Mathetes (fl. 2nd Century)
What the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. (Epistle to Diognetus, ca. 130)
Plato, Greek philosopher whose writings strongly influenced early Christian apologists.
It is early in the second century. Christ’s resurrection is about a hundred years past, and during the intervening century, the church he founded has gained numerous adherents throughout the Roman empire and other regions of the known world. In spite of their innocent lives, Christians are misunderstood, maligned, persecuted, and martyred. The main accusation against them is that they are atheists, because the do not worship the idols of the empire.
Nonetheless, their stark faith appeals to some, not least because of their generous character their willingness to suffer for what they believe, and the joy they demonstrate even in the midst of such suffering. Such qualities draw more than a few noble-minded individuals to weigh the evidence for Christianity.
One such person is Diognetus. Intrigued by the phenomenon of Christianity, he has written to a Christian philosopher for answers. The philosopher, whom tradition names Mathetes, replies in Greek, the language of philosophy. His reply is a carefully crafted letter of ten short chapters (two others will be added later). Among the charges he answers is that of atheism: Christians worship a living but invisible God, not hand-made objects of stone and wood, he explains. He also explains why Christians do not imitate the worship of the Jews, which he considers obsolete and unworthy of God.
Mathetes then describes to Diognetus in glowing terms the Christian way of life. “Their existence is on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, and they surpass the laws in their own lives. They love all men, and they are persecuted by all.” Scattered throughout the world, Christians by love and self-discipline are transforming sin-steeped societies, acting like a conscience or a strong mind to bring new life to human institutions. At this point he makes his most audacious statement: “In a word, what the soul is in a body, this the Christians are in the world.” He proceeds to show nine similarities between Christians and the soul, among them that “The soul though itself immortal lives in a mortal tent; so Christians sojourn amid perishable things, while they look for the imperishability which is in the heavens.”
As the writer moves toward his conclusion, he addresses Diognetus’ objection that Christianity is a latecomer on the religious scene, theorizing that God delayed its revelation because he wished to make men conscious of their weakness and corruption before sending them the Redeemer.
The writer ends by describing the love of God and urging Diognetus to respond to it. He argues that power over others is not true superiority; instead, true superiority is found in helping others. Finally he warns Diognetus that Christians can despise death because they have a glorious future, whereas Diognetus has not. When Diognetus sees hell, he will appreciate the attitude of the righteous who suffer for righteousness a little on earth in order to escape eternal punishment.
—Dan Graves
