-luke.

“Freely do I admit to you, my friend, that I have learnt to ascribe to those Books which are of Canonical rank, and only to them, such reverence and honour, that I firmly believe that no single error due to the author is found in any one of them [sounds like inerrancy]. And when I am confronted in these Books with anything that seems to be at variance with truth, I do not hesitate to put it down either to the use of an incorrect text, or to the failure of a commentator rightly to explain the words, or to my own mistaken understanding of the passage” [The Ante-Nicene Fathers (New York: Scribner's, 1899)].

“

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

“that the wickedness of many should be hidden in one righteous Man and the righteousness of the One should justify many wicked!”

The letter itself is written by an unknown writer to a pagan named Diognetus. Diognetus had been making inquiries into the Christian faith: why this new manner of living had come about now, not at some other time; why the Christians were so willing to suffer and die for their faith; why they had such enduring and amazing affection for one another; etc.

After showing that (a) the pagan religions are inherently flawed, (b) the Jewish religion is superstition at best, and, (c) why Christ came now (therefore, how we could know God, and why this manner of living has come about only now), the author of this letter reflects on the nature of the atonement.

In a sense it has the same effect out of context, because this section on the atonement doesn’t necessarily directly relate to what immediately preceded it. Rather, it is a doxology of sorts… “O the exceeding kindness and love of God!”

Thinking on Christ means thinking on him as Saviour, and therefore substitute. This, to the author, is where the wonder of the love, grace, and kindness of God is most perfectly displayed: that God the Son died in my place, taking my guilt and the punishment that I deserved and giving me his righteousness instead so that I could stand before God blameless in that great day.

That is the gospel. Always has been.

It would be great if you could offer even more context for it… so many “quote the fathers” and make them say whatever they want (not that you are doing that!).

Thanks again.