1 For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind either in locality or in speech or in customs. 2 For they do not dwell somewhere in cities of their own, nor do they use some different language, nor practice an extraordinary kind of life. 3 Nor again do they possess any invention discovered by any intelligence or study of ingenious men, nor are they masters of any human dogma as some are. 4 But while they dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians as the lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs in dress and food and the other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, is marvelous, and admittedly contradicts expectation. 5 They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners; they bear their share in all things as citizens, and they endure all hardships as strangers. Every foreign country is a fatherland to them, and every fatherland is foreign. 6 They marry like all other people and they have children; but they do not cast away their offspring. 7 They have their meals in common, but not their wives. 8 They find themselves in the flesh, and yet they do not live after the flesh. 9 Their existence is on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven.⁠a 10 They obey the established laws, and they surpass the laws in their own lives. 11 They love all people, and they are persecuted by all. 12 They are ignored, and yet they are condemned. They are put to death, and yet they are endowed with life. 13 They are beggars, and yet they make many rich. They lack all things, and yet they abound in all things. 14 They are dishonored, and yet they are glorified in their dishonor. They are spoken evil of, and yet they are vindicated.⁠b 15 They are reviled, and they bless; they are insulted, and they respect. 16 Doing good they are punished as evildoers; being punished they rejoice, as if they were by it made alive. 17 War is waged against them as aliens by the Jews, and persecution is carried on against them by the Greeks, and yet those that hate them cannot tell the reason of their hostility.