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Research atlas for early Christianity. Claims are tagged attested, traditional, or disputed. Copyrighted full texts, including CCEL editions, are not included.

DeChurched Atlas

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Epistle to Diognetus

Also known as Mathetes to Diognetus

low

  • point in time. 2th centurylow · Wikidata P585

Anonymous apology describing Christians as 'the soul of the world'; known from one manuscript destroyed in 1870.

Wikipedia extract

The Epistle to Diognetus is an example of Christian apologetics, writings defending Christianity against the charges of its critics. The Greek writer and recipient are not otherwise known. Estimates of dating based on the language and other textual evidence have ranged from AD 130, to the general era of Melito of Sardis, Athenagoras of Athens, and Tatian.

CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikipedia contributors. Source page

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Links only. The atlas does not host the text. CCEL is not linked.

  • Epistle to Diognetus · New Advent FathersPublic-domain translation; site edition copyright Kevin Knight. Link, do not mirror.
  • Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus · Early Christian Writings (Peter Kirby)Hub site; each linked translation keeps its own rights. Link only.

Sources

  • Epistle to Diognetus · Wikipedia contributorsAccessed 2026-11-12 · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Wikidata Q621454 · Wikidata contributorsAccessed 2026-11-12 · CC0 1.0
  • Catholic Encyclopedia (1907-1912) article · Various (Catholic Encyclopedia)Accessed 2026-11-12 · 1907-1912 text public domain in the US; dated and confessional, use for history of reception
  • Epistle to Diognetus · Leo the Great, Pope (c. 395-461)Accessed 2026-11-12 · Public-domain translation; site edition copyright Kevin Knight. Link, do not mirror.
  • Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus · Early Christian Writings (Peter Kirby)Accessed 2026-11-12 · Hub site; each linked translation keeps its own rights. Link only.

Authority files

apologists · 2nd-century

Epistle to Diognetus · DeChurched Atlas