The Didache
The
Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.
Chapter 1. The Two Ways and the First Commandment. There are two ways, one of
life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of
life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your
neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to
you. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and
pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is
there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love
those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and
worldly lusts. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also,
and you shall be perfect. If someone impresses you for one mile, go with him
two. If someone takes your cloak, give him also your coat. If someone takes
from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed you are not able. Give to
every one who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that to all
should be given of our own blessings (free gifts). Happy is he who gives
according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to him who receives; for
if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives not having
need shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what. And coming into confinement,
he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not
escape from there until he pays back the last penny. And also concerning this,
it has been said, Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you
should give.
Chapter 2. The Second Commandment: Grave Sin Forbidden. And the second commandment
of the Teaching; You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery,
you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not
steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you
shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born. You shall not
covet the things of your neighbor, you shall not swear, you shall not bear
false witness, you shall not speak evil, you shall bear no grudge. You shall
not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is a snare of
death. Your speech shall not be false, nor empty, but fulfilled by deed. You
shall not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor evil disposed, nor
haughty. You shall not take evil counsel against your neighbor. You shall not
hate any man; but some you shall reprove, and concerning some you shall pray,
and some you shall love more than your own life.
Chapter 3. Other Sins Forbidden. My child, flee from every evil thing, and from every
likeness of it. Be not prone to anger, for anger leads to murder. Be neither
jealous, nor quarrelsome, nor of hot temper, for out of all these murders are
engendered. My child, be not a lustful one. for lust leads to fornication. Be
neither a filthy talker, nor of lofty eye, for out of all these adulteries are
engendered. My child, be not an observer of omens, since it leads to idolatry.
Be 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. My child, be
not a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Be neither money-loving, nor
vainglorious, for out of all these thefts are engendered. My child, be not a
murmurer, since it leads the way to blasphemy. Be neither self-willed nor
evil-minded, for out of all these blasphemies are engendered.
Rather,
be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Be long-suffering and pitiful
and guileless and gentle and good and always trembling at the words which you
have heard. You shall not exalt yourself, nor give over-confidence to your
soul. Your soul shall not be joined with lofty ones, but with just and lowly
ones shall it have its intercourse. Accept whatever happens to you as good, knowing
that apart from God nothing comes to pass.
Chapter 4. Various Precepts. My child, remember night and day him who speaks the word of
God to you, and honor him as you do the Lord. For wherever the lordly rule is
uttered, there is the Lord. And seek out day by day the faces of the saints, in
order that you may rest upon their words. Do not long for division, but rather
bring those who contend to peace. Judge righteously, and do not respect persons
in reproving for transgressions. You shall not be undecided whether or not it
shall be. Be not a stretcher forth of the hands to receive and a drawer of them
back to give. If you have anything, through your hands you shall give ransom
for your sins. Do not hesitate to give, nor complain when you give; for you shall
know who is the good repayer of the hire. Do not turn away from him who is in
want; rather, share all things with your brother, and do not say that they are
your own. For if you are partakers in that which is immortal, how much more in
things which are mortal? Do not remove your hand from your son or daughter;
rather, teach them the fear of God from their youth. Do not enjoin anything in
your bitterness upon your bondman or maidservant, who hope in the same God,
lest ever they shall fear not God who is over both; for he comes not to call
according to the outward appearance, but to them whom the Spirit has prepared.
And you bondmen shall be subject to your masters as to a type of God, in
modesty and fear. You shall hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not
pleasing to the Lord. Do not in any way forsake the commandments of the Lord;
but keep what you have received, neither adding thereto nor taking away
therefrom. In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you
shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of
life.
Chapter 5. The Way of Death. And the way of death is this: First of all it is evil and
accursed: murders, adultery, lust, fornication, thefts, idolatries, magic arts,
witchcrafts, rape, false witness, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, deceit,
haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy,
over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating
truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving 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 revenge, not pitying a poor man, not laboring for the afflicted, not
knowing Him Who made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork
of God, turning away from him who is in want, afflicting him who is distressed,
advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. Be delivered,
children, from all these.
Chapter 6. Against False Teachers, and Food Offered to Idols. See that no one causes you
to err from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. For
if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but
if you are not able to do this, do what you are able. And concerning food, bear
what you are able; but against that which is sacrificed to idols be exceedingly
careful; for it is the service of dead gods.
Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism. And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said
all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into
other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you
have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father
and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the
baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or
two days before.
Chapter 8. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's Prayer). But let not your fasts be
with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week.
Rather, fast on the fourth day and the Preparation (Friday). Do not pray like
the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, like this:
Our
Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily (needful) bread, 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..
Pray
this three times each day.
Chapter 9. The Eucharist. Now concerning the Eucharist, give thanks this way. First,
concerning the cup:
We
thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine of David Thy servant, which You
madest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever..
And
concerning the broken bread:
We
thank Thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You madest known to us
through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever. Even as this broken
bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and 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 for ever..
But
let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into
the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, "Give
not that which is holy to the dogs."
Chapter 10. Prayer after Communion. But after you are filled,
give thanks this way:
We
thank Thee, holy Father, for Thy holy name which You didst cause to tabernacle
in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which You
modest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever.
Thou, Master almighty, didst create all things for Thy name's sake; You gavest
food and drink to men for enjoyment, that they might give thanks to Thee; but
to us You didst freely give spiritual food and drink and life eternal through
Thy Servant. Before all things we thank Thee that You are mighty; to Thee be
the glory for ever. 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 have prepared for it; for Thine is the power and the
glory for ever. Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the
God (Son) of David! If any one is holy, let him come; if any one is not so, let
him repent. Maranatha. Amen.
But
permit the prophets to make Thanksgiving as much as they desire.
Chapter 11. Concerning Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets. Whosoever, therefore, comes
and teaches you all these things that have been said before, receive him. But
if the teacher himself turns and teaches another doctrine to the destruction of
this, hear him not. But if he teaches so as to increase righteousness and the
knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. But concerning the apostles and
prophets, act according to the decree of the Gospel. Let every apostle who
comes to you be received as the Lord. But he shall not remain more than one
day; or two days, if there's a need. But if he remains three days, he is a
false prophet. And when the apostle goes away, let him take nothing but bread
until he lodges. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet. And every prophet
who speaks in the Spirit you shall neither try nor judge; for every sin shall
be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. But not every one who speaks
in the Spirit is a prophet; but only if he holds the ways of the Lord.
Therefore from their ways shall the false prophet and the prophet be known. And
every prophet who orders a meal in the Spirit does not eat it, unless he is
indeed a false prophet. And every prophet who teaches the truth, but does not
do what he teaches, is a false prophet. And every prophet, proved true, working
unto the mystery of the Church in the world, yet not teaching others to do what
he himself does, shall not be judged among you, for with God he has his
judgment; for so did also the ancient prophets. But whoever says in the Spirit,
Give me money, or something else, you shall not listen to him. But if he tells
you to give for others' sake who are in need, let no one judge him.
Chapter 12. Reception of Christians. But receive everyone who
comes in the name of the Lord, and prove and know him afterward; for you shall
have understanding right and left. If he who comes is a wayfarer, assist him as
far as you are able; but he shall not remain with you more than two or three
days, if need be. But if he wants to stay with you, and is an artisan, let him
work and eat. But if he has no trade, according to your understanding, see to
it that, as a Christian, he shall not live with you idle. But if he wills not
to do, he is a Christ-monger. Watch that you keep away from such.
Chapter 13. Support of Prophets. But every true prophet who wants to live among you is worthy
of his support. So also a true teacher is himself worthy, as the workman, of
his support. Every first-fruit, therefore, of the products of wine-press and
threshing-floor, of oxen and of sheep, you shall take and give to the prophets,
for they are your high priests. But if you have no prophet, give it to the
poor. If you make a batch of dough, take the first-fruit and give according to
the commandment. So also when you open a jar of wine or of oil, take the
first-fruit and give it to the prophets; and of money (silver) and clothing and
every possession, take the first-fruit, as it may seem good to you, and give
according to the commandment.
Chapter 14. Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day. But every Lord's day gather
yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having
confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one
who is at odds with his fellow 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: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am
a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."
Chapter 15. Bishops and Deacons; Christian Reproof. Appoint, therefore, for
yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek, and not lovers of
money, and truthful and proved; for they also render to you the service of
prophets and teachers. Therefore do not despise them, for they are your honored
ones, together with the prophets and teachers. And reprove one another, not in
anger, but in peace, as you have it in the Gospel. But to anyone that acts
amiss against another, let no one speak, nor let him hear anything from you
until he repents. But your prayers and alms and all your deeds so do, as you
have it in the Gospel of our Lord.
Chapter 16. Watchfulness; the Coming of the Lord. Watch for your life's sake.
Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ready, for you
know not the hour in which our Lord will come. But come together often, seeking
the things which are befitting to your souls: for the whole time of your faith
will not profit you, if you are not made perfect in the last time. For in the
last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep
shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate; for when
lawlessness increases, they shall hate and persecute and betray one another,
and then shall appear the world-deceiver as Son of God, and shall do signs and
wonders, 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. Then
shall the creation of men come into the fire of trial, and many shall be made
to stumble and shall perish; but those who endure in their faith shall be saved
from under the curse itself. And then shall appear the signs of the truth:
first, the sign of an outspreading in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the
trumpet. And third, the resurrection of the dead -- yet not of all, but as it
is said: "The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him." Then
shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.
