For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or customs.
They do not live in cities of their own, use some unusual dialect, or practice an eccentric way of life.
This teaching of theirs has not been discovered by the thought and ingenuity of inquisitive people, nor do they champion a human doctrine, as some do.
Rather, they live in Greek and non-Greek cities, as each person's lot has fallen, and follow local customs in clothing, food, and the rest of life. Yet they display the remarkable and admittedly paradoxical character of their own way of life.
They live in their own countries, but as resident foreigners. They share in everything as citizens, yet endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is their homeland, and every homeland is foreign.
They marry like everyone else and have children, but they do not cast away their offspring.
They share a common table, but not a common bed.
They are in the flesh, but they do not live according to the flesh.
They spend their lives on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven.
They obey the established laws, yet by their own lives they surpass the laws.
They love everyone, yet are persecuted by everyone.
They are unknown, yet condemned; they are put to death, yet brought to life.
They are poor, yet make many rich; they lack everything, yet abound in everything.
They are dishonored, yet in their dishonor they are glorified. They are slandered, yet vindicated.
They are reviled, yet they bless; they are insulted, yet they honor others.
Doing good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as though being given life.
The Jews wage war against them as foreigners, and the Greeks persecute them; yet those who hate them cannot state the cause of their hostility.