THE DIDACHE

THE TEACHING OF THE LORD BY THE TWELVE APOSTLES
TO THE GENTILES


1. There are two ways, one of life and one of death; and there is much difference between the tow ways. Now the way of life is this: First, love God that lmade you; Secondly, your neighbor as yourself; And all things whatsoever you would that should not happen to you, neither do to another. The teaching of these words is this: Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for them that persecute you. For what thank have you if you love them that love you? Do not even the gentiles the same? But love them that hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and bodily lusts. If any man five you a blow on the right cheed, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If any impress you one mile, go with him two. If any take away your cloak, five him your coat also. If any take from you that is yours, ask it not back; for if indeed any man receives, having need, he shall be blameless, but he that had not need shall give account, wherefore he received and for what; and being in durance he shall be examined touching the things that he did, and he shall not come forth thence till he ahve paid the uttermost farthing. But further concerning this it has been said, Let your alms sweat into your hands, till you know to whom to give.


2. And the second commandment of the teaching is: Do not murder, do not commit adulter, do not corrupt youths, do not commit fornication, do not steal, do not play the sorcerer, do not use witchcraft, do not slay a child by abortion, neither put to death one that is born. Do not covet the things that are your neighbor's, do not forswear yourself, do not bear false witness, do not speak evil, do not bear malice. Do not be of two minds, neither double tongued; for to be double tongued is a snare of death. Your speech shall not be false: not vain, but fulfilled by deed. Do not be grasping, neither rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor malignant, or overbearing. Dop not take evil counsel against your neighbor. do not hate any man; but some you shall rebuke, and for some you shall pray, and some you shall love more than your life.


3. My child, flee from all evil, and from all that is like to it. be not prone to anger, for anger leads to murder; neither a zealot, nor contentious, nor passionate; for from all these things murders are begotten. My child, be not a luster, for lust leads to fornication; neiter of lewd speech, nor of high looks, for from all these adulteries are begotten. My child, be not given to augury, since it leads to idolatry; nor an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a user of purifications; neither be willing to look theron; for from all these idolatry is begotten. My child, be not a liar, since falsehood leads to theft; neither a lover of money, nor vainflorious; for from all these thefts are begotten. My child, be not a murmurer, since it leads to blasphemy; neither self-willed, nor evil-minded; for from all these blasphemies are begotten. but be meek; for the meek shall inherit the earth. Be long-suffering, and merciful, and harmless, and peaceable, and good, standing in awe always of the words which you have heard. Do not exalt yourself, neither suffer your soul to be presumptuous. Your soul shall not be joined with the lofty, but with the just and lowly shall you converse. The dispensations that befall you accept as good, knowing that without God nothing comes ot pass.


4. My child, him that proclaims unto you the word of God remember night and day, and you shall honor him as the Lord; for whence the Lordship is proclaimed, there the Lord is. And seek out day by day the faces of the saints, that you may rest on their words. Do not incline to division, but set at peace them that strive. Judge righteously. do not have respect of persons in rebuking for transgressions. Do not be of doubtful mind, whether athing shall be or not. be not one that stretches out his hands to receive, but draws them in when he should give. If you have in yours hands you shall five for ransom of your sins. do not hesitate to five, neither grudge when you give; for you shall know who is the good recompenser of the reward. Do not turn aside from him that needs, but share all things with your brother, and do not say that they are your own; for if you are fellow-sharers in that which is imperishable, how much more in the things that are perishable. Do not take away your hand from your son or from your daughter, but from youth up teach them the fear of God. Do not give commandment to your bondman or maidservant, that hope on the same God, in your bitterness, lest they fear not him that is God over you both; for he comes, not to call with respect of persons, but to them whom the Spirit has prepared. And you, servants, be subject to your masters as to an image of God, in shamefacedness and fear. Hate all hypocrisy, and all that is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not forsake the commandments of the Lord; but keep what you have received, neither adding nor taking away. In the congregation confess your transgressions; and do not come to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.


5. But the way of death is this. First of all it evil and full curse. Murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, sorceries, witchcrafts, ravenings, false witnessings, hypocrisies, doubleness of heart, guile, arrogance, malice, self-will, greed, impure speech, jealousy, presumption, haughtiness, braggery. Persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving falsehood, not knowing the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to that which is evil, far from whom are meekness and patience, loving vain things, following after reward, not pitying the poor man, not travailing for him that is distressed, not knowing him that made them, slayers of children, destroyers of God's workmanship, turning aide from him that is in need, distressing him that is afflicted, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, altogether sinful. May you be delivered, children, from all these.


6. Take heed lest any make you to err from this way of teaching, seeing he teaches you to according to God. For if indeed 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. And concerning food, bear what you are able; but beware exceedingly of that which is sacrificed to idols; for it is a service of dead gods.


7. And as touching baptism, thus baptize: When you have first recited all these things, baptize unto the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have not living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot in cold, then in warm And if you have not either, four forth water three times upon the head, unto the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. and before the baptism let the baptizer and him that is to be baptized and such others as are able first fast; but bid him that is to be baptized fast on or two day before.


8. But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; for they fast on the second day of the week and on the fifth; but fast the fourth day and the preparation. Neither pray as the hypocrites; but as the Lord commanded in his gospel, thus pray: Our Father, which is in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done, in earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debt, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the power and the glory for ever. Three times in the day thus pray.


9. And as touching the feast of thanksgiving, thus five thanks: First, concerning the cup, We thank you, O our Father, for the holy vine of David your child, which you have made known to us by your child Jesus. Yours be the glory for ever. And concerning the broken bread, We thank you, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which you have made known to us by your child Jesus. Yours be the glory for ever. as this broken bread was once scattered in grains upon the mountains, and being gathered together became one; so let your church be gathered together from from the ends of the earth unto your kingdom. For yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever. and let none eat or drink of your feast of thanksgiving, but such as have been baptized in the name of the Lord; for concerning this the Lord has said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs.


10. And after being filled, thus give thanks: We thank you, 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 by your child Jesus. Yours be the glory for ever. You, O Almighty Sovereign, did create all things for your name's sake, and gave men food and drink to enjoy, that they might give thanks to you for that you are mighty. Yours is the glory for ever. Remember, O Lord, your church to deliver her from all evil and to perfect her in your love; and gather her together from the four winds, her that is sanctified unto your kingdom which you did prepare for her. For yours is the power and the glory for ever. Let grace come, and this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If any is holy let him come; if any is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen. but suffer the prophets to give thanks as pleases them.


11. Whosoever therefore shall come and teach you all these things aforesaid, receive him. but if he that teaches, being himself perverted, teach other doctrine to the annulling thereof, hearken not to him; but if to the increase of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. And as touching the apostles and prophets, according to the command of the gospel, so do. Let ever apostle that comes to you be received as the Lord. And he shall remain one day, and if there be need the second also; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet. And when the apostle departs let him take naught, save provision of bread till he be lodged. But if he ask for money, he is a false prophet. and do not tempt neither judge of any prophet speaking in the Spirit; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. Yet not everyone that speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, but only if he have the manners of the Lord. By their manners therefore shall the false prophet and the prophet be known. and no prophet ordering a table in the spirit shall eat of it; or if he do, he is a false prophet. and every prophet teaching the truth, if he does not what he teaches, is a false prophet. and every approved true prophet, doing whatsoever it be for an earthly sign of a mystery of the church, but not teaching to do what things he himself does, shall not be judged of you, seeing his judgment is with God; for even so likewise did the prophets of old time. and if one say in the spirit, Give me monies, or whatsoever else, do not hearken to him; but if he bid you give, in behalf of others that lack, let none judge him.


12. And whosoever comes in the name of the Lord, let him be received; and then when you have proved him you shall know him, for you shall have understanding of right and left. If so be he that comes is a wayfarer, help him as much as you are able; but he shall not tarry with you, save two or three days if there be necessity. But if he wills to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him word and eat. And if he has not a craft, according to your understanding provide that, being not idle, he shall live with you as a Christian. and if he wills not so to do, he is one that makes gain of Christ. Beware of such.


13. and every true prophet that wills to settle among you is worthy of his food. so likewise a true teacher is also worthy, like the workman, of his food. Every first-fruit therefore of the produce of press and floor, of oxen and sheep, take and give to the prophets; for they are your chief priests. And if you have not a prophet, five to the poor. If you make a baking of bread, take the first-fruits and give according to the commandment. So likewise when you open a jar of wine or oil, take the first-fruits and give to the prophets. and of silver and raiment and of every possession, take the first-fruits, as shall seem good to you, and give according to the commandment.


14. And on each Lord's day of the Lord be gathered together and break bread and give thanks; after confessing your transgressions, that our sacrifice may be pure. and let none that has a difference with his fellow come together with you until they be reconciled, that our sacrifice be not defiled. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord, In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice; For I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name wonderful among the gentiles.


15. Elect therefore unto yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord; men meek and not loving money, and truthful and approved; for unto you do they too minister the ministry of the prophets and teachers. Despise them not therefore; for they are they that are set in honor among you with the prophets and teachers. and reprove one another, not in wrath but in peace, as you have it in the gospel. And with any that errs against his brother let none speak, nor let him hear a word from your, until he repent. and your prayers and alms and all that you do, so do as you have it in the gospel f our Lord.


16. Watch for your life. Let your lamps be not quenched, nor the girdle of your loins loosed, but be ready; for you know not the hour wherein our Lord comes. Be oftentimes gathered together, seeding the things pertaining to your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if at the last season you be not perfected. for in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned to wolves, and love shall be turned to hate. for when iniquity increases, they shall hate and persecute and deliver up one another. and then shall the deceiver of the world appear, as son of God; and he shall do sings and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, which have never been from everlasting. Then shall mankind come into the furnace of trial, and many shall be offended and perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved by the very curse. and then shall appear the signs of the truth: the first the sign of a cross spread out in heaven; next the sign of the voice of a trumpet; and the third a 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.