THE TEACHING OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

CHAPTER I.

THERE are two ways, one of life and one of death, 2 but the difference between the two ways is
great.3 This is the way of life: First, thou shalt love God who made thee; secondly, Τhοu shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself; and all things whatsoever thou wouldst not have happen to thee, do not
thou do to another. Now, this is the teaching4 of these words: Bless them that curse you, and pray
for your enemies, and fast for them that persecute you: for what thank have ye if ye love them that
love you? Do not the Gentiles are also the same? But do you love them that hate you and you shall
have no enemy. 5 Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If any one give thee a blow on the right
cheek, turn to him the other also, and thou shalt be perfect; if any one compel thee to go one mile,
go with him two; if any one take thy cloak, give him thy tunic also; if any one take from thee what
is thine, ask not for it back;6 for indeed thou canst not. To every one that asketh thee give, and ask
not back;7 for to all the Father wishes to give of His own gracious gifts.8 Blessed is he that giveth9
according to the commandment, for10 he is guiltless;11 woe to him that taketh; for if, indeed, one
taketh who hath need, he shall be guiltless; but12 he who hath no need shall give ac count why he
took, and for what end, and c being in sore straits, shall be examined concerning what he did, and
shall not go out thence 13 until he pay the last farthing. But14 it hath been also said concerning
this matter: Let thine alms drop like sweat into thy hands,15 so longd as thou knowest to whom
thou givest

CHAPTER II.

1Now the second commandment of the Teaching is: Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not
commit adultery, thou shalt not corrupt boys, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not
steal, thou shalt not practise magic, thou shalt not use enchantments, thou shalt not kill a child by
abortion, nor what has been begotten shalt thou destroy. Thou shalt not desire the things
belonging to thy neighbour, thou shalt not swear falsely, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou
shalt not speak evil (of any), 2 thou shalt not bear malice. Thou shalt not be double-minded nor
double-tongued; for a double-tongue is a snare of death. Thy speech shall not be false, nor empty,
but practical. Thou shalt not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor malicious, nor proud.
Thou shalt not take evil counsel against thy neighbour. Thou shalt hate no man, but some thou
shalt reprove, and for some thou shalt pray, 3 and some thou shalt love more than thy own life

CHAPTER III.

My child, fly from every evil thing, and from everything like it. Become not inclined to anger, for
anger leadeth to murder; 1 nor a fanatic, nor contentious, nor passionate; for of all these things
come murders. My child, become not lustful, 2 for lust leadeth to fornication, nor a coarse speaker,
3 nor one who makes signs with the eyes; for of all these things come adulteries. My child, 4
become not an omen-watcher, for it leads to idolatry; nor one who uses charms, nor an astrologer,
nor one 5who purifies, nor be even willing to look upon these things; for of all these things cometh
idolatry. My child, 6 become not a liar, for a lie leads to theft; nor a lover of money, nor vain-
glorious; for of all these things come thefts. My child, become not a murmurer, for it leads to
blasphemy; nor presumptuous, nor evil-minded; for of all these things come blasphemies. But be
meek, for 7 the meek shall inherit the earth. Become long-suffering, and pitiful and guileless, and
quiet and good, and trembling continually at the words which thou hast heard. Τhοu shalt not exalt
thyself, nor shalt thou nourish thy soul with overweening confidence. Thy soul shall not associate
with the high, but with the righteous and lowly shalt thou hold converse. 8 The things that befall
thee accept as good, knowing that without God nothing comes to pass.

CHAPTER IV.

1My child, remember night and day him that speaks to thee the word of God, and thou shalt
honour him as the Lord; for 2 in the place where the glory of the Lord is spoken of there the Lord is.
And thou shalt seek out daily 3 the faces of the saints, that thou mayest find refreshment in their
words. Thou shalt not desire division, but shalt make peace between those who are at strife; thou
shalt judge justly, thou shalt not show partiality in rebuking transgressions. 4 Thou shalt not
hesitate whether it shall be or not. 5Become not one who for taking stretches out his hands, but for
giving clenches them tight; if thou possessest anything, by thy hands thou shalt give 6 a ransom for
thy sins. Thou shalt not hesitate to give, nor in7 giving shalt thou murmur, for thou must be well
aware who is the noble Giver of the reward. Thou shalt not turn away from the needy, but thou
shalt share all things with thy brother, and 8 shalt not say that they are thine own; for if ye are 9
fellowpartakers in that which is immortal, how much more in things which are mortal? 10Thou
shalt not take off thy hand from thy son and from thy daughter, but from their youth thou shalt
teach them the fear of God. Τhοu shalt not give directions when thou art in anger to thy slave or
thy handmaid, who trust in the same God, lest perchance they shall not fear the God who is over
you both; for He cometh not to call men according to their outward position, but He cometh to
those whom 11the Spirit hath made ready. 12And, ye slaves, ye shall be subject to your masters, as
to God’s image, in modesty and fear. Τhοu shalt hate all hypocrisy, and everything which is not
pleasing to the Lord. Τhοu shalt by no means forsake the Lord’s commandments, but thou shalt
keep what thou hast received, 13neither adding to it nor taking from it. In the church 14thou shalt
confess thy transgressions, and 15shalt not come to thy prayer with an evil conscience. This is the
way of life.

CHAPTER V.

Now this is 1 the way of death: first of all it is evil, and full of curse; murders, adulteries, lusts,
fornications, thefts, idolatries, enchantments, philtres, robberies, false testimonies, hypocrisies,
duplicity, deceit, pride, baseness, self-will, greed, foul speech, jealousy, audacity, haughtiness,
boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving falsehood, not knowing the reward of
righteousness, not cleaving to what is good nor to righteous judgment, on the watch not for good
but for evil; far from whom are meekness and brave patience, loving vanities, pursuing after a
recompense, not pitying a poor man, not a afflicted with the afflicted, not knowing Him that made
them, murderers of children, corrupters of the image of God, turning away from him that is in
need, oppressing him that is in trouble, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, sinners in
everything: may ye be preserved, children, from all these.

CHAPTER VI.

SEE that no one lead thee astray from this way of the teaching, because apart from God does he
teach thee. For if thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou shalt be perfect;1 but if
thou art not able, what thou art able, that do. And 2 as regards food, what thou art able, bear; but
3 of that offered to idols be thou indeed on thy guard; for it is a worship of dead gods.

CHAPTER VII.

1Now as regards baptism, thus baptize ye: having first rehearsed all these things, 2 baptize into the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 3 in running water. But if thou hast not
running water, baptize in other water; and 4 if thou canst not in cold, then in warm. But if thou
hast neither, 5 pour water upon the head thrice, into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
But before the baptism 6 let the baptizer and the baptized fast; and any others who can; but the
baptized thou shalt command to fast for one or two days before.

CHAPTER VIII.

BUT let not your fasts be arranged 1 in common with the hypocrites; for 2 they fast on the second
day of the week and on the fifth; but do ye fast on the fourth, and the preparation day. 3Neither
pray ye like the hypocrites, but 4 as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, 5 thus pray: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so
on earth; give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors, and
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the power and the glory for ever. 6
Three times in the day pray ye thus

CHAPTER IX.

1Now as regards the Eucharist, thus give thanks 2 first, as regards the cup: 3We thank Thee, our
Father, 4 for the holy vine of 5David 6 Thy servant, which Thou hast made known to us through
Jesus Thy Son; to Thee be glory for ever. 7And as regards the broken bread: 8We thank Thee, our
Father, for the life and the knowledge which Thou hast made known to us through Jesus Thy Son;
to Thee be glory for ever. 9 Just as this broken bread was once scattered in grains of corn over the
hills, and having been gathered together became one, so let 10Thy Church be gathered together
from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom; for Thine is the glory and the power, through Jesus
Christ for ever. 11But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, except those baptized into the name
of the Lord; for as regards this the Lord hath said: 12Give not that which is holy to the dogs.

CHAPTER X.

1Now after ye are filled, give thanks thus: We thank Thee, 2 holy Father, for Thy holy name, which
Thou hast caused to dwell in our hearts and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which
Thou hast made known to us through Jesus Thy Son; to thee be glory for ever. Thou, Almighty
Master, didst create all things for Thy name’s sake; Thou didst give both food and drink to men for
enjoyment, in order that they might give Thee thanks; but 3 to us hast Thou graciously given
spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Thy Son. Before all things, we thank Thee that
Thou art mighty; to Thee be the glory for ever. 4Remember, Lord, Thy Church, to deliver her from
every evil, 5 and to perfect her in Thy love, and 6 gather her, 7 now made holy, from the four
winds, into Thy kingdom, which thou hast prepared for her; for Thine is the power and the glory
forever. Let grace come and 8 let this world pass away. 9Hosanna to the son of David! Whoever is
holy, let him come; whoever is not, let him repent. 10 Maranatha. Amen. 11 But permit the
prophets to give thanks in such terms as they please

CHAPTER XI.

WHOEVER then cometh and teacheth you 1 all these things, spoken above, receive him; but if the
teacher himself, 2 being misled, teaches another teaching, so as to overthrow this, do not hear
him; but 3 if he teach so as to advance righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as
the Lord. But as regards the 4 apostles and prophets, according to 5 the decree of the gospel, so do
ye. And every apostle who cometh to you, let him be received as the Lord; but 6 he shall not remain
more than one day; if, however, there be need, then the next day; but if he remain three days, he is
a false prophet. But when the apostle departs, let him take nothing except bread enough to last
him till he reach his resting-place for the night; but if he ask for money, “7 he is a false prophet.
And every prophet 8who speaks in the Spirit, 9 ye shall not try nor test; for every sin shall be
forgiven, but 10this sin shall not be forgiven. But not every one who speaks in the Spirit is a
prophet, 11but only if he have the ways of the Lord. So from their ways shall the false prophet and
the prophet be recognised. And 12no prophet who, in the Spirit, orders a Love-Feast, eateth himself
of it, unless, indeed, he is a false prophet; and every prophet who teacheth the truth, if he practise
not that which he teacheth, is a false prophet. And 13every approved genuine prophet, who
summons assemblies for the purpose of showing an earthly mystery, but who does not teach
others to do all that he himself doeth, shall not be judged by you; for his judgment is in the hands
of God; for so did the ancient prophets also. But whoever, in the Spirit, says: 14Give me money, or
anything else, ye shall not listen to him; 15but if for others in need he bids you give, let no one
judge him.
CHAPTER XII.

BUT let every one that cometh in the name of the Lord be received, but 1 afterward, when ye have
put him to the test, ye shall know him; [for ye shall have understanding]a right and left. 2 If he who
comes is a traveller, help him to the best of your ability; but he shall only stay with you for two or
three days, if there be necessity. But if, being an artisan, he wishes to settle among you, let him
work and so eat; but if he have no handicraft, provide, according to your understanding, that no
idler live with you as a Christian. Then if he will not act according to this, he is a Christ-trafficker;
beware of such.

CHAPTER XIII.

BUT every genuine prophet who wishes to settle among you 1 is worthy of his support. So too a
genuine teacher, he also is worthy, like the workman, of his support. 2All the first-fruits, then, of
the products of 3 the winepress and the threshing-floor, of oxen and of sheep, thou shalt take and
give to the prophets; for they are your chief-priests. But if ye have no prophet,a give to the poor. If
thou makest a batch of bread, take the first-fruit and give it according to the commandment. In like
manner, when thou openest a jar of wine or oil, take the first-fruits and give them to the prophets;
and of money and raiment and every possession take the first-fruits, in the way which seems best
to thee, and give them according to the commandment.

CHAPTER XIV.

NOW l on the Lord’s Lord’s-day, 2when ye are assembled together break bread, and 3 give thanks,
4 after confessing your transgressions, 5 in order that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one
that hath a difference with his friend come together with you, 6 until they are reconciled, that your
sacrifice 7may not be profaned. 8 For this is that which was spoken by 9 the Lord: At every place
and time, offer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, saith the Lord, and my name is
10wonderful among the Gentiles.

CHAPTER XV.

1APPOINT, therefore, for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek and not
covetous, and 2 true and proved; for they, too, render you the service of the prophets and teachers.
Do not then despise them for together with the prophets and teachers are they the ones who are to
be held in honour among you. And reprove one another, 3 not in anger, but in peace, as ye have it
in the gospel; and let no man speak to any one who is behaving wrongly to another—do not let him
hear anything from you until he repent. 4But your prayers and your alms, and all your deeds, so do
ye as ye have it in the Gospel of our Lord.

CHAPTER XVI.

1WATCH for your life; let your lamps not be quenched, and your loins not be loosed, but be ye
ready; 2 for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. But 3 ye shall come often together,
and seek the things which are profitable to your souls, 4 for the whole time of your faith thus far
will not profit you, unless in the last time ye be found perfect. For in the last days the false prophets
and the corrupters shall be multiplied, and 5 the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall
be turned into hate; for as lawlessness increaseth men shall hate one another, and shall persecute
and shall betray one another, and 6 then shall appear the world-deceiver as the Son of God, and
shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be given up into his hands, and he shall do lawless
things, such as have never been done since time was. 7 Then all created men shall come into the
fire of trial, and many shall be offended and shall perish. 8But they who have endured in their faith
shall be saved under the very curse. And 9 then shall appear the signs of the truth; 10first the sign
of a soaring forth in heaven, then the sign of the voice of the trumpet, and the third, the
resurrection of the dead; yet not of all, but, as it hath been said, The Lord will come and all the
saints with Him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.