The Didache

1There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and the difference between the two ways is great.

Now this is the way of life: first, you shall love God who made you; second, your neighbor as yourself. And whatever you do not want to happen to you, do not do to another.

This is the teaching of these words: bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what credit is it if you love those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But you must love those who hate you, and you will have no enemy.

Abstain from fleshly and bodily desires. If someone gives you a slap on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well, and you will be perfect. If someone presses you into service for one mile, go with him two. If someone takes your cloak, give him your tunic as well. If someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back, for you cannot get it back.

Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for it back. For the Father wants to give to all from His own gracious gifts. Blessed is the one who gives according to the commandment, for he is innocent. Woe to the one who receives: if someone receives because he has need, he will be innocent; but the one who has no need will give an account of why he received and for what purpose. He will be put in confinement and examined about what he has done, and he will not get out of there until he pays back the last penny.

But about this too it has been said: Let your alms remain in your hands until you know to whom you are giving.

2The second commandment of the teaching is this: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not sexually corrupt a child, you shall not commit sexual immorality, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic or sorcery, you shall not kill a child by abortion, nor kill one that has been born, and you shall not covet what belongs to your neighbor.

You shall not swear falsely, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not speak evil, and you shall not bear a grudge.

Do not be double-minded or double-tongued, for double-tonguedness is a snare of death.

Your word must not be false or empty, but filled with action.

Do not be greedy, or a robber, or a hypocrite, or malicious, or arrogant. Do not take evil counsel against your neighbor.

Do not hate anyone. Instead, some you shall correct, for others you shall pray, and some you shall love above your own soul.

3My child, flee from every evil thing and from everything like it. Do not be prone to anger, for anger leads to murder; do not be jealous, quarrelsome, or hot-tempered, for from all these things murders are born. My child, do not be lustful, for lust leads to sexual immorality; do not be foul-mouthed or proud-eyed, for from all these things adulteries are born. My child, do not practice ornithomancy, since it leads to idolatry; do not be a sorcerer, an astrologer, or a ritual purifier, and do not even want to watch these things, for from all these things idolatry is born. My child, do not be a liar, since lying leads to theft; do not be greedy for money or hungry for empty glory, for from all these things thefts are born. My child, do not be a grumbler, since grumbling leads to blasphemy; do not be self-willed or wicked-minded, for from all these things blasphemies are born. Instead, be gentle, since the gentle will inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11). Be patient, merciful, innocent, quiet, and good, and tremble continually at the words you have heard. Do not exalt yourself or give your soul over to arrogance. Do not let your soul cling to the proud, but walk with the righteous and the humble. Accept the things that happen to you as good, knowing that nothing happens without God.

4My child, remember day and night the one who speaks the word of God to you, and honor him as you honor the Lord, for where the Lord's authority is proclaimed, there the Lord is. Seek out the presence of the holy ones every day, so that you may rest upon their words. Do not desire division, but make peace between those who quarrel. Judge justly, and do not show partiality when rebuking for transgressions. Do not be double-minded, wavering over whether it will be or not.

Do not stretch out your hands to receive and then draw them back when it is time to give. If you have something in your hands, give it as a ransom for your sins. Do not hesitate to give, and do not grumble when you give, for you will know who the good repayer of the wage is. Do not turn away from the one in need, but share everything with your brother, and do not say that anything is your own. For if you are partners in what is immortal, how much more are you partners in what is mortal?

Do not withhold your hand from your son or from your daughter, but from their youth teach them the fear of God. Do not give orders in your bitterness to your male or female slave, who hope in the same God, lest they surely not fear the God who is over you both. For he does not come to call according to outward appearance, but to those whom the Spirit has prepared. And you who are slaves, submit to your masters as to God's pattern, in shame and fear.

Hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not abandon the commandments of the Lord, but guard what you have received, neither adding to it nor taking away. In the assembly confess your transgressions, and do not approach your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.

5And the way of death is this: first of all, it is evil and full of curse—murders, adulteries, lusts, sexual immoralities, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, sorceries, robberies, false testimonies, hypocrisies, double-heartedness, deceit, arrogance, malice, self-will, greed, foul speech, jealousy, audacity, haughtiness, boastfulness.

They are persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving falsehood, not knowing the reward of righteousness, not clinging to what is good or to just judgment, staying awake not for good but for evil. Gentleness and patience are far from them. They love worthless things, chase after recompense, show no mercy to the poor, do not labor for the oppressed, do not know the One who made them. They are murderers of children, corrupters of God's formed work, turning away from the needy, oppressing the afflicted, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utterly sinful. May you be delivered, children, from all these things.

6See to it that no one leads you astray from this way of teaching, because such a person teaches you apart from God.

If you are able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able, do what you can.

Concerning food, bear what you can. But be strictly on guard against meat sacrificed to idols, for it is worship of dead gods.

7Now about baptism, this is how you are to baptize: after saying all these things beforehand, baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in living water.

If you do not have living water, baptize in other water; and if you cannot do it in cold water, use warm.

If you have neither, pour water on the head three times in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Before the baptism, the one baptizing and the one being baptized are to fast beforehand, and any others who are able. You are to command the one being baptized to fast for one or two days beforehand.

8Do not fast with the hypocrites. They fast on the second day of the week and the fifth, but you are to fast on the fourth day and the preparation day.

Do not pray as the hypocrites do either. Pray as the Lord commanded in his gospel: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the power and the glory forever.”

Pray this way three times a day.

9Now concerning the Eucharist, give thanks in this way.

First, over 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. Yours is the glory forever.”

Then over the broken bread: “We thank you, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you made known to us through Jesus your servant. Yours is the glory forever. Just as this broken bread was scattered over the mountains and was gathered together to become one, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom. For yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.”

No one is to eat or drink from your Eucharist except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord. For the Lord said about this: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs” (Matthew 7:6).

10When you have eaten your fill, give thanks like this:

"We give you thanks, holy Father, for your holy name, which you have made to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge, faith and immortality you have revealed to us through Jesus your servant. Glory to you for ever.

Almighty Master, you created all things for your name's sake. You gave people food and drink to enjoy, so that they would give you thanks; but to us you have freely given spiritual food and drink, and eternal life, through your servant.

Above all, we thank you because you are mighty. Glory to you for ever.

Remember your church, Lord: rescue her from all evil and make her perfect in your love. Gather her, made holy, from the four winds into your kingdom, which you have prepared for her. For yours are the power and the glory for ever.

May grace come, and may this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. Whoever is holy, let him come; whoever is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen."

But let the prophets give thanks as much as they wish.

11So if someone comes and teaches you everything just described, receive him. But if the teacher himself turns aside and teaches another teaching so as to destroy, do not listen to him. If he teaches so as to add righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.

Concerning apostles and prophets, act according to the decree of the gospel. Every apostle who comes to you is to be received as the Lord. He is not to stay more than one day; if there is need, he may stay a second. But if he stays three days, he is a false prophet. When an apostle leaves, he is to take nothing except bread until he finds lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet.

Do not test or judge any prophet speaking in the Spirit, for every sin will be forgiven, but the sin against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, but only if he has the ways of the Lord. So the false prophet and the prophet will be known by their ways. Any prophet who commands in the Spirit that a table be set must not eat from it; if he does, he is a false prophet. Any prophet who teaches the truth but does not do what he teaches is a false prophet. But any prophet who has been tested and is true, who performs an earthly mystery of the church but does not teach others to do what he himself does, is not to be judged by you; his judgment is with God. The ancient prophets acted in the same way. If anyone says in the Spirit, "Give me money or something else," do not listen to him. But if he tells you to give to others who are in need, let no one judge him.

12Everyone who comes in the name of the Lord is to be received. But then test him, and you will know him, for you will have understanding to distinguish right from left. If the one who comes is just passing through, help him as much as you can. He should not stay with you more than two or three days, unless there is a real need. If he wants to settle among you and has a trade, let him work and earn his food. If he has no trade, use your judgment to make sure that no Christian lives among you idle. If he refuses to do this, he is a religious profiteer. Beware of such people.

13Every true prophet who wants to settle among you deserves his food.

In the same way, a true teacher also deserves his food, just like a worker.

So take the first fruits of all the produce of your winepress and threshing floor, and of your cattle and sheep, and give them to the prophets, for they are your high priests.

If you have no prophet, give them to the poor.

If you make a batch of dough, take the first fruits and give them according to the commandment.

Likewise, when you open a jar of wine or oil, take the first fruits and give them to the prophets.

And take the first fruits of silver, clothing, and every possession, and give them according to the commandment, as it may seem good to you.

14On the Lord's day, gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after you have confessed your transgressions, so that your sacrifice may be pure.

Anyone who has a dispute with his companion must not join you until they are reconciled, so that your sacrifice may not be defiled.

For this is what the Lord has spoken: "In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice, because I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is great among the nations" (Malachi 1:11, 1:14).

15So appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons who are worthy of the Lord—men who are gentle, not money-loving, truthful, and tested. For they also minister to you the ministry of the prophets and teachers.

Do not look down on them, then, for they are your honored ones, along with the prophets and teachers.

Correct one another not in anger but in peace, as you have it in the gospel. And if anyone wrongs another, let no one speak to him or hear anything from him until he repents.

Perform your prayers, your acts of mercy, and all your deeds just as you have it in the gospel of our Lord.

16Stay awake for the sake of your lives. Do not let your lamps go out, and do not let your loins be loosened. Be ready, because you do not know the hour when our Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42).

Gather together frequently, and seek what is fitting for your souls. The whole time of your faith will not help you unless you are made perfect at the last season.

For in the last days the false prophets and the corrupters will multiply, and the sheep will be turned into wolves, and love will be turned into hatred.

For as lawlessness increases, people will hate one another and persecute one another and betray one another. Then the deceiver of the world will appear as a son of God, and he will perform signs and wonders, and the earth will be handed over into his hands, and he will do unlawful things such as have never happened from eternity.

Then the creation of human beings will enter the fire of testing, and many will be made to stumble and will perish. But those who endure in their faith will be saved from that very accursed one.

And then the signs of the truth will appear: first, a sign of spreading out in heaven; then, a sign of a trumpet's voice; and the third, the resurrection of the dead.

Not of all, however, but as it was said: The Lord will come, and all the holy ones with him (cf. Zechariah 14:5).

Then the world will see the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24:30).