1 For it is no earthly discovery, as I said, which was committed to them, neither do they care to guard so carefully any mortal invention, nor have they entrusted to them the dispensation of human mysteries. (DIO) 2a But truly the Almighty Creator of the Universe, the Invisible God Himself from heaven planted among men the truth and the holy teaching which surpasseth the wit of man, and fixed it firmly in their hearts, not as any man might imagine, by sending (to mankind) a subaltern, or angel, or ruler, or one of those that direct the affairs of earth, or one of those who have been entrusted with the dispensations in heaven, but the very Artificer and Creator of the Universe Himself, by Whom He made the heavens, (DIO) 2b by Whom He enclosed the sea in its proper bounds, Whose mysteries all the elements faithfully observe, from Whom [the sun] hath received even the measure of the courses of the day to keep them, Whom the moon obeys as He bids her shine by night, Whom the stars obey as they follow the course of the moon, by Whom all things are ordered and bounded and placed in subjection, the heavens and the things that are in the heavens, the earth and the things that are in the earth, the sea and the things that are in the sea, fire, air, abyss, (DIO) 2c the things that are in the heights, the things that are in the depths, the things that are between the two. Him He sent unto them. (DIO) 3 Was He sent, think you, as any man might suppose, to establish a sovereignty, to inspire fear and terror? (DIO) 4 Not so. But in gentleness [and] meekness has He sent Him, as a king might send his son who is a king. He sent Him, as sending God; He sent Him, as [a man] unto men; He sent Him, as Saviour, as using persuasion, not force: for force is no attribute of God. (DIO) 5 He sent Him, as summoning, not as persecuting; He sent Him, as loving, not as judging. (DIO) 6 For He will send Him in judgment, and who shall endure His presence? ... (DIO) 7 [Dost thou not see] them thrown to wild beasts that so they may deny the Lord, and yet not overcome? (DIO) 8 Dost thou not see that the more of them are punished, just so many others abound? (DIO) 9 These look not like the works of a man; they are the power of God; they are proofs of His presence. (DIO)
Epistle to Diognetus 7:1–9
Semantically similar passages
Wisdom of Solomon 13:3–5
3 If it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods, let them know how much better their Sovereign Lord is than these, for the first author of beauty created them. (WEB) 4 But if it was through astonishment at their power and influence, then let t… (WEB)
Odes of Solomon 16:13–15
13 And created things run in their courses, and do their works: (ODE) 14 And they know not how to stand and be idle; and His heavenly hosts are subject to His word. (ODE) 15 The treasure-chamber of the light is the sun, and the treasury of the darkness is the night: (ODE)
1 Esdras 4:34–36
34 “O sirs, aren’t women strong? The earth is great. The sky is high. The sun is swift in its course, for it circles around the sky, and returns on its course again in one day. (WEB) 35 Isn’t he who makes these things great? Therefore the truth is great, and stronger than… (WEB)
2 Baruch 21:5–7
5 they obey Thee. Thou that hast commanded the air by Thy nod, and hast seen those things which (2BA) 6 are to be as those things which Thou art doing. Thou that rulest with great thought the hosts that stand before Thee: also the countless holy beings, which Thou didst… (2BA)
1 Clement 27:4–6
4 By a word of His majesty He compacted the universe; and by a word He can destroy it. (1CL) 5 Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done? or who shall resist the might of His strength? When He listeth, and as He listeth, He will do all things; and nothing shall pass a… (1CL)
Odes of Solomon 6:3–5
3 For it destroys what is foreign, and everything that is bitter: (ODE) 4 For thus it was from the beginning and will be to the end, that nothing should be His adversary, and nothing should stand up against Him. (ODE) 5 The Lord has multiplied the knowledge of Himself, and is ze… (ODE)
Job 22:3–5
3 Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless? 4 Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you? 5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
1 Clement 28:1–3
1 Since therefore all things are seen and heard, let us fear Him and forsake the abominable lusts of evil works, that we maybe shielded by His mercy from the coming judgments. (1CL) 2 For where can any of us escape from His strong hand? And what world will receive any o… (1CL)
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources