Didache

Chapter I 1 — Two ways there are, one of life and one of

death, but there is a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, thou shalt love the God who made thee; secondly, thy neighbor as thyself; and all things whatsoever thou wouldst not have befall thee, too, do not to another. Now of these words the teaching is this: Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for them that persecute you: for what thank have ye if ye love them that love you? Do not the nations also the same? But love ye them that hate you and ye shall have no enemy. Abstain from the fleshly and worldly lusts. If any one give thee a blow on the right cheek, turn to him the other also, and thou shalt be perfect; if any one compel thee to go one mile, go with him two; if any one take thy cloak, give him thy tunic also; if any one take from thee what is thine, ask it not back; for indeed thou canst not. To every one that asketh thee, and ask not back; for to all the Father desires to give of his own gracious gifts. Blessed is he that giveth according to the commandment; for he is guiltless; wo to him that taketh; for if indeed, one taketh who hath need, he shall be guiltless; but he who hath no need shall give account, why he took, and for what purpose, and coming under arrest shall be ex- amind concerning what he did, and shall not go out thence until he pay the last farthing. But it hath been also said concerning this matter: Let thine alms sweat in thy hands, until that knowest to whom thou shouldst give.

Chapter II 2 — Now the second commandment of the

teaching is: Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not corrupt boys, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not practise magic, thou shalt not use sorcery, thou shalt not slay a child by abortion, nor what is begotten shall thou destroy. Thou shalt not lust after the things of thy neighbour, thou shalt not forswear thyself, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not re- vile, thou shalt not bear malice. Thou shalt not be doubled-minded nor doubled-tongued; for a snare of death is the double tongue. Thy speech shall not be false, nor empty, but filled with doing. Thou shalt not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor malicious, nor arrogant. Thou shalt not take evil counsel against thy neighbour. Thou shalt hate no man, but some thou shalt reprove, and for some thou shalt pray, and some thou shalt love above thy life.

Chapter III 3 — My child, flee from every evil thing, and

from everything like it. Be not inclined to anger, for anger leadeth to murder; nor jealous, nor contentious, nor passionate; for of all these murders are begotten. My child, become not lustful; for lust leadeth to for- nication; nor foul-mouthed, nor lofty-eyed; for of all these things adulteries are begotten. My child, become not an omen-watcher; since it leadeth into idolatry; nor an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to look upon these things; for of all these things idolatry is begotten. My child, become not a liar; since lying leads to theft; nor avaricious, nor vain- glorious; for of all these things thefts are begotten. My child, become not a murmurer; since it leads to blasphemy; nor presumptuous, nor evil-minded; for of all these things blasphemies are begotten. But be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Become long- suffering and pitiful and guileless and gentle and good, and tremble continually at the words which thou hast heard. Thou shalt not exalt thyself, nor permit over- boldness to thy soul. Thy soul shall not cleave to the high, but with the righteous and lowly thou shalt dwell. The things that befall thee accept as well- wrought, knowing that without God nothing occurs.

Chapter IV 4 — My child, him that speaks to thee the

word of God remember night and day, and thou shalt honor him as the Lord; for where that which pertaineth to the Lord is spoken there the Lord is. And thou shalt seek out daily the faces of the saints that thou mayst be refreshed by their words. Thou shalt not desire division, but shalt make peace between those who content; thou shalt judge justly, thou shalt not respect persons in con- victing for transgressions. Thou shalt not hesitate whether it shall be or not. Become not one who for tak- ing stretches out the hands, but for giving draws them in; if thou hast anything, by thy hands thou shalt give a ransom for thy sins. Thou shalt not hesitate to give, nor when giving shalt thou murmur, for thou shalt know who is the good dispenser of the recompense. Thou shalt not turn away the needy, but shalt share all things with thy brother, and shalt not say they are thine own; for it ye are partners in that which is imperishable, how much more is the perishable things? Thou shalt not take off thy hand from thy son and from thy daughter, but from youth thou shalt teach them the fear of God. Thou shalt not lay commands in thy bitterness upon thy slave or handmaid, who hope in the same God, lest they perchance shalt not fear the God who is over you both; for he cometh not to call men according to the ap- pearance, but to those whom the Spirit hath made ready. And ye, slaves, ye shall be subject to your lords, as to God's image, in modesty and fear. Thou shalt hate every hypocrisy, and whatever is not pleasing to the Lord. Thou shalt by no means forsake the Lord's commandments, but shalt guard what thou hast received, neither adding to it nor taking from it. In the church thou shalt confess thy transgressions, and shalt not come forward for thy prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.

Chapter V 5 — Now the way of death is this: first of

all it is evil, and full of curse; murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, sorceries, rob- beries, false testimonies, hypocrisies, duplicity, craft, arrogance, vice, presumptuousness, greed, foul speech, jealousy, over-boldness, loftiness, pretence; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving falsehood, knowing not the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to what which is good nor to righteous judgment, on the watch not for good but for evil; far from whom are meekness and humility, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, not knowing him that made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the image of God, turning away the needy, oppressing the afflicted, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, universal sinners: may ye be delivered, children, from all these.

Chapter VI 6 — See that no one lead thee astray from

this way of the teaching, because apart from God does he teach thee. For if thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou shalt be perfect; but if thou art not able, what thou art able, that do. And concerning food, what thou are able, bear; but of that offered to idols, beware exceedingly; for it is a worship of dead gods.

Chapter VII 7 — Now concerning baptism, thus baptize

ye: having first uttered all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water. But if thou hast not running water, baptize in other water; and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm. But if thou hast neither, pour water upon the head thrice, into the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer and the baptized fast, and whatever others can; but the baptized thou shalt command to fast for two or three days before.

Chapter VIII 8 — But let not your fasting be appointed

in common with the hypocrites; for they fast on the second day of the week and on the fifth; but do ye fast during the fourth, and the preparation day. Nor pray ye like the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his gospel, thus pray: Our Father who art in heaven, Hal- lowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth; our daily bread give us to-day, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our debtors, and bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one; for thine is the power and the glory forever. Thee times in the day pray ye thus.

Chapter IX 9 — Now concerning the Eucharist, thus give

thanks; first, concerning the cup: We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine of David thy servant, which thou hast made known to us through Jesus thy servant; to thee by the glory forever. And concerning the broken bread: We thank thee, our Father, for the life and the knowledge which thou hast made known to us through Jesus thy servant; to thee by the glory forever. Just as this broken bread was scattered over the hills and having been gathered together became one, so let thy church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into thy kingdom; for thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, except those baptized into the Lord's name; for in regard to this the Lord hath said: Give not that which is holy to the dogs.

Chapter X 10 — Now after ye are filled thus do ye give

thanks: We thank thee, holy Father, for thy holy name, which thou hast caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which thou hast made known to us through Jesus thy servant; to thee be the glory forever. Thou, Almighty Master, didst create all things for thy name's sake; both food and drink thou didst give to men for enjoyment, in order that they might give thanks to thee; but to us thou hast graciously given spiritual food and drink and eternal life through thy servant. Before all things, we thank thee that thou art powerful; to thee be the glory forever. Remember, Lord, thy church, to de- liver it from every evil and to make it perfect in thy love, and gather it from the four winds, it, the sancti- fied, into thy kingdom, which thou hast prepared for it; for thine is the power and the glory forever. Let grace come and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the son of David! Whoever is holy, let him come; whoever is not let him repent. Maranatha. Amen. But permit the prophets to give thanks as much as they will.

Chapter XI 11 — Now whoever cometh and teacheth you

all these things, before spoken, receive him; but if the teacher himself turn aside and teach another teaching, so as to overthrow this, do not hear him; but if he teach so as to promote righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. But in regard to the apostles and prophets, according to the ordinance of the gospel, so do ye. And every apostle who cometh to you, let him be received as the Lord; but he shall not remain more than one day; if, however, there be need, then the next day; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet. But when the apostle departeth, let him take nothing except bread enough till he lodge again; but if he ask money, he is a false prophet. And every prophet who speaketh in the spirit, ye shall not try nor judge; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. But not every one that speaketh in the spirit is a prophet, but only if he have the ways of the Lord. So from their ways shall the false prophet and the prophet be known. And no prophet who or- ders a meal, in the spirit, eateth of it, unless indeed he is a false prophet; and every prophet who teacheth the truth, if he do not which he teacheth, is a false prophet. But every prophet, proved, true, acting with a view to the mystery of the church on earth, but not teaching others to do all that he himself doeth, shall not be judged among you; for with God he hath his judgment; for so did the ancient prophets also. But whoever, in the spirit, says: Give me money, or some- thing else, ye shall not hear him; but if for others in need, he bids you give, let no one judge him.

Chapter XII 12 — But let every one that cometh in the

Lord's name be received, but afterward ye shall test and know him; for ye shall have understanding, right and left. If he who comes is a traveller, help him a much as ye can; but he shall not remain with you, unless for two or three days, if there be necessity. But if he will take up his abode among you, being an artisan, let him work and so eat; but if he have no trade, provide, according to your understanding, that no idler live with you as a Christian. But if he will not act accord- ing to this, he is one who makes gain out of Christ; be- ware of such.

Chapter XIII 13 — But every true prophet who will set

tle among you is worthy of his support. Likewise a true teacher, he also is worthy, like the workman, of his support. Every firstfruit, then, of the products of wine-press and threshing-floor, or oxen and of sheep, thou shalt take and give to the prophets; for they are your high-priests. but if ye have no prophet, give it to the poor. If thou makest a baking of bread, take the first of it and give according to the commandment. In like manner when thou openest a jar of wine or oil, take the first of it and give to the prophets; and of money and clothing and every possession take the first, as seems right to thee, and give according to the commandment.

Chapter XIV 14 — But on the Lord's day do ye assemble

and break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions, in order that your sacrifice may be pure. But every one that hath controversy with his friend, let him not come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: At every place and time, bring me a pure sacrifice; for a great king am I, saith the Lord, and my name is marvellous among the nations.

Chapter XV 15 — Now appoint for yourselves bishops and

deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek and not ava- ricious, and upright and proved; for they, too, render you the service of the prophets and teachers. Despise them not, therefore; for they are the ones who are honored of you, together with the prophets and teachers.

And reprove one another, not in anger but in peach, as ye have it in the gospel; and to every one who erreth against another, let no one speak, nor let him hear any- thing from yo, until he repent. But your prayers and your alms and all your deeds so do ye, as ye have it in the gospel of our Lord.

Chapter XVI 16 — Watch for your life's sake; let your

lamps not go out, and your loins not be relaxed, but be ready; for ye know not the hour in which our Lord com- eth. But ye shall come together often, and seek the things which befit your souls; for the whole time of your faith thus far will not profit you, if ye do not be- come perfect in the last time. For in the last days the false prophets and the corruptors shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate; for when lawlessness in- creaseth they shall hate one another, and shall persecute and shall deliver up, and then shall appear the world- deceiver as the Son of God, and shall do signs and won- ders, and the earth shall be given into his hands, and he shall commit iniquities which have never get been done since the beginning. Then all crated men shall com into into the fire of trial, and many shall be made to stumble and shall perish. But they that endure in their faith shall be saved from this curse. And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of an opening in heaven, then the sign of the trumpet's sound, and thirdly, the resurrection of the dead; yet not of all, but as it hath been said: The Lord will come and the saints with him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.

[================================================]