Most Excellent Diognetus. . . This is Their Christ

The Epistle to Diognetus was written around 130 A.D. and supposedly was written by Mathetes “a disciple of the Apostles.”  A. Cleveland Coxe says, “Altogether, the Epistle is a gem of purest ray; and, while suggest some difficulties as to interpretation and exposition, it is practically clear as to argument and intent.  Mathetes is, perhaps, the first of the apologists.” (The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Iranaeus,  Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 p. 23)  It was supposed that Mathetes may have been a catechumen (a person under instruction in the faith of Christianity) of the Apostle Paul or one of his associates, but it is still debated who the author was.  It would seem that he was writing to the tutor of M. Aurelius.  Any other information has been obscured by time.  So to begin the early church fathers (from now on EcF series), I present a piece from The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus:

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Chapter VII-The Manifestation of Christ 

For, as I have said, this was no mere earthly invention which was delivered to them, nor is it a mere human opinion, which they judge in right to preserve so carefully, nor has a dispensation of mere human mysteries been committed to them, but truly God Himself, who is almighty, the Creator of all things, and invisible, has sent from heaven, and placed among men, (He who is) the truth, and the holy and incomprehensible Word, and has firmly esablished Him in their hearts.  He did not, as one might have imagined, send to men any servant, or angel, or ruler, or any one of those to who bear sway over earthly things, or one those to whom the government of things in the heavens has been entrusted, but the very Creator and Fashioner of all things- by whom He made the heavens- by whom he enclosed the sea within its proper bounds- whose ordinances all the stars faithfully observe- from whom the sun has recieved the measure of his daily course to be observed- whom the moon obeys, being commanded to shine in the night, and whom the stars also obey, following the moon in her course; by whom all things have been arranged, and placed within their proper limits, and to whom all are subject- the heavens and the things therein, the earth and the things that are therein -fire, air, and the abyss- the things which are in the heights, the things which are in the depths, and the things which lie between. 

This (messenger) He sent to them. Was it then, as one might conceive, for the purpose of exercising tyranny, or of inspiring fear and terror?  By no means, but under the influence of clemency and meekness.  As a king sends his son, whos is also a king, so sent He Him; as God He sent Him; as to men He sent Him; as a Saviour He sent Him, and as seeking to persuade, not to compel us; for violence has no place in the character of God.  As calling us He sent Him, not as vengefully pursuing us; as loving us He sent Him, not as judging us.  For He will yet send Him, to judge us, and who shall endure His appearing. . . 

Do you not see them exposed to wild beasts, that they may be persuaded to deny the Lord and yet not overcome? Do you not see that the more of them are punished, the greater becomes the number of the rest?  This does not seem to be the work of man: this is the power of God; these are the evidences of His manifestation. 

(Roberts, Alexander.  Early Church Fathers: Ante-Nicene Vol. 1.  Hendrickson Publishers. 1994. p. 27-28 )

 

photo by Ian Britton