Chapters
Epistle to Diognetus
Chapters
More
Chapter 5: The Behavior of the Christians.
FOR CHRISTIANS ARE NOT DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER PEOPLE BY COUNTRY: language, or the customs they observe. They do not inhabit cities of their own, use a peculiar form of speech, or lead a life marked by any particular uniqueness. The way they live has not been devised by the speculation or deliberation of inquisitive people, nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves to be advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, while living in both Greek and barbarian cities, as each of them has been assigned, and following the customs of the natives in terms of clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us a wonderful and undoubtedly striking way of life.
They live in their own countries but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, yet endure all things as if they were foreigners. Every foreign land is to them like their native country, and every land of their birth is like a land of strangers. They marry, like everyone else; they have children, but they do not destroy their offspring. They share a common table, but not a common bed. Though they are in the flesh, they do not live according to the flesh.
They spend 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 people and are persecuted by all. They are unknown yet condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they lack all things, yet abound in everything; they are dishonored, yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are spoken evil of, yet they are justified; they are reviled, and they bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honor; they do good, yet are punished as evildoers.
When punished, they rejoice as if brought to life. They are attacked by the Jews as foreigners and persecuted by the Greeks, yet those who hate them cannot provide any reason for their hatred.
Hear the Scriptures cited in Epistle to Diognetus
Epistle to Diognetus quotes or alludes to these Bible chapters more than any others. Each link opens the free audio Bible, where the chapter is read aloud alongside the text, cross-references, and what other early Christian writers said about it.
- Hear Acts 17 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 115 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Romans 5 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear 2 Corinthians 5 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 2 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 3 (audio Bible)
- Hear Job 38 (audio Bible)
- Hear Psalms 19 (audio Bible)
- Hear Psalms 82 (audio Bible)
- Hear Proverbs 3 (audio Bible)
- Hear Matthew 6 (audio Bible)
- Hear Matthew 21 (audio Bible)