Mathetes — To Diognetus 5

Christians are not distinguished from the rest of people by land, language, or customs. They live in Greek and barbarian cities as each one’s lot falls; they follow local customs in dress and food and the rest of life.

Yet they show a striking and admittedly paradoxical citizenship of their own. They live in their own countries — but as sojourners. They share all things as citizens, and endure all things as foreigners. Every foreign land is a homeland to them, and every homeland a foreign land.