1 There Are Two Ways 1:1 There
are two ways, one of life
and one of death! and there
is a great difference
between the two ways.
1:2 The
way of life is this: First,
you shall love God who made
you. And second, love
your neighbour as
yourself, and do not do to
another what you would not
want done to you.
1:3 The
meaning of these sayings 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 heathens do the same?
But you should love those
who hate you, and then you
shall have no enemies.
1:4 Abstain
from fleshly and bodily
lusts: If someone strikes
your right cheek, turn the
other also, and be perfect.
If someone forces you to go
one mile, go two. If someone
takes your cloak, give also
your coat. If someone takes
from you what is yours,
don't ask for it back. You
really cannot.
1:5 Give
to every one who asks you,
and don't ask for it back.
The Father wants his
blessings shared. Happy is
the giver who lives
according to this rule, for
that one is guiltless. But
the receiver must beware;
for if one receives who has
need, he is guiltless, but
if one receives not having
need, he shall stand trial,
answering why he received
and for what use. If he is
found guilty he shall not
escape until he pays back
the last penny.
1:6 However,
concerning this, there is a
saying: "Let your alms sweat
in your hands until you know
to whom to give them."
2 The Second Commandment
2:1 The
second commandment of the
teaching is this:
2:2 Do
not commit murder; do not
commit adultery; do not
corrupt boys; do not have
illicit sex; do not steal;
do not practice magic; do
not practice witchcraft; you
shall not murder a child,
whether it be born or
unborn. Do not covet the
things of your neighbour.
2:3 Do
not swear or bear false
witness. Do not speak evil
of others; do not bear
grudges.
2:4 You
should not be double-minded
or double-tongued, for a
double-tongue is a deadly
snare.
2:5 Your
speech should not be false
nor empty, but fulfilled by
action.
2:6 Do
not be covetous, or greedy,
or hypocritical, or
malicious, or arrogant. Do
not have designs against
your neighbour.
2:7 Hate
no one; correct some, pray
for others, and some you
should love more than your
own life.
3 My Child, Flee Evil
3:1 My
child, flee evil of all
kinds, and everything like
it.
3:2 Don't
be prone to anger, for anger
leads to murder. Don't be
jealous or quarrelsome or
hot-tempered, for all these
things lead to murder.
3:3 My
child, don't be lustful, for
lust leads to illicit sex.
Don't be a filthy talker or
allow your eyes a free
reign, for these lead to
adultery.
3:4 My
child, don't observe omens,
since it leads to idolatry.
Don't be an enchanter, or an
astrologer, or a purifier,
or be willing to see or hear
about these things, for
these all lead to idolatry.
3:5 My
child, don't be a liar,
since a lie leads to theft.
Don't love money or seek
glory, for these things lead
to thievery.
3:6 My
child, don't grumble, since
it leads to blasphemy, and
don't be self-willed or
evil-minded, for all these
things lead to blasphemy.
3:7 On
the contrary, be gentle,
since the gentle will
inherit the earth.
3:8 Be
long-suffering and pitiful
and guileless and gentle and
good, and with trembling,
treasure the words you have
received.
3:9 Don't
exalt yourself or
open your heart to
overconfidence. Don't be on
intimate terms with mighty
people, but with just and
lowly ones.
3:10 Accept
whatever happens to you as a
blessing, knowing that
nothing comes to pass apart
from God.
4 My Child, Remember
[4:1 My
child, remember day and
night him who speaks the
word of God to you, and
honor him as the Lord. For
wherever his lordship is
spoken of, there he is.]
4:2 Seek
each day the faces of the saints,
in order that you may be
refreshed by their words.
4:3 Do
not initiate divisions, but
rather bring peace to those
who contend against one
another. Judge righteously,
and do not take social
status into account when
reproving for
transgressions.
4:4 Do
not waver in your decisions.
4:5 Do
not be one who opens his
hands to receive, or closes
them when it is time to
give.
4:6 If
you have anything, by your
hands you should give ransom
for your sins.
4:7 Do
not hesitate to give, and do
not complain about it. You
will know in time who is the
good Rewarder.
4:8 Do
not turn away from one who
is in want; rather, share
all things with your
brother, and do not say that
they are your own. For if
you are sharers in what is
imperishable, how much more
in things which perish!
4:9 Do
not remove your hand from
your son or daughter; teach
them the fear of God from
their youth.
4:10 Do
not give orders to your
servants when you are angry,
for they hope in the same
God, and they may lose the
fear of God, who is over
both of you. God is surely
not coming to call on us
according to our outward
appearance or station in
life, but to them whom the
Spirit has prepared.
4:11 And
you, servants, be subject to
your masters as to God's
image, in modesty and fear.
4:12 You
should hate all hypocrisy
and everything which is not
pleasing to the Lord.
4:13 Do
not in any way neglect the
commandments of the Lord,
but keep what you have
received, neither adding nor
taking away anything.
4:14 In
your gatherings, confess
your transgressions, and do
not come for prayer with a
guilty conscience.
This is the way of life!
5 The Way of Death
5:1 The
way of death, on the other
hand, is this: It is evil
and accursed—murders,
adulteries, lust, illicit
sex, thefts, idolatries,
magical arts, sorceries,
robberies, false
testimonies, hypocrisy,
double-heartedness, deceit,
haughtiness, depravity,
self-will, greediness,
filthy talking, jealousy,
over-confidence, loftiness,
boastfulness—those who do
not fear God.
5:2 The
way of death is the way of
those who persecute the
good, hate the truth, love
lies, and do not understand
the reward for
righteousness. They do not
cleave to good or righteous
judgment; they do not watch
for what is good, but for
what is evil. They are
strangers to meekness and
patience, loving vanities,
pursuing revenge, without
pity for the needy and
oppressed. They do not know
their Creator; they are
murderers of children,
destroyers of God's image.
They turn away from those
who are in need, making
matters worse for those who
are distressed. They are
advocates for the rich,
unjust judges of the poor.
In a word, the way of death
is full of those who are
steeped in sin. Be
delivered, children, from
all of this!
6 See That No One Leads You
Astray
6:1 See
that no one leads you astray
from the way of this
teaching, since all other
teachings train you without
God.
6:2 For
if you are able to bear the
entire yoke of the Lord, you
will be perfect;
but if you are not able,
then at least do what you
can.
6:3 Concerning
food, do what you are able
to do and be on guard
against meat offered to
idols, for that is to
worship dead gods.
7 Concerning Baptism
7:1 Concerning
baptism, you should baptize
this way: After first
explaining all things,
baptize in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, in
flowing water.
7:2 But
if you have no running
water, baptize in other
water; and if you cannot do
so in cold water, then in
warm.
7:3 If
you have very little, pour
water three times on the
head in the name of Father
and Son and Holy Spirit.
7:4 Before
the baptism, both the
baptizer and the candidate
for baptism, plus any others
who can, should fast. The
candidate should fast for
one or two days beforehand.
8 Your Fasts and prayers
8:1 Your
fasts should not be with the
hypocrites, for they fast on
Mondays and Thursdays. You
should fast on Wednesdays
and Fridays.
8:2 And
do not pray like the
hypocrites, but rather as
the Lord commanded in the
gospel: Our Father in
heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will
be done, on earth as it is
in heaven. Give us enough
bread day-by-day. And
forgive us our debts, as we
also have forgiven our
debtors. And do not bring us
to the time of trial, but
rescue us from the evil one.
8:3 Pray
this three times each day.
9 Concerning the Eucharist
9:1 Concerning
the Eucharist,
give thanks this way.
9:2 First,
concerning the cup: We thank
you, our Father, for the
holy vine of David your
servant, which you made
known to us through Jesus
your servant. To you be the
glory forever.
9:3 Next,
concerning the broken bread:
We thank you, our Father,
for the life and knowledge
which you made known to us
through Jesus your servant.
To you be the glory forever.
9:4 Even
as this broken bread was
scattered over the hills,
and was gathered together
and became one, so let your
church be gathered together
from the ends of the earth
into your kingdom. To you is
the glory and the power
through Jesus Christ
forever.
9:5 Allow
no one to eat or drink of
your Eucharist, unless they
have been baptized in the
name of the Lord. For
concerning this, the Lord
has said, "Do not give what
is holy to dogs."
10 After the Eucharist
10:1 After
the Eucharist when you are
filled, give thanks this
way:
10:2 We
thank you, holy Father, for
your holy name which you
enshrined in our hearts, and
for the knowledge and faith
and immortality that you
made known to us through
Jesus your servant. To you
be the glory forever.
10:3 You,
Master Almighty, have
created all things for your
name's sake. You gave food
and drink to all people for
enjoyment, that they might
give thanks to you; but to
us you freely give spiritual
food and drink and life
eternal through Jesus, your
servant.
10:4 Before
all things we thank you
because you are mighty. To
you be the glory forever.
10:5 Remember,
Lord, your church. Deliver
it from all evil and make it
perfect in your love, and
gather it from the four
winds sanctified for your
kingdom which you have
prepared for it. For Yours
is the power and the glory
forever.
10:6 Let
grace come, and let this
world pass away!
Hosanna to the Son of David!
If anyone is holy, let him
come; if anyone is not holy,
let him repent. Maranatha!
Amen.
[10:7 But
permit the prophets to make
thanksgiving as much as they
desire.]
11 Welcome the Teacher
11:1 Welcome
the teacher when he comes to
instruct you in all that has
been said.
11:2 But
if he turns and trains you
in another tradition to the
destruction of this
teaching, do not listen. If
he teaches so as to increase
righteousness and the
knowledge of the Lord,
receive him as the Lord.
11:3 Act
according to the precepts of
the gospel concerning all
apostles and prophets:
11:4 Let
every apostle who comes to
you be received as the Lord.
11:5 But
he must not remain more than
one day, or two, if there's
a need. If he stays three
days, he is a false prophet.
11:6 And
when the apostle goes away,
let him take nothing but
bread to last him until his
next night of lodging. If he
asks for money, he is a
false prophet.
11:7 In
addition, if any prophet
speaks in the Spirit, you
shall not try or judge him;
for every sin will be
forgiven, but this sin
cannot be forgiven.
11:8 But
not everyone who speaks in
the Spirit is a prophet;
only he is a prophet who has
the ways of the Lord about
him. By their ways will the
false prophet and the
prophet be known.
11:9 Any
prophet who orders a meal in
the Spirit does not eat it;
if he does, he is indeed a
false prophet.
11:10 And
any prophet who teaches the
truth, but does not do what
he teaches, is a false
prophet.
11:11 When
a prophet, proved true,
works for the mystery of the
church in the world but does
not teach others to do what
he himself does, he will not
be judged among you, for his
judgment is already before
God. The ancient prophets
acted in this way, also.
11:12 But
whoever says in the Spirit,
"Give me money, "or
something else like this,
you must not listen to him.
But if he tells you to give
for the sake of others who
are in need, let no one
judge him.
12 Welcome Anyone Coming in
the Name of the Lord
12:1 Welcome
anyone coming
in the name of the Lord.
Receive everyone who comes
in the name of the Lord, but
then, test them and use your
discretion.
12:2 If
he who comes is a transient,
assist him as far as you are
able; but he should not
remain with you more than
two or three days, if need
be.
12:3 If
he wants to stay with you,
and is a craftsman, let him
work for his living.
12:4 But
if he has no trade, use your
judgment in providing for
him; for a Christian should
not live idle in your midst.
12:5 If
he is dissatisfied with this
sort of an arrangement, he
is a Christ peddler. Watch
that you keep away from such
people.
13 Every Genuine prophet
13:1 Every
genuine prophet who wants to
live among you is worthy of
support.
13:2 So
also, every true teacher is,
like a workman, entitled to
his support.
13:3 Every
first fruit, therefore, of
the products of vintage and
harvest, of cattle and of
sheep, should be given as
first fruits to the
prophets, for they are your
high priests.
13:4 But
if you have no prophet, give
it all to the poor.
13:5 If
you bake bread, take the
first loaf and give it
according to the
commandment.
13:6 If
you open a new jar of wine
or of oil, take the first
fruit and give it to the
prophets.
13:7 If
you acquire money or cloth
or any other possession, set
aside a portion first, as it
may seem good to you, and
give according to the
commandment.
14 On the Lord's Day
14:1 On
the Lord's day, gather
yourselves together and
break bread, give thanks,
but first confess your sins
so that your sacrifice may
be pure.
14:2 However,
let no one who is at odds
with his brother come
together with you, until he
has reconciled, so that your
sacrifice may not be
profaned.
14:3 For
this is what the Lord has
said: "For from the rising
of the sun to its setting my
name is great among the
nations, and in every place
incense is offered to my
name, and a pure offering;
for my name is great among
the nations, says the of
hosts. . . . For I am a
great King, says the Lord of
hosts, and my name is
reverenced among the
nations."
15 Appoint Bishops for
Yourselves
15:1 Appoint
bishops for yourselves, as
well as deacons, worthy of
the Lord, of meek
disposition, unattached to
money, truthful and proven;
for they also render to you
the service of prophets and
teachers.
15:2 Do
not despise them, after all,
for they are your honoured
ones, together with the
prophets and teachers.
15:3 And
reprove one another, not in
anger, but in peace, as you
have it in the gospel. But
to anyone who acts amiss
against another, let no one
speak to him, 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.
16 Watch Over Your Life
16:1 Watch
over your life, that your
lamps are never quenched,
and that your loins are
never unloosed. Be ready,
for you do not know on what
day your Lord is coming.
16:2 Come
together often, seeking the
things that are good for
your souls. A life of faith
will not profit you if you
are not made perfect at the
end of time.
16:3 For
in the last days false
prophets and corrupters will
be plenty, and the sheep
will be turned into wolves,
and love will be turned into
hate.
16:4 When
lawlessness increases, they
will hate and persecute and
betray one another, and then
the world-deceiver will
appear claiming to be the
Son of God, and he will do
signs and wonders, and the
earth will be delivered into
his hands, and he will do
iniquitous things that have
not been seen since the
beginning of the world.
16:5 Then
humankind will enter into
the fire of trial, and many
will be made to stumble and
many will perish; but those
who endure in their faith
will be saved from under the
curse itself.
16:6 And
then the signs of the truth
will appear: the first sign,
an opening of the heavens;
the second sign, the
sounding of the trumpet; and
the third sign, the
resurrection of the dead—
16:7 not
of every one, but as it is
said: "Then the Lord my God
will come, and all the holy
ones with him."
16:8 Finally,
"Then the sign of the Son of
Man will appear in heaven,
and then all the tribes of
the earth will mourn, and
they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of
heaven' with power and great
glory."
Translated and edited by
Tony Jones
[http://www.paracletepress.com/didache.html]