DidachE the
Or“theteachingofthe Twelveapostlestothenations”
RobertDonaldsontranslation1885
Afreee-booksharedbyPatristix 2022
Therearetwopaths, oneoflife,andoneofdeath, Butagreatdifferencebetween Thesetwoways.
Chapter1.TheTwoWaysandtheFirst Commandment.
Therearetwoways,oneoflifeandoneofdeath,buta greatdifferencebetweenthetwoways.Thewayoflife, then,isthis:First,youshallloveGodwhomadeyou; second,loveyourneighbourasyourself,anddonotdoto anotherwhatyouwouldnotwantdonetoyou.Andof thesesayingstheteachingisthis:Blessthosewhocurse you,andprayforyourenemies,andfastforthosewho persecuteyou.Forwhatrewardisthereforlovingthose wholoveyou?DonottheGentilesdothesame?Butlove thosewhohateyou,andyoushallnothaveanenemy. Abstainfromfleshlyandworldlylusts.Ifsomeonestrikes yourrightcheek,turntohimtheotheralso,andyoushall beperfect.Ifsomeoneimpressesyouforonemile,gowith himtwo.Ifsomeonetakesyourcloak,givehimalsoyour coat.Ifsomeonetakesfromyouwhatisyours,askitnot back,forindeedyouarenotable.Givetoeveryonewho asksyou,andaskitnotback;fortheFatherwillsthatto allshouldbegivenofourownblessings(freegifts).Happy ishewhogivesaccordingtothecommandment,forheis guiltless.Woetohimwhoreceives;forifonereceiveswho hasneed,heisguiltless;buthewhoreceivesnothaving needshallpaythepenalty,whyhereceivedandforwhat. Andcomingintoconfinement,heshallbeexamined concerningthethingswhichhehasdone,andheshallnot escapefromthereuntilhepaysbackthelastpenny.And alsoconcerningthis,ithasbeensaid,Letyouralmssweat inyourhands,untilyouknowtowhomyoushouldgive.
Chapter2.TheSecondCommandment: GraveSinForbidden.
AndthesecondcommandmentoftheTeaching;Youshall notcommitmurder,youshallnotcommitadultery,you shallnotcommitpederasty,youshallnotcommit fornication,youshallnotsteal,youshallnotpractice magic,youshallnotpracticewitchcraft,youshallnot murderachildbyabortionnorkillthatwhichisborn. Youshallnotcovetthethingsofyourneighbour,youshall notswear,youshallnotbearfalsewitness,youshallnot speakevil,youshallbearnogrudge.Youshallnotbe double-mindednordouble-tongued,fortobedoubletonguedisasnareofdeath.Yourspeechshallnotbefalse, norempty,butfulfilledbydeed.Youshallnotbe covetous,norrapacious,norahypocrite,norevil disposed,norhaughty.Youshallnottakeevilcounsel againstyourneighbour.Youshallnothateanyman;but someyoushallreprove,andconcerningsomeyoushall pray,andsomeyoushalllovemorethanyourownlife.
Chapter3.OtherSinsForbidden.
Mychild,fleefromeveryevilthing,andfromevery likenessofit.Benotpronetoanger,forangerleadsto murder.Beneitherjealous,norquarrelsome,norofhot temper,foroutofallthesemurdersareengendered.My child,benotalustfulone;forlustleadstofornication.Be neitherafilthytalker,norofloftyeye,foroutofallthese adulteriesareengendered.Mychild,benotanobserverof omens,sinceitleadstoidolatry.Beneitheranenchanter, noranastrologer,norapurifier,norbewillingtolookat thesethings,foroutofalltheseidolatryisengendered.
Mychild,benotaliar,sincealieleadstotheft.Beneither money-loving,norvainglorious,foroutofallthesethefts
areengendered.Mychild,benotamurmurer,sinceit leadsthewaytoblasphemy.Beneitherself-willednorevilminded,foroutofalltheseblasphemiesareengendered. Rather,bemeek,sincethemeekshallinherittheearth.
Belong-sufferingandpitifulandguilelessandgentleand goodandalwaystremblingatthewordswhichyouhave heard.Youshallnotexaltyourself,norgiveoverconfidencetoyoursoul.Yoursoulshallnotbejoinedwith loftyones,butwithjustandlowlyonesshallithaveits intercourse.Acceptwhateverhappenstoyouasgood, knowingthatapartfromGodnothingcomestopass.
Chapter4.VariousPrecepts. Mychild,remembernightanddayhimwhospeaksthe wordofGodtoyou,andhonourhimasyoudotheLord. Forwhereverthelordlyruleisuttered,thereistheLord. Andseekoutdaybydaythefacesofthesaints,inorder thatyoumayrestupontheirwords.Donotlongfor division,butratherbringthosewhocontendtopeace. Judgerighteously,anddonotrespectpersonsinreproving fortransgressions.Youshallnotbeundecidedwhetheror notitshallbe.Benotastretcherforthofthehandsto receiveandadrawerofthembacktogive.Ifyouhave anything,throughyourhandsyoushallgiveransomfor yoursins.Donothesitatetogive,norcomplainwhenyou give;foryoushallknowwhoisthegoodrepayerofthe hire.Donotturnawayfromhimwhoisinwant;rather, shareallthingswithyourbrother,anddonotsaythatthey areyourown.Forifyouarepartakersinthatwhichis immortal,howmuchmoreinthingswhicharemortal? Donotremoveyourhandfromyoursonordaughter; rather,teachthemthefearofGodfromtheiryouth.Do notenjoinanythinginyourbitternessuponyour
bondmanormaidservant,whohopeinthesameGod,lest evertheyshallfearnotGodwhoisoverboth;forhe comesnottocallaccordingtotheoutwardappearance, buttothemwhomtheSpirithasprepared.Andyou bondmenshallbesubjecttoyourmastersastoatypeof God,inmodestyandfear.Youshallhateallhypocrisyand everythingwhichisnotpleasingtotheLord.Donotin anywayforsakethecommandmentsoftheLord;butkeep whatyouhavereceived,neitheraddingtheretonortaking awaytherefrom.Inthechurchyoushallacknowledgeyour transgressions,andyoushallnotcomenearforyour prayerwithanevilconscience.Thisisthewayoflife.
Chapter5.TheWayofDeath.
Andthewayofdeathisthis:Firstofallitiseviland accursed:murders,adultery,lust,fornication,thefts, idolatries,magicarts,witchcrafts,rape,falsewitness, hypocrisy,double-heartedness,deceit,haughtiness, depravity,self-will,greediness,filthytalking,jealousy,overconfidence,loftiness,boastfulness;persecutorsofthe good,hatingtruth,lovingalie,notknowingarewardfor righteousness,notcleavingtogoodnortorighteous judgment,watchingnotforthatwhichisgood,butfor thatwhichisevil;fromwhommeeknessandendurance arefar,lovingvanities,pursuingrevenge,notpityinga poorman,notlabouringfortheafflicted,notknowing HimWhomadethem,murderersofchildren,destroyers ofthehandiworkofGod,turningawayfromhimwhois inwant,afflictinghimwhoisdistressed,advocatesofthe rich,lawlessjudgesofthepoor,uttersinners.Bedelivered, children,fromallthese.
Chapter6.AgainstFalseTeachers,and
FoodOfferedtoIdols.
Seethatnoonecausesyoutoerrfromthiswayofthe Teaching,sinceapartfromGoditteachesyou.Forifyou areabletobeartheentireyokeoftheLord,youwillbe perfect;butifyouarenotabletodothis,dowhatyouare able.Andconcerningfood,bearwhatyouareable;but againstthatwhichissacrificedtoidolsbeexceedingly careful;foritistheserviceofdeadgods.
Chapter7.ConcerningBaptism.
Andconcerningbaptism,baptisethisway:Havingfirst saidallthesethings,baptiseintothenameoftheFather, andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit,inlivingwater.But ifyouhavenolivingwater,baptiseintootherwater;andif youcannotdosoincoldwater,dosoinwarm.Butifyou haveneither,pouroutwaterthreetimesuponthehead intothenameofFatherandSonandHolySpirit.But beforethebaptismletthebaptiserfast,andthebaptised, andwhoeverelsecan;butyoushallorderthebaptisedto fastoneortwodaysbefore.
Chapter8.FastingandPrayer(the Lord’sPrayer).
Butletnotyourfastsbewiththehypocrites,fortheyfast onthesecondandfifthdayoftheweek.Rather,faston thefourthdayandthePreparation(Friday).Donotpray likethehypocrites,butratherastheLordcommandedin HisGospel,likethis:
OurFatherinheaven,hallowedbeYourname.Yourkingdom come.Yourwillbedoneonearth,asitisinheaven.Giveus todayourdailybread,andforgiveusourdebtaswealsoforgive ourdebtors.Andbringusnotintotemptation,butdeliverus fromtheevilone(or,evil);forYoursisthepowerandtheglory forever.
Praythisthreetimeseachday.
Chapter9.TheEucharist.
NowconcerningtheEucharist,givethanksthisway.First, concerningthecup:
Wethankthee,ourFather,fortheholyvineofDavidThy servant,whichYoumadeknowntousthroughJesusThyServant; toTheebethegloryforever.
Andconcerningthebrokenbread:
WethankYou,ourFather,forthelifeandknowledgewhichYou madeknowntousthroughJesusYourServant;toYoubethe gloryforever.Evenasthisbrokenbreadwasscatteredoverthe hills,andwasgatheredtogetherandbecameone,soletYour ChurchbegatheredtogetherfromtheendsoftheearthintoYour kingdom;forYoursisthegloryandthepowerthroughJesus Christforever.
ButletnooneeatordrinkofyourEucharist,unlessthey havebeenbaptisedintothenameoftheLord;for concerningthisalsotheLordhassaid,“Givenotthat whichisholytothedogs.”
Chapter10.PrayerafterCommunion.
Butafteryouarefilled,givethanksthisway:
WethankYou,holyFather,forYourholynamewhichYoudid causetotabernacleinourhearts,andfortheknowledgeand faithandimmortality,whichYoumadeknowntousthrough JesusYourServant;toYoubethegloryforever.You,Master almighty,didcreateallthingsforYourname’ssake;Yougave foodanddrinktomenforenjoyment,thattheymightgive thankstoYou;buttousYoudidfreelygivespiritualfoodand drinkandlifeeternalthroughYourServant.Beforeallthingswe thankYouthatYouaremighty;toYoubethegloryforever. Remember,Lord,YourChurch,todeliveritfromallevilandto makeitperfectinYourlove,andgatheritfromthefourwinds,
sanctifiedforYoukingdomwhichThouhavepreparedforit;for Yoursisthepowerandthegloryforever.Letgracecome,andlet thisworldpassaway.HosannatotheGod(Son)ofDavid!If anyoneisholy,lethimcome;ifanyoneisnotso,lethimrepent.
Maranatha.Amen.
ButpermittheprophetstomakeThanksgivingasmuchas theydesire.
Chapter11.ConcerningTeachers, Apostles,andProphets.
Whosoever,therefore,comesandteachesyouallthese thingsthathavebeensaidbefore,receivehim.Butifthe teacherhimselfturnsandteachesanotherdoctrinetothe destructionofthis,hearhimnot.Butifheteachessoasto increaserighteousnessandtheknowledgeoftheLord, receivehimastheLord.Butconcerningtheapostlesand prophets,actaccordingtothedecreeoftheGospel.Let everyapostlewhocomestoyoubereceivedastheLord. Butheshallnotremainmorethanoneday;ortwodays,if there’saneed.Butifheremainsthreedays,heisafalse prophet.Andwhentheapostlegoesaway,lethimtake nothingbutbreaduntilhelodges.Ifheasksformoney,he isafalseprophet.Andeveryprophetwhospeaksinthe Spirityoushallneithertrynorjudge;foreverysinshallbe forgiven,butthissinshallnotbeforgiven.Butnotevery onewhospeaksintheSpiritisaprophet;butonlyifhe holdsthewaysoftheLord.Thereforefromtheirways shallthefalseprophetandtheprophetbeknown.And everyprophetwhoordersamealintheSpiritdoesnoteat it,unlessheisindeedafalseprophet.Andeveryprophet whoteachesthetruth,butdoesnotdowhatheteaches,is afalseprophet.Andeveryprophet,provedtrue,working untothemysteryoftheChurchintheworld,yetnot
teachingotherstodowhathehimselfdoes,shallnotbe judgedamongyou,forwithGodhehashisjudgment;for sodidalsotheancientprophets.Butwhoeversaysinthe Spirit,Givememoney,orsomethingelse,youshallnot listentohim.Butifhetellsyoutogiveforothers’sake whoareinneed,letnoonejudgehim.
Chapter12.ReceptionofChristians.
ButreceiveeveryonewhocomesinthenameoftheLord, andproveandknowhimafterward;foryoushallhave understandingrightandleft.Ifhewhocomesisa wayfarer,assisthimasfarasyouareable;butheshallnot remainwithyoumorethantwoorthreedays,ifneedbe. Butifhewantstostaywithyou,andisanartisan,lethim workandeat.Butifhehasnotrade,accordingtoyour understanding,seetoitthat,asaChristian,heshallnot livewithyouidle.Butifhewillsnottodo,heisaChristmonger.Watchthatyoukeepawayfromsuch.
Chapter13.SupportofProphets.
Buteverytrueprophetwhowantstoliveamongyouis worthyofhissupport.Soalsoatrueteacherishimself worthy,astheworkman,ofhissupport.Everyfirst-fruit, therefore,oftheproductsofwine-pressandthreshingfloor,ofoxenandofsheep,youshalltakeandgivetothe prophets,fortheyareyourhighpriests.Butifyouhaveno prophet,giveittothepoor.Ifyoumakeabatchofdough, takethefirst-fruitandgiveaccordingtothe commandment.Soalsowhenyouopenajarofwineorof oil,takethefirst-fruitandgiveittotheprophets;andof money(silver)andclothingandeverypossession,takethe first-fruit,asitmayseemgoodtoyou,andgiveaccording tothecommandment.
Chapter14.ChristianAssemblyonthe Lord’sDay.
ButeveryLord’sdaygatheryourselvestogether,andbreak bread,andgivethanksgivingafterhavingconfessedyour transgressions,thatyoursacrificemaybepure.Butletno onewhoisatoddswithhisfellowcometogetherwithyou, untiltheybereconciled,thatyoursacrificemaynotbe profaned.ForthisisthatwhichwasspokenbytheLord: “Ineveryplaceandtimeoffertomeapuresacrifice;forI amagreatKing,saystheLord,andmynameiswonderful amongthenations.”
Chapter15.BishopsandDeacons; ChristianReproof.
Appoint,therefore,foryourselves,bishopsanddeacons worthyoftheLord,menmeek,andnotloversofmoney, andtruthfulandproved;fortheyalsorendertoyouthe serviceofprophetsandteachers.Thereforedonotdespise them,fortheyareyourhonouredones,togetherwiththe prophetsandteachers.Andreproveoneanother,notin anger,butinpeace,asyouhaveitintheGospel.Butto anyonethatactsamissagainstanother,letnoonespeak, norlethimhearanythingfromyouuntilherepents.But yourprayersandalmsandallyourdeedssodo,asyou haveitintheGospelofourLord.
Chapter16.Watchfulness;theComing oftheLord.
Watchforyourlife’ssake.Letnotyourlampsbe quenched,noryourloinsunloosed;butbeready,foryou knownotthehourinwhichourLordwillcome.But cometogetheroften,seekingthethingswhichare befittingtoyoursouls:forthewholetimeofyourfaith
willnotprofityou,ifyouarenotmadeperfectinthelast time.Forinthelastdaysfalseprophetsandcorrupters shallbemultiplied,andthesheepshallbeturnedinto wolves,andloveshallbeturnedintohate;forwhen lawlessnessincreases,theyshallhateandpersecuteand betrayoneanother,andthenshallappeartheworlddeceiverasSonofGod,andshalldosignsandwonders, andtheearthshallbedeliveredintohishands,andhe shalldoiniquitousthingswhichhaveneveryetcometo passsincethebeginning.Thenshallthecreationofmen comeintothefireoftrial,andmanyshallbemadeto stumbleandshallperish;butthosewhoendureintheir faithshallbesavedfromunderthecurseitself.Andthen shallappearthesignsofthetruth:first,thesignofan outspreadinginheaven,thenthesignofthesoundofthe trumpet.Andthird,theresurrectionofthedead—yetnot ofall,butasitissaid:“TheLordshallcomeandallHis saintswithHim.”ThenshalltheworldseetheLord cominguponthecloudsofheaven.