Part 8
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God. As much is eaten as is necessary to satisfy the hungry; as much is drunk as is good for those who live a disciplined life. When satisfying themselves they are aware that even during the night they should worship God. They converse as those who are aware that God is listening.
After the hands are washed and the lights are lit, all are asked to stand forth and to praise God as well as each is able, be it from the holy Scriptures or from his own heart. From this it will be recognized "how he drank." In like manner the Meal is closed with a prayer. After this we part from one another, not to gang together to brawl or to roam about in bands, or to go in secret byways of licentiousness, but always pursuing the same self-control and purity as befits those who have taken in a truth rather than a meal. This is the way Christians meet.
Tertullian, Apology 39.
9 God has announced in advance that he has joy in all the sacrifices offered in the name of Jesus that are made in accordance with the precepts of Jesus Christ, that is, in the Meal of Thanksgiving of the bread and the cup, which is celebrated by Christians in all places throughout the earth. Justin, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 117.1.
10 I too assert that prayer and thanksgiving, offered by people who live up to them, are the only perfect sacrifices pleasing to God. In accordance with their tradition, the Christians know only these sacrifices. They offer them when they celebrate the Meal of Remembrance by eating and drinking. In this way they commemorate the suffering which the son of God endured for their sake. Justin, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 117.3.
11 We assert that God has no need of bloody sacrifices, libations, and incense. We honor him by prayer and by words of thanksgiving and by praising his name whenever we consume anything. We have realized that the only homage truly worthy of him is not to consume by fire the things he created for our nourishment but rather to consecrate them to our use and to the use of those who need them and to thank him for these things by sending up homage to him with words of prayer and
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with hymns. We give thanks to God for our own creation, for everything which gives life and health, for the bounties of nature, and for the changes of the seasons. We send up supplications to him that we may rise incorruptible through faith in him.
Justin, First Apology 13.
12 After he has been immersed, we lead the one who has become a believer and united with us to the place where the brothers, as we call ourselves, are assembled. There, all together, we pray fervently for ourselves, for the one who has been "enlightened," and for all others everywhere in the world. We pray that after we have recognized the truth we may be made worthy through our actions to prove ourselves good stewards and keepers of that which has been entrusted to us so that we may attain eternal salvation. At the end of the prayer we greet one another with a kiss.
Then bread and a cup containing water mixed with wine are brought to the overseer of the brothers. He takes both and gives praise and glory to the father of the universe through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He offers copious thanks that by him we have been deemed worthy to receive these gifts. At the end of the prayer and the thanksgiving all the people assembled give their assent, saying, "Amen." The word "Amen" in Hebrew means "So be it!" When the overseer has given thanks and all the people have assented, those we call table stewards [deacons] give each one present some of the bread and wine with water that was accepted with thanksgiving and take some of it to the homes of those who are absent.
This meal we call Thanksgiving [Eucharist]. No one is allowed to take part in it except he who believes that the things we teach are true, who has received the bath for the forgiveness of sins and for the new birth, and who lives according to the teachings handed down by Christ. For we do not partake of this meal as if it were ordinary food or ordinary drink. Rather, through the Logos of God, our healing Savior Jesus Christ became flesh and accepted flesh and blood for the sake of our salvation.
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Hence, as we have been taught, the food taken with thanksgiving in the words of prayer he handed down to us is the flesh and blood of that Christ who became flesh. Our flesh and blood are strengthened by this eating and drinking for our transformation.
The apostles in their own memoirs, which are called Gospels, handed down as they were commanded:
Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and said, "Do this in remembrance of me. This is my body." In the same way he took the cup, gave thanks, and said, "This is my blood." And he gave it to them alone.
It was the invention of evil demons that something similar could be done in the mystery-cult of Mithras in aping mimicry, namely, by giving bread and a cup of water to the initiates with the corresponding words in their secret initiation rites. You know this quite well, or you can easily find out.
We constantly remind each other of these things. Those among us who are well-to-do support all those who are in need! We always hold together. For everything we receive, we praise the creator of the universe through his son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.
On the day named after the sun, we hold a meeting in one place for all who live in the cities or the country nearby. The memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. When the reader has finished, the overseer gives a talk urging and inviting us to imitate all these good examples. Then we all stand up together and send up our prayers. As said before, bread is brought and wine and water after we have finished our prayer. The overseer likewise sends up prayer and thanksgiving with all his might. The people give their consent by saying, "Amen." Now the distribution takes place, and each one receives what has been accepted with thanksgiving. Those who are absent receive their share through the table stewards [deacons].
Those who are well-off and freewillingly wish to do so contribute as much as each one wants to. What is collected is deposited with the overseer. He uses it for the care of orphans and widows, for those who are suffering want arising from illness or any other cause, for prisoners, and for travelers staying with us for a short time. Briefly, he provides for all who are in need in the town.
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We all choose Sunday for our communal gathering because it is the first day, on which God created the universe by transforming darkness and primal matter, and because Jesus Christ, our healing savior, rose from the dead on the same day. For they crucified him on the day before the day of Saturn; on the day after the day of Saturn, that is on the Sunday, he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them these things which we have put before you also for your consideration.
Justin Martyr, First Apology 65–67, about A.D. 138.
13 Let one who has been chosen by all the people be ordained as overseer. When he has been nominated and has pleased all, the whole people, with the elders and the overseers present, shall assemble on the Lord's day. With the agreement of all, they shall lay their hands upon him. The elders shall stand by in silence. All shall pray silently in their hearts that the Holy Spirit may descend upon him while, at the request of all, one of the overseers present lays his hand on the one who has been chosen to be overseer and prays:
Pour forth now that power which comes from thee, the spirit of leadership! Thou gavest it to thy holy apostles through thy beloved servant Jesus Christ. They established the church in every place that became thy sanctuary that thy name be praised and thanked unceasingly!
All shall offer the kiss of peace to the one who has been ordained. The serving brothers [deacons] shall bring to him the offered gifts, on which he shall lay his hands with all the elders. The thanksgiving follows now, beginning with an antiphon with the church.
When an elder is ordained, the overseer shall lay his hand upon his head. The elders also shall touch him and pray in the same way as it was said above concerning the overseer:
God, father of my Lord Jesus Christ, look upon this thy slave, and impart to him the spirit of grace and counsel…as thou didst command Moses to choose elders, whom thou didst fill with thy Spirit, which thou gavest to thy servant.
When a serving brother is ordained he receives the laying on of hands by the overseer. On a confessor who has been imprisoned, hands shall not
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be laid for the service of deacon or that of elder, for he already has this honor by virtue of his confession. A widow shall not be ordained but chosen…The appointment shall be by the Word; the widow's task is that of prayer, which is the task common to all. A reader shall be appointed by the overseer giving him the Book. Hands shall not be laid upon a consecrated virgin, for it is her decision alone that makes her a virginal person. If anyone says, "I have received a gift of healing or knowledge or tongues by revelation," hands shall not be laid upon him. He will have to prove it.
Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition, chapters 2, 4, 8–15
(see also B.S. Easton, PP. 33–35, 37–41).
14 Prayer used with the laying on of hands and anointing:
Come, thou holy name of Christ Which is high above every name; Come, thou power of the most high and perfect mercy; Come, thou highest gift… Come, messenger of the five members: Understanding, thought, insight, consideration, judgment. Impart thyself to these young people! Come, holy power of the Spirit. Purify their reins and heart, And seal them in the name of the Father And of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Acts of Thomas II.27.
15 For the expulsion of demons: O nature that did not turn to higher things! O fountain of the soul that persists in defilement. Seat of corruption, full of darkness! O death dancing among those that are yours! O tree without fruit, full of smoldering fire! O tree that bears nothing but coal for fruit! O forest of trees full of poisonous shoots! Consort of unbelief, you have disclosed who you are! With your children you are convicted. The means to honor greater things you do not know, for you do not possess it. Your end is like your root and your nature. Detach yourself from those who are waiting for the Lord! Depart from their thoughts and from their minds! Depart from their souls and their bod-
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ies! Detach yourself from their actions, their life, their behavior; depart from their activities, their occupations, their plans! Depart from their resurrection to God, from their fasting, from their prayers, from their holy baptism, from their meal of thanksgiving, from their daily food and drink, from their clothing, from their love, from their rest, from their continence, and from their justice. From all these, most wicked Satan, hated by God, shall Jesus Christ our God banish you, he who has the power over those who are like you and bear your stamp.
We glorify thy name that has turned us away from error and from pitiless lust. We testify to thy goodness abundantly revealed to us by thee. We praise thy good name, O Lord! Thou didst expose the spirits convicted by thee! We thank thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that we believe in thine immutable grace. We thank thee, whose longing is for human nature that is saved. We thank thee for giving us this unwavering faith that thou alone art God, now and forever.
To thee I call who art God alone: the one who is exceedingly great, the unutterable one, the incomprehensible one; to whom all powers of government are subject; before whom every authority bows, and before whom all that is high falls down and remains silent; at whose voice the demons take fright; and beholding whom all creation surrenders in silent adoration.
Acts of John 84, 85, 79.
16 Salvation shows itself. The apostles are given light. The Lord's Passover draws near. Burning candles are brought together and arranged fittingly. The spirit of the Word [Logos] who teaches the saints rejoices. Through him the Father is glorified. To him be the glory for ever and ever! Amen. Letter to Diognetus 12.
17 Through whom will the last Enemy be destroyed? Through Christ. Amen. Through whom is the sting of death destroyed? Through the Only Begotten. Amen.
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To whom belongs the rulership? It belongs to the Son. Amen. Through whom has everything come into being? Through the firstborn. Amen.
A Gospel fragment from the Strasbourg Coptic Papyrus, 1900.
18 Thou art our savior. Thou art our helper. Thou…our refuge. Thou art our support. Do not forsake us, But deliver us from every peril. Save us and our entreaties, For thine is the power, O holy ruler, Whose name is Lord, Who dwells in the heavens And looks down upon what is low. Honor be to him for evermore. Amen. All things sanctify thee everywhere. With all those who sanctify thy name, Accept us, who sanctify thee too, As we call to thee: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of thy glory! Fill us also with thy glory. Deign to send down thy Holy Spirit On these gifts of thy creation… And make the bread to be the body Of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, And the cup to be the blood Of the new covenant!
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We proclaim thy death And we confess thy resurrection. Grant us to share in thy gift To bring the power of the Holy Spirit, To confirm and increase faith, To give hope for future eternal life Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Through whom we glorify thee, O Father, With the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.
Liturgical Papyrus from Dêr-Balyzeh.
19 The Lord be with you!
And with thy spirit. Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord!
This is fitting and right.
We thank thee, O God, through thy beloved servant Jesus Christ. Thou didst send him to us in these last days, a healing savior and redeemer and the messenger of thy will. Thou didst make all things through him, the Logos proceeding from thee. In him thou art rejoicing. From heaven thou didst send him into the virgin's womb. Dwelling within her, he became flesh, was manifested as thy Son, born of the Holy Spirit and of the
virgin. He fulfilled thy will and prepared a holy people for thee. He spread out his hands when he suffered so that he might set free from suffering those who trusted in thee. He was delivered to suffer freewillingly so that he might put an end to death, break the bonds of the Devil, tread the underworld underfoot, give light to the righteous, set up a boundary, and proclaim resurrection!
He took bread, thanking thee, and he said, "Take, eat, this is my body which will be broken for you!" Likewise, he also took the cup with the words, "This is my blood, which will be shed for you. As often as you do this, you do it in remembrance of me." Remembering therefore his
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death and his resurrection, we offer this bread and this cup to thee, giving thanks to thee that in this thou hast counted us worthy to stand before thee and to serve thee as priests.
We ask thee to send thy Holy Spirit as a gift to thy holy church. Make us one through this! Grant to all who partake in thy holy things that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit so that their faith may be strengthened in the truth and we may praise and glorify thee through thy servant Jesus Christ through whom be glory and power to thee with the Holy Spirit in the holy church both now and throughout the ages for ever and ever.
Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition 4 (see also Easton, pp.35–36).
20 O Jesus, hidden mystery that has been revealed to us, thou art he who has disclosed to us the rich treasury of mysteries. Thou hast said to me words which have set me on fire and which I can speak of to no others.
Jesus! Man! Slain, dead, buried! Jesus! God! Out of God, and redeemer! Thou who givest life to the dead and health to the sick! O Jesus, thou who art needy like one of the poor and dost redeem like one who has no need! Thou who dost catch fish for breakfast and dinner and who dost satisfy all with a little bread, Jesus, who dost rest from the toil of the journey like a man and walk upon the waves like a God.
O Jesus most high! Voice of the rising sun, mighty in perfect compassion! Healing savior of all, right hand of the Light. Mighty hand, which overthrows the Evil One by revealing his nature and by gathering all of his kind into one place. Thou, only begotten, who dost manifest thyself in the most various forms. Thou, who art the only begotten of many brothers! God from God most high, and man despised until now!
O Jesus Christ, who dost not forget us in those things for which we call upon thee; who art become the source of all life for the whole of humankind; thou who for our sake was judged and imprisoned, whereas by thee are all those who are captive made free; thou who hast been called a deceiver, whereas by thee have all those who belong to thee
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been delivered from deception: I beseech thee for these who stand here and believe in thee, for they long to receive thy gifts. Joyfully they set their hope in thy help. They take refuge in thy majesty. Their ears are open to hear from us the words which are spoken to them. May thy peace come and dwell in them! Renew them by purifying them from their former deeds so that they strip off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man, who is now proclaimed to them by me.
O Jesus, who hast made us worthy to take part in the thanksgiving meal of thy holy body and blood, see, we make bold to approach thy Meal of Thanksgiving and to call upon thy holy name: Come, and have community with us!
Acts of Thomas V.47– 49.
21 We will entreat the creator of the universe with constant prayer and supplication that he may keep intact the counted number of his elect in the whole world through his beloved servant Jesus Christ. Through him he called us from darkness to light, from ignorance to the knowledge of his glorious name.
O Lord, thou hast called us to hope on thy name, Thou, the origin of all creation! Thou didst open the eyes of our hearts To know thee, Who alone art the highest on high. Thou art the holy one who dwells among the holy, Who humbles the pride of the lofty, Who brings to naught the designs of the nations, Who raises the lowly and humbles the lofty, Who makes rich and makes poor, Who kills, saves, and makes alive! Thou, the only benefactor of spirits And the God of all flesh, Who looks into the chasms And sees the works of man, Helper of those in danger, Savior of those in despair, Creator and overseer of every spirit, Thou who dost multiply the nations on earth
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And choosest from them those who love thee Through Jesus Christ, thy beloved servant, Through whom thou hast taught us, Made us holy, and honored us: We beseech thee, O ruler, Be thou our helper and defender. Save those who are in distress among us! Have mercy on those who are disheartened! Raise up those who have fallen, Show thyself to those who entreat thee, And heal those who are sick! Turn back those who stray from thy people, Feed the hungry, Free our captives, Strengthen the weak, Encourage those who lose heart! All nations shall know That thou alone art God And Jesus Christ is thy servant And we are thy people and the sheep of thy pasture. Thou hast made manifest The everlasting order of the universe Through the working of powerful forces. Thou, Lord, hast created the earth, Thou who art faithful in all generations. Thou art righteous in thy judgments, Marvelous in thy strength and majesty. Thou art wise in creating And full of wisdom in maintaining what is created; Thou art gracious in what can be seen And faithful to those who trust in thee. Merciful and compassionate one, Forgive us our lawlessness and unrighteousness, Our trespasses and our failings. Reckon not all the sins of thy servants and handmaids, But cleanse us with the cleansing of thy truth! And guide our steps That we may live and act In holiness and righteousness of heart And do those things which are good and bring joy To thee and to our rulers. Yes, O Ruler, let thy face shine upon us
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And bring us salvation and peace That we may be sheltered by thy mighty hand And saved from all sin by thine uplifted arm. Deliver us from those who hate us without cause. Grant harmony and peace to us And to all the inhabitants of the earth, Just as thou didst grant it to our fathers When they called upon thee reverently in faith and in truth. Grant it to us so that we shall be obedient To thine almighty and glorious name. Grant this also to those Who rule and govern us on earth.
Thou, O Ruler, hast given them the power of government through thy majesty and unutterable might so that we, acknowledging the honor and dignity given to them by thee, may be subject to them without opposing thy will in anything. Grant to them, O Lord, health, peace, concord, and firmness so that they may administer without offense the government which thou hast given them! For thou, O heavenly ruler, king of the ages, hast given to the children of men glory and dignity and authority over the things which are on earth. Do thou, O Lord, direct their counsels according to that which is good and pleasing in thy sight so that they may with reverence exercise the authority Thou hast granted them, peacefully and benevolently, without violence, and thus obtain thy mercy. To thee who alone hast power to do these and many more good things to us, to thee we give praise through the high priest and protector of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and majesty to thee now and from generation to generation and into all the ages forever. Amen.
First Letter of Clement 59–61.
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my Lord and my God! Companion of thy servants! Guide and leader of those who believe in thee! Refuge and repose of the oppressed! Hope of the poor and deliverer of the captives! Physician of the souls laid low in sickness! Healing savior of every creature! Thou who dost give new life to the world And strength to the souls. Thou who dost know future events And dost accomplish them through us! Thou, O Lord, who dost reveal hidden mysteries And disclose secret words! Thou, O Lord, art the planter of the good tree! By thy hands are all good works brought forth. Thou art Lord, thou art he who is in all, Who penetrates all, who dwells in all thy works And is manifest in all their workings: O Jesus Christ, son of mercy! Perfect healing savior, Christ, son of the living God, Undaunted power, who has overthrown the Enemy! Voice which is heard by spiritual princes, Which calls into action all their mighty ones! Ambassador sent from on high, Who descended even into the underworld, Who opened its doors and led out Those who had long been shut up in the chamber of darkness And showed them the way that leads up to the heights: I call to thee, Lord Jesus!
Acts of Thomas I.10.
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Glory to thee, O merciful and surrendered one! Glory to thee, O wise Word! Glory to thy mercy, which is poured out upon us! Glory to thy compassionate love, which is spread out over us! Glory to thy majesty, which for our sake came down low! Glory to thy most exalted rulership,
which for our sake humbled itself! Glory to thy power, which for our sake became weak! Glory to thy divinity, which for our sake appeared
in the likeness of men! Glory to thy manhood, which for our sake died to make us live! Glory to thy resurrection from the dead,
which brings resurrection and peace to our souls! Glory and honor to thy ascent into heaven,
through which thou hast opened for us
the way up to the heights! Thou didst promise us that we shall sit at thy right hand And with thee judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Thou art the heavenly word of the Father, Thou art the hidden light of clarity. Thou art he who shows the way of truth,
who drives away darkness and blots out error!
Acts of Thomas VIII.80.
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Who is like thee, O God, Who dost withhold from none Thy tender love and thy glowing zeal? Who is like thee in tenderness of heart, Who has delivered thy creatures from evil? Life, that has conquered death! Peace, that has ended toil! Glory to the only begotten of the Father! Glory to the compassionate one, Who was sent out of compassion! To thee be glory, Who lovest compassion! To thee be glory, Name of the Messiah! To thee be glory, O power that dwellest in Christ!
Acts of Thomas X.122, 132.
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25 Hope of the weak and confidence of the poor! Refuge and lodging of the weary! Voice that came forth from on high! Comforter who dwells in our midst! Shelter and haven of those Who journey through dark countries! Physician who heals without payment! Thou who among men was crucified for many! Thou who with mighty power descended into the underworld, The sight of whom the princes of death could not endure! Thou who with great glory ascended! Thou dost gather all those who take refuge in thee; Thou dost prepare the way. In thy footsteps followed all whom thou hast redeemed. Thou hast led them to thy flock And united them with thy sheep, O son of mercies! Thou who art the Son art sent out of love to men From the perfect fatherland above, Lord of undefiled possessions, Who serves thy servants so that they may live! Thou hast filled creation with thy riches, O poor one who was in need and hungered for forty days, Thou hast satisfied the thirsty with thy good things:
Be thou with these people, Gather them into thy sheepfold And unite them with thy number! Be thou their guide in the land of error! Be thou their physician in the land of sickness! Be thou their rest in the land of the weary! Make them holy in an impure land! Be thou the physician of their bodies and souls, Make them thy holy temple, And let thy Holy Spirit dwell in them!
Acts of Thomas XIII.156.
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glory to God in the highest heaven, And peace on earth to the men with whom he is well pleased. We praise thee, we exalt thee, We glorify thee, we worship thee Through thy great high priest, thou, the true God, The only one who is uncreated, The only one who is inaccessible. We praise thee for the sake of thy great glory! O Lord, heavenly king, O God, Father almighty, Lord, God, Father of Christ the immaculate Lamb, Who takes the sins of the world upon himself: Accept my entreaty, Thou who sittest upon the throne above the cherubim. For thou alone art holy, thou alone art Lord, God and father of Jesus Christ, The God of all creation, and our king. To thee be glory, honor, and worship through him. Praise is thy due, Honor is thy due, Glory is thy due, O God and Father, Through the Son In the Holy Spirit For ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn in the Apostolic Constitutions VII.47,48.
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friendly light of the holy splendor Of thine eternal father above, In the blessed heights of heaven: O Jesus Christ! At the setting of the sun When we see the evening light, We praise the Father and the Son And God's Holy Spirit. Worthy art thou that we praise thee At all times with reverence, O son of God, giver of life! Creation therefore pays thee homage.
Hymn, handed down by Basil.
nature trembled and said with astonishment: What new mystery is this? The judge is judged and remains silent; The invisible one is seen and does not hide himself; The incomprehensible one is comprehended and does not resist; The unmeasurable one is measured and does not struggle; The one beyond suffering suffers and does not avenge himself; The immortal one dies and does not refuse death. What new mystery is this?
Melito of Sardis, Fragment 13.
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the primal element of all things,
the first principle of being and life, is the Spirit. The second, poured forth from the first son of the Spirit,
is chaos. The third, that received being and form from both,
is the soul. And it is like the timid deer which is hunted on earth by death, Who incessantly tests his power upon it. Today it is in the kingdom of light, Tomorrow it is thrown into misery, Plunged deep into pain and tears. Straying and lost in the maze it seeks for the exit in vain. But Jesus said, "O Father, look upon this tormented being, How it roams the earth in sorrow, Far away from thy breath. It seeks to flee the bitter chaos Yet does not know the way of escape. Send me down, O Father, to save it. With the seals in hand I will descend, Striding through the aeons, Opening all the mysteries, Revealing all the forms of gods. The secret of the holy way – I call it knowledge – I will bring."
Hippolytus, Philosophumena V.10.
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As the breath of the wind sweeps through the harp
and the chords sing, So the breath of the Lord's spirit sweeps through my members,
and I sing in his love. For he destroys what is false and all that is hostile. Thus it has been from the beginning and shall be to the end:
Nothing shall stand against him, And nothing shall resist him. The Lord has multiplied his knowledge And is eager that we know what his grace has given us.
Thus we give praise to his name, And our spirits sing praises to his Holy Spirit. A little stream sprang up and became a river mighty and broad. It swept away everything and broke it up
and tore down the temple. No bulwarks or structures could check it, Nor dams built by the art of man. It streamed over the face of the whole earth and filled everything; All the thirsty on earth drank therefrom,
And their thirst was quenched and slaked, For the drink was the gift of the most high. Blessed therefore are the servants of that drink,
To whom his water was entrusted, For they freshened the dry lips and quickened the flagging will. The souls that were near departing,
They snatched away from death, And they set up straight the members that had fallen. They gave strength to their weakness and light to their eyes,
For they all knew one another in the Lord And were redeemed by the eternal water of immortality. Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 6.
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As the passion of anger toward a child, So is the passion of joy toward the beloved, Reaping her fruit unhindered. My joy is the Lord, my passion is toward him. This path of mine is beautiful, for the Lord is my helper.
In full measure he revealed himself to me in his simplicity, For his kindness made his greatness small. He became like me that I might grasp him. He appeared like me in form that I might put him on. I had no fear when I saw him, because he had mercy on me. He became like my own nature that I might comprehend him. His form was the same as mine
that I might not turn back from him. The father of knowledge is the Logos of knowledge. He who created wisdom is wiser than his servants. And he who created me knew before I was What I should do when I came into being. Therefore he had mercy on me with rich compassion, And he granted me to ask of him and to receive from his nature.
For he it is that is incorruptible, The fullness of the ages and the father thereof. He gave and revealed himself to them that are his That they might know him who made them And not suppose that they came of themselves.
He blazed a way for knowledge, He widened and extended it and brought it to perfection. He put the signs of his light upon it, And his footsteps, from beginning to end.
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By him it was prepared, and it shone forth in the Son To penetrate creation for its redemption, To make the Most High known among his saints, To proclaim the good tidings of the coming of the Lord
to the singers of psalms That they might go forth to meet him and play to him with joy,
on harps of many voices.
They shall come before him and see with their own eyes, And they shall be seen before his countenance. They shall praise the Lord for his love
because he is near and allows them to see him.
Hate shall be rooted out from the earth, It shall be locked away together with envy, For ignorance is now destroyed, The knowledge of the Lord is come.
Therefore singers shall sing the grace of the most high And shall bring their songs before him. Their hearts shall be bright as the day And their voices as beautiful as the Lord! Nothing that lives shall be without knowledge or dumb, For he gave a mouth to his creation, A voice and mouth to open before him and to praise him.
Confess his might, Proclaim his grace! Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 7.
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Open your ears, and I will speak to you. Give me your souls that I may also give my soul to you: The word of the Lord and his decrees, The holy plan that he has formed concerning his anointed, For it is upon the will of the Lord that your redemption is built. His thought is life everlasting, And your perfection shall not pass away. Become rich in God the Father, And receive the thoughts of the most high! Be brave, and let his grace redeem you! For I announce peace to you his saints, And all who hear it shall not fall in war, And again, those who understand it shall not be lost, And those who accept it shall not be ashamed.
An everlasting crown is truth – Blessed are they who set it on their heads! And it is a precious jewel. Wars were even waged to win this crown. Righteousness won it and gave it to you. So put on the crown in firm alliance with the Lord! All those who conquered shall be written in his book, For your own victory is your scribe that chooses you beforehand And wills that you shall be redeemed. Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 9.
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My heart was circumcised and its flower appeared. Grace sprang up in it and brought forth fruit for the Lord. For the most high cut me by his Holy Spirit And opened my reins toward him. He filled me in his love
and his circumcision became my salvation.
I hastened on the way of his peace, on the way of truth. From beginning to end I received his knowledge. I was firmly established on the rock of truth
where he himself set me up.
Speaking waters drew close to my lips Abundantly from the fount of the Lord.
I drank, and became drunk with the waters of immortality. Yet my drunkenness was not one of ignorance,
for I left vanity behind.
I turned to the most high, my God,
and became rich with his gift. I left folly lying on the earth, I stripped it off and threw it from me. The Lord renewed me with his raiment
and created me by his light.
From above he refreshed me with immortality So I became like a land that blossoms and rejoices in its fruit. Like the sun upon the face of the earth, The Lord gave light to mine eyes, and my face received the dew; My breath delighted in the precious odors of the Lord.
He led me into his paradise,
where the pleasure of the Lord abounds. I threw myself before the Lord for the sake of his glory,
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And I said: "Blessed are they that are planted in thy land, That have a place in thy paradise, That grow like the growth of thy trees And have stepped from darkness into light! "Behold, all thy workers are fair and do good works. From unkindness they turn to thy graciousness.
"They cast off the bitterness of the trees When they were planted in thy land. Thus everything became a warning sign from thee, An everlasting memorial for thy faithful servants. For there is much room in thy paradise, And there is nothing that is useless therein, But everything is filled with thy fruits!"
Glory to thee, O God, eternal delight of paradise! Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 11.
The womb of the virgin received; She conceived in her womb and gave birth, And the virgin became a mother in great longing. She travailed and bore a son without pain, For it would not have been seemly otherwise. And she did not call for a midwife, for he took away her pains. She brought him forth as a man, willingly. She gave birth in revelation, She gained in great power, She loved in redemption, She guarded in kindness And revealed in glory. Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 19.
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He who leads me down from on high And leads me up from the regions below, Who captures the things that are between And makes them subject to me, Who scatters my foes and adversaries And gives me power to loose fetters, Who by my hands slew the dragon with seven heads And set me upon his root That I might destroy the dragon's seed: Thou hast been with me and helped me, Thy name was about me in every place. Thy right hand destroyed the venom of the blasphemer, Thy hand leveled the path for thy believers. Thou didst choose them from out of the graves And separate them from the corpses. Thou didst take the dry bones And clothe them with bodies. Thou didst give power of life to the motionless, And immortality became thy way and thy countenance.
Thou didst lead thine age to corruption, Thus to dissolve creation and to renew it And to make thy rock the foundation of the universe. Thy Kingdom hast thou built upon it And it became the dwelling-place of thy saints! Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 22.
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Joy is of the saints:
Who shall put it on But they alone? Grace is of the elect:
Who shall receive it But they who have trusted in it from the very beginning? Love is of the elect:
Who shall put it on But they who possessed it from the very beginning? Walk in the knowledge of the Lord,
And you shall know the rich grace of the Lord To his joy and to the perfection of his knowledge!
His plan of salvation was like an epistle: His will came down from on high And was sent like an arrow Which is shot mightily from the bow. And many hands fell upon the letter To seize it and take it and read it. But it escaped from their fingers, And they were frightened of it And of the seal upon it. Because they had no strength to break the seal, For the power upon the seal was greater than they. But those who had seen it followed the epistle To discover where it would come to rest And who would read it And who would hear it.
But a wheel caught it, And the letter stayed on the wheel.
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From then on there was with it The sign of the Kingdom and of government. And everything that shook the wheel Was mowed down and cut off by it. And it gathered up all that was good for a weir, It dammed up the streams and passed through them. It uprooted many forests And blazed a broad trail.
Thus the lordship went down to the feet, For to the feet the wheel had rolled, And that which had come upon it Was a letter of testament. And when all the lands had gathered, The ruler was revealed And was seen in his domain, The true son of the Father most high. He inherited all and took possession of all. But the designs of the many were thwarted. All the unfaithful rushed forward and fled, And the persecutors were obliterated and wiped out.
But the letter was a great tablet Written all over by the finger of God. And upon it stood the name of the Father And of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, To rule for ever and ever. Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 23.
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The Lord is my hope. In him I shall not be confounded. According to his honor he made me And gave me according to his goodness. According to his love he lifted me up And exalted me according to his great glory.
He brought me out of the depths of hell And snatched me from the jaws of death. He threw my foes to the ground And justified me in his grace, For I believed in the Lord's anointed. Therefore he appeared to me as the Lord And showed me his sign. He led me into his light And gave me the scepter of his power To subdue the designs of the nations And bring down the power of the mighty, To wage war by his Word, And to win victory by his power.
The Lord threw down my enemy by his Word; He became like chaff swept away by the wind. I gave honor to the most high, For he exalted his servant And the son of his handmaid. Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 29.
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We will praise the Lord, we all his children, And proclaim the truth of his faith. By him his sons are known, Therefore we sing in his love.
We rejoice in the Lord through his grace And receive life through his Christ. For he caused a great day to shine upon us, A wonderful day, because he gave us of his glory. Therefore we will all join together in the name of the Lord And praise him in his goodness. Our faces shall shine in his light, And our hearts shall meditate in his love. By day and by night let us exult In jubilation about the Lord. The savior is come, who quickens our souls And does not reject them. The man who humbled himself And was exalted for the sake of his righteousness, The son of the most high, He is come in the perfection of his Father. And light has arisen from the Logos, Light that was in him from the beginning.
The Christ is one in truth And was known before the foundation of the world That he might quicken the souls forever To establish the truth of his name.
A new song of those who love him, Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 41
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I stretched out my hands and came to the Lord, For the stretching out of hands is his sign, And my stretching out is the outstretched wood That is set up for the righteous on his way.
I became of no use to those who knew me, For I am hidden from those that do not take hold of me, But I am come to those who love me. Dead are all my persecutors, But those seek me who believe that I live. For I rose from the dead and am with them, And I speak through their mouths. I cast out those that persecute them, And on them I threw the yoke of my love.
Like the arm of the bridegroom on the bride, So my yoke lies on them who love me. And like the canopy over the bed in the house
of the bridegroom, So is my love over those who believe in me.
I was not rejected though it seemed that I was. I was not lost though they were troubled for me. Hell saw me and became powerless. Death spewed me out and many with me. Gall and bitterness I have been to him, And I went down with him to the utmost depths. His head and his feet became limp, He could not bear to see my face. I created a church of the living among his dead, And I spoke to them with living lips.
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Because my word shall not be in vain, Those who had died ran toward me crying, And said, "Have mercy upon us, O son of God, And do with us according to thy grace! Bring us out of the bonds of darkness, Open the door to us by which we come out to thee! For we see that our death does not touch thee. Let us also be redeemed, together with thee, For thou art our redeemer!"
And I heard their voice, I took their faith to my heart, And I set my name upon their heads, For they are free men and they are mine. Hallelujah!
Ode of Solomon 42.
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Glory to thee, Father. Glory to thee, Word. Glory to thee, Grace. Glory to thee, Spirit. Glory to thee, holy one, Glory to thy glory. We praise thee, Father. We thank thee, O Light in whom there is no darkness. And that for which we give thanks is announced by him: I will be saved, and I will save. I will be loosed, and I will loose. I will be wounded, and I will wound. I will be born, and I will give birth. I will eat, and I will be eaten. I will hear, and I will be heard. I will be thought, being wholly thought. I will be washed, and I will wash. Grace leads the dance, I will make music, You shall all dance in a ring. I will lament, you shall all beat your breasts. I will flee, and I will stay. I will adorn, and I will be adorned. I will be united, and I will unite. I have no house, and I have houses. I have no home, and I have homes. I have no temple, and I have temples. A lamp I am to thee that dost behold me. A mirror I am to thee that dost perceive me. A door I am to thee that dost knock at me. A way I am to thee, a traveler. Join thee now unto my dancing!
Dance Hymn. Acts of John 94, 95.
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O bridle of racing young horses, Wing of soaring birds, Safe rudder of sailing boats, Shepherd of the royal lambs! Unite thy simple children That they may sing thee praises In holiness and clearness, With consecrated lips, O Christ, thou leader of youth, King of thy holy people. Almighty word of the Father most high, Invincible stronghold of wisdom, Eternal helper in anguish and fear, O Jesus, immortal one, Savior of mortal men, Thou art the plowing shepherd, The steering helmsman thou art, Thou art the heavenly pinion Of thy surrendered people. And from the sea of evil Dost thou pull out and save, O fisher of men. Thou dost lift Pure fish from hostile seas To a life of sweetness and joy. O holy shepherd, lead us, Sheep gathered by thy Spirit, O prince of undefiled youth! The footsteps of Christ Show us the way to heaven. O Word, eternally welling, O aeon which never ends,
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Eternal light undying, O fount of mercy and love, O source of all that is good! Holy life thou art For those who worship God! O Jesus, Christ, our Lord! Thou art the heavenly milk Flowing from the beloved breast Of wisdom, the blessed bride. Little children are we, receiving food From the breast of the Spirit With pure and childlike mouths: With the Spirit's breath are we filled. We sing thee simple praises. Hymns from upright hearts As thanks, O Christ our king, We owe to thee who saved us And brought us into life. With undivided hearts We follow the mighty Son, A company of peace, Who are begotten of Christ. O holy, chosen band, In unity sing praises To God, the king of peace!
Clement of Alexandria, The Tutor.
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42 O Lord, all-powerful God, thou who art the father of thy beloved and exalted servant, Jesus Christ! Through him we have received the knowledge of thee. Thou, who art the God of angels and powers and of all creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in thy presence: I praise thee because thou hast made me worthy of this day and this hour to be received among the number of the martyrs, so that I share in the cup of thy Christ for the resurrection of soul and body to eternal life in the incorruption of the Holy Spirit. May I be accepted among their ranks today in thy sight as a rich sacrifice giving thee joy, as a sacrifice which thou hast prepared and revealed beforehand and hast now fulfilled! Thou art the true God in whom there is no falsehood! For everything, therefore, I praise thee. I praise thee, I glorify thee, through the eternal and heavenly high priest, Jesus Christ, thy beloved servant. Through him honor is due to thee and to him and to the Holy Spirit, both now and in all the ages to come. Amen.
Polycarp's last prayer, from The Martyrdom of Polycarp, A.D. 155
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Notes to Meetings, Worship, and Church Practices
Marginal numbers refer to corresponding passages on the previous pages.
4-7 Baptism requires previous instruction, personal insight and conviction, free decision, conver-
sion, and rebirth. Originally, forgiveness of sin, purification from all evil, illumination by the Holy Spirit,
and moral regeneration had in actual experience to precede the bath of immersion, though during the
act of baptism, too, all of these elements are experienced as the very essence and purpose of this act. In
the final analysis, therefore, it is not a question of baptism as such; rather it is a question of having the
faith that men who go through baptism are cleansed and healed through the blood of Christ's death.
8-12 The term "Lord's Supper" derives from agape or "pure love." This love finds its social expres-
sion in the offering of gifts which the deacons who serve at table take to the absent poor for their sup-
port. The overseers looked after the poor of the whole city. Another expression of agape is the kiss of
fellowship connected to the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
The discipline characteristic of the Lord's Supper – in eating as well as in the fellowship of love – was
assured by the fact that only believers who were reborn and baptized were admitted. This is confirmed
in the Didache (p. 158-159 above): only those made holy and consecrated by repentance and baptism can
take part in the Meal.
The gratitude to God expressed in the Meal as an offering of thanksgiving explains the name
eucharist, or "thanksgiving," and culminates in prayer and adoration, pp. 195 above.
By sharing in the Meal, the believers are strengthened in flesh and blood for resurrection, which is an
essential object of faith. Bread and wine and water, too, give this strengthening as the flesh and blood
of Christ. For this, Jesus' words of institution are cited from the "memoirs" of the apostles, i.e. the Gos-
pels. Long passages from these "memoirs" and from the Old Testament are read aloud in these solemn
gatherings; both are considered holy scriptures.
The celebration of the Lord's Supper, which in early apostolic times took place every day, is now cel-
ebrated every Sunday. The choice of this day is based on the first day of creation and on the day Jesus rose
from the dead. See the corresponding passage in the Didache, p. 160 above. According to this main
section, there could have been no thought of celebrating Sunday as a day of rest from work. Justin knew
of a similar meal celebrated in the pagan mystery-cult of Mithras and regarded it as a demonic counter-
feit of the Lord's Supper, see p. 195 above.
13-14 The appointment of overseers, elders, deacons, serving widows, and readers took place also on
a Sunday, in a particularly solemn gathering to which the kiss of peace, the offering of gifts, and thanks-
giving also belonged.
In the time of Hippolytus, who was influential from c. A.D. 200 until 235, the year when he was ban-
ished from Rome, the different church offices and their hierarchy were already fixed: only the overseer or
bishop, still elected by all members of the church, received the laying on of hands from one of the over-
seers as if from all believers. The elder to be appointed received the laying on of hands from the overseer
and the elders; the deacon received it only from the elders; widows to be engaged in the service of the
poor were simply chosen and appointed by spoken words, and the reader just by handing him the book
(i.e., the Old Testament), as well as prophetic and New Testament writings.
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The laying on of hands, often combined with anointing, is a call for the Spirit to descend. Prayers
spoken with the laying on of hands calling on the Father, the Son, and the Spirit define the power of the
Spirit: it purifies, seals, and gives clarity of thought. Here the freedom of the Spirit as it was in the earliest
times still comes to expression in the fact that martyr-confessors, voluntary virgins (both men and
women), and Spirit-filled members who had received gifts of healing, teaching, prophecy, or speaking in
tongues did not need the laying on of hands because they were consecrated directly by the Spirit itself.
19 Note here the ancient basis of the present-day liturgical antiphonies: "The Lord be with you,"
"And with thy spirit;" and "Lift up your hearts," "We lift them up to the Lord."
20-25 Along with those contained in the Didache, these are some of the oldest Christian prayers.
With burning love and deep emotion God is worshipped as a paradoxical mystery full of the power to
work miracles and to reveal truth. Jesus is passionately called upon as the physician of the sick and the
hope of the poor and is expected to raise up those who have fallen, liberate the captives, and feed the
hungry. He lives among the saints as the enlightener who opens men's eyes. He is called upon for the
conversion of those who have gone astray, for the forgiveness of sin, and for the strength to lead a good
life.
In the same way supplication is made that peace will come to the whole earth and that Jesus will
humble the proud, guide the nations, and help governments and authorities to find grace and to exer-
cise their power with nonviolence and kindness. The liturgical passage from the First Letter of Clement,
pp. 202-204 above gives significant examples of church prayers at that time – prayers that wonderfully
illustrate the majesty of God's rulership, the revelation of the hidden future, and the conquest and open-
ing up of the underworld to new life.
26-41 These selections come from the rich treasury of second-century songs, hymns, and odes, of
which the New Testament itself contains the most valuable and powerful, particularly in Luke and John
(his Revelation!), but also in Paul. The institutional church has preserved only very few of these hymns,
among them (in this book) the ones on pp. 209 and 226-227 above.
26 This morning hymn of praise uses an abundance of biblical expressions, mainly from the New
Testament. Of these, the "immaculate Lamb who takes the sins of the world upon himself" and the
"great High Priest" stand out.
27 This is thought to be the oldest Christian evening hymn extant. See A. Hamman, Early Christian
Prayers, Chicago: Henry Regnery Co., 1961, p. 144.
28 Melito was an overseer or bishop of Sardis at the time of Marcus Aurelius, and considered
himself a prophet. As early as A.D. 155 he spoke of the "books of the Old Covenant," thus pointing to
the books of the New Testament. Fragments of Melito's writings show the line of development which
leads from the Johannine circles in Asia Minor through Polycarp and Ignatius to the teachers who rep-
resented the double nature of Jesus as God and man.
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29 Many more hymns are preserved from the Gnostics, among whom congregational singing
reached its peak. This one, a genuine Gnostic hymn, is a characteristic example of the kind most decid-
edly rejected by the Christians of that period, both in the church at large and in the Montanist commu-
nities: in it the Spirit is the primal element; the son of the Spirit pours forth chaos; and the soul is the third
element. Hunted in the labyrinth, between light and chaotic misery, it cannot ascend until Jesus de-
scends to it, unveiling the knowledge (gnosis) of the mystery, after speaking with the Father and striding