# To Diognetus 10.4

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [To Diognetus](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/diognetus/) (*Epistula ad Diognetum*)
- Date: ca. 150–200 (disputed) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:372; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 2, LCL 25 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1913), 350–379 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the Perseus Digital Library and published by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/diognetus/10/4/

Summary: Loving God, one becomes an imitator of his kindness.

## Greek text

ἀγαπήσας δὲ μιμητὴς ἔσῃ αὐτοῦ τῆς χρηστότητος. καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃ εἰ δύναται μιμητὴς ἄνθρωπος γενέσθαι θεοῦ· δύναται θέλοντος αὐτοῦ.

## English translation (Claude)

And by loving him you will be an imitator of his kindness. And do not be surprised that a man can become an imitator of God; he can, if God wills it.

## Scripture references

- Eph 5:1: echo, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- “If God wills it” (θέλοντος αὐτοῦ): literally “if he wills”; it may also mean “if the man is willing.”

## Citation (SBL)

Diogn. 10.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/diognetus/10/4/).