The following is the original introductory notice of the learned editors and translators. Antenicene fathersvolume iintroductory note to the. This short epistle written to diognetus by mathetes was really good. The greek writing known under this name was first printed in 1592 by henricus stephanus, along with a companion piece to greeks, as hitherto unknown writings of justin martyr, taken by him from a single faded exemplar in his edition, as in the transcript in his own handwriting extant at leyden, the writing to greeks was not prefixed, but appended to the writing to. The epistle to diognetus kirsopp lake, translator 1. 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. Epistle to diognetus pdf works well and provides a convenient service for helping to keep your screen clear and organized as you work. In recent times otto has inserted it among the works of that.
It is about all we know of him, and it serves a useful end. 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. Please buy the cd to support the site, view it without ads, and get bonus stuff. Jul 24, 2017 the first thing im going to share is the epistle of mathetes to diognetus. Epistle to diognetus resources online and in print. Epistle to diognetus kindle edition by mathetes anonymous. The author explores chapters five and six of the letter to. Second century documents such as the epistle to diognetus can give us an. The church and the world in the letter to diognetus.
In his defiance against joining the tspm, wang set the stage for todays chinese house. Letter to diognetus, an early christian apologetic work probably dating from the 2nd or 3rd century ad. Somewhere in the second century a new apologetic letter began circulating throughout the early church. Nor can a single word be said as to the person named diognetus, to whom the letter is addressed. Sep 24, 2015 the epistle to diognetus could also be seen as helping facilitate the transition between the encouraging letters of the postapostolic writings and the apologetic writings of justin martyr, theophilus, and the rest of the apologists. The anonymous author of this epistle gives himself the title mathetes a. As long then as the former time endured, he permitted us to be borne along by unruly impulses, being drawn away by the desire of pleasure and various lusts. Mathetes, in a single sentence, expounds a most practical text with comprehensive views. By anonymous author 0070 it is widely believed that the last two chapters were added at a later time. 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. Oct 19, 20 introductory note to the epistle of mathetes to diognetus a. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus is probably the earliest example of christian apologetics, writings defending christianity from its accusers. The writer is a bit odd, as he uses arguments from the old testament against greek idolatry, and then criticizes jewish customs as if he discounted the old testaments inspiration. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus the heidelblog.
Cleveland coxe, introductory note to the epistle of mathetes to diognetus in antenicene fathers, vol. Letter to diognetus early christian work britannica. The greek writer and recipient are not otherwise known, but the language and other textual evidence dates the work to. The first thing im going to share is the epistle of mathetes to diognetus. Since i see thee, most excellent diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping god prevalent among the christians, and inquiring very carefully and earnestly concerning them, what god they trust in, and what form of religion they observe,1 so as all to look down upon the world itself, and despise. You have so carefully and earnestly asked your questions about them. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out. Keep in the light of your truth all those you have freed from the darkness of unbelief. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus by mathetes goodreads. It is perhaps one of the first works of apologetics, where mathetes was trying to persuade diognetus toward the christian faith. 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. This type of writing is also called an apologetics letter or an apology.
Jan 03, 2005 it is the epistle of mathetes to diognetus, and can be found in volume i of the early church fathers, which is available on the ccel site here if you are unfamiliar with navigating ccel, click on the pink arrows next to each section, in this case mathetes, to expand the contents. Translated by alexander roberts and james donaldson. 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. Epistle to diognetus the catholic encyclopedia bible. Epistle of diognetus quote ad 0 church history timeline.
But the letter to diognetus did not only resolve the issue. 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. Introductory note to the epistle of mathetes to diognetus. This anonymous work whose critical edition is still in the making,12 is in fact an address or exhortation, and not an epistle. The authors name is unknown, and the date is anywhere. 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. From a letter jan hus wrote to the people of louny, after march 15, 1411, translated in matthew. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus mathetes for the christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe.
Antenicene fathersvolume iintroductory note to the epistle. For the christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Apr 18, 20 the epistle of mathetes to diognetus greek. Epistle of mathetes to diognetus diognetus, epistle to. The identification of diognetus with the teacher of marcus aurelius, who bore the same name, is at most plausible. 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. 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 questions concerning them, both who is the god in whom they believe, and how they worship him, so. There are two schools as to its dating, one which favors a date approximately ce and the other which favors a date approximately 200 ce or even later in the third century. I place his letter here, as a sequel to the clementine epistle, for several reasons, which i think scholars will approve. This was not that he at all delighted in our sins, but that he simply endured them.
For several weeks earlier this spring the adult catechism class was studying some of the early postapostolic fathers. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus orthodox road. There are two schools as to its dating, one which favors a date approximately ce and the other which favors a date approximately 200 ce or. 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. Home author early fathers age of persecution the epistle of mathetes i.
Epistle of mathetes to diognetus early christian writings. Aug 02, 2016 epistle to diognetus pdf works well and provides a convenient service for helping to keep your screen clear and organized as you work. Christian metaidentity construed as culturally inclusive, because diognetus as the. Lost in the crowd of predecessors whom irenaeus and clement hardly ever name and merged in justins. The following interesting and eloquent epistle is anonymous, and we have no clue whatever as to its author. Ive only seen evidence that it is thought that the recipient of this letter was the same diognetus as the tutor of m. 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. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus bible study tools. Estimates of dating based on the language and other textual evidence have ranged from ad which would make it one of the earliest.
Im putting this up as a reference and removing the dissenting. Epistle to diognetus 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. Since i see thee, most excellent diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping god prevalent. According to some scholars, it is possible that diognetus, the recipient of the epistle, was the tutor of marcus aurelius. Since i see thee, most excellent diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping god prevalent among the christians, and inquiring very carefully and earnestly concerning them, what god they trust in, and what form of religion they observe, so as all to look down upon the world itself, and despise. The greek writer and recipient are not otherwise known. First, the author starts out with an invitation to reason. 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. Introductory note to the epistle of mathetes to diognetus a.
Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. Jan 19, 2019 the epistle of mathetes to diognetus is probably the earliest example of christian apologetics, writings defending christianity from its accusers. The disciple to diognetus anonymous the letter to diognetus, dating from approximately 125ad, is the earliest example we have of an apology, a document defending the christian faith addressed to a nonchristian. Full text of the epistle to diognetus internet archive. This epistle seems to have disappeared from use in the early centuries of the church. It is often included with the works of the apostolic fathers.
We ask this through our lord jesus christ, your son, who lives and reigns with. 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. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus is an example of christian apologetics, writings defending christianity from its accusers. Estimates of dating based on the language and other textual evidence have ranged from ad. Introductory note to the epistle of mathetes to diognetus, christian classics ethereal. 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. The epistle to diognetus, however, does not reach beyond the tenth chapter, where it ends abruptly. Epistle of mathetes to diognetus the puritan board. Cleveland coxe, james donaldson, alexander roberts, 1885, p. For a considerable period after its publication in 1592, it was generally ascribed to justin martyr. Jun 02, 2008 the epistle of mathetes to diognetus for several weeks earlier this spring the adult catechism class was studying some of the early postapostolic fathers. The tutorial and tips that come along with this program give a complete overview of the program and its features. The anonymous epistle to diognetus, though obviously an ancient document, is not attested in any of the church fathers.
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 catholic teaching, history, and information. Epistle to diognetus epistle of mathetes evidence unseen. Since i see thee, most excellent diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping god prevalent among the christians, and inquiring very carefully and earnestly concerning them, what god they trust in, and what form of. The anonymous author of this epistle gives himself the title mathetes a disciple of the apostles, and i venture to adopt it as his name. Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or custom. Its an excellent example of the erudition, theology, and ethics of some of the. Epistle to diognetus wikisource, the free online library. Diognetus, to which i now turn, is a historical witness of this attitude, where we find a complex understanding of the new race as both foreign and immanent to any given context. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus is one of the earliest examples of christian apologetics, and is written to defend christianity from its accusers. Chapters 110 serve as an early defense of the christian faith, while chapters 1112 are an early christian sermon. The author is sometimes called mathetes because he identifies himself as a disciple. For a time it was believed that the letter to diognetus was composed by justin martyr, but that theory has since been discarded. The epistle of mathetes to diognetus it is widely believed that the last two chapters were added at a later time. The two remaining chapters belong to some different work, which has been accidentally attached to it, just as in most of the extant mss the latter part of the epistle of polycarp is attached to the former part of the epistle of barnabas see.
Jan 02, 2020 the oldest known manuscript of the letter to diognetus, dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century, was found along with the writings of justin martyr. The letter to diognetus changed all that with one statement. One example, philip schaff, the apostolic fathers with justin martyr and irenaeus, see. Go to the chronological list of all early christian writings. The greek writer and recipient are not otherwise known, but the language and other textual evidence dates the work to the late 2nd century. This beautiful little apology for christianity is cited by no ancient or medieval writer, and came down to us in a single ms. One of the documents we studied was the epistle of mathetes the disciple to a certain diognetus. Mathetes is the greek word for disciple, and this author claims to be a disciple of the apostles. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. The epistle to diognetus pronounced dieogkneetus is also called the epistle of mathetes greek for disciple or learner. The letter or epistle to diognetus is a second or thirdcentury work that defends the doctrines of christianity. Christianity church church history timeline ad 0 epistle of diognetus quote timeline 60001 bc ad 0 301600 601900 9011200 12011500 1501. It is dated to about ad, and it is a letter by an early disciple of the apostles mathetes means disciple to a gentile named diognetus. There was no retweet function, though, which seemed like an odd thing for this.
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