The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 7

VI. Concerning the duty of the people to bring offerings to the Church, according Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God; for of old time the Hebrews were called the People of the Lord, a holy people: and now ye are a chosen generation, your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood; ye are a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was ordered at the beginning what should be given to those who are ordained over the Church of Christ, even vows and first-fruits and tithes, for the salvation of men's souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is Iota, according to the number of the testimony of the Holy Church, the congregation of people which is founded upon Iota, which hath knowledge of the Law, and hath kept the faith, and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and hath guided men unto the knowledge of the word of Iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of his glory. In old time they brought offerings, and sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and tithes and first-fruits, which was their oblation in those days. And now also let the Bishops and Priests offer up sacrifices and oblations to the Lord our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. He it is who appointed High-Priests, and Priests, and Deacons, and Sub-deacons, and Readers, and Singers, and Door-keepers, and Deaconesses; and moreover, widows, and virgins, and orphans; and over all these hath the Bishop authority, for he is the teacher and instructor of those who obey the Lord in the right faith, and for their sakes does he deliver the word. It is right that they should obey him, for he is the teacher of the Law to them all: and, moreover, he is their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the Spirit. For he is your ruler, and guide, and strength; and your God upon earth, under the true God; and it is right that ye should magnify him and glorify him, and others also who are like him; as the Lord spake by the mouth of David the Prophet, saying, I have said, ye are Gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. Speak not evil against the Gods, which are the Bishops; but let the Bishops sit first among you; for unto them is given glory and honour before the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace. And let the Deacon minister in purity, without spot; and let him do nothing without the authority of the Bishop, his father. Neither let the Deaconess do any thing without the authority of the Deacon. And let not any other woman go to the Deacon, except in company with the Deaconess; and, in like manner, let no woman go to the Bishop, except in company with the Deacon. Honour therefore the Priests; for they admonish you and teach you the way of the Lord, and receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them that they should preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and that they should teach men to keep all things whatsoever I have commanded them. And honour ye also the widows and orphans, as the Church; and virgins also, as the altar and the offering of incense. For, in old time, no one could offer sacrifice, unless he were of the Children of Levi; nor could any one of the people go in unto the altar, except with the Priest. And so ye also, do not ye any thing without the counsel of the Bishop; for he who doeth any thing without the authority of the Bishop, laboureth for nought, and his occupation is vain and without profit. As Saul offered up sacrifice without Samuel the Prophet, and heard a voice saying unto him. Thy sacrifice is vain; in like manner, if one of the people do any thing without the Priest, it also is vain. So King Ozias also, when, not being a Priest, he performed the office of the priesthood, became a leper. And if there be any one of the people who usurpeth the Priest's office, and doeth not the commandments of the Lord, he shall not escape condemnation; for he hath taken an honour which hath not been given unto him, and hath insulted the priesthood; neither hath he been like unto Christ, who glorified not himself to be made a great High Priest, but endured patiently; for he heard the voice of the Father, saying. The Lord sware, and repented not. Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. But if Christ glorified not himself, but his Father, who was equal with him, how then can he who is only a man take the honour of the priesthood to himself, if he who has authority over him have not given it to him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi; yet when they rose up against Moses and Aaron, the fire devoured them, inasmuch as they sought to take what belonged not to them; and Dathan, and Abiram, and Korah, went down alive into the pit. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel of many foolish men, and he shewed by its means the great High Priest who was ordained before the Lord. It is fit then, Brethren, that ye should bring your offerings and incense to the Bishop, for he is the High Priest: your first-fruits and tithes, and all your vows, bring ye unto him, that he may give to every one their due care, even to the needy who have nothing. Let him set them in order as it is fitting, that no one take advantage of his neighbour in the receiving of alms. It behoveth the Bishop to take care of all the poor, and examine into their lives, and know their condition. Moreover, when the faithful desire to call the poor and widows and orphans to a feast, as God, even our Lord, hath commanded, it is fitting that the Deacons should minister; and let them inquire into their lives, let them call them in, and place them each one in his seat, as is fitting. Let them divide portions unto them, and give thereof to the Shepherd also apart, for the honoxir of the Lord, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And when there hath been given unto the widows, then let the Deacons take thereof, two portions; and so also the Priests, who watch, and teach the word of exhortation: let them receive double honour, for they are the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ; they are the counsellors of the Bishop, and the crown of the Church, who judge in it righteously. And let the Reader take one portion; and, in like manner, let the Singers and the Door-keepers receive, each one according to the ordinance of the Church. And let the people render unto each such honour as becometh him, and not overlook the Bishop, nor delay to give unto him; but let them send quickly to him, together with the ministers, the Deacons. Now it is fitting that the Deacons should report to the Bishop all the matters of the people, that he may command the people to do what is right. For, in old time, there was no one who entered into the temple, or did any thing therein, but the Priest. The Prophet Malachi saith. For the lips of the priest keep counsel, and search out the Law. For they who serve idols, and do according to their own will, and make as though they were righteous, while they are polluted and tlieir deeds are evil and they have no good work, though they make themselves like the Saints; — men indeed, seeing their doings, will laugh at them and despise them — yet now even these cannot accomplish or do any thing without the counsel of the priests of their gods: but they lift up their eyes unto them, and listen to what their voice commandeth them, and do every thing that it saith to them; they give glory to the priests of their gods, and put confidence in them, and trust in their gods. But if these trust in things that have not life, and are subject to evil spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity, while they make as though they were righteous, how then should we, who have received the grace of the Holy Spirit, and have enlightened faith, and a perfect hope, in which is no iniquity, which is not deceit — how ought we to trust in the preaching of the Gospel, which is full of glory, and without fear, that we may be pleasing unto the Lord our God! For the ancient Fathers, and the Bishops, doubtless they are the mouth of the Lord. They are the mouth of the Lord, in like manner as Aaron spake to Pharaoh while he was a helper mito Moses. And for this cause he was called the God of Pharaoh, as a King and an High Priest; as the Lord said to Moses, Behold I have made thee to be a God unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be a Minister and Prophet. And how is it, then, that ye do not trust in them, seeing that they intercede for you, and deliver the word? Be subject to them; for they are Prophets and the Servants of the Lord; the Deacon after the simihtude of Aaron, and the Bishop after the simihtude of Moses. If, then, Moses was called a God before the Lord, it is right that ye also should honour the Bishops as the Lord, and the Deacon as a Prophet. As Christ did not any thing but by the Father, so also let not the Deacon do any thing without the counsel of the Bishop. The Son does nothing but by the Father: and as the Son is subject to his Father, so let the Deacon be subject to the Bishop.