A Translation of the Didache
Chapter Four A Translation of the Didache Brief Explanation:
This is a new translation of the Didache that seeks to understand its thought flow through portraying visually clauses that are sequential, subordinate or parallel. I have utilized this approach in my own exegetical analysis of the Greek New Testament writings. I also gratefully acknowledge the labors of Aaron Milavec in his ground-breaking work on the Didache.** While not woodenly literal, the translation philosophy employed tends toward what some call the "formal equivalence" rather than the "functional equivalence" approach to translation. For example, whenever there is a clear pev. . «δὲ contrastive construction, I have utilized the literal translation "on the one hand. . .on the other hand" to bring out the contrast implied. This may appear to be overly pedantic in some verses, but it will be helpful for a close examination of the point being made by the author(s) of the Didache.
As is the case in some NT epistles, the second person singular is sometimes used to address the reader and sometimes the second person plural is used. In translating the second person, the "you" and "'your" forms in English do not convey whether the Greek form is singular or plural. I have found helpful the practice of Aelred Cody in his excellent translation and have adapted it for this translation.' In chapters 1-6, the second person singular form is usual in the Greek and should be understood in the English translation. The exceptional use of the plural form is indicated in these chapters by the insertion of [pl]. In chapters 7-16, the second person plural form is usual in the Greek and should be understood in the translation. The exceptional use of the singular form is indicated by the insertion of [sg.]. Although this may appear a bit unwieldy at times, the shifts back and forth from singularity to plurality are important for the critical study of the document.
In the translation, I have bolded what I believe to be quotations or clear citations of canonical Old and New Testament passages and have also included the passage cited in parentheses after the quotation. Possible allusions to non-
A Translation of the Didache canonical books have not been bolded, but the suggested passage that may be alluded to has also been placed in parentheses. Discussion of these possible quotations, citations, and allusions will take place in a later chapter.
Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Teaching of the Lord through the Twelve Apostles to the Gentiles
1:1 There are two ways: one of life and one of death!
And there is a great difference between the two ways.
(cf. Mt 7:13,14; Dt 30:19; Pr 1-9) 1:2 [A] On the one hand, then, the way of life is this:
[1] first: you will love the God who made you; [2] second: your neighbor as yourself.
(Matt 22:37-39; Deut. 6:5; Lev 19:18) [B] On the other hand: as many things as you wish not to happen to you, likewise, do not do to another. (cf. Matt 7:12)
1:3 And concerning these words, the teaching is this:
[A] speak [pl. rest of verse] well of the ones speaking badly of you, [B] and pray for your enemies, [C] and fast for the ones persecuting you;
For what merit is there if you love the ones who love you?
Do not even the Gentiles do the same thing?
[D] on the other hand, love the ones who hate you, (Matt 5:44-47) and you will not have any enemy.
1:4 Abstain from fleshly and bodily desires. (cf. I Peter 2:11) [A] If anyone should strike you on the right cheek, turn to him also the other, (Matt 5:39) and you will be perfect;
(Matt 5:48) [B] if anyone should press you into service for one mile, go with him two; [C] if anyone should take away your cloak, give to him also your tunic; [D] if anyone should take from you what is yours, do not ask for it back; (Matt 5:41, 40) for you are not even able to do so.
1:5 To everyone asking you for anything, give it and do not ask for it back; (Luke 6:30/ /Matt. 5:42) for, to all, the Father wishes to give these things from his own free gifts.
[A] Blessed is the one who gives according to the commandment;
A Translation of the Didache
for he is guiltless.
[B] Woe to the one who takes; [1] for, on the one hand, if anyone having need takes, he will be blameless; [2] On the other hand, the one not having need
[a] will stand trial as to why he received and for what use; [Ὁ] and being in prison, he will be examined thoroughly concerning the things he has done,
[c] and he will not come out from there until he pays back the last cent. (cf. Matt 5:26;
Luke 12:59) 1:6 [C] But also, concerning this, on the other hand, it has been said:
"Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give it." (see Sirach 12:1,7)
2:1 And the second command of the teaching:
2:2 [Ai] You will not murder, [42] you wil! not commit adultery, (Matt 19:18; 5:33) [4.3] you will not corrupt children, [A4] you will not have illicit sex, [4.5] you will not steal, [A6] you will not practice magic, [A7] you will not make potions, [4.8] you will not murder a child by means of abortion,
[4.9] nor you will kill one that has been born, [410] you will not desire the things of your neighbor.
2:3 [B1] you will not swear falsely, (Matt 5:33 ?) [Β2] you will not bear false witness, [Β3] you will not speak evil of anyone, [Β4] you will not hold grudges.
2:4 [B5] You will not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for being double-tongued is a snare of death.
2:5 Your word will not be false nor empty, but will be fulfilled in action.
2:6 [C1] You will not be covetous, [C2] nor greedy, [C3] nor a hypocrite, [C4] nor spiteful, [C5] nor arrogant. (2:2-6 elaborate Ex. 20:13-17)
You will not plot an evil plan against your neighbor.
A Translation of the Didache 2:7 You will not hate any person, [1] but some you will reprove, [2] and for others you will pray, [3] and some you will love more than your soul.
3:1 My child, flee from every evil and from everything like it.
3:2 [A] Do not become angry, for anger leads to murder; nor be envious, nor be contentious, nor be hot-headed, for, from all these, murders are born.
3:3 [B] My child, do not become lustful, for lust leads to illicit sex; nor use foul speech, nor be one who lifts up the eyes, for, from all these, adulteries are born.
3:4 [C] My child, do not practice divination, since this leads to idolatry; nor be an enchanter, nor be an astrologer, nor be a magician, nor even wish to see nor hear these things, for, from all these, idolatry is born.
3:5 [Ὁ] My child, do not become false, since falsehood leads to theft; nor be a lover of money, nor be a seeker of glory, for, from all these, thefts are born.
3:6 [E] My child, do not become a grumbler, since this leads to blasphemy; nor be a self-pleaser, nor be evil-minded, for, from all these, blasphemies are born.
3:7 But be meek, since the meek will inherit the earth. (Matt. 5:5; Ps. 37:11) 3:8 [A] Become long-suffering and merciful and harmless
A Translation of the Didache
and gentle and good and one who trembles always at the words that you have heard. (allusion to Isaiah 66:2)
3:9 [B] You will not exalt yourself, and you will not give boldness to your soul.
Your soul will not be joined with the haughty, but with just and lowly people you will dwell.
3:10 [C] You will accept the experiences that happen to you as good things, knowing that, apart from God, nothing happens.
4:1 [A] My child, the one speaking to you the word of God, [1] you will remember night and day, (cf. Heb 13:7) {2] and you will honor him as the Lord, for where the dominion of the Lord is spoken of, there is the Lord.
4:2
[3] And you will seek every day the presence of the saints in order that you may find support in their words.
4:3 [B] You will not cause division, [1] and you will reconcile those who quarrel;
[2] you wili judge justly, [3] you will not show favoritism when you reprove others for their failings.
4:4 [C] You wiil not be double-minded whether it will be or not.
4:5 [A] Do not become one, [1] on the one hand, who stretches out your hands to receive,
[2] on the other hand, draws them back from giving.
4:6 [B] If you should have something through the work of your hands, you will give it as a ransom for your sins.
4:7
[1] You will not hesitate to give, [2] nor will you grumble when you give; for you will know who will be the good paymaster of your reward.
4:8 [C] You will not turn away the one in need; [1] but you will share together all things with your brother
[2] and you will not say that such things are your own; ( Acts 4:32) for, if you (pl.) are partners in what is immortal, how much more [are you partners] in the mortal things?
4:9 [A] You will not take away your hand
A Translation of the Didache from your son or from your daughter, but from youth you will teach them the fear of God.
4:10 [B] You will not command your male or female slave who are hoping in the same God in your bitterness, lest they should never fear the God who is over you both; for He does not come to call according to social status, but those whom the Spirit has prepared.
4:11 [C] And you (pl.), slaves, will be subject to your masters as to the image of God in shame and fear.
4:12 [A] You will hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord.
4:13 [B] Never forsake the commandments of the Lord, but you will guard the things that you have received, neither adding nor subtracting anything. (Deut 4:2 or 12:32)
4:14 [C] In church, you will confess your wrongdoings, and you will not go to your place of prayer with an evil conscience.
This is the way of life!
5:1 The way of death, on the other hand, is this:
First of all, it is evil and full of accursedness:
[41] murders, [A12] duplicity, [A2] adulteries, [413] deceit, [A3] lusts, [A14] arrogance, [A4] sexual immoralities, [A15] malice, [4.5] thefts, [A16] stubbornness, [A6] idolatries, [A17] greed, [A7] feats of magic, [418] foul-speech, [A8] potions, [A19] jealousy, [A9] robberies, [A20] audacity, [A10] perjuries, {[A21] haughtiness, [A11] hypocrisies, [A22] boastfulness;
[B1] persecutors of the good, [B2] hating truth, [B3] loving a lie, [B4] not knowing the wages of righteousness,
[B5] not cleaving to the good, [B6] nor to just judgment,
A Translation of the Didache
[B7] those who are on the alert not for the good, but for the evil thing; [B8] far from being gentle and patient, [B9] loving empty things, [B10] pursuing retribution, [B11] not showing mercy to the poor, [B12] not working for the oppressed, [B13] not knowing the one who made them,
[Β14] murderers of children, [B15] destroyers of what God has formed, [B16] turning away the one in need, [B17] oppressing the afflicted, [B18] advocates of the rich, [B19] unjust judges of the poor, [B20] totally sinful.
May you (pl.) be delivered, children, from all of these!
6:1 See to it that no one leads you astray from this way of teaching, since he is teaching you apart from God.
6:2
[1] For, on the one hand, if you are able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect;
[2] but if, on the other hand, you are not able, that which you are able, do this.
6:3 And concerning food, [1] bear that which you are able, [2] but from the food sacrificed to idols, especially keep away for it is [related to] the worship of dead gods.
7:1 And concerning baptism, baptize this way:
After you have said all these things beforehand, immerse in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19) in flowing water.
7:2 [1] but if you (sg., as in rest of verses 2-4) do not have flowing water, immerse in other water; [2] and if you are not able to do so in cold,
[immerse] in warm [water];
A Translation of the Didache 7:3 [3] and if you should not have either, pour out water onto the head three times in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
7:4 And prior to the baptism, [1] let the one baptizing fast; [2] also one being baptized [3] and if any others are able to do so;
And order the one being baptized to fast one or two [days] before.
> 8:1 And let your fasts not be with the hypocrites, (cf. Matt 6:16) for they fast on the second and on the fifth days of the week; (cf. Lk. 18:12) but you should fast during the fourth day and the preparation day. (see Mk.15:42; Jn.19:14, 31)
8:2 And do not pray like the hypocrites, (cf. Matt 6:5) but like the Lord commanded in his gospel.
Pray this way:
Our Father, who is in heaven, May your name be kept holy, May your kingdom come, May your will be done on earth as in heaven;
Give us today our daily bread, And forgive us our debt, As we also forgive our debtors, And do not lead us into trial, But deliver us from the evil one; (Matt. 6:9-13) Because yours is the power and the glory forever.
8:3 Three times daily pray this way. (cf. Ps. 55:17) 9:1 And concerning the thanksgiving meal, give thanks this way:
9:2 First, concerning the cup:
We give you thanks, our Father, For the holy vine of your servant David Which you revealed to us through your servant Jesus.
To you is the glory forever.
A Translation of the Didache
9:3 And concerning the broken bread:
We give you thanks, our Father, For the life and knowledge, Which you revealed to us through your servant Jesus.
To you is the glory forever. (Isaiah 52:13) 9:4 Just as this broken bread was scattered over the mountains, and was gathered together and became one,
In this way, may your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.
Because yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.
9:5 And let no one eat or drink from your thanksgiving meal except those baptized in the name of the Lord, for also the Lord has said concerning this:
"Do not give what is holy to the dogs." (Matt. 7:6) 101.
And after being filled, give thanks in this way:
19:2 — We give you thanks, holy Father, For your holy name, Which you have caused to dwell in our hearts,
And for the knowledge and faith and immortality Which you revealed to us through your servant Jesus.
To you is the glory forever.
10:3
You, almighty Master, Created all things for the sake of your name, Both food and drink you have given to people for enjoyment in order that they might give thanks.
But to us you have graciously bestowed spiritual food and drink and eternal life through your servant.
10:4
Before all things, we give you thanks because you are powerful.
To you is the glory forever.
10:5
Remember, Lord, your church, to save her from every evil, and to perfect her in your love and to gather her together from the four winds, (Matt. 24:31) the sanctified into your kingdom which you prepared for her.
Because yours is the power and the glory forever.
10:6
[A] May grace come and may this world pass away!
[B] Hosanna to the God of David! (cf. Matt. 21:9)
A Translation of the Didache [Ὁ] If anyone is holy, let him come!
If anyone is not, let him repent!
[D] Come Lord [maranatha]! Amen! (cf. I Cor. 16:22) But allow the prophets to "give thanks" as much as they wish.
10:7
[A] Therefore, whoever teaches you all these things said previously, receive him.
[B] If, on the other hand, the one teaching,
if he has been turned, and should teach another doctrine [1] for the destroying [of those things], do not listen to him.
[2] But, if it is for the bringing of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord!
And concerning the apostles and prophets in accord with the decree of the gospel, act thus:
11:3
11:4[A] Every apostle coming to you, let him be received as the Lord.
11:5
[1] But he will not remain except for one day, [2] and if there is a need, also another [day].
[3] But if ever he should remain three [days], he is a false prophet.
[B] And, when he departs, 11:6
[1] let the apostle take nothing except bread [that he needs] until he is lodged.
[2] If, however, he asks for money, he is a false prophet.
[A] And every prophet speaking in the Spirit you should not test nor judge, for every sin will be forgiven, but this sin will not be forgiven. (cf. Matt 12:31)
[B] But not everyone speaking in the Spirit is a prophet, but only if he has the behavior of the Lord.
Therefore, from their behavior will be known the false prophet and the prophet.
[A] And every prophet ordering a table in the Spirit, will not eat from it, and if he does, he is a false prophet.
[B] And every prophet teaching the truth, 11:10 if he does not do what he teaches, he is a false prophet.
[C] And every prophet who has been put to the test and is genuine, 11:11 and who acts for the earthly mystery of the church, but not teaching to do what he himself does,
A Translation of the Didache
he shall not be judged by you; for he has his judgment from God, for also the ancient prophets so acted.
11:12
[D] But whoever should say in the Spirit, [1] "Give me silver or any other thing," you will not listen to him.
[2] But if he should say to give to others in need, let no one judge him.
12:1 And everyone coming in the name of the Lord, let him be received; and then, having put him to the test, you will know, for you will have understanding of right and left.
12:2[A] If, on the one hand, the one coming is passing through, [1] help him as much as you are able.
[2] He will not remain, however, among you except for two or three days, if there should be a need.
12:3
_[B] If, on the other hand, he wishes to settle down among you, and if he is a craftsman, let him work and let him eat.
12:4
[ΟἹ] If, on the other hand, he does not have a craft, according to your own understanding, plan beforehand how he will live among you as a Christian, without being idle.
12:5
[D] If, on the other hand, he does not wish to behave this way, he is a Christ-peddler.
Beware of such ones!
13:1
[A] And every genuine prophet wishing to settle down among you is worthy of his food.
13:
[Β] Likewise a genuine teacher is worthy, just as the laborer, of his food. (Matt. 10:10)
13:3
[A] So, you (sg.) shall take every first fruits of the produce from the wine vat and threshing floor, of both cattle and sheep, [1] and you (sg.) will give the first fruits to the prophets, for they themselves are your (pl.) high-priests.
13:4
[2] But if you (pl.) do not have a prophet, give it to the poor.
13:5
[B] If you (sg., vss. 5-7) should make bread, take the first fruits, and give according to the commandment.
13:6
[C] Similarly, when you open a jar of wine or of oil, take the first fruits,
A Translation of the Didache and give it to the prophets.
[D] And of silver and of clothing and of every possession, 13:7 take the first fruits, as it seems good to you, and give according to the commandment.
And on the Lord's day of the Lord, when you are gathered together, break bread.
[A] And give thanks, having before confessed your failings, 14:1 so that your sacrifice may be pure.
[B] However, let no one having a conflict with his comrade, 14:2 come together with you, until they have been reconciled, in order that your sacrifice may not be defiled.
(cf. Matt 5:23, 24) For this [sacrifice] is that which was spoken by the Lord:
14:3
"In every place and time, offer to me a pure sacrifice."
"Because I am a great king," says the Lord, "and my name will be wondrous among the Gentiles."
(Malachi 1:11,14) [A] Appoint, then, for yourselves, 15:1 overseers and deacons worthy of the Lord, (cf. Phil. 1:1)
[1] gentle men [2] and not money lovers [3] and truthful [4] and tested; for they likewise conduct among you the ministry of the prophets and teachers.
[Β] Do not, then, look down upon them; 15:2 for they themselves are your honored ones along with the prophets and teachers.
[A] And correct one another, not in anger, but in peace, 15:3 as you have it in the gospel. (see Matt 18:15-18)
[B] And to everyone wronging another, [1] let no one speak to him [2] nor let anyone hear from you about him, until he repents.
And do your prayers and alms and all your actions 15:4 as you have it in the gospel of our Lord. (see Matt. 6:1-4; 5-15)
16:1
[A] Be watchful over your life; [1] do not let your lamps be quenched,
A Translation of the Didache
[2] and do not let your waists be ungirded. (Matt. 25:8; Luke 12:35?) [B] But be prepared, for you do not know the hour in which our Lord is coming.
(Matt 24:42) 16:2
[C] And frequently be gathered together, seeking what is appropriate for your souls; for the whole time of your faith will not benefit you unless you are perfected in the end time.
16:3
[1] For, in the last days [4] the false prophets and corrupters will be multiplied,
[b] and the sheep will be turned into wolves, [c] and the love will be turned into hatred.
16:4
For, when lawlessness increases, [4] they will hate each other [Ὁ] and they will persecute [c] and they will betray each other. (Matt 24:10-12)
[2] And then will appear the world-deceiver as a son of God, [a] and he will do signs and wonders, (Matt 24:24)
[Ὁ] and the earth will be delivered into his hands, [c] and he will do unlawful things that never have happened from eternity.
16:5
[3] Then the human creation will come into the fiery test, [4] and many will be led into sin and will perish,
[Ὁ] but the ones remaining firm in their faith, will be saved (Matt 24:10,13) by the curse itself.
16:6
[4] And then the signs of the truth will appear: (cf. Matt 24:30) [4] first, a sign of an opening in heaven,
[b] then a sign of a trumpet sound, (Matt 24:30; I Thess. 4:16) [c] and the third [sign will be] a resurrection of dead ones-- 16:7 but not of all [the dead], but as it was said:
"The Lord will come and all the holy ones with him."
(Zech. 14:5; cf. I Thess. 3:13) 16:8
[5] Then the world will see the Lord coming atop the clouds of heaven...
(cf. Matt 24:30; 26:64; Daniel 7:13 LXX)