no knowledge. But the short writing in question is interesting and even eloquent, and its date can be ascertained with fair certainty from expressions contained in the letter. Christianity, when the writing was put out, was a new thing in the world—this is several times noticed in the letter.[1]
The following notable references to persecution occur: "Christians love all men, and are persecuted by all; they are unknown and (yet) condemned; they are put to death . . . they are in want of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour they are glorified; they are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled and bless; they are insulted and yet repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers; when punished they rejoice" (Letter to Diognetus, chap. v.).
"Do you not see them (the Christians) exposed to wild beasts, that they may be persuaded to deny the Lord, and yet not overcome? Do you not see that the more of them that are punished, the greater become the numbers of the rest" (Letter to Diognetus, chap. vii.).
"Then shalt thou both love and admire those that suffer punishment because they will not deny God."
"Then shalt thou admire those who for righteousness' sake endure the fire which is but for a moment, and shalt count them happy, when thou shalt know (the nature of) that fire" (Letter to Diognetus, chap. x.).
The Shepherd of Hermas, CIRCA A.D. 140
Hermas, the author or compiler of the once famous Shepherd (the Pastor) in a very ancient tradition was identified with the Hermas mentioned by S. Paul (Rom. xvi. 14). This identification was suggested by Origen in the middle of the third century. The Muratorian Canon gives as the approxi-*
- ↑ The date circa A.D. 117 is suggested by Bishop Westcott, and Bishop Lightfoot generally agrees in placing the writing about this time. Some would even place its composition in the very early years of the second century. The last two chapters, xi.-xii., are fragmentary, and apparently were written a little—but very little—later.
