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Mielke Diog Sub 2017 Copyright ©2017 Charles Theodore Mielke IV All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. CHRISTIAN LOVE AND THE IMITATION OF CHRIST IN THE EPISTLE TO DIOGNETUS: A SECOND-CENTURY EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP __________________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education __________________ by Charles Theodore Mielke IV May 2017 i APPROVAL SHEET CHRISTIAN LOVE AND THE IMITATION OF CHRIST IN THE EPISTLE TO DIOGNETUS: A SECOND-CENTURY EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP Charles Theodore Mielke IV Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Timothy Paul Jones (Chair) __________________________________________ Charles Jeffrey Robinson, Sr. Date_____________________________ ii This thesis is dedicated to Sarah, my love. Thank you for supporting me in every way as I worked to complete this research. You are truly an inspiration to me. I love you. iii 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ..................................................................................ix PREFACE............................................................................................................................x Chapter 1. RESEARCH CONCERN........................................................................................1 Relavance of the Study .......................................................................................2 Introduction of the Thesis...................................................................................4 Gap in Literature.................................................................................................6 A Lifestyle of Love Illustrated in Diognetus......................................................7 Delimitations of Research Literature..................................................................8 Research Methodology .......................................................................................8 Pauline Influences on the Theology of Diognetus ...................................10 Johannine Influences on the Theology of Diognetus...............................11 Conclusion of the Purpose of this Research .....................................................12 2. LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................13 Provenance of the Epistle to Diognetus............................................................13 Summary of the Most Common Views of Authorship of Diognetus ......14 Summary of the Most Common Views of the Style of Diognetus ..........16 Apostolic fathers...............................................................................16 iv Chapter Page Apologists.........................................................................................17 Summary of the Most Common Views of the Date of Writing ...............17 Summary of the Author's View on the Origin of Diognetus....................19 The Nature of Christian Love ...........................................................................19 Usage of φιλοστοργιαν and φιλανθρωπος ...............................................20 Imitator of God as the Catalyst of Christian Love ...................................21 Theological Elements Defining Love in Diognetus .........................................22 How Justification Informs Christian Love in Diognetus .........................22 Conclusion of Justification.......................................................................24 The Nature of Unity in Christian Love ....................................................25 Conclusion of The Nature of Unity in Christian Love.............................28 New Testament Connections to Diognetus.......................................................29 Connections between Diognetus and the Pauline Corpus........................30 Pauline Justification as Observed in Diognetus.......................................30 The Function of µιµητης in Diognetus and the Pauline Corpus ..............32 Continuity and Discontinuity between Diognetus and the Pauline Corpus.......................................................................32 Connections between Diognetus and the Johannine Corpus....................33 Conclusion of Connections between Diognetus and the Johannine Corpus ..................................................................36 Conclusion of Literature Review Concerning the Concept of Christian Love in Diognetus...................................................................36 v Chapter Page 3. DEFINING AND IMITATING THE LOVE OF GOD .......................................40 Key Greek Words Translated as Love in Diognetus.........................................40 Familial Love: φιλοστοργιαν ...................................................................41 Love of All Men: φιλανθρωπος ...............................................................42 Common Love: α͗γαπη .............................................................................45 God's Goodness: χρηστοτητος .................................................................47 Conclusion ...............................................................................................49 “Imitator of God” Defined in Diognetus ..........................................................50 Imitating God Is Not Self-Willed.............................................................50 Imitating God Is Humble .........................................................................51 The Relationship between Imitating God and φιλανθρωπια....................53 The Relationship between Imitating God and χρηστοτητος ....................53 Conclusion ...............................................................................................54 4. THEOLOGICAL ELEMENTS EXEMPLIFYING LOVE IN THE EPISTLE TO DIOGNETUS.........................................................................56 Justification Identified in Diognetus .................................................................57 Justification in Diognetus chapter 9 ..........................................................59 Forensic justification ........................................................................60 Penal substitution..............................................................................61 Imputed righteousness ......................................................................62 “O Sweet Exchange” ........................................................................62 Conclusion of Justification Identified in Diognetus.................................64 vi Chapter Page Christian Unity Identified in Diognetus............................................................65 What Christianity Is Not...................................................................................66 The failure of pagan idol worship ............................................................66 The shortcomings of Judaism...................................................................67 The Paradox of Christian Life in Diognetus.....................................................69 Unity outside of ethnicity.........................................................................71 Heavenly citizenship ................................................................................72 Intersection of culture and heavenly citizenship......................................73 The Results of Christian Unity .........................................................................74 Speak of the mysteries of God .................................................................75 Love and admire the persecuted...............................................................75 Condemn deceit and error of the world....................................................76 Conclusion of Theological Elements in Diognetus...........................................76 Justification Illustrated in Diognetus ................................................................77 Unity Illustrated in Diognetus...........................................................................77 5. BIBLICAL CONNECTIONS AND FINAL ANALYSIS ...................................79 Biblical Connections between Diognetus and the Writings of Paul and John .....................................................................79 Connections Between Diognetus and the Pauline Corpus................................80 God’s love for all men (φιλανθρωπια) .............................................80 God’s goodness (κρηστωτητος) .......................................................81 Imitating God (µιµητης) ...................................................................83 Man’s need for justification..............................................................85 vii Appendix Page God’s timing for redemption ............................................................87 Consistent usage of the δικ- word group .........................................88 Heavenly citizenship.........................................................................90 Conclusion........................................................................................91 Connections Between Diognetus and the Johannine Corpus...................91 God’s love for all men (φιλανθρωπια) .............................................93
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