The Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

Apostolic Fathers (Lightfoot) · Unknown · 187 sections

9.6
We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou didst make known unto us through Thy Son Jesus;
9.7
Thine is the glory for ever and ever.
9.8
As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and being gathered together became one, so may Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom;
9.9
for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
9.10
But let no one eat or drink of this eucharistic thanksgiving, but they that have been baptized into the name of the Lord;
9.11
for concerning this also the Lord hath said:
9.12
{Give not that which is holy to the dogs.}
10.1
And after ye are satisfied thus give ye thanks:
10.2
We give Thee thanks, Holy Father, for Thy holy name, which Thou hast made to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which Thou hast made known unto us through Thy Son Jesus;
10.3
Thine is the glory for ever and ever.
10.4
Thou, Almighty Master, didst create all things for Thy name's sake, and didst give food and drink unto men for enjoyment, that they might render thanks to Thee;
10.5
but didst bestow upon us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Thy Son.
10.6
Before all things we give Thee thanks that Thou art powerful;
10.7
Thine is the glory for ever and ever.
10.8
Remember, Lord, Thy Church to deliver it from all evil and to perfect it in Thy love;
10.9
and {gather it together from the four winds}--even the Church which has been sanctified--into Thy kingdom which Thou hast prepared for it;
10.10
for Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever.
10.11
May grace come and may this world pass away.
10.12
Hosanna to the God of David.
10.13
If any man is holy, let him come;
10.14
if any man is not, let him repent. Maran Atha. Amen.
10.15
But permit the prophets to offer thanksgiving as much as they desire.
11.1
Whosoever therefore shall come and teach you all these things that have been said before, receive him;
11.2
but if the teacher himself be perverted and teach a different doctrine to the destruction thereof, hear him not;
11.3
but if to the increase of righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.
11.4
But concerning the apostles and prophets, so do ye according to the ordinance of the Gospel.
11.5
Let every apostle, when he cometh to you, be received as the Lord;
11.6
but he shall not abide more than a single day, or if there be need, a 11:7 but if he abide three days, he is a false prophet.
11.8
And when he departeth let the apostle receive nothing save bread, until he findeth shelter;
11.9
but if he ask money, he is a false prophet.
11.10
And any prophet speaking in the Spirit ye shall not try neither discern;
11.11
for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven.
11.12
Yet not every one that speaketh in the Spirit is a prophet, but only if he have the ways of the Lord.
11.13
From his ways therefore the false prophet and the prophet shall be recognized.
11.14
And no prophet when he ordereth a table in the Spirit shall eat of it;
11.15
otherwise he is a false prophet.
11.16
And every prophet teaching the truth, if he doeth not what he teacheth, is a false prophet.
11.17
And every prophet approved and found true, if he doeth ought as an outward mystery typical of the Church, and yet teacheth you not to do all that he himself doeth, shall not be judged before you;
11.18
he hath his judgment in the presence of God;
11.19
for in like manner also did the prophets of old time.
11.20
And whosoever shall say in the Spirit, Give me silver or anything else, ye shall not listen to him;
11.21
but if he tell you to give on behalf of others that are in want, let no man judge him.
12.1
But let every one {that cometh in the name of the Lord} be received;
12.2
and then when ye have tested him ye shall know him, for ye shall have understanding on the right hand and on the left.
12.3
If the comer is a traveller, assist him, so far as ye are able;
12.4
but he shall not stay with you more than two or three days, if it be necessary.
12.5
But if he wishes to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him work for and eat his bread.
12.6
But if he has no craft, according to your wisdom provide how he shall live as a Christian among you, but not in idleness.
12.7
If he will not do this, he is trafficking upon Christ.
12.8
Beware of such men.
13.1
But every true prophet desiring to settle among you {is worthy of his food.}
13.2
In like manner a true teacher {is} also {worthy,} like {the workman, of his food.}
13.3
Every firstfruit then of the produce of the wine-vat and of the threshing-floor, of thy oxen and of thy sheep, thou shalt take and give as the firstfruit to the prophets;
13.4
for they are your chief-priests.
13.5
But if ye have not a prophet, give them to the poor.
13.6
If thou makest bread, take the firstfruit and give according to the commandment.
13.7
In like manner, when thou openest a jar of wine or of oil, take the firstfruit and give to the prophets;
13.8
yea and of money and raiment and every possession take the firstfruit, as shall seem good to thee, and give according to the commandment.
14.1
And on the Lord's own day gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks, first confessing your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.
14.2
And let no man, having his dispute with his fellow, join your assembly until they have been reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled;
14.3
for this sacrifice it is that was spoken of by the Lord;
14.4
{In every place and at every time offer Me a pure sacrifice;
14.5
for I am a great king, saith the Lord and My name is wonderful among the nations.}
15.1
Appoint for yourselves therefore bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, and true and approved;
15.2
for unto you they also perform the service of the prophets and teachers.
15.3
Therefore despise them not;
15.4
for they are your honourable men along with the prophets and teachers.
15.5
And reprove one another, not in anger but in peace, as ye find in the Gospel;
15.6
and let no one speak to any that has gone wrong towards his neighbour, neither let him hear a word from you, until he repent.
15.7
But your prayers and your almsgivings and all your deeds so do ye as ye find it in the Gospel of our Lord.
16.1
{Be watchful} for your life;
16.2
{let your lamps not be quenched and your loins not ungirded, but be ye ready;
16.3
for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh.}
16.4
And ye shall gather yourselves together frequently, seeking what is fitting for your souls;
16.5
for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if ye be not perfected at the last season.
16.6
For in the last days {the false prophets} and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate.
16.7
For as lawlessness increaseth, {they shall hate one another and shall persecute and betray.
16.8
And then} the world-deceiver {shall appear} as a son of God;
16.9
{and shall work signs and wonders,} and the earth shall be delivered into his hands;
16.10
and he shall do unholy things, which have never been since the world began.
16.11
Then all created mankind shall come to the fire of testing, and many shall be offended and perish;
16.12
{but they that endure} in their faith {shall be saved} by the Curse Himself.
16.13
{And then shall the signs} of the truth {appear;}
16.14
first a sign of a rift in the heaven, then a sign of a voice of a trumpet, and thirdly a resurrection of the dead;
16.15
yet not of all, but as it was said:
16.16
{The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him.
16.17
Then shall} the world {see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.}

Translated by J. B. Lightfoot (The Apostolic Fathers, 1891/1893). Text via earlychristianwritings.com/text/<slug>-lightfoot.html. Licence: Public domain.