1 In the next place, I fancy that thou art chiefly anxious to hear about their not practising their religion in the same way as the Jews. (DIO) 2 The Jews then, so far as they abstain from the mode of worship described above, do well in claiming to reverence one God of the universe and to regard Him as Master; but so far as they offer Him this worship in methods similar to those already mentioned, they are altogether at fault. (DIO) 3 For whereas the Greeks, by offering these things to senseless and deaf images, make an exhibition of stupidity, the Jews considering that they are presenting them to God, as if He were in need of them, ought in all reason to count it folly and not religious worship. (DIO) 4 For He that made the heaven and the earth and all things that are therein, and furnisheth us all with what we need, cannot Himself need any of these things which He Himself supplieth to them that imagine they are giving them to Him. (DIO) 5 But those who think to perform sacrifices to Him with blood and fat and whole burnt offerings, and to honour Him with such honours, seem to me in no way different from those who show the same respect towards deaf images; for the one class think fit to make offerings to things unable to participate in the honour, the other class to One Who is in need of nothing. (DIO)
Epistle to Diognetus 3:1–5
Semantically similar passages
Epistle of Barnabas 2:3–5
3 While these abide in a pure spirit in matters relating to the Lord, wisdom, understanding, science, knowledge rejoice with them. (BRN) 4 For He hath made manifest to us by all the prophets that He wanteth neither sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings nor oblations, say… (BRN)
Baruch 6:39–41
39 They are like the stones that are cut out of the mountain, these gods of wood that are overlaid with gold and with silver. Those who minister to them will be confounded. (WEB) 40 How could a man then think or say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves d… (WEB)
Epistle to Diognetus 4:1–2
1 But again their scruples concerning meats, and their superstition relating to the sabbath and the vanity of their circumcision and the dissimulation of their fasting and new moons, I do [not] suppose you need to learn from me, are ridiculous and unworthy of a… (DIO)
Epistle to Diognetus 2:6–8
6 Therefore ye hate the Christians, because they do not consider these to be gods. (DIO) 7 For do not ye yourselves, who now regard and worship them, much more despise them? Do ye not much rather mock and insult them, worshipping those that are of stone and earthenware… (DIO) 8 … (DIO)
Epistle to Diognetus 4:5–6
5 And to watch the stars and the moon and to keep the observance of months and of days, and to distinguish the arrangements of God and the changes of the seasons according to their own impulses, making some into festivals and others into times of mourning, who… (DIO) 6 … (DIO)
Baruch 6:43–45
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4 Maccabees 11:4–6
4 O you hater of virtue and of men, what have we done that you thus revel in our blood? (WEB) 5 Does it seem evil to you that we worship the Founder of all things, and live according to his surpassing law? (WEB) 6 But this is worthy of honors, not torments, (WEB)
Baruch 6:63–65
63 And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does as it is commanded; but these are to be compared to them neither in show nor power. (WEB) 64 Therefore a man shouldn’t think or say that they are gods, seeing they aren’t able to judge causes or to do goo… (WEB)
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