Apology of the Christian faith

"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God ; and whoever loves the one who has begotten also loves him who is begotten of him." 1 John 5. 1

Aristide of Athens (died around 134 AD) is a Christian apologist of the second century. An Athenian philosopher, he converted to Christianity and was one of the first to respond by pen to the attacks suffered by the Christian religion at the beginning of the second century. While the Emperor Hadrian visits Athens in 125, Aristide presents him with an Apology (or defense) of religion that was well received. It ends with this testimony about those who take the name of Christian :

"They found the truth and exceeded all the peoples of the earth. For they know the Creator God of all things in His only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, and they worship no other God than this one. They have the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ engraved in their hearts and they observe them while waiting for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. They do not commit adultery or fornications ; they do not bear false witness. They do not covet what is to others ; they honor father and mother; they love their neighbor and judge with equity. They do not do to others what they do not want to be done to them. They exhort those who treat them unjustly and make friends. They strive to do good to their enemies. They are gentle, modest, abstain from any illegitimate union and any impurity. They do not despise widows and do no harm to the orphan. He who is rich gives a good heart to the poor. When they see a stranger, they lead him to their home and rejoice in him as a true brother. For it is not according to the flesh that they call themselves brethren, but according to the spirit. They are ready to give their lives for Christ. They keep strictly His commandments, living holy and justly, as the Lord God has commanded them, giving thanks at all times for food, drink, and other things.

It is, indeed, the way of truth that leads those who follow him to the eternal kingdom promised by Christ in the life to come. And so that you know, O King, that I do not say these things for myself, look in the writings of the Christians, and you will see that I say nothing apart from the truth."

Source (Pleasing the Lord)