Didascalia Apostolorum 5.7.1–5.13
Pseudonymous: An anonymous church order written in the voice of the apostles, from a bishop in Syria in the early third century.
Greek text: Connolly 1929; Hauler 1900.English: Claude (none (public-domain English as it stands)), public domain (CC0); R. H. Connolly (1929), public domain, published as it stands. The Greek original is lost. The work survives complete only in Syriac, and in part in a Latin translation (the Verona palimpsest). Passages whose facing Latin page survives are given in Latin (Hauler 1900) for translation; the others are R. H. Connolly's English translation of the Syriac (Oxford, 1929), published as it stands.
inscription 5, chapter 7
5.7.1Connolly, 168
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
God Almighty will raise us up through God our Saviour, as He has promised. And He will raise us up from the dead even as we are—in this form in which we now are, but in the great glory of everlasting life, with nothing wanting io to us. For though we be cast into the depths of the sea, or be scattered by the winds like chaff, we are still within the world; and the whole world itself is inclosed beneath the hand of God. From within His hand therefore will He raise us up: as the Lord our Saviour has said: A hair of your head shall not perish ; but in your patience ye shall possess your souls. Now concerning the resurrection, and concerning the glory of the martyrs, the Lord spoke in Daniel thus: Many that sleep in the breadth of the earth shall rise up in that day: some unto life everlasting, and some unto reproach and shame and dispersion. But they that understand shall shine as the luminaries which are im the heaven; and they that have been strengthened by the word, as the stars of heaven. As (of) the sun, then, and the moon, the luminaries of heaven, (such) glorious light has He promised to give to them chat understand, and confess His holy name, and bear witness. But not to the martyrs alone has He promised the resurrection, but to all men; for He speaks thus in Ezekiel: ! Te hand of the Lord came upon me: and the Lord brought me forth in the spirit, and set me in the midst of a valley: and it was full of bones. ? And he caused me to pass overagainst them: and they were many, and they were exceeding dry. 3 And he said unto me: Son of man, shall these bones live? And I said: Thou knowest, Lord Adonai. And the Lord said unto me: Prophesy unto these bones, and say to them: Ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord Adonai unto these bones: Behold, I will cause the spirit to enter into you, and ye shall live; and I will put sinews upon you, and will build up flesh upon you, and will clothe you with skin; and I will give the spirit in you, and ye shall live: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. "And I prophesied as he spake unto me. And as I prophesied, there was made a sound and a movement; and the bones drew nigh, bone unto bone. S And I saw that there came upon them sinews and flesh, and skin was stretched over them above: but there was no spirit in them. ? And the Lord said unto me: Prophesy unto the spirit, and say: Thus saith the Lord Adonai: Come, spirit, from the four winds, and enter into these dead, and they shall live. 0 And I prophesied, as he spake unto me: and the spirit entered into them, and they lived: and they stood upon their feet in a great army. And the Lord said unto me: Son of man, these bones are the house of Israel; for they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is perished, and we are not. Thus saith the Lord Adonai: Behold, I open your graves, and I will bring you forth from thence, O my people, and will bring you in to the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall open your graves, to bring up my people
Notes and citation
Cite (SBL): Did. Apost. 5.7.1 (Connolly, 168; trans. R. H. Connolly, 1929, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didascalia-apostolorum/5-7-1/#p-5-7-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
5.7.2Hauler, 56–60
dicit dominus: Sed cadent inhabitantes; et resurgent mortui et exurgent, qui in monumentis sunt; ros enim, quod a te est, sanitas eis est, terra autem impiorum periet. Multa quidem et alia per Eseiam quam et per alios profetas dicta sunt de resurrectione et uita permanente in gloria iustorum et de impiis similiter et infamia et euacuatione ruinae et de absolutione et condemnatione; id uero, quod dictum est: Terra autem impiorum periet, id est corpus eorum, quod de terra est, cum turpitudine in terra deputabitur, propter quod non coluerunt Deum, et in igne cum poena incadent. Nam et in duodecim profetis ita dictum est: Uidete, contemptores, et respicite et uidete mirabilia et auertimini et segregamini, quoniam opus ego operor in diebus uestris, quod non credetis, … dem et ab his pluriora de infidelibus uel his, qui non credunt, de resurrectione dicta sunt et de his, qui abnegant et non coluerunt Deum, et de praeuaricatoribus et de gentilibus, quoniam uidebunt gloriam fidelium et auertentur, ut depereant in igne infideles. Nos uero credere didicimus per domini nostri resurrectionem a mortuis et nostram certam esse repromissionem et ipse, qui non fallit Deus. Nam et ipse saluator pignus resurrectionis nostrae fuit, cum primus resurrexerit. Nam uos, qui ex gentibus uocati estis, scitis, quoniam et gentiles de resurrectione futura legent et audiunt a Sibylla illis dictum et praedicatum sic: Sed cum iam omnia puluis et cinis fuerint facta “et ignem uitauerit Deus immortalis, qui etiam accendit, ossa et cinerem ipse, Deus iterum est uiuorum, formabit, in mortales autem iterum statuet, ut ante erant. Et tunc iam iudicium erit ipso iudicante Deo, “iudicans iterum saeculum; et eos, qui inpie peccauerunt, hos denuo cooperiet terra. Quanti autem pie gesserunt, uiuent iterum in mundo, spm Deo dante simul et gratiam ipsis piis; omnes etenim tunc se uidebunt. Non solum ergo, carissimi, a Sibylla dictum est et manifestatum de resurrectione, sed et per sacras scripturas. Nam dominus Iudaeis et gentilibus simul etiam Christianis in unum praeadnuntiauit praedicans eam, quae a mortuis futura est hominum resurrectio; nam et per mutum animal, id est per foenicem, quod unicum est, manifestam nobis de resurrectione ostensionem Deus fecit. Nam si esset par aut multi, ipsi multi uelut fantasma uideri poterant hominibus. Nunc autem uidetur, cum ingrediatur, quia solum est. Post quingentos enim annos ingreditur in Aegyptum ad eum locum, qui uocatur Solis Ara, portans cinnamomum, et orat contra orientem et succenditur a se ipso et conburitur et fit cinis; de cinere autem fit uermis et hic uermis crescens deformatur et fit iterum foenix perfectus et tunc recedit denuo et pergit ibidem, unde et uenit. Si ergo et Deus per mutum animal ita id exemplum resurrectionis nobis ostendit, multo magis nos credentes resurrectioni et repromissioni Dei, etiamsi martyrium nobis superuenerit, quasi qui talem digni sumus … incorruptam in uita aeterna, gaudentes ad tam magnum hoc donum et dignitatem gloriae Dei, id est ad martyrium, properemus ac libenter illud cum gaudio suscipiamus, credentes domino Deo, quia per gloriam suam clarificatos resuscitabit nos. Sicuti in principio Deus praecipiens uerbo mundum construxit dicens: ‘Fiat lumen, dies, nox, caelum, terra, mare, uolatilia, natatilia, repentia et quadrupedia, arbusta’ et uniuersa per uerbum eius creata sunt et deformata, sicuti et scriptura significat, et ipsa creatura per oboedientiam testimonium Deo, qui ea fecit, perhibet de eo, quod facta sunt ex non constitutis resurrectionem significantia; sicuti ergo omnia fecit, ita et hominem, qui et plasma eius propria est, multo magis uiuificans resuscitabit. Si enim ex non constitutis mundum construxit, facilius ex constitutis hominem, cum sit plasma eius, uiuificans resuscitabit, sicuti et in semine hominem deformans in utero perfectum reddit. Si igitur omnes homines resuscitat, ut dicit per Eseiam: Quoniam uidebit omnis caro salutarem Dei, multo magis saluat, uiuificat fideles suos. Et iterum fidelium fideliores constitutos martyres in maiori gloria fortiores suscitans consiliarios adoptabit sibi et saluabit eos, quoniam eis quidem, qui simpliciter discipuli eius fideles sunt, gloriam stellarum habere eos pollicitus est. Martyribus uero luminarium non deficientium gloriam aeterni luminis fulgentem per omne tempus
… says the Lord: “But the inhabitants will fall; and the dead will rise, and those who are in the tombs will be raised; for the dew that is from you is healing to them, but the land of the ungodly will perish.” Many other things were said, through Isaiah and through other prophets, about the resurrection and the life that abides in the glory of the righteous, and likewise about the ungodly, their disgrace and the emptying of their ruin, and about acquittal and condemnation. But what was said, “the land of the ungodly will perish,” means their body, which is from the earth: it will be consigned with shame to the earth, because they did not worship God, and they will fall into the fire with punishment. For in the Twelve Prophets too it is said thus: “See, you despisers, and look, and see wonders, and turn away and be separated, for I am working a work in your days which you will not believe” … and by these more things were said about the unbelievers, those who do not believe in the resurrection, and about those who deny and did not worship God, and about transgressors and the heathen, that they will see the glory of the faithful and turn away, so that the unbelievers may perish in the fire. But we have learned to believe, through the resurrection of our Lord from the dead, that our promise too is sure, and he who does not deceive is God himself. For the Savior himself was the pledge of our resurrection, since he rose first. For you who have been called from the heathen know that the heathen too read and hear of the future resurrection, told and proclaimed to them by the Sibyl thus: “But when all things have become dust and ashes, and God immortal, who kindled the fire, has quenched it, God himself will shape the bones and the ash again — he is the God of the living — and will set up mortals again as they were before. And then there will be judgment, God himself being judge, judging the world again; and those who sinned impiously, the earth will cover once more. But as many as acted piously will live again in the world, God giving them spirit and grace together, to the pious; for then all will see one another.” Not only by the Sibyl, beloved, was it said and made known concerning the resurrection, but also through the holy Scriptures. For the Lord foretold to Jews and Gentiles and Christians together, proclaiming the resurrection of human beings that will come from the dead; and through a dumb animal, that is, the phoenix, which is the only one of its kind, God has given us a clear demonstration of the resurrection. For if there were a pair or many, those many might seem to people a mere apparition. But as it is, it is seen when it arrives, because it is alone. For after five hundred years it comes into Egypt, to the place called the Altar of the Sun, carrying cinnamon, and prays toward the east, and is set on fire by itself and burned and becomes ash; and from the ash comes a worm, and this worm, growing, is formed and becomes again a perfect phoenix, and then it goes back again to the place from which it came. If, then, God shows us such an example of the resurrection even through a dumb animal, how much more should we, who believe in the resurrection and in God's promise, even if martyrdom comes upon us, as those counted worthy of such … incorruptible in eternal life, rejoicing at so great a gift and at the dignity of God's glory, that is, at martyrdom, hasten and willingly receive it with joy, believing the Lord God that he will raise us up glorified by his glory. Just as in the beginning God, commanding by his word, built the world, saying: “Let there be light, day, night, heaven, earth, sea, birds, fish, creeping things and four-footed beasts, trees,” and all things were created and formed by his word, as the Scripture also indicates, and creation itself by its obedience bears witness to God who made it, in that things were made from what did not exist, signifying the resurrection — so, as he made all things, much more will he give life to man, who is his own handiwork, and raise him up. For if he built the world out of what did not exist, more easily will he give life to man out of what exists and raise him up, since he is his handiwork, just as, forming man from seed in the womb, he renders him complete. If, then, he raises all human beings, as he says through Isaiah, “For all flesh shall see the salvation of God,” much more does he save and give life to his faithful. And again, raising up the more faithful among the faithful, those who have become martyrs, as stronger, in greater glory, he will adopt them as his counselors and save them; for to those who are simply his faithful disciples he has promised the glory of the stars, but to the martyrs the glory of the unfailing lights, the glory of eternal light shining through all time
Isa 26:19 (quotation, high confidence) · Hab 1:5 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Cor 15:20 (echo, medium confidence) · Gen 1:3 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 40:5 (quotation, high confidence) · Dan 12:3 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The resurrection is taught by the prophets, foreshadowed even by the Sibyl and by the phoenix, and guaranteed by Christ's resurrection, so believers should welcome martyrdom, for which a greater glory is promised.
- Quotations: Isa 26:19 (in a form close to the Greek); Hab 1:5 (cf. Acts 13:41); Isa 40:5 (Luke 3:6); the Sibylline Oracles 4.181–190 in Latin; Gen 1 summarized. The phoenix story is told as in 1 Clem. 25. “Has quenched” renders uitauerit (uncertain). Text is lost at two points, marked “…”. The promise of greater glory to martyrs is translated as written; the glory of the stars recalls Dan 12:3. Leaked apparatus and margin numerals removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR letter slip; OCR letter slips; OCR slips and margin numeral; OCR word division; bracket debris; hyphenation debris; leaked apparatus and margin numeral; text lost here; margin numeral; margin numeral inside a split word; margin numeral; text lost here; margin numerals; stray mark): XXXIX—XXXXII. dicit dominus → dicit dominus; resurXXXIX gent → resurgent; ali- os → alios; [aleuacuatione → euacuatione; non colwerunt → non coluerunt; credetis, XXXIX dem → credetis, … dem; repromissione met → repromissionem et; audijunt XXXX a Scbylla → audiunt a Sibylla; cinzs → cinis; 'ossa → ossa; ’formabit → formabit; SHt tune → Et tunc; ’Quanti → Quanti; simul et XXXX gratiam → simul et gratiam; a Szbylla → a Sibylla; scrip- turas → scripturas; manifest[ale → manifestam; maXXXXI gis → magis; digni sumus XXXXI (ol. [privs 857]; Quat. VII, p. 9) incorruptam → digni sumus … incorruptam; uluificans → uiuificans; disciXXXXIT puli → discipuli; glo- riam → gloriam.
Extrabiblical texts: Sib. Or. 4.181–190 (Sibylline Oracles; quotation); 1 Clem. 25 (1 Clement; echo)
Topics: Eschatology, Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Did. Apost. 5.7.2 (Hauler, 56–60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didascalia-apostolorum/5-7-1/#p-5-7-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Public-domain English translation published as it stands (Decision log 2026-10-01, route 2): R. H. Connolly, Didascalia Apostolorum: The Syriac Version Translated and Accompanied by the Verona Latin Fragments (Oxford: Clarendon, 1929). English only; Connolly's parallel Latin, footnotes, apparatus, and cross-reference markers are not taken. Divided by Funk's book.chapter, as marked in Connolly's text.
5.7.3Connolly, 176–178
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
and for the neuter plur. ‘ea... facta sunt’. _ 20-21 saluat (et?] Unless we should read ‘saluans’. 23 adoptauit] With z for 4, raise him up: for lo, he is but sown in the earth.’ 29 has promised] As disciples of Christ, therefore, let us believe that we shall receive from Him all the good things which He has promised us in the life everlasting ; and so let us imitate all His teaching and His patience. For as touching His birth from a virgin, and His coming, and the will of His passion, we have assurance through His holy Scriptures, even as the prophets foreannounced and foretold all things concerning His coming, and all have been accomplished and established in our hearts: for even the demons, trembling before His name, lauded His advent. Concerning those, therefore, which have come to pass of the things we have already mentioned, you also have believed and have been fully assured; but we yet more, who were with Him and have seen Him with our eyes, and have eaten with Him, and have been made the associates and witnesses of His coming. As touching also His great and unspeakable gifts which He is yet to give us, according as He has promised, let us believe and hope that we shall receive them ; for (by this) is all our faith put to the proof, if we believe in (those) His promises which are yet to be (fulfilled). If then we are called to martyrdom for His name, and go forth from the world confessing (Him), we shall be pardoned all sins and offences, and shall be found pure. For He spoke in David concerning the martyrs thus: Blessed are they whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute his sins. |v. 8] Blessed therefore are the martyrs, and clear of all offences; for they have been removed and taken away from all iniquity: as He said in Isaiah of Christ and of His martyrs: Behold, the righteous (man) ts perished, and therets none thatunderstandeth ; and godly men are taken away, and no man layeth tt to heart. For the righteous is gathered up from the presence of evil: and his burial shall be in peace. |v. 9] Now these things are said of those who bear witness for the name of Christ. on IO on Io But again, sins are forgiven by baptism also to those who from the Gentiles draw near and enter the holy Church of God. Let us inquire also, to whom sins are xotimputed. To such us Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the patriarchs, as also to the martyrs. Let us hear then, brethren, for the Scripture saith: Wo shall boast himself and say: I am clear of sins? Or who shall be confident and say: I am innocent? And again: There is no man pure of defilement: not though his life be but one day. To every one therefore who believes and is baptized his former sins have been forgiven ; but after baptism also, provided that he has not sinned a deadly sin nor been an accomplice (thereto), but has heard only, or seen, or spoken, and is thus guilty of sin. But if a man go forth from the world by martyrdom for the name of the Lord, blessed is he; for brethren who by martyrdom have gone forth from this world, of these the sins are covered.
Notes and citation
Cite (SBL): Did. Apost. 5.7.3 (Connolly, 176–178; trans. R. H. Connolly, 1929, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didascalia-apostolorum/5-7-1/#p-5-7-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
inscription 5
5.10Connolly, 178–180
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Concerning the Pascha and the Resurrection of Christ our Saviour. Wherefore, a Christian ought to keep himself from vain speech and from words of levity and profanity. For not even on Sundays, in which we rejoice and make good cheer, is it permitted to any one to speak a word of levity or one alien to religion: as our Lord also teaches us in the Psalm by David, saying thus: And now, ye kings, understand ; and be IO-II but after baptism] Comp. Hermas Mand. iv 3. 1 ff. 11 provided that] C : S has ‘not’, which does not construe: H has shortened and altered the passage. On the meaning of the word see note to p. 55,1. 24. I3 But if, etc.] Cf. Hermas Sz. ix 28. 3 more eraboy dia dvopa ctor mapa TO Oe@, kai rovrov ai duapria apypeOnaar, Ori &raDoy Sid Svopa ToU viot Tov cov. CHAP. XXI. The headline is in the margin of S, together with the note Pay wellattention here’. Similar calls to attention appear twice again in the margins of this chapter, addressed, it would seem, to scribes rather than to the reader. ~ o = or instructed, all ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto him with trembling. Give ye heed to discipline, lest the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the way of justice: for his wrath will shortly be kindled against you. Blessed are all they that trust on him. We must conduct our festivals and our rejoicings, then, with fear and trembling ; for a faithful Christian, it saith, must not sing the songs of the heathen, nor have anything to do with the laws and doctrines of strange assemblies ; for it may happen that through (their) to songs he will make mention also of the name of idols, which God forbid that it should be done by the faithful;
Notes and citation
Cite (SBL): Did. Apost. 5.10 (Connolly, 178–180; trans. R. H. Connolly, 1929, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didascalia-apostolorum/5-7-1/#p-5-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
5.11Connolly, 180
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
for the Lord by Jeremiah upbraids certain folk and speaks thus: They have left me, and have sworn by them that be no gods. And again He saith: Zf Israel will return, let him return unto me, saith the Lord; and if he will put away his abominations out of his mouth, and will fear before my face, and swear, As the Lord liveth. And again He saith: J will take away the name of idols out of your mouth, And by Moses again He saith to them: Tey have provoked me to jealousy by that which no god ; and with their idols they have angered me. And in all the Scriptures He speaks of these things.
Notes and citation
Cite (SBL): Did. Apost. 5.11 (Connolly, 180; trans. R. H. Connolly, 1929, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didascalia-apostolorum/5-7-1/#p-5-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
5.12Connolly, 180
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And not by idols only is it not lawful for the faithful to swear, but neither by the sun, nor by the moon ; for the Lord God speaks by Moses thus: My people, if ye shall see the sun and the moon, ye shall not be led astray by them, and ye shall not serve them: for these have been given you for light upon the earth. And by Jeremiah again He saith: Ye shall not learn according to the ways of the gentiles ; and ye shall not fear the signs of heaven. And by Ezekiel He speaks thus: Aud he brought me in to the court of the house of the Lord, between the porch and the altar. And I saw there men whose backs were toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east: and they were worshipping the sun. And the Lord said unto me: Son of man, is this a light thing to the house of Judah to do these abominations which they do here, that they have filled the earth with iniquity, and have turned again to provoke me to anger? And they are become as scoffers: but I will deal (with them) in wrath ; and mine eye shall not spare, and I will not have mercy. And they shall cry in mine ears with a loud voice, and I will not hear them. You see, our beloved, how sternly ro and bitterly sentence is passed on those who worship the sun or swear thereby, that the Lord should deal in His wrath. Therefore it is not lawful for a believer to} swear, neither by the sun nor by any other of the signs of heaven or the elements ; nor to make mention with his mouth of the name of idols; nor to utter a curse out of his mouth, but rather blessings and psalms and (words from) the dominical and jdivine Scriptures, which are the firm foundation of our faith: and especially in the days of the Pascha, wherein all the faithful throughout the world fast;"as our Lord and Teacher said when they asked Him: Why do Fohn’s disciples fast, but thine fastnot? And he answered and said to them: The sons of the bridechamber cannot fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them : and then they shall fast in those days. But now by His working is He with us, but visibly He is absent, because He has ascended to the heights of heaven and sat at the right hand of His Father.
Notes and citation
Cite (SBL): Did. Apost. 5.12 (Connolly, 180; trans. R. H. Connolly, 1929, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didascalia-apostolorum/5-7-1/#p-5-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
5.13Connolly, 180–182
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Wherefore, when you fast, pray and intercede for LI R ` H omits all after ‘filled the earth with iniquity’, but quotations are frequently curtailed in this MS. 18-20 in the days of the Pascha . . . fast] Cf. Tertullian de Zezuzzo 2 ‘Certe in euangelio illos dies ieiuniis determinatos putant, in quibus ablatus est sponsus, et hos esse solos legitimos ieiuniorum Christianorum '. or I o them that are lost; as we also did when our Saviour suffered.
Notes and citation
Cite (SBL): Did. Apost. 5.13 (Connolly, 180–182; trans. R. H. Connolly, 1929, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didascalia-apostolorum/5-7-1/#p-5-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown