The Second Commandment of the Teaching

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The anonymous teacher continues the Two Ways instruction, now listing the prohibitions of the second commandment of the teaching.

The 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.

Greek

Δευτέρα δὲ ἐντολὴ τῆς διδαχῆς:

οὐ φονεύσεις, οὐ μοιχεύσεις, οὐ παιδοφθορήσεις, οὐ πορνεύσεις, οὐ κλέψεις, οὐ μαγεύσεις, οὐ φαρμακεύσεις, οὐ φονεύσεις τέκνον ἐν φθορᾷ, οὐδὲ γεννηθὲν ἀποκτενεῖς, οὐκ ἐπιθυμήσεις τὰ τοῦ πλησίον.

οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις, οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις, οὐ κακολογήσεις, οὐ μνησικακήσεις.

οὐκ ἔσῃ διγνώμων οὐδὲ δίγλωσσος: παγὶς γὰρ θανάτου ἡ διγλωσσία.

οὐκ ἔσται ὁ λόγος σου ψευδής, οὐ κενός, ἀλλὰ μεμεστωμένος πράξει,

οὐκ ἔσῃ πλεονέκτης οὐδὲ ἅρπαξ οὐδὲ ὑποκριτὴς οὐδὲ κακοήθης οὐδὲ ὑπερήφανος. οὐ λήψῃ βουλὴν πονηρὰν κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου.

οὐ μισήσεις πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ οὓς μὲν ἐλέγξεις, περὶ δὲ ὦν προσεύξῃ, οὓς δὲ ἀγαπήσεις ὑπὲρ τὴν ψυχήν σου.

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.