The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 1

We the Twelve Apostles, Messengers of the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, being assembled together in Jerusalem, the city of the Great King, and with us our good and holy brother Paul, the Apostle of all the Gentiles, and James the brother of our Lord, Bishop of this same city of Jerusalem, have ordained this the right faith. We have appointed thus degrees and offices in the Church according to the example of that which is in heaven. We charge you, each and every one of you, giving thanks that our Lord Jesus Christ hath called us unto his glory. The Bishop is in the likeness of the shepherd of the sheep, and the Priest in the likeness of a reprover, and the Deacon the likeness of a minister, and the Sub-deacon, behold, he is as the same; and the Reader, and the skilful Singers and the rest of the people, as those who listen to the voice of the Gospel, and understand the word of reproof. For thus have we framed and ordained the law of the Church, which we have written in this book of instruction; and we have sent it, by Clemens our brother and messenger, into the world, that men may walk according to the ordinances of the Churches which are under heaven; and that they may understand it accurately, that, having heard that which is written therein, they may obtain everlasting life; and glory and praise from our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath graciously given to us this mystery which is from Himself. And those who keep not his law shall be cast into fire which is not quenched, yea, their dwelling shall be in hell-fire for ever, as it is written. But Apostles and Priests, and all the people that believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and work righteousness and peace, shall find mercy and compassion from God the Father, the Ruler of the whole world, and his Son Jesus Christ, and shall come in the knowledge of Him into the Holy Church of God. And those who obey Him shall become a pure, good, and holy vineyard, and shall find life everlasting, by this faith, and victory by the Holy Ghost, and shall prevail, in the might of Jesus Christ and in the fear of Him who hath redeemed them by the sprinkling of his holy and precious blood; and hath granted to them the glory that they should call upon the Almighty, and that He should be to them their Father and their God and their Friend, and that they should be fellow-heirs and partakers with his Holy Son. Hear this sacred charge, ye that receive the voice of the Gospel at the command of our Saviour, and the glad tidings of his word, which are full of glory! O ye Children of God, keep his Word and his Commandments, and do his Law and his Will! And if there be any man that will follow sin, and do all things that are not pleasing to the Lord, he shall be numbered with those who rebel against his Law and his Commandments. And now I say unto you, depart from violence and wrong, and desire not to take for yourselves the larger portion, and leave for your neighbours the less. For it is written in the Law, saying. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his field, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing; none of the possessions of thy brother, nor any thing like this; for this is evil desire. And if there be any one who will do after this manner in the desire of his heart, he shall be driven far from God and our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom be glory, with his Father and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen. For He teaches us, and makes us to understand, and strengthens us by the Holy Spirit, that he may accomplish the Prophecy, and the Law; wherein it is written. Thou shalt not commit adultery; but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh upon a woman and lusteth after her hath committed adultery already in his heart. And in like manner, he who will do these things shall be condemned with the adulterers. And, behold, he that thinketh in his heart, and desireth to take by violence his neighbour's ox or his ass or his field, and continues through his life doing after this manner, he shall be numbered with the adulterers. For the prophet saith. Woe unto them that join house to house, and add field to field, and wall to wall, that they may seize upon that which is not their own! And again he saith. Know ye that dwell upon the earth, that this matter hath been heard in the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. And in the Law He saith. Cursed be he that stealeth his neighbour's land-mark: and the people shall say. So be it. And for this cause Moses said. Desire not the boundary of thy neighbour, and remove not the law which thy fathers have ordained. Through these things come fear and death and confusion; and judgment shall overtake them fiom the Lord, against those who do these things. But they who hear the word of the Lord, and keep his enlightening law with faith, these shall find loving-kindness and mercy. For He saith. That which thou hatest for thyself, do not against thy neighbour. And as thou wouldest not that another, no, not any man, should look upon thy wife, to turn her aside unto evil, so likewise do not thou look upon the wife of another with evil thoughts. As thou wouldest not that another should take thy garment, in like manner thou, too, take not the garment of another. And as thou desirest not for thyself curses and reproaches and beating, so likewise do not thou thus unto thy neighbour. And if any man have cursed thee, do thou bless him; for it is written in the Book of Numbers, Blessed shall they be that bless thee; and cursed shall they be that curse thee. And moreover it is written in the Gospel, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that wrongfully oppress you. Do good unto them that hate you; and return not evil to them that wrongfully oppress you, but bear them patiently. For the Scripture saith. Thou shalt not avenge thyself upon thine enemy for the evil that he hath done against thee. And for this cause the Lord will help thee, and will bring judgment upon thine enemy. For he saith in the Gospel, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He maketh the sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust. O beloved! let us keep in mind these commandments, that we may be the children of light. Bear with one another, O children of light, and children of God! And let a man, too, bear with his wife, and not be haughty or false; but let him be compassionate and upright, and cherish her alone in love and gentleness. And let him not take pleasure in or desire another woman, to lead her aside unto evil. And if thou hast committed adultery, and hast done thus, thou shalt die the death; and the judgment of God shall come upon thee, and thou shalt be condemned with a bitter condemnation. Moreover, if thou thinkest evil in thy heart, and hast not committed adultery with her, it shall be sin unto thee. And if thou preparest and adornest thyself that the wife of thy neighbour may love thee, thou hast sinned, and art become unto her a stumbling-block, and hast made her commit adultery. And for this cause shall judgment come upon thee; for God hath said. Desire not, and commit not adultery. But if thou hast drawn her aside by the beauty of thy youth and the fairness of thy face, that she should love thee, through this hast thou partaken with her in the work of sin and the curse. And for this cause it behoveth thee to pray to the Lord thy God that all this sin overtake thee not. But thou oughtest in purity to please the Lord, that thou mayest find rest and life everlasting in the presence of the Lord. For He saith. Make not the hair o thy head long, but cut it, and make thyself pure, that thou mayest be obedient unto the Lord, and not depart from Him. And do not thou anoint thyself with perfumed ointment, and put not on gay apparel, to draw women aside; and be not vain, nor become an occasion of sin, but follow after purity and doing good. Thou then, O man of God! make not the hair of thy head long, neither plait it nor curl it, for all these things are the arts of impurity and fornication. For it is written in the Book of Deuteronomy, saying, Put not on a garment that is woven with wool and with flax; and thou shalt make for thyself a spun fringe. Moreover, it is not lawful for us to shave our beard, nor to change the nature of man into another form. And if thou doest thus, thou art become cast out from the Law, and far from God, who created thee in His image and in His likeness. But, if thou desirest to please the Lord, do not that which is bad; and put far from thee evil, and all that thy God hateth. And be not a drunkard, and walk not in the streets with the adulterers, without wisdom and understanding; but be thou obedient, and hve by the work of thine hands, and seek to do every thing that is pleasing to God, and remember the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, and follow him at all times. For the Scripture speaketh of him who meditates in His Law day and night, whether on the way or in the house, and even when thou sleepest, love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, that thou mayest find from Him mercy and compassion.