EPISTLE TO DIOGNETUS 7 ; trans. B.

Ehrman, Apostolic Fathers 2 [LCL 25] (2003) 143-147

1. For, as I have said, this is no earthly discovery that has been handed over to them,
nor is it a mortal idea that, in their judgment, merits such diligent oversight. Nor have
they been entrusted with the administration of merely human mysteries.
2. But the truly all-powerful God himself, creator of all and invisible, set up and
established in their hearts the truth and the holy word from heaven, which cannot be
comprehended by humans. To do so, he did not, as one might suppose, send them one
of his servants or an angel or a ruler or any of those who administer earthly activities
or who are entrusted with heavenly affairs, but he sent the craftsman and maker of all
things himself, by whom he created the heavens, by whom he enclosed the sea within
its own boundaries, whose mysteries all the elements of creation guard faithfully, from
whom the sun was appointed to guard the courses that it runs during the day, whom
the moon obeys when he commands it to shine at night, whom the stars obey by
following the course of the moon, by whom all things are set in order and arranged
and put into subjection, the heavens and the things in the heavens, the earth and the
things in the earth, the sea and the things in the sea, fire, air, the abyss, creatures in
the heights, creatures in the depths, and creatures in between— this is the one he sent
to them.
3. So then, did he, as one might suppose, send him to rule in tyranny, fear, and terror?
[άρα γε, ώς ανθρώπων άν τις λογίσαιτο, επί τυραννίδι καί φόβω καί καταπλήξει;]
4. Not at all. But with gentleness and meekness, as a king sending his own son, he sent
him as a king; he sent him as a god; he sent him as a human to humans. So that he
might bring salvation and persuasion he sent him, not to coerce—for God does not
work through coercion.
[ού μεν ούν- άλλ' εν επιείκεια καί πραύτητι ώς βασιλεύς πέμπων υίόν βασιλέα επεμφεν, ώς
θεον επεμφεν, ώς άνθρωπον προς ανθρώπους επεμφεν, ώς σώζων επεμφεν, ώς πείθων, ού
βιαζόμενος- βία γάρ ού πρόσεστι τώ θεώ.]
5. He sent him to issue his call, not to persecute. He sent him to show forth his love,
not to judge.
6. For later he will send him in judgment—and who will withstand his coming?
7. Do you not see how they are cast to the wild beasts that they might deny the Lord,
and yet they are not overcome?
8. Do you not see that the more the multitude is punished, the more others increase
their numbers?
9. These things do not appear to be human works. These are the power of God; these
are proofs of his coming.