Diognetus was a tutor of the emperor marcus aurelius, who admired him for his freedom from superstition and sound educational. In recent times otto has inserted it among the works of that. Early christians faced challenges that were related to their own specificity andor identity. You have so carefully and earnestly asked your questions about them. Epistle to diognetus wikisource, the free online library. Letter to diognetus early christian work britannica. Epistle to diognetus when you have read and carefully listened to these things, you shall know what god bestows on such as rightly love him, being made as you are a paradise of delight, presenting in yourselves a tree bearing all kinds of produce and flourishing well, diongetus adorned with various fruits. The greek text with introduction, translation and notes. Diognetus, church fathers, epistle to diognetus, christian apologists.
Idolworship is ridiculed, and it is shown that jewish sacrifices and ceremonies cannot cause any pleasure to the only god and creator of all. The following interesting and eloquent epistle is anonymous, and we have no clue whatever as to its author. Entry for epistle to diognetus the catholic encyclopedia one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this encyclopedia is one of the most comprehensive resource on. The identification of diognetus with the teacher of marcus aurelius, who bore the same name, is at most plausible. I can see that you deeply desire to learn how christians worship their god.
The anonymous author of this epistle gives himself the title mathetes a. Please buy the cd to support the site, view it without ads, and get bonus stuff. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Chapter 1 since i see, most excellent diognetus, that thou art exceedingly anxious to understand the religion of the christians. While this letter to diognetus common name in ancient rome is often ascribed to mathetes disciple, neither name gives us much of a clue about the identities of these men. The letter to diognetus changed all that with one statement. It is much to be regretted that the text is often so very doubtful. Diognetus was a tutor of the emperor marcus aurelius, who admired him. Since i see thee, most excellent diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping god prevalent. For a considerable period after its publication in 1592, it was generally ascribed to justin martyr. Epistle to diognetus when you have read and carefully listened to these things, you shall know what god bestows on such as rightly love him, being made as you are a paradise of delight, presenting in yourselves a tree bearing all kinds of produce. The origins of the epistle to diognetus are surrounded in mystery, though for reasons we will discuss there is strong evidence that it is amongst the earliest extrabiblical books. The greek writer and recipient are not otherwise known, but the language and other textual evidence dates the work to. Epistle to diognetus encyclopedia volume catholic online.
They all agreed on the music style, the mode of baptism, and the color of the carpet. The anonymous author of this epistle gives himself the title mathetes a disciple 263 of the apostles, and i venture to adopt it as his name. Letter to diognetus, an early christian apologetic work probably dating from the 2nd. Pdf the epistle to diognetus with the fragment of quadratus. Somewhere in the second century a new apologetic letter began circulating throughout the early church. But the letter to diognetus did not only resolve the issue.
Epistle of diognetus pdf admin no comment posted on march 21, 2020. Although neither author nor recipient is known for certain. We must be content to leave both points in hopeless obscurity, and simply accept the epistle as written by an earnest and intelligent christian to a sincere inquirer among the gentiles, towards the close of the apostolic age. The greek writer and recipient are not otherwise known, but the language and other textual evidence dates the work to the late 2nd century. It is very hard to find a better introduction to late 1st century christianity than the letter to diognetus. The authors name is unknown, and the date is anywhere between the apostles. This type of writing is also called an apologetics letter or an apology. The letter or epistle to diognetus is a second or thirdcentury work that defends the doctrines of christianity.
The epistle of mathetes to diognetus a late 2d century apology addressed to a certain diognetus who is otherwise unknown. This beautiful little apology for christianity is cited by no ancient or medieval writer, and came down to us in a single manuscript which perished in the siege of strasburg 1870. These circumstances confront the investigator of the document. A late 2d century apology addressed to a certain diognetus who is otherwise unknown. The anonymous author of this epistle gives himself the title mathetes a disciple. We ask this through our lord jesus christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the holy spirit, one god, for ever and ever. It is, in point of thought, sentiment, and style, decidedly superior to the works of any of the apostolical fathers, and is deserving of. The writer addresses the most excellent diognetus, a welldisposed pagan, who desires to know what is the religion of christians. Thus the oratorian andrea gallandi 17091779, in reissuing coteliers collection in his bibliotheca veterum patrum 17651781, included the fragments of papias and the epistle to diognetus, to which recent editors have added the citations from the elders of papiass day found in irenaeus, and. Most, if not all, christian writings produced during the postapostolic age of the.
It is perhaps one of the first works of apologetics, where mathetes was trying to persuade diognetus toward the christian faith. Everyone treated each other with kindness and respect. The epistle to diognetus is considered by some to be the noblest of early christian writings, and stands out from the rest of contemporary christian writings in the postapostolic era lightfoot, 154. Although neither author nor recipient is known for certain, the letter to diognetus purports to be written by a student of the apostles who calls himself. Epistle to diognetus the catholic encyclopedia bible.
Epistle to diognetus resources online and in print. It is often included with the works of the apostolic fathers, greek christian writers of the late 1st and early 2nd centuries, but it more accurately is associated with the early apologists primarily 1st century. Instead, im trying to show you what early christianity was like. Go to the chronological list of all early christian writings. Wikipedia article, quotes, wikidata item the epistle of mathetes to diognetus is probably the earliest example of christian apologetics, writings defending christianity from its accusers. Full text of the epistle to diognetus internet archive. We ask this through our lord jesus christ, your son, who lives and reigns with. One of the things that stood out to me was that the life of the early christians were markedly different from those with whom they lived. Epistle of diognetus pdf the christians in the world. Historical comments on the epistle to diognetus orthodox. Since i perceive, most excellent diognetus, that you are exceedingly zealous to learn the religion of the christians and are asking very clear and careful. The epistle to diognetus the expository times sage publications.
The epistle of mathetes to diognetus the epistle of mathetes to diognetus is probably the earliest example of christian apologetics, writings defending christianity from its accusers. Although neither author nor recipient is known for certain, the letter to diognetus purports to be written by a student of the apostles who calls himself mathetes. While drawing a line between the christian ethos and the spirit of. Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or. This short epistle written to diognetus by mathetes was really good. It is about all we know of him, and it serves a useful end.
It was the last perfect church left in the whole world. Christians are not a nation nor a sect, but are diffused throughout the world, though they are not of the world but. Keep in the light of your truth all those you have freed from the darkness of unbelief. Of interest in diognetus is the inspiring solution offered for christians living in hostile societies. The epistle to diognetus with the fragment of quadratus. What is it about the god they believe in, and the form of religion they observe, that lets them look down upon the world and despise death. Once it became obvious that in ourselves we were unable to enter the kingdom of god, the power of god could then make us able.
Introductory note to the epistle of mathetes to diognetus a. Both the author also called mathetes and diognetus are unknown to us. Letter to diognetus, an early christian apologetic work probably dating from the 2nd or 3rd century ad. It is often included with the works of the apostolic fathers. This letter is an answer to an inquiry which had been addressed to the author as to what was the character of the christian religion, and what were the reasons why he had embraced it. The letter or epistle to diognetus is a second or thirdcentury work the letter to diognetus purports to be written by a student of the apostles who. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus is probably the earliest example of christian apologetics, writings defending christianity from its accusers.
Letter to diognetus christian history for everyman. Although neither author nor recipient is known for certain, the letter to diognetus purports. Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. The letter to diognetus was written by a student of the apostles. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus is probably the earliest example of christian apologetics, writings defending christianity from its.