FOR the Christians are distinguished from other
men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe.
For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form
of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The
course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation
or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves
the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well
as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined,
and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food,
and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful
and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries,
but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others,
and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them
as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers.
They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy
their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed.
They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass
their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the
prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives.
They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned;
they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make
many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they
are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are
evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless;
they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet
are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened
into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted
by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason
for their hatred.
