The enigmatic nature of the Epistle to Diognetus is such
that scant agreement can be found on its authorship, date or situation.
Nevertheless, the text is all the more fascinating as a window into the
progression of Christian thought in the second to third century period. This
paper seeks to situate Diognetus in relation to the thought of Irenaeus of
Lyon. Various proposals have been advanced previously, on the one hand
attributing the former work to the tutor of Irenaeus, Polycarp of Smyrna, on
the other to a disciple or theological descendant of Irenaeus. Bearing in mind
that the category of apology fits neither work adequately, here a set of positive
theological resonances are outlined that seek to evaluate the proximity of
Diognetus to what may be loosely termed ‘Irenaean thought’.
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