After a long hiatus, I'm back onto the Epistle to Diognetus. I'm up to §11. You can read about §10; you can also get a quick list of links to all Diognetus posts here (bottom of page).

First off, you should know that this epistle, as we have received it, is likely two different documents. There is a large break between §10 and §11. Ehrman notes in a footnote, "The following two chapters [i.e., 11 & 12] appear to come from a different treatise; see Introduction. A gap is indicated in manuscript here."

Thus §§11-12, which come as a bit of a jolt anyway, are likely from a different document. But I'll treat both sections since they are included in the epistle as it has been transmitted down to us; but I won't be dwelling on these sections too long.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of this section (to me, anyway) is the frequent use of "the word" in reference to Christ, the second person of the Trinity.The below is §11 from Kirsopp Lake's edition with instances of "the word" made bold. Note that this doesn't include pronouns that have "the word" as a logical antecedent.

1. Mine are no strange discourses nor perverse questionings, but having been a disciple of Apostles I come forward as a teacher of the Gentiles, ministering worthily to them, as they present themselves disciples of the truth, the lessons which have been handed down.
2. For who that has been rightly taught and has entered into friendship with the Word does not seek to learn distinctly the lessons revealed openly by the Word to the disciples; to whom the Word appeared and declared them, speaking plainly, not perceived by the unbelieving, but relating them to disciples who being reckoned faithful by Him were taught the mysteries of the Father?
3. For which cause He sent forth the Word, that He might appear unto the world, Who being dishonored by the people, and preached by the Apostles, was believed in by the Gentiles.
4. This Word, Who was from the beginning, Who appeared as new and yet was proved to be old, and is engendered always young in the hearts of saints,
5. He, I say, Who is eternal, Who today was accounted a Son, through Whom the Church is enriched and grace is unfolded and multiplied among the saints, grace which confers understanding, which reveals mysteries, which announces seasons, which rejoices over the faithful, which is bestowed upon those who seek her, even those by whom the pledges of faith are not broken, nor the boundaries of the fathers overstepped.
6. Whereupon the fear of the law is sung, and the grace of the prophets is recognized, and the faith of the gospels is established, and the tradition of the apostles is preserved, and the joy of the Church exults.
7. If thou grieve not this grace, thou shalt understand the discourses which the Word holds by the mouth of those whom He desires when He wishes.
8. For in all things, that by the will of the commanding Word we were moved to utter with much pains, we become sharers with you, through love of the things revealed unto us.

There are a few things to note that we are dealing with references to Christ instead of, say, Scripture in general. First is that "the Word" above is an active participant. He does stuff. He appears, declares, commands, and does all sorts of other stuff. Additionally, v. 4 notes that this word is the same word that has been since the beginning -- which is a direct allusion to Jn 1.1.

There's a lot going on in these few verses. I wish we had the balance of this letter to see the whole context that these comments were originally found in.

Next up: EpDiog 12.