Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies 9.7

A man named Noetus appeared, a native of Smyrna. He introduced a heresy drawn from the doctrines of Heraclitus. A certain Epigonus became his deacon and disciple; when Epigonus arrived in Rome he sowed the atheistic opinion there. Cleomenes became Epigonus’ disciple, and in both life and manner he was a stranger to the church. Cleomenes strengthened the doctrine at the time when Zephyrinus was considered to preside over the church. Zephyrinus was a layman and a lover of filthy lucre. Persuaded by the gain offered to him, Zephyrinus permitted those who came to Cleomenes to become disciples. Swept along by time, Zephyrinus himself rushed into the same errors, with Callistus as his counselor and fellow contender in evil. I will set forth Callistus’ life and his invented heresy shortly.

The teaching of these men remained strong through succession and increased, because Zephyrinus and Callistus were gathering with them. We, however, never gave in to them. Instead we stood against them many times, refuted them, and forced them to confess the truth against their will. For a time they confessed, ashamed and constrained by the truth, but after a little while they returned to the same mire.