: “In Christ Jesus, through the gospel, did I beget you” (1 Corinthians 4:15). Now whoever were born of the Church through the teaching of the apostles were not called Petrans or Paulans, but Christians, in order that there might be fulfilled this figure which was anticipated in the law concerning the wife of a dead brother. However, unhappy heretics have not done this. Like exceedingly cruel invaders who seize the wife of their brother, they tear to pieces and split the Church into sects, for although they have all been generated through the sacrament of Baptism, with insolent boldness they want to be called by their own name and not that of Christ. Now in the Catholic Church all who are born are called Christians from the name of the deceased, that is, of Christ; among heretics, however, some are called Donatists, others Manichaeans, others Arians, others Photinians. Since the leaders of the heretics were not the lawful spouses, they did not impose the name of Christ but their own upon the people. — Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 96, On the Bush and the Lace of the Shoe

Timothy of Constantinople: 

“Therefore the Artotyrites descend from this heresy of Marcion, but because of added inventions they change the name. For they hand over bread mixed with milk to those initiated into their mysteries. …” – Timothy of Constantinople, On the Reception of Heretics (600 AD), Migne PG 86(1).15