Introductory Notes to the Didaché
This work is thought to have been composed around the early part of the
second century AD. It is a simple
summary by a third party of life-based apostolic teaching, rather than being of
apostolic origin. It would seem to have
been intended for younger believers, perhaps as a form of pre-baptismal
catechism. It reflects a
Jewish-Christian approach to salvation and Christian living.
Its similarity and parallel with the second part of the Epistle of
Barnabas and with the Apostolic Constitutions vii.1-32 point to a
common original source. This common
literary source may perhaps be the ‘two ways,’ since this is topic prominent to
these works.
The Didaché, or Teaching of the Apostles[1]
Chapter 1
There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a
great difference between the two ways.
The way of life is this. First of
all, you shall love the God who made you; secondly, your neighbour as
yourself. And do nothing to another that
you would not have befall yourself. Now
of these words the doctrine is this.
Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies and fast for those
who persecute you; for what merit is it, if you love those who love you? Do not
even the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not
have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and
bodily lusts. If any man gives you a
blow on your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect;
if a man forces you to go with him, one mile, go with him two; if a man takes
away your cloak, give him your coat also; if a man takes away from you what is
yours, do not ask for it back, for you cannot.
Give to every man who asks of you, and do not ask for it back; for the
Father desires that gifts be given to all from His own bounties. Blessed is the one who gives according to the
commandment; for he is guiltless. Woe to
him who receives; for, if a man receives having need, he is guiltless; but he
who has no need will have to give an answer why and wherefore he received; and
being put in confinement he shall be examined concerning what he has done, and
he shall not come out until he has given back the last farthing. Yea, as touching this also it is said: Let
your alms stay in your hands, until you have learnt to whom to give.
Chapter 2
And this is the second commandment of the teaching. You shall not murder, you shall not commit
adultery, you shall not corrupt boys, you shall not commit fornication, you
shall not steal, you shall not deal in magic, you shall do no sorcery, you shall
not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born, you shall not covet
your neighbour’s goods, you shall not perjure yourself, you shall not bear
false witness, you shall not speak evil, you shall not cherish a grudge, you
shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued; for the double tongue is a snare
of death. Your word shall not be false
or empty, but fulfilled by action. You
shall not be avaricious nor a plunderer nor a hypocrite nor ill-tempered nor
proud. You shall not devise an evil plan
against your neighbour. You shall not
hate any man, but some you shall reprove, and for others you shall pray, and
others you shall love more than your life.
Chapter 3
My child, flee from every evil and everything that resembles
it. Do not be easily angry, for anger
leads to murder, nor jealous nor contentious nor wrathful; for of all these
things cause murders. My child, do not
be lustful, for lust leads to fornication, nor foul-speaking, nor one who
stares or has a wandering eye; for all these things cause adulteries. My child, do not be a dealer in omens, since
it leads to idolatry, nor an enchanter nor an astrologer nor a magician,
neither be willing to look at them; for all these things cause idolatry. My child, do not be a liar, since lying leads
to theft; nor covetous, nor proud; for all these things cause thefts. My child, do not be a murmurer, since it
leads to blasphemy, neither self-willed neither a thinker of evil thoughts; for
all these things cause blasphemies. But
be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Be long-suffering and pitiful and guileless
and quiet and kindly and always trembling at the words which you have
heard. You shall not exalt yourself, or
admit boldness into your soul. Your soul
shall not cleave to the lofty, but you shall walk with the righteous and
humble. Receive as good what happens to
you, knowing that nothing is done without God.
Chapter 4
My child, you shall remember him who speaks to you the word of God
night and day, and shall honour him as the Lord; for where the Lordship is
spoken of, there is the Lord. Moreover,
you shall seek out day by day the persons of the saints, that you may find rest
in their words. You shall not make
division, but you shall pacify those who are in conflict; you shall judge
righteously, you shall not be partial in reproving for transgressions. You shall not worry whether a thing shall be
or not be. Do not be found holding out
your hands to receive, but drawing them in as to giving. If you have anything in your hands, you shall
give it as a ransom for your sins. You
shall not hesitate to give, neither shall you murmur when giving; for you shall
know who is the good paymaster of your reward.
You shall not turn away from him who is in want, but shall make your
brother share in all things, and shall not say that anything is your own. For if you are fellow-partakers in what is
imperishable, how much rather in the things which are perishable? You shall not withhold your hand from your
son or from your daughter, but from their youth you shall teach them the fear
of God. You shall not give commands to your man-servant or your maidservant in
your bitterness, who trust in the same God as yourself, lest they should cease
to fear the God who is over both of you; for He comes, not to call men
according to their appearance, but He comes to those whom the Spirit has
prepared. But you, servants, shall be
subject to your masters, as to the image of God, in reverence and fear. You shall hate all hypocrisy, and everything
that is not pleasing to the Lord. You
shall never forsake the commandments of the Lord; but shall keep what you have
received, neither adding to them nor taking away from them. In church you shall confess your sins, and
shall not go to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.
Chapter 5
But the way of death is this.
First of all, it is evil and full of a curse; murder, adultery, lust,
fornication, theft, idolatry, magical art, witchcraft, robbery, false
witnessing, hypocrisy, doubleness of heart, treachery, pride, malice,
stubbornness, covetousness, foul-speaking, jealousy, presumption, exaltation,
boastfulness; persecutors of good men, hating truth, loving a lie, not
perceiving the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to
righteous judgment, watchful not for what is good but for what is evil;
standing apart from gentleness and forbearance; loving vain things, pursuing a
reward, not pitying the poor man, not toiling for him who is oppressed with
toil, not recognizing Him who made them, murderers of children, corrupters of
the creatures of God, turning away from him who is in want, oppressing him who
is afflicted, advocates of the wealthy, unjust judges of the poor, altogether
sinful. May you be delivered, my
children, from all these things.
Chapter 6
Beware lest any man lead you astray from this way of
righteousness, for he teaches you apart from God. For if you are able to bear the whole yoke of
the Lord, you shall be perfect; but if you are not able, do what you can. But concerning food, bear what you can; yet
abstain by all means from meat sacrificed to idols; for it is the worship of
dead gods.
Chapter 7
But concerning baptism, thus shall you baptize. Having first taught all these things, baptize
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in living
(running) water. But if you have not
living water, then baptize in other water; and if you are not able in cold,
then in warm. But if you have neither,
then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. But before the
baptism let him who baptizes and him who is baptized fast, and any others also
who can; and you shall order him who is baptized to fast a day or two before.
Chapter 8
Let not your fastings be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the
second and the fifth day of the week; but keep your fast on the fourth and on
the preparation day (Friday). And do not
pray like the hypocrites, but pray as the Lord commanded in His Gospel: Our
Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Your name; Your kingdom come; Your will
be done, as in heaven, so also on earth; give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one; for Yours is the power and the
glory for ever and ever. Pray thus three
times in the day.
Chapter 9
But as touching the eucharistic thanksgiving give thanks
thus. First, as regards the cup: We give
You thanks, O our Father, for the holy vine of Your son David, which You made
known to us through Your Son Jesus; Yours is the glory for ever and ever. Then as regards the broken bread: We give You
thanks, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us
through Your Son Jesus; Yours is the glory for ever and ever. As this broken bread was scattered on the
mountains and being gathered together became one, so may Your Church be
gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom; for Yours is
the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. But let no one eat or drink of this
eucharistic thanksgiving, except those who have been baptized into the name of
the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said: Do not give what is holy
to the dogs.
Chapter 10
And after you have eaten enough, give thanks thus: We give You
thanks, Holy Father, for Your holy name, which You have made to dwell in our
hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which You have made
known to us through Your Son Jesus; Yours is the glory for ever and ever. Almighty Master, You created all things for
Your name’s sake, and gave food and drink to men for enjoyment, that they might
give You thanks; but gave us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through
Your Son. Before all things we give You
thanks that You are powerful; Yours is the glory for ever and ever. Remember, Lord, Your Church, to deliver it
from all evil and to perfect it in Your love; and gather it together from the
four winds, sanctified for Your kingdom which You have prepared for it; for
Yours is the power and the glory for ever and ever. May grace come and may this world pass
away. Hosanna to the God of David. If any man is holy, let him come; if any man
is not holy, let him repent. Maran
Atha. Amen. But permit the prophets to offer thanksgiving
as they desire.
Chapter 11
So whoever shall come and teach you all these things that have
been said before, receive him; but if the teacher himself is perverted and
teaches a different doctrine, to the destruction of what you have been taught,
do not listen to him; but if he teaches of the increase of righteousness and
the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. But concerning the apostles and prophets, do
according to the decree of the Gospel.
Let every apostle, who comes to you, be received as the Lord; but he
shall not stay more than a single day, or if there be need, two; but if he
stays three days, he is a false prophet.
And when he departs let the apostle receive nothing save enough bread,
until he reaches shelter; but if he asks for money, he is a false prophet. And you shall not test or discern any prophet
speaking in the Spirit; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not
be forgiven. Yet not everyone who speaks
in the Spirit is a prophet, but only if he has the ways of the Lord. So the false prophet and the true prophet
shall be recognized from his ways. And
no prophet when he orders a table in the Spirit shall eat of it; otherwise, he
is a false prophet. And every prophet
teaching the truth, if he does not do what he teaches, is a false prophet. And every prophet approved and found true, if
he does anything as an outward mystery that speaks of the Church, and yet does
not teach you to do all that he himself does, shall not be judged before you;
he has his judgment in the presence of God; for so also did the prophets of old
time. And whoever says in the Spirit,
‘Give me silver or anything else,’ you shall not listen to him; but if he tells
you to give on behalf of others who are in want, let no man judge him.
Chapter 12
Let everyone who comes in the name of the Lord be received; and
then when you have tested him you shall know him, for you shall have
understanding on the right hand and on the left. If he who comes is a wayfarer, assist him, so
far as you are able; but he shall not stay with you more than two or three
days, if it be necessary. But if he
wishes to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him work for and eat his
bread. But if he has no craft, according
to your wisdom provide how he shall live as a Christian among you, but not in
idleness. If he will not do this, he is
trafficking upon Christ. Beware of such
men.
Chapter 13
But every true prophet desiring to settle among you is worthy of
his food. In like manner a true teacher
is also worthy, like the workman, of his food.
Every firstfruit then of the produce of the wine-vat and of the
threshing-floor, of your oxen and of your sheep, you shall take and give as the
firstfruit to the prophets; for they are your chief-priests. But if you have not a prophet, give them to
the poor. If you make bread, take the
firstfruit and give according to the commandment. In like manner, when you open a jar of wine
or of oil, take the firstfruit and give to the prophets; yea and of money and
raiment and every possession take the firstfruit, as shall seem good to you,
and give according to the commandment.
Chapter 14
And on the Lord’s own day gather yourselves together and break
bread and give thanks, first confessing your sins, that your sacrifice may be
pure. And let no man, having a dispute
with his fellow, join your assembly until they have been reconciled, that your
sacrifice may not be defiled; for it is this sacrifice that was spoken of by
the Lord; “In every place and at every time offer Me a pure sacrifice; for I am
a great king,” says the Lord “and My name is wonderful among the nations.”
Chapter 15
So appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord,
men who are meek and not lovers of money, and true and approved; for to you they
also perform the service of the prophets and teachers. Therefore do not despise them; for they are
your honourable men along with the prophets and teachers. And reprove one another, not in anger but in
peace, as you find in the Gospel; and let no one speak to any who has gone
wrong towards his neighbour, or let him hear a word from you, until he
repents. But do your prayers and your almsgivings
and all your deeds as you find it in the Gospel of our Lord.
Chapter 16
Be watchful for your life; let your lamps not be quenched and your
loins not ungirded, but be ready; for you do not know the hour in which our
Lord comes. And you shall gather
yourselves together frequently, seeking what is fitting for your souls; for the
whole time of your faith shall be of no use to you, if you are not perfected at
the last. For in the last days the false
prophets and destroyers shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into
wolves, and love shall be turned into hate.
For as lawlessness increases, they shall hate one another and shall
persecute and betray. And then the
world-deceiver shall appear as a son of God; and shall work signs and wonders,
and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unholy things,
which have never been since the world began.
Then all created mankind shall come to the fire of testing, and many
shall be offended and perish; but those who endure in their faith shall be
saved through the Curse itself. And then
the signs of the truth shall appear; first a sign of a rift in the heaven, then
a sign of a voice of a trumpet, and thirdly a resurrection of the dead; yet not
of all, but as it was said: The Lord
shall come and all His saints with Him.
Then the world will see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.
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