This Day in Church History

The Epistle To Diognetus

Possibly written around 150 A.D., this letter was written to explain the Christian faith in the second century. The letter explains the vanity of idols, Jewish superstitions, and other topics during this time period. The quote below is taken from chapter five titled, "The Manners of the Christians". 


"The dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed, They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass 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 men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet they make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonored are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay insult with honor; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened to life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred."

Philippians 3:20, "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Be encouraged today that we are 'sojourners' in this world and that one day, we will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.

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