|
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.
|
