1 In a word, what the soul is in a body, this the Christians are in the world. 2 The soul is spread through all the members of the body, and Christians through the various cities of the world. 3 The soul has its abode in the body, and yet it is not of the body. So Christians have their abode in the world, and yet they are not of the world.⁠a 4 The soul which is invisible is guarded in the body which is visible: so Christians are recognized as being in the world, and yet their religion remains invisible. 5 The flesh hates the soul and wages war with it, though it receives no wrong, because it is forbidden to indulge in pleasures; so the world hates Christians, though it receives no wrong from them,⁠b because they set themselves against its pleasures. 6 The soul loves the flesh which hates it, and the members: so Christians love those that hate them. 7 The soul is enclosed in the body, and yet itself holds the body together; so Christians are kept in the world as in a prison-house,⁠c and yet they themselves hold the world together. 8 The soul though itself immortal dwells in a mortal tabernacle; so Christians sojourn among perishable things, while they look for the imperishability which is in the heavens. 9 The soul when harshly treated in the matter of food and drink is improved; and so Christians when punished increase more and more daily. 10 So great is the office for which God has appointed them, and which it is not lawful for them to decline.