Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition.
Date & Provenance
Probably composed in the 2nd or 3rd century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Single 13th–14th-century manuscript, destroyed by fire in Strasbourg in 1870.
Why It Matters for Study
One of the most elegant early Christian apologies. Explains why Christians do not follow Jewish customs and why they are not simply another philosophical school. Describes the Christian life as a " new race."
" Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind by country, language, or customs." — Epistle to Diognetus 5:1
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Epistle to Diognetus — Early Christian Writings Full public-domain translation.
- Epistle to Diognetus — Sacred Texts Full text from the Ante-Nicene Fathers.
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Ehrman, B. D. The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 2. Harvard University Press, 2003.
Holmes, M. W. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations. Baker Academic, 2007.
Foster, P. The Epistle to Diognetus. Oxford University Press, 2016.