(NOTE: The electronic text obtained from The Electronic Bible Society was
not completely corrected. EWTN has corrected all mistakes found.)
<#> = Verse numbers; (#) = footnotes.
THE TEACHING OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES (DIDACHE)
THE LORD'S TEACHING THROUGH THE TWELVE APOSTLES TO THE NATIONS.(1)
CHAP. I.--THE TWO WAYS;THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
<1> THERE are two ways,(2) one of life and one of death;(3) but a great
difference between the two ways. <2> The way of life, then, is this: First,
thou shalt love God(4) who made thee; second, thy neighbour as thyself;(5)
and all things whatsoever thou wouldst should not occur to thee, thou also
to another do not do.(6) <3> And of these sayings(7) the teaching is this:
Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for them
that persecute you.(8) For what thank is there, if ye love them that love
you? Do not also the Gentiles do the same?(9) But do ye love them that hate
you; and ye shall not have an enemy.(10) <4> Abstain thou from fleshly and
worldly lusts.(11) If one give thee a blow upon thy right cheek, turn to
him the other also;(12) and thou shalt be perfect. If one impress thee for
one mile, go with him two.(13) If one take away thy cloak, give him also
thy coat.(14) If one take from thee thine own, ask it not back? for indeed
thou art not able. <5> Give to every one that asketh thee, and ask it not
back;(16) for the Father willeth that to all should be given of our own
blessings (free gifts).(17) Happy is he that giveth according to the
commandment; for he is guiltless. Woe to him that receiveth; for if one
having need receiveth, he is guiltless; but he that receiveth not having
need, shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what, and, coming into
straits (confinement),(18) he shall be examined concerning the things which
he hath done, and he shall not escape thence until he pay back the last
farthing.(19) <6> But also now concerning this, it hath been said, Let
thine alms sweat(20) in thy hands, until thou know to whom thou shouldst
give.
CHAP. II.(21)--THE SECOND COMMANDMENT: GROSS SIN FORBIDDEN.
<1> And the second commandment of the Teaching; <2> Thou shalt not
commit murder, thou shalt not commit adultery,(22) thou shalt not commit
paederasty,(23) thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not
steal,(24) thou shalt not practise magic, thou shalt not practise
witchcraft, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which
is begotten.(25) Thou shalt not covet the things of thy neighbour,(26) <3>
thou shalt not forswear thyself,(27) thou shalt not bear false witness,(28)
thou shalt not speak, evil, thou shalt bear no grudge.(29) <4> Thou shalt
not be double-minded nor double-tongued; for to be double-tongued is a 5
snare of death.(1) <5> Thy speech shall not be false, nor empty, but
fulfilled by deed.(2) <6> Thou shalt not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a
hypocrite, nor evil disposed, nor haughty. Thou shalt not take evil
counsel against thy neighbour.(3) <7> Thou shalt not hate any man; but some
thou shalt reprove,(4) and concerning some thou shalt pray, and some thou
shalt love more than thy own life.(5)
CHAP. III.(6)--OTHER SINS FORBIDDEN.
<1> My child,(7) flee from every evil thing, and from every likeness of
it. <2> Be not prone to anger, for anger leadeth the way to murder; neither
jealous, nor quarrelsome, nor of hot temper; for out of all these murders
are engendered. <3> My child, be not a lustful one; for lust leadeth the
way to fornication; neither a filthy talker, nor of lofty eye; for out of
all these adulteries are engendered. <4> My child, be not an observer of
omens, since it leadeth the way to idolatry; neither an enchanter, nor an
astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to took at these things; for out
of all these idolatry is engendered. <5> My child, be not a liar, since a
lie leadeth the way to theft; neither money-loving, nor vainglorious, for
out of all these thefts are engendered. <6> My child, be not a murmurer,
since it leadeth the way to blasphemy; neither self-willed nor evil-minded,
for out of all these blasphemies are engendered. <7> But be thou meek,
since the meek shall inherit the earth.(8) <8> Be long-suffering and
pitiful and guileless and gentle and good and always trembling at the words
which thou hast heard.(9) <9> Thou shalt not exalt thyself,(10) nor give
over-confidence to thy soul. Thy soul shall not be joined with lofty ones,
but with just and lowly ones shall it have its intercourse. <10> The
workings that befall thee receive as good, knowing that apart from God
nothing cometh to pass.(11)
CHAP. IV.(12)--VARIOUS PRECEPTS.
<1> My child, him that speaketh to thee the word of God remember night
and day; and thou shalt honour him as the Lord;(13) for in the place whence
lordly rule is uttered,(14) there is the Lord. <2> And thou shalt seek out
day by day the faces of the saints, in order that thou mayest rest upon(15)
their words. <3> Thou shalt not long for(16) division, but shalt bring
those who contend to peace. Thou shalt judge righteously, thou shalt not
respect persons in reproving for transgressions. <4> Thou shalt not be
undecided whether it shall be or no.(17) <5> Be not a stretcher forth of
the hands to receive and a drawer of them back to give.(18) <6> If thou
hast aught, through thy hands thou shalt give ransom for thy sins.(19) <7>
Thou shalt not hesitate to give, nor murmur when thou givest; for thou
shalt know who is the good repayer of the hire. <8> Thou shalt not turn
away from him that is in want, but thou shalt share all things with thy
brother, and shalt not say that they are thine own; for if ye are partakers
in that which is immortal, how much more in things which are mortal?(20)
<9> Thou shalt not remove thy hand from thy son or from thy daughter, but
from their youth shalt teach them the fear of God.(21) <10> Thou shalt not
enjoin aught in thy bitterness upon thy bondman or maidservant, who hope in
the same God, lest ever they shall fear not God who is over both;(22) for
he cometh not to call according to the outward appearance, but unto them
whom the Spirit hath prepared. <11> And ye bondmen shall be subject to
your(23) masters as to a type of God, in modesty and fear.(24) <12> Thou
shalt hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not pleasing to the Lord.
<13> Do thou in no wise forsake the commandments of the Lord; but thou
shalt keep what thou hast received, neither adding thereto nor taking away
therefrom.(25) <14> In the church(26) thou shalt acknowledge thy
transgressions, and thou shalt not come near for thy prayer(27) with an
evil conscience.(28) This is the way of life.(29)
CHAP. V.(1)--THE WAY OF DEATH.
<1> And the way of death(2) is this: First of all it is evil and full
of curse:(3) murders,(4) adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts,
idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rapines, false witnessings,
hypocrisies, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will,
greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness,
boastfulness; <2> persecutors of the good,(5) hating truth, loving a lie,
not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving(6) to good nor to
righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which
is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities,
pursuing requital, not pitying a poor man, not labouring for the afflicted,
not knowing Him that made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the
handiwork of God, turning away from him that is in want afflicting him that
is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter
sinners.(7) Be delivered, children, from all these.(8)
CHAP. VI.(9)--AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS, AND FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS.
<1> See that no one cause thee to err(10) from this way of the
Teaching, since apart from God it teacheth thee. <2> For if thou art able
to bear all the yoke(11) of the Lord, thou wilt be perfect; but if thou art
not able, what thou art able that do. <3> And concerning food,(12) bear
what thou art able; but against that which is sacrificed to idols(13) be
exceedingly on thy guard; for it is the service of dead gods.(14)
CHAP. VII.--CONCERNING BAPTISM.
<1> And concerning baptism,(15) thus baptize ye:(16) Having first said
all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit,(17) in living water.(18) <2> But if thou have not
living water, baptize into other water; and if thou canst not in cold, in
warm. <3> But if thou have not either, pour out water thrice(19) upon the
head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. <4> But before the
baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whatever others can;
but thou shalt order the baptized to fast one or two days before.(20)
CHAP. VIII.(21)--CONCERNING FASTING AND PRAYER (THE LORD'S PRAYER).
<1> But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites;(22) for they fast on
the second and fifth day of the week; but do ye fast on the fourth day and
the Preparation(Friday).(23) <2> Neither pray as the hypocrites; but as the
Lord commanded in His Gospel,(24) thus pray: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so
on earth. Give us to-day our daily (needful) bread,(25) and forgive us our
debt as we also forgive our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one (or, evil); for Thine is the power and the
glory for ever.(26) <3> Thrice in the day thus pray.(27)
CHAP. IX.(28)--THE THANKSGIVING (EUCHARIST).
<1> Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Eucharist), thus give thanks. <2>
First, concerning the cup:(1) We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine
of David Thy servant,(2) which Thou madest known to us through Jesus Thy
Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever. <3> And concerning the broken
bread:(3) We thank Thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou
modest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for
ever. <4> Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills,(4) and
was gathered together and became one, so let Thy Church be gathered
together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom;(5) for Thine is the
glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever. <5> But let no one eat
or drink of your Thanksgiving (Eucharist), but they who have been baptized
into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord hath said,
Give not that which is holy to the dogs.(6)
CHAP. X.(7)--PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION.
<1> But after ye are filled,(8) thus give thanks: <2> We thank Thee,
holy Father, for Thy holy name which Thou didst cause to tabernacle in our
hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which Thou modest
known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever. <3>
Thou, Master almighty, didst create all things for Thy name's sake; Thou
gavest food and drink to men for enjoyment, that they might give thanks to
Thee; but to us Thou didst freely give spiritual food and drink and life
eternal through Thy Servant.(9) <4> Before all things we thank Thee that
Thou art mighty; to Thee be the glory for ever. <5> Remember, Lord, Thy
Church, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in Thy love, and
gather it from the four winds, sanctified for Thy kingdom which Thou hast
prepared for it;(10) for Thine is the power and the glory for ever. <6> Let
grace come, and let this world pass away.(11) Hosanna to the God(Son) (12)
of David! If any one is holy, let him come; if any one is not so, let him
repent.(13) Maranatha.(14) Amen. <7> But permit the prophets to make
Thanksgiving as much as they desire.(15)
CHAP. XI. 16--CONCERNING TEACHERS, APOSTLES, AND PROPHETS.
<1> Whosoever, therefore, cometh and teacheth you all these things that
have been said before, receive him.(17) <2> But if the teacher himself
turn(18) and teach another doctrine to the destruction of this, hear him
not; but if he teach so as to increase righteousness and the knowledge of
the Lord, receive him as the Lord. <3> But concerning the apostles and
prophets, according to the decree of the Gospel, thus do. <4> Let every
apostle that cometh to you be received as the Lord.(19) <5> But he shall
not remain except one day; but if there be need, also the next; but if he
remain three days, he is a false prophet. <6> And when the apostle goeth
away, let him take nothing but bread until he lodgeth;(20) but if he ask
money, he is a false prophet. <7> And every prophet that speaketh in the
Spirit(21) ye shall neither try nor judge; for every sin shall be forgiven,
but this sin shall not be forgiven.(22) <8> But not every one that speaketh
in the Spirit is a prophet; but only if he hold the ways of the Lord.
Therefore from their ways shall the false prophet and the prophet be known.
<9> And every prophet who ordereth a meal(23) in the Spirit eateth not from
it, except indeed he be a false prophet; <10> and every prophet who
teacheth the truth, if he do not what he teacheth, is a false prophet. <11>
And every prophet, proved true,(24) working unto the mystery of the Church
in the world,(25) yet not teaching others to do what he himself doeth,
shall not be judged among you, for with God he hath his judgment; for so
did also the ancient prophets. <12> But whoever saith in the Spirit, Give
me money, or something else, ye shall not listen to him; but if he saith to
you to give for others' sake who are in need, let no one judge him.
CHAP. XII.(1)--RECEPTION OF CHRISTIANS.
<1> But let every one that cometh in the name of the Lord be
received,(2) and afterward ye shall prove and know him; for ye shall have
understanding right and left. <2> If he who cometh is a wayfarer, assist
him as far as ye are able; but he shall not remain with you, except for two
or three days, if need be. <3> But if he willeth to abide with you, being
an artisan, let him work and eat;(3) <4> but if he hath no trade, according
to your understanding see to it that, as a Christian,(4) he shall not live
with you idle. <5> But if he willeth not to do, he is a Christ-monger.(5)
Watch that ye keep aloof from such.
CHAP. XIII.(6)--SUPPORT OF PROPHETS.
<1> But every true prophet that willeth to abide among you(7) is worthy
of his support.(8) <2> So also a true teacher is himself worthy, as the
workman, of his support.(9) <3> Every first-fruit, therefore, of the
products of wine-press and threshing-floor, of oxen and of sheep, thou
shalt take and give to the prophets, for they are your high priests.(10)
<4> But if ye have not a prophet, give it to the poor. <5> If thou makest a
batch of dough, take the first-fruit and give according to the commandment.
<6> So also when thou openest a jar of wine or of oil, take the first-fruit
and give it to the prophets; <7> and of money (silver) and clothing and
every possession, take the first-fruit, as it may seem good to thee, and
give according to the commandment.
CHAP. XIV.(11)--CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY ON THE LORD'S DAY.
<1> But every Lord's day(12) do ye gather yourselves together, and
break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your
transgressions,(13) that your sacrifice may be pure.(14) <2> But let no one
that is at variance(15) with his fellow come together with you, until they
be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. <3> For this is
that which was spoken by the Lord: In every place and time offer to me a
pure sacrifice;(16) for I am a great King, saith the Lord, and my name is
wonderful among the nations.(17)
CHAP. XV.(18)--BISHOPS AND DEACONS; CHRISTIAN REPROOF.
<1> Appoint, therefore, for yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of
the Lord, men meek, and not lovers of money,(19) and truthful and proved;
for they also render to you the service(20) of prophets and teachers. <2>
Despise them not therefore, for they are your honoured ones, together with
the prophets and teachers. <3> And reprove one another, not in anger, but
in peace, as ye have it in the Gospel;(21) but to every one that acts
amiss(22) against another, let no one speak, nor let him hear aught from
you until he repent. <4> But your prayers and alms and all your deeds so
do, as ye have it in the Gospel of our Lord.(23)
CHAP. XVI.(1)--WATCHFULNESS; THE COMING OF THE LORD.
<1> Watch for your life's sake.(2) Let not your lamps be quenched, nor
your loins unloosed;(3) but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which
our Lord cometh.(4) <2> But often shall ye come together, seeking the
things which are befitting to your souls: for the whole time of your faith
will not profit you,(5) if ye be not made perfect in the last time. <3> For
in the last days(6) false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and
the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into
hate;(7) <4> for when lawlessness increaseth, they shall hate and persecute
and betray one another,(8) and then shall appear the world-deceiver(9) as
Son of God,(10) and shall do signs and wonders,(11) and the earth shall be
delivered into his hands, and he shall do iniquitous things which have
never yet come to pass since the beginning. <5> Then shall the creation of
men come into the fire of trial,(12) and many shall be made to stumble and
shall perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved(13) from
under the curse itself.(14) <6> And then shall appear the signs of the
truth;(15) first, the sign of an out-spreading(16) in heaven; then the sign
of the sound of the trumpet; and the third, the resurrection of the dead;
<7> yet not of all, but as it is said: The Lord shall come and all His
saints with Him.(17) <8> Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the
clouds of heaven.(18)
Taken from "The Early Church Fathers and Other Works" originally published
by Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. in English in Edinburgh, Scotland beginning in
1867. (ANF 7, Roberts and Donaldson). The digital version is by The
Electronic Bible Society, P.O. Box 701356, Dallas, TX 75370, 214-407-WORD.
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