2 For of the things created by God for the use of man to receive some as created well, but to decline others as useless and superfluous, is not this impious? (DIO)
Epistle to Diognetus 4:2
Semantically similar passages
4 Maccabees 5:7–9
7 For therefore, since nature has conferred upon you the most excellent flesh of this animal, do you loathe it? (WEB) 8 It seems senseless not to enjoy what is pleasant, yet not disgraceful; and from notions of sinfulness, to reject the gifts of nature. (WEB) 9 You will be actin… (WEB)
Sirach 39:20–22
20 He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him. (WEB) 21 No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses. (WEB) 22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood. (WEB)
2 Esdras 8:13–15
13 You put it to death as your creation, and make it live as your work. (WEB) 14 If therefore you lightly and suddenly destroy him which with so great labor was fashioned by your commandment, to what purpose was he made? (WEB) 15 Now therefore I will speak. About man in general, yo… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 11:4–6
4 O you hater of virtue and of men, what have we done that you thus revel in our blood? (WEB) 5 Does it seem evil to you that we worship the Founder of all things, and live according to his surpassing law? (WEB) 6 But this is worthy of honors, not torments, (WEB)
Epistle to Diognetus 3:3–5
3 For whereas the Greeks, by offering these things to senseless and deaf images, make an exhibition of stupidity, the Jews considering that they are presenting them to God, as if He were in need of them, ought in all reason to count it folly and not religious w… (DIO)
4 Maccabees 11:24–26
24 We six youths have destroyed your tyranny. (WEB) 25 For isn’t your inability to overrule our reasoning, and to compel us to eat the unclean, your destruction? (WEB) 26 Your fire is cold to us. Your racks are painless, and your violence harmless. (WEB)
4 Maccabees 1:32–34
32 But of the lusts, some belong to the soul and others to the body. Reasoning appears to rule over both. (WEB) 33 Otherwise, how is it that when urged on to forbidden meats, we reject the gratification which would come from them? Isn’t it because reasoning is able to com… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 5:25–27
25 That is why we don’t eat the unclean; for believing that the law was established by God, we are convinced that the Creator of the world, in giving his laws, sympathizes with our nature. (WEB) 26 Those things which are suitable for our souls, he has directed us to eat;… (WEB) 27 … (WEB)
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