Chapter XXV.—The Elchasaites.
But certain others, introducing as it were some novel tenet, appropriated parts of their system from all heresies, and procured a strange volume, which bore on the title page the name of one Elchasai. These, in like manner, acknowledge that the principles of the universe were originated by the Deity. They do not, however, confess that there is but one Christ, but that there is one that is superior to the rest, and that He is transfused into many bodies frequently, and was now in Jesus. And, in like manner, these heretics maintain that at one time Christ was begotten of God, and at another time became the Spirit, and at another time was born of a virgin, and at another time not so. And they affirm that likewise this Jesus afterwards was continually being transfused into bodies, and was manifested in many (different bodies) at different times. And they resort to incantations and baptisms in their confession of elements. And they occupy themselves with bustling activity in regard of astrological and mathematical science, and of the arts of sorcery. But also they allege themselves to have powers of prescience.
[29] Ἕτεροι δέ τινες, ὡς καινόν τι παρεισάγοντες, ἐκ πασῶν αἱρέσεων [μύθους] ἐρανισάμενοι, ξένην βίβλ(ον) [ἐ]σκευάσαντο, [ἀπὸ] Ἠλχασαΐ τινος ἐπονομαζομένην. οὗτοι [περὶ] τὴν μὲν ἀρχὴν τοῦ παντὸς ὁμοίως [ἡμῖν] ὁμολογοῦσιν, ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ [τὰ πάντα λέγοντες] γεγονέναι, Χριστὸν δὲ ἕνα οὐχ ὁμολογοῦσιν, ἀλλ' εἶναι τὸν μὲν ἄνω ἕνα, αὐτὸν δὲ μεταγγίζεσθαι ἐν σ(ώ)μασί [τε] π(ο)λλ(οῖς) πολλάκι(ς) καὶ νῦν δὴ ἐν τῷ Ἰησοῦ. ὁμο(ί)ως (δὲ) [τὸν Ἰησοῦν] ποτὲ μὲν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ [θέλουσι] γεγενῆσθαι, ποτὲ δὲ πνεῦμα γεγονέναι, ποτὲ μὲν ἐκ πα(ρ)θένου, ποτὲ δὲ οὔ. καὶ τοῦτον δὲ μετέπειτα ἀεὶ ἐν σώμασι μ(ετ)αγγίζεσθα(ι) καὶ ἐν πολλοῖς κατὰ καιροὺς δείκνυσθαι. χρῶνται δὲ [καὶ] ἐπα(οι)δαῖς καὶ [δαιμόνων ἐπικλήσεσι καὶ] βαπτίσμασιν ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν στοιχείων ὁμολογίᾳ. σεσόβηνται δὲ περ(ὶ) ἀ(στρ)ολογίαν καὶ μαθηματικὴν καὶ μαγικήν, [καὶ] προγν(ω)στικοὺς δὲ ἑαυτοὺς λέγουσιν.