2 For of the things created by God for the use of man to receive some as created well, but to decline others as useless and superfluous, is not this impious? (DIO) 3 And again to lie against God, as if He forbad us to do any good thing on the sabbath day, is not this profane? (DIO) 4 Again, to vaunt the mutilation of the flesh as a token of election as though for this reason they were particularly beloved by God, is not this ridiculous? (DIO) 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 would regard this as an exhibition of godliness and not much more of folly? (DIO)
Epistle to Diognetus 4:2–5
Semantically similar passages
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)
4 Maccabees 11:4–6
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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 3:2–4
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… (DIO)
4 Maccabees 5:7–9
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Baruch 6:43–45
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Job 15:12–14
12 Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash, 13 as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth? 14 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
Baruch 6:48–50
48 For when there comes any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them. (WEB) 49 How then can’t men understand that they are no gods, which can’t save themselves from war or from plague? (WEB) 50 For seeing they are only wood an… (WEB)
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