Receiving and testing those who come in the Lord's name

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The community is being instructed on how to receive and test traveling Christians who arrive in the name of the Lord, and how to handle those who wish to settle among them.

Everyone 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.

Greek

Πᾶς δὲ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου δεχθήτω: ἔπειτα δὲ δοκιμάσαντες αὐτὸν γνώσεσθε, σύνεσιν γὰρ ἕξετε δεξιὰν καὶ ἀριστεράν.

εἰ μὲν παρόδιός ἐστιν ὁ ἐρχόμενος, βοηθεῖτε αὐτῷ, ὅσον δύνασθε: οὐ μενεῖ δὲ πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰ μὴ δύο ἡ τρεῖς ἡμέρας, ἑὰν ᾖ ἀνάγκη.

εἰ δὲ θέλει πρὸς ὑμᾶς καθῆσθαι, τεχνίτης ὤν, ἐργαζέσθω καὶ φαγέτω.

εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἔχει τέχνην, κατὰ τὴν σύνεσιν ὑμῶν προνοήσατε, πῶς μὴ ἀργὸς μεθ̓ ὑμῶν ζήσεται Χριστιανός.

εἰ δ’ οὐ θέλει οὕτω ποιεῖν, χριστέμπορός ἐστι: προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων.

About this text

This work was written by Anonymous (Didache) (c. 100).

This work was written by Anonymous (Didache) (c. 100). It is addressed to Christian communities, called 'children' and treated as a congregation.

The work opens with the Two Ways, a way of life and a way of death, and urges the reader to follow the way of life by loving God and neighbor and obeying commandments. It then gives instructions for baptism, fasting and prayer, including the Lord's Prayer three times daily, and the Eucharist with set prayers. It offers rules for receiving and testing apostles, prophets, and teachers, and for supporting true prophets with first fruits. It closes with instructions to appoint bishops and deacons, to practice mutual correction, and to stay watchful for the Lord's coming amid the final tribulation.

The author quotes sayings of the Lord and gives liturgical prayers for the community to speak. The author cites the gospel and the Lord's Prayer in forms close to Matthew, and quotes material resembling Malachi in section 14.

New English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from Anonymus Kirsopp Lake The Apostolic Fathers William Heinemann The Macmillan Company London New York 1912 1 Hathi Trust (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.