 chapters 1 through 5 of the Didikei, the teaching of the Twelve Apostles from the Apostolic Fathers, translated by Kersop Lake. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on a volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 1. There are two ways, one of life and one of death. Then there is a great difference between the two ways. The way of life is this. First, thou shalt love the God who made thee. Secondly, thy neighbor as thyself. And whatsoever thou wouldst not have done to thyself, do not thou to another. Now the teachings of these words is this. Bless those who curse you and pray for your enemies. And fast for those that persecute you. For what credit is it to you if you love those that love you? Do not even the heathen do the same? But for your part, love those that hate you and you will have no enemy. Abstain from carnal and bodily lusts. If any man smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also, and thou will be perfect. If any man impress thee to go with him one mile, go with him two. If any man take thy coat, give him thy shirt also. If any man will take from thee what is thine, refuse it not, not even if thou canst. Give to everyone that asks thee and do not refuse. For the Father's will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received. Blessed is he that gives according to the mandate, for he is innocent. Woe to him who receives, for if any man receive alms under pressure of need he is innocent. But he who receives it without need shall be tried as to why he took it, and for what? In being in prison he shall be examined as to his deeds, and he shall not come out thence until he pay the lash farthing. But concerning this it was also said, Let thine alms sweat into thy hands, until thou knowest to whom thou art giving. Chapter 2 But the second commandment of the teaching is this. Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not commit sodomy, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not use magic, thou shalt not use philatries, thou shalt not procure abortion or commit infanticide, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods, thou shalt not commit perjury, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not speak evil, thou shalt not bear malice, thou shalt not be double-minded or double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is the snare of death. Thy speech shall not be false or vain, but completed in action, thou shalt not be covetous or extortionate, nor a hypocrite, nor malignant, nor proud, thou shalt make no evil plan against thy neighbor, thou shalt hate no man, but some thou shalt reprove, for some shalt thou pray, and some thou shalt love more than thine own life. Chapter 3 My child, flee from every evil man, and from all like him, be not proud, for pride leads to murder, nor jealous, nor contentious, nor passionate, for from all these murders are engendered. My child, be not lustful, for lust leads to fornication, nor a speaker of base words, nor a lifter up of the eyes, for from all these is adultery engendered. My child, regard not omens, for this leads to adultery, neither be an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a magician, neither wish to see these things, for from them is all adultery engendered. My child, be not a liar, for lying leads to theft, nor a lover of money, nor vain glorious, for from all these things are thefts engendered. My child, be not a grumbler, for this leads to blasphemy, nor stubborn, nor a thinker of evil, for from all these are blasphemies engendered. But be thou meek, for the meek shall inherit the earth, be thou longsuffering, and merciful, and guileless, and quiet, and good, and everfearing the words which thou hast heard. Thou shalt not exalt thyself, nor let thy soul be presumptuous. Thy soul shall not consort with the lofty, but thou shalt walk with righteous and humble men. Receive the accidents that befall to thee as good, knowing that nothing happens without God. Chapter 4 My child, thou shalt remember day and night, him who speaks the word of God to thee, and thou shalt honor him as the Lord, for where the Lord's nature is spoken of, there he is present. And thou shalt seek daily the presence of the saints, that thou mayest find rest in their words. Thou shalt not desire a schism, but shalt reconcile those that strive. Thou shalt give righteous judgment. Thou shalt favor no man's person in reproving transgression. Thou shalt not be of two minds, whether it shall be or not. Be not one who stretches out his hands to receive, but shuts them when it comes to giving. For whatsoever thou hast gained by thy hands, thou shalt give a ransom for thy sins. Thou shalt not hesitate to give, nor shalt thou grumble when thou giveest. For thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of the reward. Thou shalt not turn away the needy, but shalt share everything, thy brother, and shalt not say that it is thine own, for if you are shares in the imperishable, how much more in the things that perish. Thou shalt not withhold thine hand from thy son or from thy daughter, but thou shalt teach them the fear of God from their youth up. Thou shalt not command in thy bitterness thy slave or thine handmaid, who hope in the same God. Least they cease to fear the God who is over you both, for he comes not to call men with respective persons, but those whom the Spirit has prepared. But do you who are slaves be subject to your master as to God's representative in fear and reverence. Thou shalt hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord. Thou shalt not forsake the commandments of the Lord, but thou shalt keep what thou didst receive. Adding nothing to it and taking nothing away. In the congregation, thou shalt confess thy transgressions, and thou shalt not but take thyself to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. Chapter 5 But the way of death is this. First of all, it is wicked and full of cursing, murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, witchcrafts, charms, robberies, false witness, hypocrisies, a double heart, fraud, pride, malice, stubbornness, covetnessness, foul speech, jealousy, impudence, oddiness, boastfulness, persecutors of the good, haters of truth, lovers of lies, knowing not the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good, nor to righteous judgment, spending wakeful nights not for good, but for wickedness, from whom meekness and patience is far, lovers of vanity, following after reward, unmerciful to the poor, not working for him who is oppressed with toil, without knowledge of him who made them, murders of children, corruptors of God's creatures, turning away the needy, oppressing the distress, the advocates of the rich, unjust judges of the poor, altogether sinful. May ye be delivered, my children, from all these. End of chapters 1 through 5. Chapters 6 through 10 of the Didache, teaching on the Twelve Apostles. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 6. See that no one make the air from this way of the teaching, for he teaches thee without God. For if thou canst bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou will be perfect. But if thou canst not, do what thou canst. In concerning food, bear what thou canst. But keep strictly from that which is offered to idols, for it is the worship of dead gods. Chapter 7. Concerning baptism, baptism thus, having first rehearsed all these things, baptize the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water. But if thou hast no running water, baptize in other water, for thou canst not in cold than in warm. But if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head, the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and before the baptism, let the baptizer and him who was baptized fast, and any others who are able, and now shall bid him who is to be baptized to fast one or two days before. Chapter 8. Let not your fast be with the hypocrites, for they fast on Mondays and Thursdays, but do you fast on Wednesdays and Fridays? And do not pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in this Gospel, pray thus, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven, so also upon the earth. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debt, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into trials, but deliver us from the evil one, for thine is the power and the glory forever. Pray thus three times a day. Chapter 9. In concerning the Eucharist, hold Eucharist thus. First concerning the cup, we give thanks to thee, our Father, for thy holy vine of David thy child, which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy child, to thee be glory forever. In concerning the broken bread, we give thee thanks, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy child, to thee be glory forever. As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains, and was brought together and became one, so let thy church be gathered together from the ends of the earth unto thy kingdom, for thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. But let none eat or drink of your Eucharist, except those who have been baptized in the Lord's name. For concerning this also, the Lord say, give not that which is holy to the dogs. Chapter 10. But after you are satisfied with food, thus give thanks. We give thanks to thee, our Holy Father, for thy holy name, which thou didst make to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy child, to thee be glory forever. Thou, Lord Almighty, didst create all things for thy name's sake, and didst give food and drink to men for their enjoyment, that they may give thanks to thee. But us hast thou blessed with spiritual food and drink and eternal light through thy child. Above all, we give thanks to thee, for that thou art mighty, to thee be glory forever. Remember, Lord, thy Church, to deliver it from all evil, and to make it perfect in thy love, and gather it together in its holiness, from the four winds to thy kingdom, which thou hast prepared for it, for thine is the power and the glory forever. Let grace come and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If any man be holy, let him come. If any man be not, let him repent. Maranatha, amen. But suffer the prophets to hold the Eucharist as they will. End of chapters 6 through 10. Chapters 11 through 16 of the Didache. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 11. Whosoever then comes and teaches you all these things aforesaid, receive him. But if the teacher himself be perverted and teach another doctrine to destroy these things, do not listen to him. But if his teaching be for the increase of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. And concerning the apostles and prophets, act thus according to the ordinance of the Gospel. Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord. But let him not stay more than one day, or if need be a second as well. But if he stay three days, he is a false prophet. And when an apostle goes forth, let him accept nothing but bread, till he reaches night's lodging. But if he asks for money, he is a false prophet. Do not test or examine any prophet who is speaking in a spirit. For every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. But not everyone who speaks in a spirit is a prophet, except he have the behavior of the Lord. From his behavior then, the false prophets and the true prophet shall be known. And no prophet who orders a meal in a spirit shall eat of it, otherwise he is a false prophet. And every prophet who teaches the truth, if he does not do what he teaches, is a false prophet. But no prophet who has been tried and is genuine, though he enact a worldly mystery of the church, if he teaches not others to do what he himself does, shall be judged by you. For he has his judgment with God, for so also did the prophets of old. But whosoever shall say in the spirit, give me money or something else, you should not listen to him. But if he tell you to give on behalf of others and want, let none judge him. Chapter 12. Let everyone who comes in the name of the Lord be received. But when you have tested him, you shall know him, for you shall have understanding of true and false. If he who comes as a traveler, help him as much as you can, and he shall not remain with you more than two days, or if need be three. And if he wishes to settle among you and has a craft, let him work for his bread. But if he has no craft, provide for him according to your understanding, so that no man shall live among you in idleness, because he is a Christian. But if he will not do so, he is making traffic of Christ, beware of such. Chapter 13. But every true prophet who wishes to settle among you is worthy of his food. Likewise, a true teacher is himself worthy, like the workman of his food. Therefore thou shalt take the first fruits of the produce of the wine press, and of the threshing floor, and of the oxen and sheep, and shall give them as the first fruits to the prophets, for they are your high priests. But if you have not a prophet, give to the poor. If thou makest bread, take the first fruits, and give it accordingly to the commandment. Likewise, when thou openest a jar of wine or oil, give the first fruits to the prophets. Of money also, and clothes, and of all your possessions, take the first fruits, as it seems best to you, and give according to the commandment. Chapter 14. On the Lord's day, of the Lord, come together, break bread, and hold Eucharist, after confessing your transgressions, that your offering may be pure. But let none who has a quarrel with his fellow join in your meeting until they be reconciled, that your 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, sayeth the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the heathen. Chapter 15. Appoint therefore for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, meek men, and not lovers of money, and truthful and approved, for they also minister to you the ministry of the prophets and teachers. Therefore do not despise them, for they are your honorable men, together with the prophets and teachers. And reprove one another, not in wrath, but in peace, as you find in the gospel. And let none speak with any who has done a wrong to his neighbor, nor let him hear a word from you unless he repents. Put your prayers in alms, and all your acts perform as you find in the gospel of our Lord. Chapter 16. Watch over your life. Let your lamps be not quenched, and your loins be not ungirded. But be ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. But be frequently gathered together, seeking the things which are profitable for your souls. For the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, except ye be found perfect at the last time. For in the last days the false prophets and the corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be changed to hate. For as lawlessness increase this, they shall hate one another and persecute and betray, and then shall appear the deceiver of the world as a Son of God. And shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be given over into his hands, and he shall commit iniquities which have never been since the world began. Then shall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trial, and many shall be offended and be lost, but they who endure in their faith shall be saved by the curse itself. And then shall appear the signs of truth. First the signs spread out in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead. But not of all the dead. As it was said, the Lord shall come, and all his saints with him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven. End of the Didache, the teaching of the Twelve Apostles, translated by Cursop Lake.