The Same and yet Totally Different

A description of Christians from the second century AD

Less than 150 years after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, an unknown person wrote a letter to a man named Diognetus describing Christians to him.

The entire letter is fascinating and well worth reading, but I particularly liked Chapter 5, which I’ve posted below. 

Every foreign country is to them a homeland, and every homeland a foreign country.

Christians are not different from the rest of mankind by country, or by speech, or by customs. For they do not dwell in cities of their own, or use a different language, or practice a unique life. This knowledge of theirs has not been discovered by the thought and effort of inquisitive men. They are not champions of human doctrine, as some men are.

But while they dwell in Greek and barbarian cities according to each persons lot, and follow the customs of the land in clothing and food, and other matters of daily life, yet the way they live as citizens is wonderful, and admittedly beyond all expectation. They live in countries of their own, but simply as sojourners. They share the life of citizens, but they endure the lot of foreigners. Every foreign country is to them a homeland, and every homeland a foreign country.

They marry like the rest of the world, they have children, but they do not abort them. They share their table, but not their bed. They exist in the flesh, but they do not live for the flesh. They spend their existence upon earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, but in their own lives they surpass the laws. They love all men, and are persecuted by all.

They are unknown, and yet they are condemned. They are put to death, and yet they give proof of new life. They are poor, and yet make many rich. They lack everything, and yet in everything they abound. They are dishonored, and their dishonor becomes their glory. Their reputations are dragged through the mud, and yet they are vindicated. They are abused, and they bless. They are insulted, and repay insult with honor. They do good, and are punished as evil-doers, and in their punishment they rejoice as finding new life therein. The Jews war against them as aliens; the Greeks persecute them, and yet they that hate them can state no ground for their hatred.