# To Diognetus 10.6

- 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/10/6/

Summary: Whoever carries others' burdens and gives to the needy imitates God.

## Greek text

ἀλλʼ ὅστις τὸ τοῦ πλησίον ἀναδέχεται βάρος, ὃς ἐν ᾧ κρείσσων ἐστὶν ἕτερον τὸν ἐλαττούμενον εὐεργετεῖν ἐθέλει, ὃς ἃ παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ λαβὼν ἔχει, ταῦτα τοῖς ἐπιδεομένοις χορηγῶν θεὸς γίνεται τῶν λαμβανόντων, οὗτος μιμητής ἐστι θεοῦ.

## English translation (Claude)

But whoever takes up his neighbor's burden, whoever wishes to benefit another who is worse off in that in which he himself is better off, whoever supplies to those in need what he has received from God, and so becomes a god to those who receive it: this one is an imitator of God.

## Scripture references

- Gal 6:2: allusion, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- “Becomes a god to those who receive”: a bold phrase meaning that the giver acts toward the needy as God acts; it is not a claim to divinity.

## Citation (SBL)

Diogn. 10.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/diognetus/10/6/).