Why Jesus Apologetics

“What the soul is to the body, Christians are to the world.”

— Epistle to Diognetus

Christianity today doesn’t always reflect the love, unity, and radical generosity of the early church. Many people see hypocrisy, division, materialism, and self-centeredness in the church. But what if we could rediscover the beauty of how the early Christians lived? What if their example could help us return to a more authentic, Christlike faith?

I recently came across the Letter to Diognetus—an ancient Christian text written around the 2nd century. It’s a breathtaking description of how early Christians lived among the world but were not of the world. It’s not just history. It’s a mirror and a challenge for us today.

The Author

The Letter to Diognetus is anonymous. Scholars have not definitively identified its author, but some early traditions suggest it might have been written by a Christian philosopher or apologist in the late 2nd or early 3rd century—possibly someone like Mathetes (a name meaning “disciple”) writing to a curious pagan man named Diognetus.

Some have speculated connections to early church figures like Justin Martyr or Clement of Alexandria, but there’s no conclusive evidence. The letter survives as part of a 13th-century manuscript and remains one of the finest examples of early Christian apologetics—describing not doctrine, but lifestyle.

What Can We Learn from the Letter to Diognetus?

The epistle is one of the most important early Christian apologetic writings, showing how Christianity was distinct from other religions and the moral values it promoted.

The letter was written to explain to a curious non-Christian what set Christians apart. The writer described believers as ordinary people who lived in cities like everyone else, spoke the same languages, and followed the same customs—yet they were radically different in how they lived.

• They shared everything, even while being poor.
• They didn’t abandon their sick or unwanted children.
• They showed love to those who hated them.
• They lived in the flesh but did not live by the flesh.
• They were persecuted, yet they blessed their persecutors.

Here’s how the letter puts it:

“They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners… They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are poor, yet make many rich; they lack all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonor are glorified…”

It was this beautiful contradiction that caught the world’s attention—and led to its transformation. Let’s read from the excerpt of the epistle:

1. Christians in the World

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men, nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has been cast, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking way of life.

They live 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 others; 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.

2. Their Customs and Sufferings

They obey the established laws, but in their own lives they go beyond what the laws require. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown, and yet are condemned; they are put to death, and yet are made alive. They are poor, and yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all. They are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified. They are reviled, and yet bless. They are insulted, and repay the insult with honor. They do good, and yet are punished as evildoers. When punished, they rejoice, as if quickened into life. They are assailed by the Jews as aliens, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

3. The Character of Christians

To sum up all in one word: What the soul is in the body, Christians are in the world. The soul is spread through all the members of the body, and Christians through the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, but is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, but are not of the world. The soul, immortal as it is, and the body, mortal as it is, so Christians are in the world, and the world is not in them.

The soul, though it is immaterial, yet takes care of the body, and Christians, though they are in the world, take care of the world. The soul loves the body, and Christians love those who hate them. The soul is in the body, and the body is in the soul; so Christians are in the world, and the world is in Christians. The soul, though it is the ruler of the body, does not enslave it; and Christians, though they are the rulers of the world, do not enslave it.

4. Christian Worship and the True God

For the Christians, their God is the creator of the world, who made everything and is the source of all that is good. He is not a god of images or idols, but is transcendent and infinite. They believe in Jesus Christ, who is both God and man, the Son of God, sent to redeem humanity. Jesus’ death and resurrection are central to their faith, providing salvation from sin and death.

They do not worship in temples built by human hands, nor do they engage in sacrifices or rituals like the pagan religions. Instead, they worship God in spirit and truth, living according to His commands, seeking justice, peace, and love for one another.

This epistle beautifully articulates the distinctive nature of Christian life and faith in contrast to the practices and beliefs of the time, presenting Christianity as a way of life marked by love, peace, and holiness, with a deep commitment to the one true God.

Christianity Today: A Painful Contrast

Reading the Letter to Diognetus made me reflect on how much of modern Christianity has drifted from that vision. It’s not that there aren’t sincere Christians, don’t get me wrong—there are many. But as a whole, we have become too much like the world we’re supposed to influence.

But the question is this: “When will modern Christians return to this kind of witness?” Today, we witness a generation of believers—especially church leaders—living in ways that starkly contrast the lives of early Christians. Instead of humbly submitting to the law while living above reproach, some live as though they are above the law, using influence and affiliations with political powers or security agencies to shield themselves from accountability. They no longer embrace persecution as a badge of honor, but flee from it, using worldly alliances to escape the very trials that once proved the faith of the saints.

Some pastors move with bodyguards while their members walk in fear. They ride in luxury convoys and sit in bulletproof offices while widows in the pews struggle to afford basic food. Where early Christians gave freely and lived simply to meet the needs of others, today’s church leaders often hoard wealth, building empires with tithes and offerings from the poor—fleets of cars, designer suits, and estates, while preaching contentment to those who have nothing.

They sue for defamation, drag people to court over words, and curse those who criticize them. But Jesus was insulted, spat upon, falsely accused, and yet He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7). He forgave, He blessed, He endured. The apostles rejoiced when they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41). Where is that spirit today? We chase money, fame, and convenience. We fear discomfort. We neglect the poor. Sometimes, we even justify selfishness in the name of spiritual authority.

Early Christians were unknown to the world but known by their love; today, many are well-known by the world but known for their pride. They were poor and yet made many rich in spirit; today, many are rich, yet leave the church spiritually bankrupt. They were reviled and blessed in return; today, many revile back—and with louder microphones. They were beaten and rejoiced; today, many are offended by the slightest rebuke.

This is not the gospel of Christ. This is a distortion—a mimicry of success that has no cross, no cost, and no Christ.

A Personal Cry: What If We Lived Like That Again?

Though I may not have much materially, I often feel a deep burden for those in need. There’s a yearning within me—not just to make it through life, but to be a blessing to others. I frequently wonder, what impact could I make if I had more resources—not for luxury, but to see others thrive, find hope, and live with dignity and spiritual joy?

I dream of a world where people feel at home with one another—where dignity, love, and community are shared freely like family. That kind of life doesn’t always start with money but with a mindset: generosity of spirit, kindness in action, and the willingness to serve others in any way I can. Whether through encouragement, time, or truth—if I can offer something meaningful, let it lift someone’s heart and point them toward hope.

A Call to Return: Becoming Like the Early Disciples

This vision won’t come from systems alone. It begins with individuals. You and me.

• Start by sharing what you have—even if it’s a little.
• Be consistent in kindness. Don’t wait to be rich before you give.
• Work hard—not just for yourself, but so you can give more.
• Build relationships that feel like family. See others as fellow image-bearers of God.

Also, let us remember that Christianity is not a show of wealth, power, or influence—it is a call to die daily, to take up our cross, to love our enemies, and to lay down our lives for others. Let church leaders model sacrifice, not celebrity. Let believers reflect Christ, not culture.

This is not impossible. The early Christians did it. And they didn’t have what we have today. They had no buildings, no social media, no political power. What they had was Christ—and that was enough.

Final Thoughts: Will We Be the Soul Again?

The Letter to Diognetus calls Christians the soul of the world. That’s our calling—not to dominate the world, but to breathe life into it. To love when hated. To give when we lack. To shine light in darkness.

I still believe we can reclaim the beauty of our faith. One person at a time. One act of love at a time.

Let’s be the soul again.