# Didache 3.4

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Didache](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/) (*Doctrina duodecim apostolorum*)
- Date: ca. 50–150 (often ca. 100) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:312; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 308–333 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/3/4/

Summary: Omens, spells, astrology, and magical purifications lead to idolatry.

## Greek text

τέκνον μου, μὴ γίνου οἰωνοσκόπος, ἐπειδὴ ὁδηγεῖ εἰς τὴν εἰδωλολατρίαν, μηδὲ ἐπαοιδὸς μηδὲ μαθηματικὸς μηδὲ περικαθαίρων, μηδὲ θέλε αὐτὰ βλέπειν· ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἁπάντων εἰδωλολατρία γεννᾶται.

## English translation (Claude)

My child, do not be an interpreter of omens, since it leads to idolatry; nor an enchanter nor an astrologer nor one who performs purifications; do not even wish to look at these things, for from all these, idolatry is born.

## Translation notes

- “One who performs purifications” (περικαθαίρων): magical cleansing rites.

## Citation (SBL)

Did. 3.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/3/4/).