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.
