The Epistle to Diognetus · §1 · Mathetes

Opening address and request for effective speech

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The author opens the letter by addressing Diognetus, a distinguished pagan who has eagerly asked to learn about the Christians' piety.

I see, most excellent Diognetus, how eager you are to learn the piety of the Christians. You are asking about them with great clarity and care. What God have they trusted? How do they worship him? Why do all of them despise the world and scorn death? Why do they neither regard the gods recognized by the Greeks nor keep the superstition of the Jews? What affection do they have for one another? And why has this new way of life appeared now and not before? I welcome your eagerness. I ask God, who supplies us with both speaking and hearing, to grant me to speak in such a way that you who hear may become better, and to grant you to hear in such a way that the one who speaks may not be grieved.

Greek

Ἐπειδὴ ὁρῶ, κράτιστε Διόγνητε, ὑπερεσπουδακότα σε τὴν θεοσέβειαν τῶν Χριστιανῶν μαθεῖν καὶ πάνυ σαφῶς καὶ ἐπιμελῶς πυνθανόμενον περὶ αὐτῶν, τίνι τε θεῷ πεποιθότες καὶ πῶς θρησκεύοντες αὐτὸν τόν τε κόσμον ὑπερορῶσι πάντες καὶ θανάτου καταφρονοῦσι καὶ οὔτε τοὺς νομιζομένους ὑπὸ τῶν Ἑλλήνων θεοὺς λογίζονται οὔτε τὴν Ἰουδαίων δεισιδαιμονίαν φυλάσσουσι, καὶ τίνα τὴν φιλοστοργίαν ἔχουσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους, καὶ τί δή ποτε καινὸν τοῦτο γένος ἢ ἐπιτήδευμα εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν βίον νῦν καὶ οὐ πρότερον: ἀποδέχομαί γε τῆς προθυμίας σε ταύτης καὶ παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ καὶ τὸ λέγειν καὶ τὸ ἀκούειν ἡμῖν χορηγοῦντος, αἰτοῦμαι δοθῆναι ἐμοὶ μὲν εἰπεῖν οὕτως, ὡς μάλιστα ἂν ἀκούσαντά σε βελτίω γενέσθαι, σοί τε οὕτως ἀκοῦσαι, ὡς μὴ λυπηθῆναι τὸν εἰπόντα.

About this text

An unknown writer answers a pagan named Diognetus: what God Christians trust, how they worship, and why they love one another.

The author of this letter (fl. c. 150) is unknown. He writes as a disciple of the apostles to Diognetus, a distinguished pagan who has eagerly asked to learn about the religion of the Christians.

Diognetus wants to know what God Christians trust, how they worship, why they despise the world and death, why they reject Greek gods and Jewish practice, and why they love one another. The author writes to answer these questions and to lead him toward Christian faith.

The letter first clears away pagan idolatry, showing that the gods are mere corruptible materials. It then argues that Jewish sacrificial worship misunderstands God, who needs nothing, and that Jewish food laws, Sabbath, circumcision, and calendar observance are foolish. Christians are not distinguished by land, language, or customs, yet they live as resident aliens in every homeland, loving all while being persecuted. The author urges Diognetus to desire this faith, know the Father, imitate God's kindness by bearing others' burdens, and so come to true knowledge and life.

New English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from Pseudo-Justinus Martyr Kirsopp Lake The Apostolic Fathers William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons London; New York 1917 (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.