Didascalia Apostolorum
The whole work on one page. Select a passage number to open that passage with its notes, Scripture references, and citation.
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
0Connolly, 2
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
TRANSLATION OF THE SYRIAC WITH THE LATIN FRAGMENTS THE CATHOLIC-DIDASCALDIAX THAT IS TEACHING OF . THE. TIWELVE-SHOLY. “APOSTLES: AND DISCIPLES OF OUR SAVIOUR Gop’s planting and the holy vineyard of His Catholic Church, the elect, who rely on the simplicity of the fear of the Lord, who by their faith inherit His everlasting kingdom, who have received the power and fellowship of His Holy Spirit, and by Him are armed and made firm in the fear of Him, who are become partakers zz the sprinkling of the pure and precious blood of the Great God, Jesus Christ, who have received boldness to call the Almighty God Father, as joint heirs and partakers with His Son and His beloved : hear the Didascalia of God, you that hope and wait for His promises, which hath been written after the command of our Saviour and is in accord with His glorious words.
inscription 1, chapter 1
1.1.1Connolly, 2
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Give heed, children of God, and do all things so that you be obedient to God ; and be you pleasing in all things to the Lord our God. For if any man run after iniquity and be contrary to the will of God, the same shall be accounted unto God as heathen and ungodly. Flee therefore and depart from all avarice and evil dealing. And you shall not desire that -
1.1.2Hauler, 3–4
et nihil concupiscitis; nam et in lege scriptum est: Non concupisces uxorem proximi tui aut puerum aut puellam eius; quoniam omne, quod tale est, desiderium de maligno est. Qui enim desiderauerit uxorem proximi aut puerum aut puellam eius, iam adulter et fur est et ut corruptor iudicatus a domino et doctore nostro Iesu Christo, cui est gloria in saecula; amen. Dicit enim in euangelio recapitulans et confirmans et conplens decalogum legis, quoniam in lege scribtum est: ‘Non moechaberis; ego autem dico uobis (id est: in lege per Moysen locutus sum, nunc autem ipse uobis dico): ‘Omnis, quicumque intenderit in mulierem proximi sui ad concupiscendum eam, in corde suo, iste iudicatus est moechus, quoniam desiderauit. Qui autem bouem aut asinum concupiscit proximi sui, nonne furare et abducere cogitat ea? Aut hic iterum, qui agrum desiderat, non id malignatur, ut terminos eius inuadens cogitat eum pro nihilo ei distrahere rem suam? Propter haec igitur homicidia, mortes, condemnationes ad eos, qui tales sunt, subsecuntur. His autem hominibus, qui oboediunt Deo, una lex est sinplex, uera, sine quaestione Christianis constituta: Itaque quod tibi fieri ab alio non uis, tu alio ne feceris. Non uis uxorem tuam ut quis attendat in malo ad corrumpendum eam; nec tu proximi tui mulierem adtendas in malo. Non uis palleum tuum ab alio tolli; nec tu alio tuleris. Non uis uulnerari aut iniuriam pati aut detractari de te; nec tu alio ita facies. Sed maledicat te quis;
… and covet nothing; for in the law too it is written: “You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or his maidservant”; for every desire of this kind is from the evil one. For whoever has desired his neighbor's wife, or his manservant or his maidservant, is already an adulterer and a thief, and is judged a corrupter by our Lord and Teacher Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever; amen. For he says in the Gospel, summing up, confirming, and fulfilling the ten commandments of the law, that in the law it is written: “You shall not commit adultery”; “but I say to you” (that is: in the law I spoke through Moses, but now I myself say to you): “Everyone who looks at his neighbor's wife to desire her in his heart” — such a one is judged an adulterer, because he desired. And whoever covets his neighbor's ox or ass, does he not intend to steal them and drive them off? Or again, the one who desires a field, does he not plot evil in this, that, encroaching on its boundaries, he intends to make the owner part with his property for nothing? Because of such things, then, murders, deaths, and condemnations follow upon those who are of this kind. But for those who obey God there is one law, simple, true, and established for Christians beyond dispute: “What you do not wish to be done to you by another, do not do to another.” You do not wish anyone to look at your wife with evil intent to corrupt her; neither should you look at your neighbor's wife with evil intent. You do not wish your cloak to be taken by another; neither should you take another's. You do not wish to be wounded or wronged or slandered; neither shall you do so to another. But if someone curses you,
inscription 1
1.2Hauler, 4–5
tu benedic illum, quoniam scribtum est in libro Numerum: Qui benedicit, benedicetur, et qui maledicit, maledictus erit. Propterea similiter et in euangelio scribtum est: Benedicite maledicentes uos. Eos, qui uos nocent, nolite renocere, sed sustinete, quoniam dicit scribtura: Ne dicas: ‘Noceam inimicum meum, quoniam me nocuit’, sed sustine, ut dominus tibi adiuuet et uindictam faciat super eum, qui te nocuit. Nam iterum in euangelio dicit: Diligite odientes uos et orate pro maledicentibus uos et inimicum nullum habebitis. Intenti igitur simus mandatis istis, dilectissimi, ut fili lucis inueniamur, cum ea agimus.
bless him, for it is written in the book of Numbers: “He who blesses shall be blessed, and he who curses shall be cursed.” Likewise in the Gospel also it is written: “Bless those who curse you.” Do not harm in return those who harm you, but endure, for the Scripture says: “Do not say, ‘I will harm my enemy, because he harmed me,’ but endure, so that the Lord may help you and take vengeance on the one who harmed you.” For again in the Gospel he says: “Love those who hate you, and pray for those who curse you, and you will have no enemy.” Let us therefore be attentive to these commandments, beloved, so that we may be found children of light when we do them.
1.3Connolly, 8–12
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Teaching every man that he should please his wife alone; and that he should not adorn himself and become a cause of stumbling to women; and that he should not love idleness ; and that he should occupy himself with the Scriptures of life, and avoid profane writings and the bonds of the Second Legislation ; and that he should not bathe in a bath with women; and that he should not give himself to the vice of harlots. Bear with one another, O servants and sons of God. Let not a man despise or contemn his wife, nor be lifted up against her ; but let him be merciful, and let his hand be open to give. And let him please his wife alone, and cherish her with honour ; and let him study to be loved by her alone, and by none other. Adorn not thyself that a strange woman may see and desire thee. And if indeed thou be constrained by her and sin with her, death in fire shall come upon thee of a surety from God, even that which abides for ever, which is in sore and bitter fire; and thou shalt know and understand when thou art grievously tormented. But if thou do not this uncleanness, but put her from thee and deny her: in this only hast thou sinned, that by thy adornment thou hast caused the woman to be taken with the desire of thee; for thou hast caused her, to whom it so happened by reason of thee, to com- mit adultery through her desire. But not so art thou under sin, because thou didst not desire her: but there shall be mercy upon thee from the Lord, because thou didst not deliver thyself to her nor consent to her when she sent unto thee, neither in thought didst thou turn thyself to that woman who was taken with the desire of thee: but she on a sudden encountered thee, and was stricken in her thought and sent unto thee ; but thou as a godfearing man didst deny her and avoid her, and didst not sin with her; but she was stricken in her heart, because thou art young and fair and comely, and didst adorn thyself and cause her to desire thee: and thou art found to be guilty of the sin of her to whom it so happened by reason of thy adornment. But entreat of the Lord God that sin be not ascribed to thee on this account. And if thou wouldst please God and not men, and lookest and hopest for the life and rest everlasting, adorn not thy natural beauty which is given thee from God, but with humility of neglect make it mean before men. In like manner also thou shalt not nourish the hair of thy head, but do thou shear it off; and thou shalt not comb and adorn it, nor anoint it, lest thou bring upon thee such women as ensnare, or are ensnared, by lust. Neither shalt thou put on fine raiment, nor be shod on thy feet with shoes which are fashioned according to the lust of folly; nor shalt thou put upon thy fingers rings of gold device: for all these things are the wiles of harlotry, and every thing that thou dost apart from nature. For to thee, a faithful man of God, it is not permitted to nourish the hair of thy head and to comb and smooth it, which is a wantonness of lust; neither shalt thou arrange and adorn it, nor adjust it so that it may be beautiful. And thou shalt not destroy the hairs of thy beard, nor alter the natural form of thy face and change it to other than God created it, because that thou desirest to please men, But if thou do these things, thy soul shall be deprived of life, and thou shalt be rejected before the Lord God. Asa man there- fore who would please God, take heed thou do no such things ; and avoid all those things which the Lord hateth.
1.4Connolly, 12
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And thou shalt not stray and go about idly in the streets and see the vain spectacle of those who behave themselves evilly ; but be thou always attending to thy craft and thy work, and be willing to do those things that are pleasing to God; and thou shalt be meditating constantly upon the words of the Lord.
1.5Connolly, 12
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if thou art rich and hast no need of a craft whereby to live, thou shalt not stray and go about vacantly; but be ever constant in drawing near to the faithful and to them that are like-minded with thee, and be meditating and learning with them the living words. And if not, sit at home and read the Law, and the Book of Kings and the Prophets, and the Gospel the fulfilment of these.
inscription 1, chapter 6
1.6.1Connolly, 12
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But avoid all books ofthe heathen. For what hast thou to do with strange sayings or laws or lying prophecies, which also turn away from the faith them that are young? For what is wanting to thee in the word of God, that thou shouldst cast thyself upon these fables of the heathen? If thou wouldst read historical narratives, thou hast the Book of Kings ; but if wise men and philosophers, thou hast the Prophets, wherein thou shalt find wisdom and understanding more than that of the wise men and philosophers; for they are the words of the one God, the only wise. And if thou wish for songs, thou hast the Psalms of David; but if (thou wouldst read of) the beginning of the world, thou hast the Genesis of the great Moses; and if laws and commandments, thou hast *the glorious Law* of the Lord God. All strange (writings) therefore, which are contrary (to these), wholly avoid. Yet when thou readest the Law, beware of the Second Legislation, that thou do but read it merely ; but the commands and warnings that are therein much avoid, lest thou lead thyself astray and bind thyself with the bonds which may not be loosed of heavy burdens. For this cause therefore, if thou read the Second Legislation, consider this alone, that thou know and glorify God who delivered us from all these bonds. And have this set before thine eyes, that thou discern and know what [in the Law] is the Law, and what are the bonds that are in the Second Legislation, which after the Law were given to those who, in the Law and in the Second Legislation,
1.6.2Hauler, 6–7
quanta eis inposuit onera. Lex autem est, quae locutus est dominus Deus, antequam populus uitulum faceret et ad idolatriam conuerteretur, id est decalogus et iudicia. Et ea autem, quae post idolatriam eis mandauit et digne ut legationes inposuit, tu autem tibi uincula noli adtrahere. Nam saluator noster propter nihil aliud uenit, nisi ut legem inpleat et uincula secundationis legis infirmaret. Unde eos, qui de plebe ei crediderunt, soluens ab ipsis uinculis ita eos uocauit dicens: Uenite ad me omnes, qui laboratis et honerati estis. Tu ergo, qui sine [h]onere es et legis sinplicem et euuangelio consonantem legem et ipsud euuangelium et Prophetas nec non et Regnorum, scire debes ex ipsis, quia quanticumque justi fuerunt reges, a domino multiplicati sunt in hoc saeculo, et repromissio perpetuae uitae eis in regno Dei permanet, quanticumque autem reges idololatrae et praeuaricatores fuerunt, a Deo pessime in celeritate perierunt et a regno Dei alienati sunt et pro refrigerio poenam exceperunt. Ergo haec cum leges, ualde poteris in fide crescere et aedificari. Et iterum, cum in foro ambulas, balneas uiriles utere, ut non, cum ostendis corpus tuum reuelatum in confusione, et tu in
… what great burdens he laid on them. Now the law is what the Lord God spoke before the people made the calf and turned to idolatry, that is, the ten commandments and the judgments. As for what he commanded them after the idolatry, and justly laid on them as bonds, do not draw those bonds upon yourself. For our Savior came for no other reason than to fulfil the law and to weaken the bonds of the second legislation. Hence, releasing from these bonds those of the people who believed in him, he called them thus, saying: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened.” You, therefore, who are without the burden, read the simple law, which agrees with the Gospel, and the Gospel itself, and the Prophets, and also the books of Kingdoms, and you must learn from them that however many kings were righteous were made to prosper by the Lord in this world, and the promise of eternal life remains for them in the kingdom of God; but however many kings were idolaters and transgressors perished most miserably and swiftly at God's hand, and were estranged from the kingdom of God, and received punishment instead of refreshment. So when you read these things, you will be able to grow greatly in faith and be built up. And again, when you walk in the forum, use the men's baths, so that you do not, by showing your body uncovered to your shame, yourself also
inscription 1, chapter 7
1.7.1Hauler, 7–10
laqueo incidas et facile facias mulierem in te laqueari. Obserua ergo, ne talia agas, et uiuis Deo. Discamus uero, in Sapientia quid dicat sanctum uerbum: Fili, custodi mea uerba et mea mandata absconde aput te ipsum; fili, honora Deum et ualebis plus, et absque illo alium ne timeas. Custodi mea mandata et bene poteris uiuere, mea autem uerba sicut pupillam oculi: inpone digitis tuis et scribe ea in latitudine cordis tui. Dic sapientiam sororem tuam esse, notam autem prudentiam fac tibi, ut te custodiat a muliere aliena et maligna, si te uerbis gratiosis coeperit abalienare [et maligna, si te uerbis gratiosis coeperit abalienare]. De fenestra enim domus suae in plateis prospiciens, ‘quemcumque uiderit iuuenem insipientem transeuntem per angulum itinere domus eius et loquentem in tenebris uespertinis, cum nocturna quies est, “mulier autem ei occurrit speciem habens meretricis, quae facit iuuenum euolare corda; “luxuriosa est autem et effrenata, in domo autem non quiescunt pedes eius: “tempore enim aliquo foris uagatur, tempus autem in plateis per omnes angulos obsedet. Et post haec adpraehendens osculata est eum, inruborato autem uultu dicit ad eum: “‘Sacrificium pacificum mihi est, hodie reddo uota mea. “Propter hoc exii in occursu tuo, desiderans faciem tuam, inueni te. “Institis extendi lectum meum, tapetis autem straui ab Aegypto; “asparsi lectum meum de croco, domum autem meam de cinnamomo. Ueni et fruamur amicitias usque ad lucem, ueni, inuoluamur in amore. “Non enim est maritus meus in domo, abiit iter longum ligaturam pecuniae accipiens in manu sua; post dies multos ueniet in domo sua’. Seduxit autem illum per multam loquellam, laqueis autem labiorum adtraxit eum. “Quique secutus eam est percussus, sicut bos ad occisionem ducitur et ut canis ad ligaturam et sicut ceruus sagitta percussus in hepar; festinat autem sicut auis in laqueo nesciens, quoniam de anima est ei certamen. Nune igitur, fili, audi me et intende uerbis oris mei: Ne declinet in itinere cor tuum; multos enim plagans occidit et sine numero sunt, quos interfecit; “in itinere inferorum domus eius deducens in inferiora mortis. Fili, meae sapientiae intende et meo intellectu offer[t] aurem tuam, ut custodias cogitationem bonam; sensus autem labiorum meorum mando tibi. Noli intendere fallaci mulieri; mel enim destillat de labiis mulieris meletricis, quae ad tempus quidem inpinguat fauces tuas; ‘postea uero amariorem felle inuenies et acutiorem magis quam gladius … cent eos, qui utuntur eam, cum morte in infernum; uestigia autem eius non uidentur; ‘itinera enim uitae non sequitur; fallaces autem uiae eius et non bene cognitae. ‘Nune igitur, fili, audi me et noli infirmos facere meos sermones. Longe fac ab illa tuum iter, noli adcedere ad portas domus eius, ut non prodas aliis uitam tuam et tuam conuersationem his, qui sine miseriuiribus et tui labores ueniant in domos alienorum “et penitearis in ultimis, cum deterentur carnes corporis tui; "et tunc dicis: ‘Quomodo [h]odio habui disciplinam … non audiebam uocem obiurgantis me nec opponebam aurem meam?
fall into the snare and easily cause a woman to be ensnared by you. Take care, then, not to do such things, and you will live to God. Let us learn what the holy word says in Wisdom: “My son, keep my words and hide my commandments with you; my son, honor God and you will be strong, and besides him fear no other. Keep my commandments and you will be able to live well, and my words as the pupil of your eye; bind them on your fingers and write them on the breadth of your heart. Say that wisdom is your sister, and make understanding your acquaintance, that she may guard you from the strange and evil woman, if she begins to lead you astray with gracious words. For from the window of her house, looking out into the streets, whatever foolish young man she sees passing by the corner on the way to her house, talking in the evening darkness, when it is the quiet of night — a woman meets him, having the look of a harlot, who makes the hearts of young men flutter; she is wanton and unbridled, and her feet do not rest in her house; for at one time she wanders outside, at another she lies in wait in the streets at every corner. And after this, seizing him, she kissed him, and with a shameless face she says to him: ‘I have a peace offering; today I pay my vows. Therefore I came out to meet you, longing for your face; I have found you. I have spread my bed with coverings, I have laid it with rugs from Egypt; I have sprinkled my bed with saffron, and my house with cinnamon. Come, let us enjoy friendship until morning; come, let us embrace in love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey, taking a bag of money in his hand; after many days he will come home.’ And she led him astray with much talk, and drew him with the snares of her lips. And he followed her, struck, as an ox is led to slaughter, and as a dog to the leash, and as a stag struck with an arrow in the liver; he hastens like a bird into the snare, not knowing that the struggle is for his life. Now then, my son, hear me and attend to the words of my mouth: let not your heart turn aside into her way; for she has wounded and slain many, and those she has killed are without number; her house is the way to the underworld, leading down to the chambers of death.” “My son, attend to my wisdom and offer your ear to my understanding, that you may keep good thought; and I commit to you the perception of my lips. Do not attend to a deceitful woman; for honey drips from the lips of a harlot woman, which for a time fattens your throat; but afterward you will find it more bitter than gall, and sharper than a sword … [it leads down] those who use her, with death, into the underworld; and her footsteps are not seen; for she does not follow the paths of life, and her ways are deceitful and not well known. Now then, my son, hear me and do not make my words of no effect. Keep your way far from her; do not draw near to the doors of her house, lest you give over your life to others, and your living to those who are without mercy, … and your labors come into the houses of strangers, and you repent at the last, when the flesh of your body is worn away; and then you will say: ‘How I hated discipline! … I did not hear the voice of the one who reproved me, nor did I incline my ear.’”
1.7.2Connolly, 20
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
in thine old And that we prolong not and extend the admonition of our teaching with many (words), if we have left anything, do you as wise men choose for yourselves those things that are good from the holy Scriptures and from the Gospel of God, that you may be made firm, and may put away and cast from you all evil, and be found blameless in life everlasting with God.
inscription 1, chapter 8
1.8.1Connolly, 20–24
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
An instruction to women, that they should please and honour their husbands alone, caring diligently and wisely for the work of their houses with attention; and that they should not bathe with men; and that they should not adorn themselves and become a cause of stumbling to men and ensnare them; and that they should be chaste and quiet, and not quarrel with their husbands. And let a woman also be subject to her husband; because the head of the woman is the man, and the head of a man that walks in the way of justice zs Christ. After the Lord Almighty, our God and the Father of the worlds, of the present and of that which is to come, and the Lord of every breath and of all powers, and His living and Holy Spirit—to whom is glory and honour for evermore, Amen—woman, fear thy husband and reverence him, and please him alone, and be ready to minister to him ; and let thy hands be (put forth) to the wool, and thy mind be upon the spindle, as He saith in Wisdom: A valiant woman who shall find? For she is more worth than goodly stones of great price; and the heart of her husband relieth upon her, and provision is not wanting to her. For she is a helper to her husband in all things, and causeth that nothing be wanting to him in his living. She made wool and linen with her ready hands. She is become a good provider, as a merchant ship, and hath gathered all her riches from afar. She rose up in the night and gave victuals to her household, and work to her handmaids. ' She looked upon a field, and bought it; and of the fruits of her hands she planted a possession. " She girded her loins with strength, and made firm her arms, and tasted that it ts good to work: and her lamp was not put out all the night long. Her arms she stretched forth with diligence, and her hands to the spindle. Her hands she extended to the poor, and of her fruits she gave to the needy. And her husband hath no anxiety for the house ; for all his household have been clothed with a double raiment. 22 She made for her husband garments of fine linen and scarlet : ?3 her husband is notable in the gates, when he sitteth in the seat of the elders. ?* She made in her house linen cloths and girdles, and sold to the Canaanites. Strength and comeliness are her raiment: and she shall rejoice im the last day. She opened her mouth with wisdom and with prudence, and her tongue speaketh orderly. ” The ways of her house are strict: and bread she hath not eaten slothfully. She opened her mouth in wisdom, rightly: and the law of mercy is upon her tongue. Her sons rose up and were enriched, and praised her: and she shall rejoice in them in her last days. Her husband also congratulated her: 9 and her many daughters have gotten riches. And many great things she did, and she was exalted above all the women: for a woman that feareth God shall be blessed, and the fear of the Lord shall glorify her. *' Give unto her of her fruits, which are worthy of her lips, and let her be praised in the gates: and in every place let her husband be praised. And again: A valiant woman ts the crown of her husband. You have heard, then, how great praise a chaste woman and one that loves her husband receives of the Lord God, one that is found faithful and is minded to please God. Thou therefore, O woman, shalt not adorn thyself that thou mayest please other men; and thou shalt not be plaited with the tresses of harlotry, nor put on the dress of harlotry, nor be shod with shoes so that thou resemble them that are such; lest thou bring upon thee those who are ensnared by these things. And if thou sin not thyself in this work of uncleanness, yet in this thou wilt have sinned, that thou hast constrained and caused that (man) to desire thee. But if thou also sin, thou hast destroyed thy life from God, and art become guilty also of the soul of that (man). And moreover, when thou hast sinned with one, thou wilt grow reckless and go also to others ; as in Wisdom He said: When the wicked ts come to the depth of evil, he contemneth and groweth reckless: and there cometh upon him dishonour and reproach. For one who is such that she is wholly stricken in her soul and taken with desire, leads captive the souls of them that lack understanding. But let us learn concerning these also, how the holy word in Wisdom exposes them; for it saith thus: As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so ts beauty to a woman that doeth evil. And again: As a worm in wood, so doth an evil woman destroy aman. And again: A woman void of understanding and boastful cometh to want bread, and knoweth no shame. For she sitteth in the street, by the door of her house, upon a high chair, and calleth to them that pass by the way, and to them that walk in her paths, and saith: 6 Whoso among you is a simpleton, let him draw nigh to me; and to him that wanteth understanding I will say: Touch lovingly the hidden bread, and stolen waters that are sweet. ' And he knoweth not that valiant men perish with her, and come even to the depth of Sheol. But flee thou, and tarry not in that place ; and lift not up thine eyes to look upon her. And again: It zs better to sit upon a corner of the roof than to dwell with a prating and quarrelsome woman within the house.
1.8.2Hauler, 13
Deorsum adtendens iter tuum confice undique ita te cooperiens. Declina autem et balneum, ubi uiri lawantur, quod superfluum est mulieri; nam etsi non fuerit in ciuitate uel in regione balneum, in eo balneo, ubi uiri lawantur, mulier fidelis non lawetur.
… Walk with your eyes turned downward, covering yourself thus on every side. Avoid also the bath where men wash, which is superfluous for a woman; for even if there is no bath in the city or the district, a faithful woman shall not wash in the bath where men wash.
inscription 1
1.9Hauler, 13–14
Si enim uultum tuum uelas, ut ab alienis uiris non uidearis, quomodo nuda cum alienis uiris in balneo ingrederis? Si autem [non] est balneum muliebre, quod utaris, et uis contra naturam cum uiris lauari, cum disciplina et cum reuerentia, cum mensura laware. In talibus enim balneis non frequenter lauetur nec diu lauetur nec in meridie, sed [et, si potest fieri, nec per singulos dies. Hora autem sit tibi superflue illius balnei decima; oportet enim te constitutam fidelem ab omni parte oculorum aspectum et conuentionem, quae in tali balneo fit, fugire.
For if you veil your face so as not to be seen by strange men, how can you go into the bath naked with strange men? But if there is no women's bath for you to use, and you are minded, contrary to nature, to wash with men, wash with discipline, with modesty, and in moderation. In such baths let her not wash often, nor long, nor at midday, and, if it can be managed, not every day. Let the tenth hour be your hour for that bath, which is a superfluous thing; for you, being one of the faithful, must flee on every side the gaze of eyes and the gathering that takes place in such a bath.
1.10Hauler, 14–15
Ne autem sis litigiosa ad omnes, praeterea aduersus uirum tuum, excide hoc malum a te, quoniam fidelis es, ut uir tuus, si est fidelis aut gentilis, propter te non cogatur blasfemare in Deum, et tu uae hereditaris aput Deum: Uae, inquid, per quem nomen Dei blasphematur inter gentes; si autem fidelis est uir tuus, cogatur dicere, ut sciens scribturas, quod scriptum est in Sapientia: Melius est habitare in deserto quam cum tur per confusione)m et mansuetudinem religionem ostendite ad csionem et fidei auctum de ethnicis quanticunque siue uiri sunt siue mulieres. Et si pau… res et filiae et membra nostra, tamen sicut sapientes et uos quae bona sunt et sine reprehensione quaerite uitae istius documenta, ut sciatis, per quae possitis regno Dei nostri propinquare et bene placentes repausare.
Do not be quarrelsome toward everyone, and least of all toward your husband; cut this evil away from you, because you are one of the faithful, so that your husband, whether he is a believer or a heathen, may not be driven by you to blaspheme against God, and you inherit a woe from God: “Woe,” he says, “to the one through whom the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles.” But if your husband is a believer, he will be driven to say, knowing the Scriptures, what is written in Wisdom: “It is better to live in the desert than with …” … show modesty and meekness and religion, for the conversion and increase of faith among the heathen, as many as they are, whether men or women. And if … sisters and daughters and our members, nevertheless, as wise women, you too seek what are good and blameless lessons for this life, that you may know by what means you may draw near to the kingdom of our God and, being well-pleasing, find rest.
inscription 2, chapter 1
2.1.1Hauler, 15–16
Pastor, qui constituitur in uisitatione praesbyteri et in ecclesiis omnibus et parrociis, oportet eum sine querella esse, inreprehensibilem, alienum ab omni iniquitate, uirum non minus annorum cinquaginta, quoniam per quandam rationem iuuenilis luxurias et diabolica uitia aufugisse iam uidetur et ab eis, quae a falsis fratribus in multos iactantur, blasfemiis, qui ignorant uerbum Dei, quod in euuangelio est: Quoniam, inquid, qui dixerit uerbum otiosum, reddet rationem pro eo domino in die iudicii. De uerbis enim tuis, ait, iustificaberis et de uerbis tuis condemnaberis. Sit igitur, si possibile est, ad omnia eruditus; et si sine litteris est, sed notitiam habens uerbi diuini et stabilis aetate. Si autem in parocia modica ordinandus est episcopus et non inuenitur, qui tempora aetatis iam transisse uideatur et testimonium habere et sapiens, est autem iuuenis et testimonium habet ab his, qui cum eodem sunt, quia dignus est ad episcopatum, et per iuuenilem aetatem per mansuetudinem et bonam conuersationem senectutem ostendit, probetur et, si ab omnibus tale testimonium habet, constituatur episcopus in pace. Nam et Salomon duodecim annorum constitutus regnauit in Istrahel et Iosias in iustitia octo annorum constitutus regnauit, similiter et Iosias, cum esset septem annorum, regnauit. Unde, etiamsi iuuenis est, tamen ut mansuetus sit, timidus et quietus, quoniam dicit per Eseiam dominus Deus: Super quem respiciam, nisi super mansuetum et quietum et trementem uerba mea semper? Similiter et in euangelio dicit ita: Beati mansueti, quia ipsi hereditabunt terram. Sit autem et misericors, quoniam dicit: Beati misericordes, quia ipsis miserebitur Deus. Similiter et pacificus, quoniam iterum dicit: Beati pacifici, quoniam fili Dei uocabuntur. Sit autem et sine malitia et
The shepherd who is appointed to the oversight of the presbytery in all the churches and parishes must be without reproach, blameless, a stranger to all iniquity, a man not less than fifty years old, since by then he will in some measure seem to have escaped youthful lusts and the vices of the devil, and the blasphemies that are flung at many by false brothers, who do not know the word of God that is in the Gospel: “Whoever,” he says, “speaks an idle word will give account for it to the Lord on the day of judgment. For by your words,” he says, “you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Let him therefore, if possible, be learned in all things; and if he is unlettered, let him at least have knowledge of the divine word and be of settled age. But if a bishop is to be ordained in a small parish and no one is found who appears to have passed those years and has a good testimony and is wise, but there is a young man who has testimony from those who are with him that he is worthy of the episcopate, and who, though of youthful age, shows the maturity of old age by meekness and good conduct, let him be tested, and if he has such testimony from all, let him be appointed bishop in peace. For Solomon also was made king at twelve years and reigned over Israel, and Josiah, appointed at eight years, reigned in righteousness; likewise Joash also reigned when he was seven years old. So even if he is young, let him nevertheless be meek, fearful, and quiet, for the Lord God says through Isaiah: “Upon whom shall I look, but upon the meek and quiet and the one who always trembles at my words?” Likewise in the Gospel he says thus: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Let him also be merciful, for he says: “Blessed are the merciful, for God will have mercy on them.” Likewise also a peacemaker, for again he says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” And let him also be without malice and
2.1.2Connolly, 32
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
evil and wrong and iniquity; for He saith again: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
inscription 2
2.2Connolly, 32
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And let him be watchful and chaste and staid and orderly; and let him not be turbulent, and let him not be one that exceeds in wine ; and let him not be a backbiter ; but let him be quiet, and not be quarrelsome ; and let him not be money-loving. And let him not be youthful in mind, lest he be lifted up and fall into the judgement of Satan: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled. But it is required that the bishop be thus: aman that hath taken one wife, that hath governed his house well. And thus let him be proved when he receives the imposition of hands to sit in the office of the bishopric : whether he be chaste, and whether his wife also be a believer and chaste; and whether he has brought up his children in the fear of God, and admonished and taught them ; and whether his household fear and reverence him, and all of them obey him. For if his household in the flesh withstand him and obey him not, how shall they that are without his house become his, and be subject to him?
2.3Connolly, 32
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And let him be proved whether he be without blemish in the things of the world, and likewise in his body ; for it is written: See that there be no blemish in him that standeth up to be priest. But let him be also without anger ; for the Lord saith: Anger destroyeth even the wise. And let him be merciful and gracious and full of love; for the Lord saith: Love covereth a multitude of sins.
2.4Connolly, 32–34
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And let his hand be open to give; and let him love the orphans with the widows, and be a lover of the poor and of strangers. And let him be alert in his ministry, and constant in ministration; and let him be afflicting his soul, and not be one that is put to confusion. And let him know who is the more worthy to receive; for if there be a widow who has (somewhat), or is able to nourish herself with that which she needs for her bodily sustenance; and there be another who, though she is not a widow, is in want, whether by reason of sickness, or of the rearing of children, or of bodily infirmity: to this (latter) rather let him stretch out his hand. But if there be any man who is dissolute, or drunken, or idle, and he be in straits for bodily nourishment, the same is not worthy of an alms, neither of the Church.
2.5Connolly, 34–36
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And let the bishop be also without respect of persons, and let him not defer to the rich nor favour them unduly ; and let him not disregard or neglect the poor, nor be lifted up against them. And let him be scant and poor in his food and drink, that he may be able to be watchful in admonishing and correcting those who are undisciplined. And let him not be crafty and extravagant, nor luxurious, nor pleasure-loving, nor fond of dainty meats. And let him not be resentful, but let him be patient in his admonition ; and let him be assiduous in his teaching, and constant in reading the divine Scriptures with diligence, that he may interpret and expound the Scriptures fittingly. And let him compare the Law and the Prophets with the Gospel, so that the sayings of the Law and the Prophets may be in accord with the Gospel. But before all let him be a good discriminator between the Law and the Second Legislation, that he may distinguish and show what is the Law of the faithful, and what are the bonds of them that believe not; lest any one of those under thy authority take the bonds for the Law, and lay upon himself heavy burdens, and become a son of perdition. Be diligent 3 sustenance] H: ‘old age’ S (with change of one letter). ui therefore and attentive to the word, O bishop, so that, if thou canst, thou explain every saying: that with much doctrine thou mayest abundantly nourish and give drink to thy people; for it is written in Wisdom: Be careful of the herb of the field, 8 that thou mayest shear thy flock: and gather the grass of summer, that thou mayest have sheep for thy clothing: give attention and care to thy pasture, that thou mayest have lambs.
2.6Connolly, 36
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Let not the bishop therefore be a lover of filthy lucre, and especially from the heathen. Let him be suffering a wrong, and not doing a wrong; and let him not love riches. And let him not think ill of any man, nor bear false witness ; and let him not be wrathful, nor quarrelsome; and let him not love the presidency; and let him not be double-minded nor double-tongued, nor given to incline his ear to words of Slander and murmuring; and let him be no respecter of persons. And let him not love the festivals of the heathen, nor occupy himself with vain error. And let him not be lustful, nor money-loving: for all these things are of the agency of demons. Now all these things let the bishop command and enjoin upon all the people. And let him be wise and lowly ; and let him be admonishing and teaching with the doctrine and discipline of God. And let him be of a noble mind, and aloof from all the evil artifices of this world, and from all as the evil lust of the heathen. And let his mind be keen to discern, that he may know beforehand them that are evil: and do you keep yourselves from them. But let him be the friend of all, being a righteous judge. And whatever of good there be that is found in men, let the same be in the bishop. For when the pastor shall be remote from all evil, he will be able to constrain his disciples also and encourage them by his good manners to be imitators of his good works; as the Lord has said in the Twelve Prophets: The people shall be even as the priest. For it behoves you to be an example to the people, for you also have Christ for an example. Be you therefore also a good example to your people, for the Lord said in Ezekiel: ! And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: ? Son of man, speak to the sons of thy people, and say unto them: When I bring the sword upon a land, let the people of that land take one man from among them and make him their watchman: ? aud. he shall see the sword coming upon the land, and shall blow the trumpet and warn the people; ? and every one that heareth the sound of the trumpet shall give ear. And if he take not warning, and the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his head. Because he heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning, his blood shall be upon his head. But he that took warning hath delivered his soul. 95 But if the watchman see the sword coming, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned, and the sword come and take away a soul from them: he hath been taken away in his sins, and his blood will I require at the hands of the watchman. Now the sword is the judgement, and the trumpet is the Gospel, but the watchman is the bishop who is set over the Church.
inscription 2, chapter 7
2.7.1Connolly, 36
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
It behoves thee therefore, O bishop, when thou preachest, to testify and affirm concerning the judgement according as it is (found) in the Gospel. For to thee also has the Lord said: And thee, son of man, I have set as a watchman to the house of Israel; that thou mayest hear a word from my mouth, and give warning and preach it as from me. And when I say to the ungodly: The ungodly shall surely die, and thou preach not and say that the ungodly should depart from his iniquity: the ungodly shall die in his iniquity, and at thy hands will I require his blood. But if thou warn the ungodly from his way, and he take not warning: the ungodly shall die in his iniquity, and thou shalt deliver thy soul. Wherefore you also, since to your account is laid the blame of them that sin in ignorance, do you preach and testify ; and those who behave themselves without discipline admonish and rebuke openly. Now whereas we speak and repeat these things often, we are not blameworthy ; for through much teaching and hearing it happens that a man is put to shame, and does good and avoids evil. For the Lord also said in the Law: Hear, O Israel; and unto this day they have not heard. And in the Gospel likewise He often proclaims and says: Avery one that hath ears to hear, let him hear. But not even they have heard who thought that they heard; for they cast them-
2.7.2Hauler, 17
das heresis cito deuenerunt, de quibus continuo dicetur. Non enim credimus, fratres, lotum quemquam adhuc agere gentilium execrandas iniquitates, quoniam notum est omnibus, quod, si quis peccauerit iniquum aliquid post baptismum, hic in gehenna condemnatur. Suspicamur autem et blasfemari nos a gentilibus eo, quod iam non eis miscemur nec compopulamur … tatem fratres nostri adsecuti sunt, de qui-
… they quickly fell into heresies, of which we shall speak presently. For we do not believe, brothers, that any one of you still practices the accursed iniquities of the heathen, since it is known to all that if anyone has committed some iniquity after baptism, he is condemned to Gehenna. We suspect, however, that we are also blasphemed by the heathen because we no longer mingle with them or share their life … our brothers have attained, of whom
inscription 2
2.8Hauler, 17–18
bus dictum est in euuangelio: Beati eritis, cum inproperauerint uobis et dixerint omne malum contra uos mentientes. Gaudete et laetamini, quoniam merces uestra magna est in caelis; sic enim persecuti sunt profetas. Si quis ergo blasfematur per mendacium, beatus est, quoniam temptatur. Dicit enim scriptura: Uir, qui non est temptatus, non est probatus a Deo. Si qui autem conuictus fuerit, quia egit aliquit iniquum, qui talis est, non est Christianus, magis autem per hypocrisim domino mentitus est. Unde ab his, qui tales sunt, cum conuicti fuerint, uerius cum fiducia se abstineat episcopus, qui sine offensione est et non accipiat personam.
… it was said in the Gospel: “Blessed will you be when they reproach you and say every evil against you falsely. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven; for so they persecuted the prophets.” If, then, anyone is slandered falsely, he is blessed, because he is being tested. For the Scripture says: “A man who has not been tested has not been approved by God.” But if anyone is convicted of having done some iniquity, such a one is not a Christian, but rather has lied to the Lord by hypocrisy. Hence from such people, once they have been convicted, let the bishop, who is without offence and shows no partiality, keep himself apart all the more, with confidence.
2.10Hauler, 18–19
Si autem et ipse non est bonae conscientiae et personam acceperit propter quoddam turpe lucrum et pepercerit ei, qui inique peccat, et permittit eum in ecclesia manere, hic conquinauit ecclesiam suam ad Deum et ad homines et multos neofitos et catecuminos et iuuenes et iuniores puellas perdet cum eo. Per intemperantiam suam sine sensu effecti, uidentes enim, qui talis est, inter se incipient discernere aput se et imitari eum, et ipsi scandalizabitur, et participes esse et infirmitatis eius peribunt cum eo. Si autem uiderit hic, qui peccat, episcopum et diaconos innocentes et alienos a crimine et gregem mundum constitutum, primum quidem non usurpat contemnere et ingredi in synagogam per conscientiam suam semet ipsum repraehendens; si autem inuentus fuerit inerubidus et non confundatur et ingressus fuerit ecclesiam, arguitur et corripitur ab episcopo; circumspiciens singulos et in nullo offendiculum inueniens tam episcopum quam eos, qui cum eo sunt, confusus cum grandi reuerentia et fletu egredietur pacifice stupens, et manet mundatus grex et ille egrediens flebit ad Deum et penitebitur de his, quae egit, et habebit spem et tota grex, cum uiderit lacrimas illius, correptionem aput se sentit, quoniam qui peccat perit. Propterea igitur, episcope, festina, ut mundus sis ex operibus, et agnoscere locum tuum, quoniam in omnipotentis uirtute positus es, obseruans similitudinem Dei omnipotentis.
But if he himself is not of good conscience, and shows partiality for the sake of some shameful gain and spares the one who sins wickedly, and allows him to remain in the church, he has defiled his church before God and men, and will destroy with himself many neophytes and catechumens and young men and younger girls. Made senseless by his lack of restraint, seeing what kind of man he is, they will begin to reason among themselves and to imitate him, and they themselves will stumble, and, sharing in his weakness, they will perish with him. But if the one who sins sees the bishop and the deacons innocent and free of crime, and the flock established pure, first he will not presume to despise them and enter the assembly, reproving himself in his conscience; but if he is found shameless and is not abashed and enters the church, he is rebuked and corrected by the bishop; and, looking around at each one and finding no stumbling block in anyone, the bishop or those with him, he will go out quietly, ashamed, with great reverence and weeping, astounded; and the flock remains cleansed, and he, going out, will weep before God and repent of what he has done, and will have hope; and the whole flock, when it sees his tears, will take the correction to itself, knowing that the one who sins perishes. Therefore, O bishop, hasten to be pure in your works, and to recognize your place, because you are placed in the power of the Almighty, keeping the likeness of God Almighty.
inscription 2, chapter 13
2.13.1Hauler, 19–20
Et ita in ecclesia sede uerbum faciens quasi … uerbum potestatem habens iudicare pro Deo eos, qui peccauerunt, quoniam uobis episcopis dictum est per euuangelium: Quodcumque ligaueritis super terram, erit ligatum et in caelo. Iudica, episcope, cum fiducia ut Deus, sed paenitentes
And so sit in the church, speaking the word as one who … the word, having authority to judge in God's place those who have sinned, since to you bishops it was said through the Gospel: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven also.” Judge, then, O bishop, with confidence, as God; but the penitent
2.13.2Connolly, 42–44
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
with an oath promised forgiveness to them that have sinned, as He said in Ezekiel: And thou, son of man, say to the house of Israel: Ye have said thus: Our crimes and our sins are upon us, and in them we are wasted away: how then can we live? Say unto them: As I live, saith the Lord Adonai, I desire not the death of the sinner, but that the wicked return from his evil way and live. Return, therefore. and be converted from your evil ways, and ye shall not die, O house of Israel. Here, then, He gave hope to them that sin, when they shall have repented, that they may have salvation by their repentance, and may not despair of themselves and continue in their sins and further add to them, but may repent and sigh and weep for their sins, and be converted with all their heart. But let them that have not sinned continue without sin, lest they also come to have need of weeping and sighs and sorrow, and of forgiveness. For whence knowest thou, O man that sinnest, how many are the days of thy life in this world, that thou mayest repent? For thou knowest not thy exit from the world, whether haply thou die in thy sins and there be no more repentance for thee ; as it is said in David: Jz Sheol who shall confess to thee? Wherefore he remains without danger, whosoever spares his soul and remains without sin: so that the righteousness also which was done by him in time past may be preserved to him. Do thou therefore, O bishop, thus judge: first of all strictly ; and afterwards receive (the sinner) with mercy and compas- sion, when he promises to repent. And rebuke and afflict him, and (afterwards) be entreated of him,
inscription 2, chapter 14
2.14.1Connolly, 44
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
because of the word which is spoken in David thus: Deliver not up the soul that confesseth to thee. And in Jeremiah again He speaks thus concerning the repentance of them that sin: Shall he that zs fallen not rise up? or he that is turned away not return? Wherefore are my people turned away with a shameless perversion, and are held fast in their own devices, and have refused to repent and to return? For this cause, then, receive him that repents without hesitating ever so little; and be not hindered by those who are without mercy, who say: ‘It is not fitting that we should be defiled with these.’ For the Lord God has said: The fathers shall not die for the sons, nor the sons for the fathers. And again in Ezekiel He speaketh thus : And the word of the Lord came unto me saying: Son of man, if a land sin against me, and do iniquity before me, I will stretch forth my hand against her, and will destroy out of her the staff of bread, and will send a famine upon her, and will destroy out of her men and beasts. But if there be in her these three men, Noah and Daniel and Fob, they by their righteousness shall deliver their souls, saith the Lord Adonai. The Scripture, then, has shown clearly that if there be found a righteous man with an ungodly, he shall not perish with him, but every man shall be saved by his righteousness: and if he is hindered, it is by his own sins that he is hindered. And again in Wisdom He saith: Every man ts tied with the cord of his sins. Each one therefore of the laity is to render an account of his own sins; and a man is not hurt by reason of tn the sins of others. For neither did Judas harm us at all when he was praying with us, but he alone perished. And in the ark, Noah and his two sons who were saved alive, they were blessed ; but Ham, his other son, was not blessed, but his seed was cursed; and the animals that went in, animals they came forth. It behoves you not therefore to hearken to those who desire (to put to) death, and hate their brethren and love accusations, and are ready to slay on any pretext: (for one shall not die for another). But do you help them that are sore sick and exposed to danger and are sinning, that you may deliver them from death ; and (do) not according to the hardness of heart and the word and thought of men, (but according to the will and command of the Lord our God). For it behoves thee not, O bishop, that being the head thou shouldst obey the tail, that is a layman, a contentious man who desires the "destruction of another; but do thou regard only the word of the Lord God. And concerning this, that (men) are not to suppose that they perish or are defiled by the sins of others, He again cut off their evil thought, and by Ezekiel also the Lord our God spoke thus: ! And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: ? Son of man, why use ye this proverb in the land of Israel, and say: The fathers do eat sour grapes, and their sons teeth are on edge? ?.As I live, saith the Lord Adonai, there shall no more be any that useth this proverb in Israel. For all the souls are mine: as the soul of the father ts mine, so also ihe soul of the son is mine. The soul that sinneth, the same shall die. And a man, if he be righteous, and do judgement and righteousness, *and eat not upon the 2-6 And in the ark, etc.] xai ev 77 kai of viol tmnpxov,
2.14.2Hauler, 21–23
iudicium et iustitiam, in montibus non manducabit et oculos suos non extollet ad desideria domus Istrahel et uxorem proximi sui non contaminabit et ad mulierem menstruatam non accedet ‘et hominem inopem non deprimet et pignus debentis reddet et rapinam non rapiet et panem suum esurienti dabit et nudum operiet tunicam et pecuniam suam in usuram non dabit et superabundantiam non accipiet et ab iniustitia auertet manum suam, iudicium iustum faciet inter uirum et inter proximum eius et in praeceptis meis ambulauit, iustificationes meas custodiuit, ut faceret eas: iustus est hic, uita uiuet [ut faceret eas: iustus est hic, uita uiuit], dicit Adonai dominus. Et si genuerit filium pestem, effundentem sanguinem et facientem peccata: “in uia patris sui iusti non ambulauit, sed in montibus manducauit et uxorem proximi sui contaminauit “et mendicum et pauperem depressit et rapinam rapuit et pignus non reddidit et in simulacra adposuit oculos suos, iniquitatem fecit, “cum usura dedit et superabundantiam accepit: hic uita non uiuet, omnes has iniquitates fecit, morte moriatur, sanguis eius super ipsum erit. “Si autem genuerit filium et uiderit omnia peccata patris sui, quae fecit, et timuerit et non fecerit secundum ista: “in montibus non manducauit et oculos suos non posuit ad desideria domus Istrahel et uxorem proximi sui non contaminauit “et hominem inopem non depressit et pignus non pignerauit et rapinam non rapuit, panem suum esurienti dedit et nudum operuit uestimento “et ab iniquitate auertit manum suam, usuram et superabundantiam non accepit, iustitiam fecit et in praeceptis meis ambulauit: non morietur in patris sui iniquitatibus, uita uiuet. “Pater autem eius, si tribulationem tribulauerit et rapuerit rapinam, contraria fecit in medio populo meo, et morietur in sua iniquitate. “Et dicitis: ‘Quid est, quod non recepit iniquitatem patris filius?’ Quia filius iustitiam et misericordiam fecit, omnia legitima mea conseruawit et fecit ea, uita uiuet. Anima autem, quae peccat, ipsa morietur; filius uero non accipiet iniustitiam patris sui neque pater accipiet iniustitiam fili sui; iustitia iusti super ipsum erit et iniquitas iniqui super ipsum erit. “Et iniquus, si conuertat se ab omnibus iniustitiis suis, quas fecit, et custodiat omnia mandata mea et faciat iustitiam et misericordiam, uita uiuet et non morietur. Omnia delicta eius, quaecumque fecit, non erunt in memoriam: in sua iustitia, quam fecit, uita uiuet. "Numquid uoluntate uolo mortem iniusti, dicit dominus Deus, quam ut auertat se a uia sua mala et uiuat? Cum se autem auerterit iustus a sua iustitia et ambulauit non morietur sui iniquitatibus uita uiuet si morietur in sua
… judgment and righteousness, he will not eat on the mountains, nor lift up his eyes to the desires of the house of Israel, nor defile his neighbor's wife, nor approach a menstruous woman; and he will not oppress a poor man, and will restore the debtor's pledge, and will not commit robbery, and will give his bread to the hungry and cover the naked with a tunic; and will not give his money at usury, nor take increase, and will turn his hand from injustice, will execute true judgment between a man and his neighbor, and has walked in my precepts and kept my ordinances, to do them: this man is righteous, he shall surely live, says Adonai the Lord. And if he begets a son who is a pestilence, shedding blood and committing sins, who has not walked in the way of his righteous father, but has eaten on the mountains and defiled his neighbor's wife, and oppressed the beggar and the poor, and committed robbery and not restored the pledge, and set his eyes on idols, has done iniquity, has lent at usury and taken increase: he shall not live; he has done all these iniquities; let him surely die; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he begets a son, and he sees all the sins of his father which he committed, and is afraid and does not do the like: has not eaten on the mountains, nor set his eyes on the desires of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbor's wife, nor oppressed the poor man, nor exacted a pledge, nor committed robbery, has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing, and has turned his hand from iniquity, has not taken usury and increase, has done righteousness and walked in my precepts: he shall not die for his father's iniquities; he shall surely live. But his father, if he has afflicted with affliction and committed robbery, has done what is contrary in the midst of my people, shall die in his iniquity. And you say: ‘Why is it that the son has not borne the iniquity of the father?’ Because the son has done righteousness and mercy, has kept all my statutes and done them, he shall surely live. But the soul that sins, it shall die; the son shall not bear the injustice of his father, nor shall the father bear the injustice of his son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the iniquity of the wicked shall be upon himself. And the wicked, if he turns away from all his injustices that he has done, and keeps all my commandments, and does righteousness and mercy, he shall surely live and shall not die. None of his offenses that he has committed shall be remembered: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. Do I indeed desire the death of the unjust, says the Lord God, rather than that he should turn from his evil way and live? But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness and …
inscription 2, chapter 15
2.15.1Hauler, 23–25
… fecerit iniquitatem secundum omnes iniquitates, quas fecit iniquus, omnes iustitiae eius, quas fecit, non erunt in memoria; in delicto suo, quo execédit, et in peccatis suis, quibus peccauit, in ipsis morietur. “Et dixistis: ‘Non dirigit uia Domini’. Audite nunc omnes, domus Istrahel: Numquid uia mea non dirigit? Cum conuertet se iustus a sua iustitia et faciet delictum et morietur in delicto, quo fecit: in ipso morietur. “Et in conuertendo se iniqus ab iniquitate sua, quam fecit, et faciet iudicium et iustitiam: hic animam suam custodiuit. Et odit et auertit se ab omnibus iniquitatibus suis, quas fecit: uita uiuet et non morietur. Et dicent domus Istrahel: ‘Non corrigit uia[m] domini’. Numquid uia mea non corrigit, domus Istrahel? Nonne uia uestra non corrigit? Ideoque unumquemque secundum uiam ipsius iudicabo, domus Istrahel, dicit Adonai dominus: Conuertimini et auertite uos ab omnibus inpietatibus uestris et non erunt uobis in poenam iniquitatis. “Proicite a uobis omnes inpietates uestras, quas inpie fecistis in me, et facite uobis cor nouum et spm nouum: et ut quid moriemini, domus Istrahel? Quoniam nolo mortem morientis, dicit Adonai dominus, sed conuertimini, ut uiuatis’. Uidete, filioli, dilectionem nostram et quomodo misericors est dominus Deus noster et in nos bonus et amabilis et
… commits iniquity according to all the iniquities that the wicked man has done, all his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered; in the offense in which he went astray and in the sins that he sinned, in them he shall die. And you said: ‘The way of the Lord is not straight.’ Hear now, all you house of Israel: Is my way not straight? When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits an offense and dies in the offense he committed, in it he shall die. And when the wicked turns from his iniquity that he has done, and does judgment and righteousness, he has kept his soul. And he has hated and turned away from all his iniquities that he has done: he shall surely live and shall not die. And the house of Israel will say: ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Is my way not right, house of Israel? Is it not your way that is not right? Therefore I will judge each one according to his own way, house of Israel, says Adonai the Lord. Turn and turn yourselves away from all your impieties, and they shall not be to you for a punishment of iniquity. Cast away from you all your impieties which you have impiously committed against me, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit; and why will you die, house of Israel? For I do not desire the death of the one who dies, says Adonai the Lord; but turn, that you may live.” See, little children, our love, and how merciful the Lord our God is, and good and kind toward us, and
2.15.2Connolly, 50–52
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
have sinned to repent. And in many places He speaks of these things; and He gives no place to the thought of those who are hard of heart and wish to judge strictly and without mercy, and to cast away altogether them that have sinned as though there were no repentance for them. But God (is) not so, but even sinners He calls to repentance and gives them hope; and those who have not sinned He teaches, and tells them that they should not suppose that we bear or partake iu the sins of others. Simply, then, receive them that repent, rejoicing. For He spoke again in the same prophet concernro ing repentance thus: ? And thou, son of man, say to the sons of thy people: The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day that he doeth wickedly ; and the iniquity of the ungodly shall not hurt him in the day that he returneth from his iniquity: and the righteous cannot live in the day that he sinneth. And when I shall say to the righteous that he shall surely live, and he rely upon his righteousness and do iniquity: all his righteousness shall not be remembered unto him, but for the iniquity which he hath done, for the same he shall die. \* And when I shall say to the ungodly: Thou shalt zo surely die; and he turn from his sin and do judgement and righteousness, and return the pledge which he hath taken, and restore that which he hath robbed, and walk in the judgements and commandments of life so that he do no iniquity: he shall surely live and not die, 9 and all his sins which he sinned shall z; not be remembered unto him: he hath done judgement and righteousness, he shall surely live. And the sons of thy people say: The way of the Lord Adonai is not well. Say unto them: It is your own ways are not well: ?? for if the righteous shall turn away from his righteousness and do iniquity, he shall zo surely die for his iniquity; “and if the ungodly shall turn away from his iniquity and do judgement and righteousness, for the same he shall live. It behoves you then, O bishops, to judge according to the Scriptures those who sin, with gentleness and with mercy. For if, when a man is walking by the brink of a river and is ready to slip, thou by suffering him (to slip) hast thrust (and) cast him into the river, thou hast also committed murder. But if a man were to slip on the brink of a river and be near to perish, thou wouldst quickly reach out a hand to him and draw him out, lest he perish altogether. So do therefore (with the sinner); that both thy people may learn and understand, and he also that sins may not utterly perish.
inscription 2
2.16Connolly, 52–54
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But when thou hast seen one who has sinned, be stern with him, and command that they put him forth ; and when he is gone forth let them be stern with him, and take him to task, and keep him without the Church ; and then let them come in and plead for him. For our Saviour Himself also was pleading with His Father for sinners, as it is written in the Gospel: My Father, they know not what they do, neither what they speak: but if it be possible, do Thou forgive them, And then do thou, O bishop, command him to come in, and examine him whether he be repentant. And if he is worthy to be received into the Church, appoint him days of fasting according to his offence, two or three weeks, or five, or seven; and so dismiss him that he may depart, saying to him whatever is right for admonition and instruction ; and rebuke him, and say to him that he be by himself in 16 ? (Cf. Lk. xxiii 34, Mt. xxvi 39, I Tim. i 7). 2-4 For if... committed murder] I am not sure that my rendering of humiliation, and that he beg and beseech during the days of his fast that he may be found worthy of the forgiveness of sins : as it is written in Genesis: Hast thou sinned? be silent: thy repentance shall be with thee, and thou shalt have power over tt. To Mary the sister of Moses also, when she had spoken against Moses, and afterwards repented and was held worthy of forgiveness, it was said of the Lord: Zf her father had but spit in her face, it were right for her to be ashamed, and to be separate seven days without the camp, and then to come in. So it behoves you also to do: to put forth from the Church those who promise to repent of their sins (for a space) proportionate to their offences: and afterwards do you receive them as merciful fathers.
2.17Connolly, 54
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if the bishop be in himself a (cause of) offence, how can he stand up and make inquisition of any man’s misdeeds, or rebuke him and give sentence upon him? For by reason of partiality, or of the presents which they receive— either he or the deacons, whose conscience is not pure—they (the deacons) cannot exert themselves to help the bishop ; for ao they are afraid lest they should hear (from the sinner), as from an insolent man, that word which is written in the Gospel: Why seest thou the mote that ts in thy brother's eye, and percetvest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam from thine eye; and then shalt thou perceive to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye. The reason, then, that the bishop, with his deacons, is afraid, (is) lest they should hear from the sinner, as from an insolent man, that 3 Hast thou sinned ? etc.] ypapres; nobxacov’ droarpody avrov, word of the Lord. For he knows not that it is a perilous thing for a man to speak against the bishop, and that he (the bishop) may be made an offence throughout the whole of that district. For one who has been sinning lacks understanding, and no more spares his soul. Hence, for whatever cause it be that the bishop is afraid, he feigns not to have knowledge of him who sins, and passes him over and rebukes and corrects him not. And hence Satan, when he has found him an occasion by means of one, gets power over others also—which God forbid that it should come about— and so it ro happens that the flock becomes such that it can no longer be set right. For when there are found many that sin, evil waxes strong; and whereas they that sin are not corrected and reproved that they should repent, this becomes to all an inducement to sin: and that which is said is fulfilled: My house ts is called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. But if the bishop keeps not silent from them that sin, but rebukes and reproves and corrects and admonishes and afflicts him that sins, he casts dread and fear upon others also. For it behoves the bishop to be by his doctrine a restrainer of sins and an example and encourager of righteousness, and by the admonition of his teaching a director of good works, and one who lauds and magnifies the good things which are to come and are promised by God in the place of life everlasting : a proclaimer also of the wrath to come in the judgement of God, with threatening of the grievous fire which is unquenchable and intolerable. And let him know the meaning of God's will, that he despise no man; because our Saviour has said: See that ye despise not any of these little ones that believe Zn me.
inscription 2, chapter 18
2.18.1Connolly, 54–56
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Let the bishop therefore be careful of all, both of them that have not sinned, that they may continue as they are without sin, and of them that have sinned, that they may repent, and that he may grant them forgiveness of sins, as it is written in Isaiah that the Lord saith: Loose every bond of iniquity, and sever all bands of violence and extortion. CITAPTER VII To Bishops. Do thou therefore, O bishop, teach and rebuke, and loose by forgiveness. And know thy place, that it is that of God Almighty, and that thou hast received authority to forgive sins. For to you bishops it was said: Al that ye shall bind on earth, it shall be bound in heaven; and all that ye shall loose, it shall be loosed. As therefore thou hast authority to loose, know thyself and thy manners and thy conversation in this life, that they be worthy of thy place. But without sin there is none among men, for it is written: Tere is no man pure of defilement, not even though his life in the world be but one day. Therefore the life and manner of conversation of the just men and patriarchs was written, that it might be known that in each one of them there was found at least some small sin ; that it might be understood that the Lord God alone is without sin, as He said in David: That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and prevail in thy judgements. For the little defilement of the just is to us a solace and an encouragement, and a (source of) trust that we also, if we sin but a little, have a hope of obtaining forgiveness. There is no man, then, without sin. But do thou strive according to thy power to be zz nothing reproachable. And have a care of all, that none may stumble and perish by reason of thee. For a layman has the care of himself alone, but thou carriest the burden of all. And very great is the load that thou bearest; for to whom the Lord hath given much, much also will he require at his hand. As therefore thou carriest the burden of all, be watchful; for it is written: The Lord said unto Moses: Thou and Aaron shall take upon you the sins of the priesthood. For as thou art to render an account for many, so be careful of all; for those that are sound thou shalt preserve, but those that have sinned do thou admonish and rebuke and afflict ; and (afterwards) ease them with forgiveness. And when he that sinned has repented and wept, receive him; and while the whole people prays over him, lay hand upon him, and suffer him henceforth to be in the Church. But those who are drowsy and slack do thou bring back and stir up and make firm, and exhort them and make them sound: for thou knowest what reward thou hast if thou do thus; but if thou neglect it, danger shall come upon thee; for the Lord spoke thus in Ezekiel concerning those bishops who neglect their people : 1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: ? Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord Adonai: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel, who feed themselves ; and my sheep the shepherds have not fed. The milk
2.18.2Hauler, 26–28
congregabo illas ab omni loco, in quo dispersae erant illic in die nubis et globi. “Et educam illos de nationibus et congregabo eos de regionibus omnibus et inducam illos in terram ipsorum et pascam illos in montibus Istrahel et in conwallibus et in omni habitatione terrae. “In pascua bona pascam illos, in monte alto Istrahel; et erunt cubilia eorum illic et dormient et illic requiescent in deliciis optimis, in pascua pinguia pascentur in montibus Istrahel. “Ego pascam oues meas et ego reficiam eas et scient, quod ego sum dominus’. Haec dicit dominus: Quod periit, requiram et, quod errat, conuertam et adtritum alligabo et, quod defecit, confortabo et, quod est forte, custodiam et pascam illas cum iudicio. “Et uos, oues’, haec dicit dominus Deus: ‘Ecce ego discernam inter ouem et ouem, arietem et hircum. Et non est uobis, quod bona pascua pascebatis et residua pascua pedibus uestris conculcabatis et decolatam aquam bibebatis et residuam pedibus uestris turbabatis? “Et oues meae conculcationem pedum uestrorum pascebantur et aquam turbatam pedibus uestris bibebant? Propterea haec dicit dominus Deus: “Ecce discerno inter medium ouis firmae et inter medium ouis infirmae. Lateribus et umeris uestris inpellebatis et omne, quod deficiebat, uexabatis. “Et liberabo oues meas et amplius non erint in direptionem et iudicabo inter medium arietis et arietem. Et suscitabo illis pastorem unum et reget eos seruus meus Dauid et erit eorum pastor; “et ego dominus ero illis in Deum et Dauid in medio eorum princeps: ego dominus locutus sum. Et disponam cum Dauid testamentum pacis et exterminabo bestias malas de terra et habitabunt in deserto et dormient in saltibus. Et dabo eis percircuitum montis mei et dabo uobis pluuiam benedictionis. “Et ligna, quae in campo sunt, dabunt fructum suum et terra dabit uires suas et habitabunt in terra sua in spe pacis et scient, quod ego sum dominus, dum contero iugum ipsorum; et eripiam eos de manu ipsorum, qui illos in seruitutem redigerunt, et amplius non erunt in direptionem nationibus et bestiae terrae amplius non manducabunt eos; et habitabunt in spe nec erit, qui exterreat eos. “Et suscitabo eis plantationem pacis et ultra non et non fient amplius obprobrium nationum. Et scient, quod ego sum dominus Deus ipsorum et ipsi populus meus. Domus Istrahel’, dicit dominus, ‘et uos gregis mei estis et ego dominus
… I will gather them from every place where they were scattered, on the day of cloud and darkness. And I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from all the countries, and bring them into their own land, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and in the valleys and in every inhabited place of the land. In good pasture I will feed them, on the high mountain of Israel; and their folds shall be there, and they shall sleep, and there they shall rest in the best delights, and they shall feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep and I will refresh them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.” Thus says the Lord: “What was lost I will seek, and what strays I will bring back, and the bruised I will bind up, and what has failed I will strengthen, and what is strong I will guard, and I will feed them with judgment. And you, my sheep,” thus says the Lord God, “behold, I will judge between sheep and sheep, ram and he-goat. Is it not enough for you that you fed on good pasture and trampled the rest of the pasture with your feet, and drank clear water and muddied the rest with your feet? And my sheep fed on what your feet had trampled, and drank the water muddied by your feet. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between the strong sheep and the weak sheep. With your flanks and shoulders you pushed, and harassed everything that was failing. And I will deliver my sheep, and they shall no longer be for plunder, and I will judge between ram and ram. And I will raise up for them one shepherd, and my servant David shall rule them and shall be their shepherd; and I the Lord will be their God, and David a prince among them: I the Lord have spoken. And I will make with David a covenant of peace and destroy the evil beasts from the land, and they shall dwell in the wilderness and sleep in the forests. And I will give them the places around my mountain, and I will give you the rain of blessing. And the trees in the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its strength, and they shall dwell in their land in hope of peace, and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break their yoke; and I will rescue them from the hand of those who reduced them to slavery, and they shall no longer be a prey to the nations, and the beasts of the earth shall no longer devour them; and they shall dwell in hope, and there shall be none to frighten them. And I will raise up for them a planting of peace, and no longer … and they shall no longer be a reproach among the nations. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and they my people. House of Israel,” says the Lord, “you also are of my flock, and I the Lord
2.18.3Connolly, 60
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
woods. ?9 And I will give to them round about my mountain a blessing; and I will send down rain in its season, and it shall be rain of blessing. ” And the trees of the field shall give their fruits, and the land shall give its increase. And they shall dwell in their land securely: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall cut the thongs of their yoke. And I will deliver them from the hand of them that subdued them, and they shall no more be for a prey to the peoples, and the beasts of the field shall no more devour them ; but they shall le down securely, and there shall be none to make them afraid. ? And I will establish for them a plantation for renown; and they shall no more be few and forsaken in the land, and they shall no more bear the shame of the peoples. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and they are my people of the house of Israel, saith the Lord Adonai. And ye my sheep, the sheep of my flock, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord Adonai.
inscription 2
2.19Connolly, 60
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Hear, then, ye bishops, and hear, ye laymen, how the Lord saith: Z will judge between ram and ram, and between ewe and ewe; that is, between bishop and bishop, and between layman and layman: whether layman loves layman,
2.20Connolly, 60–64
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
and whether again the layman loves the bishop and honours and fears him as father and lord, and (as) God after God Almighty ; for to the bishop it was said through the apostles: Every one that heareth you, heareth me; and every one that ag rejecteth you rejecteth me, and him that sent me: and again, whether the bishop loves the laity as his children, and cherishes and keeps them warm with loving care, as eggs from which young birds are to come; or broods over them and cherishes them as young birds, for the rearing up of winged fowl. Teach, then, and admonish all; and them that deserve rebuke, rebuke and afflict: but unto conversion and not unto destruction ; and admonish unto repentance and correct them, so that thou make their ways straight and fair, and order well the conduct of their life in the world. That which is whole preserve: that is, him that is established in the faith guard watchfully ; and shepherd the whole people in peace. And that which is weak strengthen: that is, to him that is tempted confirm with admonition. And that which is sick heal: that is, him that is sick with doubting of his faith, heal with doctrine. And that which is broken bind up: that is, him that is stricken or buffeted or broken by his sins, and halts from the right way, bind up; that is, with the exhorta- tion of admonition cure him, and lighten him of his transgressions, and comfort him and show him that there is hope for him; and bind him up and heal him and bring him into the Church. And that which is gone astray bring back: that is, him that was left in sins and was put forth for reproof, leave not without, but teach and admonish him, and bring him back and receive him into thy flock, that is, into the people of the Church. And that which is lost seek out: that is, him who by reason of the multitude of his transgressions has despaired and abandoned himself to destruction, suffer not to perish altogether, lest through utter neglect and indifference he fall asleep, and under the weight of his sleep forget his life, and hold aloof and depart from his flock, that is from the Church, and come to perdition. For when he shall be without the fold and removed from the flock, wolves will devour him while he is astray, and he will perish utterly. But do thou seek him out, and admonish and teach him, and bring him back; and visit him, and encourage him to be wakeful, and let him know that there is hope for him. And cut away this from men's thought, that they should say or imagine that which has already been rehearsed: Our crimes and our sins are upon us, and in them we are wasted away: how then can we live? For they ought not to say or to imagine these things; and they are not to think that their hope is cut off by reason of the multitude of their sins ; but they are to know that the mercies of God are many, for that with an oath and with gracious intent He has promised forgiveness to them that sin. But if a man sin and know not the Scriptures, and is not aware of the patience and mercy of God, and knows not the limit of forgiveness and repentance: by this very thing, that he is ignorant, he perishes. Do thou therefore as a compassionate shepherd, full of love and mercy and careful of his flock, visit and count thy flock, and seek that which is gone astray; as said the Lord God, Jesus Christ our good Teacher and Saviour: ‘Leave the ninety and nine upon the mountains, and go seek that one which is gone astray. And when thou hast found it, bear it upon thy shoulders, rejoicing because thou hast found that which was gone astray; and bring it and let it mix with the flock.’ So be thou also obedient, O bishop, and search out him that is lost, and seek him that is gone astray, and bring back him that is holding aloof. For thou hast authority zo forgive sins to him that offendeth; for thou hast put on the person of Christ. Wherefore our Saviour also said to him that had sinned: Thy sins are forgiven thee: thy faith hath saved thee alive: go in peace. Now ‘peace’ is the Church of tranquillity and rest, into which He restored those whom He loosed from sins, sound (and) without blemish, having a good hope and earnest in exercises of labours and afflictions. For as a wise and compassionate physician He was healing all, and especially those who were Tgone astrayf in their sins; for they that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. And thou also, O bishop, art made the physician of the Church: do not therefore withhold the cure whereby thou mayest heal them that are sick with sins, but by all means cure and heal, and restore them sound to the Church. And be not reproached with this word which the Lord spoke: With force and with derision ye were subduing them.
inscription 2, chapter 21
2.21.1Connolly, 64
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Do not then use force, and be not violent, and pass not sentence sharply, and be not unmerciful; and deride not the people that is under thy charge, nor hide from them the word of repentance. For this is that, With force and with derision ye were subduing them, if thou deal harshly with thy lay folk, and correct them with force, and thrust and drive out and receive not (back) them that sin, but harshly and without mercy hide away repentance from them, and become a helper for the freturn of evil,t and for the scattering of the flock for meat to the beasts of the field, that is, to evil men of this world: nay, not to men in truth, but to beasts, to the heathen and to heretics. For to him who goes forth from the Church they presently join themselves, and like evil beasts devour him as meat. And by reason of thy harshness, he who goes forth from the Church
2.21.2Hauler, 30–32
ad gentiles reuertetur et omni modo ab ecclesia et ea, quae in Deo est spes, alienabitur et perditionis eius tu eris reus. Et cum paratissimus es eos, qui peccant, expellere et iam non reuersantes suscipis eos, incurras in uerbum domini, ubi dicit: Pedes illorum currunt ad malignitatem, ueloces ad effundendum sanguinem; contritio et infelicitas in uiis eorum et uiam pacis non cognouerunt. Uia autem pacis est saluator noster, qui et dicit nobis: Dimittite et dimittetur uobis, hoc est: Date remissionem peccatorum et recipietis. Nam et docuit nos incessanter orantes dicere: Remitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos remisimus debitoribus nostris. Si ergo non remiseris his, qui peccauerunt, quomodo recipies? Nonne econtra per tuum ipsius os te conligas dicens remisisse et non remisisti, sed interfecisti? Qui enim de ecclesia pellit eum, qui conuertitur, interficit eum pessime et sanguinem eius effundit sine misericordia. Si autem iustus iniuste a quoquam gladio interfectus fuerit, aput Deum in requie est in refrigerium; qui autem pellit de ecclesia et iam non suscipit, in aeternum pessime et amare interficit eum et perpetuo et pessimo igni in escam tradit eum, qui expulsus est, non adtendens ad misericordiam domini et reminiscens … tatem eius nec obiectans eos, qui tales sunt et in multitudine peccatorum in penitentia acciperunt remissionem a Deo. Oportet autem te, o episcope, ante oculos habere et ea, quae
… he will go back to the heathen and be utterly estranged from the church and from the hope that is in God, and you will be guilty of his destruction. And when you are all too ready to expel those who sin, and no longer receive them when they return, you fall under the word of the Lord where he says: “Their feet run to evil, swift to shed blood; ruin and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known.” Now the way of peace is our Savior, who also says to us: “Forgive, and it will be forgiven you,” that is: Give remission of sins and you will receive it. For he also taught us to say in our unceasing prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” If, then, you do not forgive those who have sinned, how will you receive forgiveness? Do you not rather bind yourself by your own mouth, saying that you have forgiven when you have not forgiven but have killed? For whoever drives out of the church one who is turning back kills him most cruelly and sheds his blood without mercy. For if a righteous man is unjustly killed by anyone with the sword, he is with God, in rest and refreshment; but whoever drives one out of the church and no longer receives him kills him cruelly and bitterly forever, and hands over the one who has been expelled as food for the everlasting and most cruel fire, not attending to the mercy of the Lord nor remembering his …, nor setting before him those who were of this kind and who, in a multitude of sins, received remission from God through repentance. You must also, O bishop, keep before your eyes the things that
inscription 2, chapter 22
2.22.1Hauler, 32–34
praecesserunt, simul ad scientiam sanitatis adhibere ad eos, qui corripiendi sunt et obtrectandi. Adhuc et ad iudicandum, ad conparationem causae, per multam doctrinam exquirere Dei uoluntatem, sicut ipse fecit, ita et nos oportet facere in iudiciis. [De Manasse. Audite, episcopi, adhuc haec, quae talia sunt, iuuamentum similitudinis. Scriptum est in quarto libro Regnorum et in secundo Paralipomenum, quod est praetermissarum, sic: ‘In diebus filius erat duodecim annorum Manasses, cum regnasset, et inperauit quinquaginta annos in Hierusalem; et nomen matris eius Epsiba. Et fecit malignum coram domino abominationibus gentilium, quos disperdidit dominus a facie filiorum Istrahel. Et conuersus est et aedificauit excelsa, quae distruxit Hzecias, pater ipsius, et constituit sculptilia Bahalim et eregit altarem Bahal et fecit condensa sicut fecit Achab, rex Istrahel, et fecit altaria omni militiae caeli et adorauit omnem uirtutem caeli. Et aedificauit altarem in domo domini, in qua dixit dominus: ‘In domo Hierusalem ponam nomen meum’. Et seruiit altaribus Manasses et dixit: ‘Sit nomen meum in aeternum’. Et aedificauit altaria omni … domini. “Et ipse transponebat filios suos per ignem in Gae-Banaemon et auguriabatur et maleficia faciebat et fecit sibi pitones et procantatores et praescios et multiplicauit facere malignum in oculis domini, ut inritaret eum. “Et posuit sculptilem et fusilem condensi imaginem, quam fecit in domo domini, in qua dixit dominus ad Dauid et ad Solomonem, filium eius: ‘In domo hac in Hierusalem elegi ex omnibus tribubus Istrahel et ponam nomen meum in aeternum et non adponam mouere pedem meum a terra Istrahel, quam dedi patribus ipsorum, ita tamen, si custodierint omnia … praeceptum, quod mandauit eis seruus meus Moyses’. Et non audierunt eum et seduxit eos Manasses, ut facerent malignum in oculis domini super gentes, quas abstulit dominus a facie filiorum Istra… et super populum eius in manus seruorum suorum profetarum dicens: “Propter abominationes iniquas, quas fecit Manasses, rex luda, ex omnibus, quibus re fecit Iudam in simulacris eius, “"haec dicit dominus Deus Istrahel: ‘Ecce ego inducam mala super locum istum ita, ut omnium audientium resonent utraeque au… mensuram Samariae et ponderationem domus Achab, et deleam Hierusalem sicut deletur alabastrus unguentis; euertitur et euertitur in faciem suam
… that have gone before, and at the same time apply them, for the knowledge of healing, to those who are to be rebuked and reproved. Further, in judging, in weighing a case, seek out the will of God with much teaching; as he himself did, so we too must do in judgments. [On Manasseh.] Hear further, O bishops, things of this kind, as a help by example. It is written in the fourth book of Kingdoms and in the second of Paralipomena (that is, “of things passed over”) thus: “In those days Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah. And he did evil before the Lord, according to the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel. And he turned back and built the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and set up carved images of the Baals, and erected an altar of Baal, and made groves, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and made altars to all the host of heaven, and worshiped all the power of heaven. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said: ‘In the house of Jerusalem I will place my name.’ And Manasseh served the altars and said: ‘Let my name be forever.’ And he built altars to all … of the Lord. And he made his sons pass through the fire in Ge-Benhinnom, and practiced augury and sorcery, and made for himself ventriloquists and enchanters and diviners, and multiplied doing evil in the eyes of the Lord, to provoke him. And he set up the carved and molten image of the grove, which he made in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son: ‘In this house in Jerusalem I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, and I will place my name forever, and I will no more move my foot from the land of Israel which I gave to their fathers, provided only that they keep all … the commandment which my servant Moses commanded them.’ And they did not listen to him, and Manasseh led them astray to do evil in the eyes of the Lord beyond the nations whom the Lord removed before the sons of Israel. … and against his people by the hand of his servants the prophets, saying: ‘Because of the wicked abominations which Manasseh king of Judah has done, beyond all … and has made Judah [sin] with his idols, thus says the Lord God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing evils upon this place, so that both ears of all who hear shall ring; … the measure of Samaria and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe out Jerusalem as an alabaster jar of ointment is wiped out; it is wiped and turned upside down on its face
2.22.2Connolly, 72
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
I brought out their fathers from Egypt even unto this day. Moreover Manasseh shed much innocent blood, till he had filled Ferusalem from one end to the other with slain: by reason of the sins which he sinned, and caused Fudah also to sin, in doing that which was evil before the Lord. And the Lord brought against them the chieftains of Assyria; and they took Manasseh and fettered him and cast ropes about him, and led him away to Babylon, and shut him up in prison all bound and fettered with tron. And there was given him bran-bread by weight, and water mingled with gall in small measure, that he might be alive and be sore afflicted and vexed. And when he was afflicted exceeding much, he entreated the face of the Lord his God, and humbled himself exceedingly before the God of his fathers ; and he prayed before the Lord God and said: THE PRAYER OF MANASSEH. !O Lord God of my fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of S'acob and of their righteous seed, ? who madest the heaven and the earth with all the adornment thereof ; who didst bind the sea and fix it by the commandment of thy word ; who didst shut up the abyss and seal it with thy fearful and glorious name ; before whose power all things fear and tremble: for unsupportable is the exceeding beauty of thy glory, and none can endure to stand before thine anger and thy wrath against sinners:
inscription 2, chapter 23
2.23.1Hauler, 34–36
“et indignum me saluum facies secundum misericordiam tuam, et glorificabo te semper in omni uita mea; quoniam te laudant omnes uirtutes caelorum et glorificant in aeternum. Amen.’ Et exaudiuit uocem eius dominus et miseritus est eum; et facta est circa eum flamma ignis et liquauit omne, quod circa eum erat, ferrum; et sanauit Manassem de tribulatione eius et reuertit illum in Hierusalem super regnum suum. Et cognouit Manasses dom dicens: ‘Ipse solus est dominus’ et seruiit domino D(e)o soli in toto corde suo et in tota anima sua omnes dies uitae suae et inputatus est iustus. Et dormiit in pace cum patribus suis; et regnauit Amos, filius eius, pro ipso. Audistis, filioli dilectissimi nobis, quomodo dominus pessime ei qui idolatra fuit et innocentes interfecit et penituit, remisit, id est Manasseti, praesertim cum peiore peccatum non sit aliut idolatriae; sed locus paenitentiae concessus est. Si quis autem ex apparatione peccat, remissionem non habet, sicut scriptum est: Si autem dixeris in corde tuo: Sancta mihi erunt, quia ambulabo in reuersione cordis mei. ‘Et extendam manum meam super ipsum et disperdam eum in signum et in similitudinem’ dicit dominus. Nam et Amos cogitauit cogitationem praeuaricationis malam et dixit: ‘Pater meus in iuuentute multas iniquitates fecit et in senectute penituit, et ego nunc ambulabo sicut desiderat anima mea et in nouissimo conuertar ad dom’. Et fecit malignum coram domino et regnauit annos duodecem solus et exterminauit illum dominus Deus in celeritate de terra bona sua. Adtendite igitur, laici, ne quis ex uobis cogitationem Amos in
“and, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your mercy, and I will glorify you always, all the days of my life; for all the powers of the heavens praise you and glorify you forever. Amen.” And the Lord heard his voice and had compassion on him; and a flame of fire came about him, and all the iron that was about him melted; and he healed Manasseh of his affliction and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew the Lord, saying: “He alone is the Lord”; and he served the Lord God alone with all his heart and with all his soul all the days of his life, and was reckoned righteous. And he slept in peace with his fathers; and Amon his son reigned in his place. You have heard, little children most beloved to us, how the Lord forgave Manasseh, who had been a most wicked idolater and had killed the innocent, and repented — especially since there is no sin worse than idolatry; yet a place of repentance was granted. But if anyone sins deliberately, he has no forgiveness, as it is written: “But if you say in your heart, ‘Holy things will be mine, because I will walk in the perversity of my heart,’ I will stretch out my hand over him and destroy him, for a sign and a byword,” says the Lord. For Amon too conceived an evil thought of transgression and said: “My father in his youth did many iniquities and in his old age repented; and I will now walk as my soul desires, and at the last I will turn to the Lord.” And he did evil before the Lord and reigned only twelve years, and the Lord God swiftly destroyed him from his good land. Take heed, therefore, you laity, lest any of you [conceive] the thought of Amon in
2.23.2Connolly, 76
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Audistis, filioli dilectissimi nobis, quomodo dominus pessime the son of Manasseh, when he conceived a design that he should transgress the Law, and said: ‘My father from his youth did exceeding wickedly, and in his old age he repented: I also will walk in all the desires of my soul, and in the end wil return to the Lord’, and did that which was evil before the Lord: he reigned but two years, because the Lord God quickly destroyed him from (his) good land.
inscription 2
2.24Connolly, 76–78
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Beware therefore, tyou that are without faitht, lest any man of you establish in his heart the thought of Amon, and perish suddenly and swiftly. Wherefore, O bishop, so far as thou canst, keep those that have not sinned, that they may continue without sinning ; and those that repent of (their) sins heal and receive. But if thou receive not him who repents, because thou art without mercy, thou shalt sin against the Lord God; for thou obeyest not our Saviour and our God, to do as He also did with her that had sinned, whom the elders set before Him, and leaving the judgement in His hands, departed. But He, the Searcher of hearts, asked her and said to her: Have the elders condemned thee, my daughter ? She saith to him: Nay, ao Lord. And he said unto her: Go thy way: neither do I condemn thee. In Him therefore, our Saviour and King and God, be your pattern, O bishops, and do you imitate Him, that you may be quiet and meek, and merciful and compassionate, and peacemakers, and without anger, and teachers and correctors and receivers and exhorters; and that you be not wrathful, nor tyrannical; and that you be not insolent, nor haughty, nor boastful. LI Eu IO by throwing the first part into the direct speech, has given the passage a more unfamiliar look. 27 tyrannical) CH: ‘murmurers’S. On these
2.25Connolly, 78–84
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
You shall be lovers of wine, nor drunken; and you shall not be extravagant, nor luxurious, nor spending money improperly. You shall make use of the gifts of God not (as alien (funds) but) as your own, as being appointed good stewards of God, who is ready to require at your hands an account of the discharge of the stewardship entrusted to you. Let that suffice you therefore which is enough for you, food and clothing and whatsoever is necessary. And you shall not make use of the revenues (of the Church) improperly, as alien (funds), but with moderation ; and you shall not procure pleasure and luxury from the revenues of the Church: for sufficient for the labourer is his clothing and his food. As good stewards of God, therefore, dispense well, according to the command, those things that are given and accrue to the Church, to orphans and widows and to those who are in distress and to strangers, as knowing that you have God who will require an account at your hands, who delivered this stewardship unto you. Divide and give therefore to all who are in want. But be you also nourished and live from the revenues of the Church; yet do not devour them by yourselves, but let them that are in want be partakers with you, and you shall be without offence with God. For God upbraids those bishops who greedily and by themselves make use of the revenues of the Church, and make not the poor to be partakers with them, saying thus: Zhe milk ye eat, and with the wool ye are clothed. For the bishops ought to be nourished from the revenues of the Church, but not to devour them; for it is written: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out (the corn). As then the ox which works unmuzzled in the threshing floor eats, indeed, but does not consume the whole, so do you also, who work in the threshing floor which is the Church of God, be nourished from the Church, after the manner of the Levites who ministered in the tabernacle of witness, which in all things was a type of the Church: for even by its name it declares (this), for the tabernacle ‘of witness ' foreshowed the Church. Now the Levites who ministered therein were nourished from those things which were given as offerings to God by all the people—gifts, and partofferings, and firstfruits, and tithes, and sacrifices, and offerings, and holocausts—without restraint, they and their wives and their sons and their daughters; because their work was the ministry of the tabernacle alone; and therefore they received no inheritance of land among the children of Israel, because the inheritance of Levi and his tribe was the produce of the people. You also then to-day, O bishops, are priests to your people, and the Levites who minister to the tabernacle of God, the holy Catholic Church, who stand continually before the Lord God. You then are to your people priests and prophets, and princes and leaders and kings, and mediators between God and His faithful, and receivers of the word, and preachers and proclaimers thereof, and knowers of the Scriptures and of the utterances of God, and witnesses of His will, who bear the sins of all, and are to give an answer for all. You are they — who have heard how the word sternly threatens you if you neglect and preach not God’s will, who are in sore peril of destruction if you neglect your people. You again are they to whom is promised from God the great reward which is not falsified nor withheld, and grace unspeakable in great glory, when you shall minister well to the tabernacle of God, His Catholic Church. As then you have undertaken the burden of all, so also ought you to receive from all your people the ministration of food and clothing, and of other things needful. ro And so again, from these same gifts that are given you by the people which is under your charge, do you nourish the deacons and widows and orphans, and those who are in want, and strangers. For it behoves thee, O bishop, as a faithful steward to care for all; for as thou bearest the sins of all those under thy charge, so shalt thou beyond all men receive more abundant glory of God. For thou art an imitator of Christ: and as He took upon Him the sins of us all, so it behoves thee also to bear the sins of all those under thy charge; for it is written in Isaiah concerning our Saviour thus: We saw him having no splendour nor beauty, but as one whose aspect was marred and dejected beyond that of men; and as a man that suffereth, and knoweth to bear infirmities. For his face was changed: he was despised, and was nothing accounted in our eyes. But he endured our sins, and for our sake did sigh. But we accounted him as one smitten and plagued and brought low. Vet for our sins was he smitten, and was made sick for our iniquities: and by his stripes all we are healed. And again He saith: He bare the sins of many, and for their iniquity was delivered up. And in David and in all the prophets, and in the Gospel also, our Saviour makes intercession for our sins, whereas He is without sin. Therefore, as you have Christ for a pattern, so be you also a pattern to the people under your charge; and as He took upon Him (our) sins, so do you also take upon you the sins of the people. For you are not to think that the burden of the bishopric is light or easy. Wherefore, as you have taken up the burden of all, so the fruits also which you receive from all the people shall be yours, for all things of which you have need. And do you nourish well them that are in want, as being to render an account to Him who will require it, who can make no mistake nor be evaded. For as you administer the office of the bishopric, so from the same office of the bishopric ought you to be nourished, as the priests and Levites and ministers who serve before God, according as it is written in the Book of Numbers: ! Tke Lord spake with Aaron and said: Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house shall take upon you the xo sins of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons shall take upon you the sins of your priesthood. And thy brethren the sons of thy father, the tribe of Levi, bring nigh unto thee, and let them be added to thee and minister unto thee. And thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before this tabernacle of witness. Howbeit the sons of Levi shall not come nigh unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar, lest they die, they and you; but let them be added unto thee, and let them keep the charges of the tabernacle of witness, according to all the ministry of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto thee. And ao ye shall keep the charges of the sanctuary and the charges of the altar: and there shall be no wrath against the children of Israel. And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the sons of Levi from among the children of Israel: as a gift they are given unto the Lord, that they may perform the ministry of the tabernacle of witness. "And do thou and thy sons with thee keep your priesthood, according to all the ministry of the altar and of that which ts within the vell ; and perform your ministry as that which is given to your priesthood. But the stranger that cometh near shall die the death. ? And the Lord spake with Aaron and said: Behold, I have given to you the charges of the firstfruits, of every thing which is hallowed unto me by the children of Israel: to thee have I given them for a ministry, and to thy children after thee: (it ds) an everlasting ordinance. And this shall be yours, of every holy thing which is hallowed of their fruits and of their offerings, and of all their sacrifices, and of all their trespass offerings, and of all their sin offerings: all that they shall offer to me of things hallowed shall be for thee and for thy sons. 1? In the holy place ye shall eat thereof: every male of you shall eat thereof, thou and thy sons: it shall be for thee a holy thing. And these shall be for thee the first- Jruits of their gifts, of all the part-offerings of the children of Israel: to thee have I given them, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee: (it is) an everlasting ordinance: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat thereof. %* All the first- Srutts of oil, and all the firstfruits of wine, and the firstfruits of corn, even all things that they shall give to the Lord, shall be thine: P every one that is clean in thy house shall eat thereof. 4 And every devoted thing of the children of Israel shall be thine; and all that openeth the womb of all flesh, even all which they offer to the Lord, from men even unto beasts, shall be thine. Howbeit the firstborn of men and the firstlings of unclean beasts which shall be offered, shall be redeemed. 1 And the redemption of them (shall be on this wise): from a month old and upward thou shalt redeem with a price, five shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which are twenty shekels of silver. " But the firstlings of oxen, and the jirstlings of sheep and of goats, thou shalt not redeem: they are holy: their blood thou shalt pour out before the altar, and the fat of them thou shalt offer up for an offering of a sweet savour unto the Lord; Sand their flesh shall be clean to thee. And the top of the breast of the part-offering, and the right shoulder shall be thine. All part-offerings of the sanctuary, which the children of Israel shall set apart unto the Lord, to thee have I given them and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee: an ordinance for ever and an everlasting covenant is tt before the Lord unto thee and unto thy seed after thee. And the Lord spake with Aaron and said: In their land thou shalt receive no inheritance, and thou shalt have no portion among them; for I am thy portion and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 9 And to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithes of the children of Israel for an inheritance, in return for their ministry which they minister in the tabernacle of witness. 22 And the children of Israel shall no more come nigh to the tabernacle of witness, lest they contract a sin of death ; 9? but the Levites shall perform the ministry of the tabernacle of witness, and they shall take upon them their sins: it is an everlasting ordinance unto their generations. And among the children of Israel they shall receive no inheritance ; because the tithes of the children of Israel, even all that they shall set apart as part- offerings to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. For which cause I said unto them: Among the children of Israel they shall receive no inheritance. And the Lord spake with Moses and said unto him: ** Speak to the Levites and say to them: When ye receive of the children of 1 Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for an inheritance, set by thereof, ye also, a part-offering unto the Lord, a tithe of the tithes : ” and your part-offering shall be accounted unto you as the corn from the threshing floor, and as the partoffering of the winepress. So shall ye set apart, ye also, a 2 part-offering unto the Lord of all your tithes which ye recetve Srom all the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof a partoffering for the Lord unto Aaron the priest. Of all your gifts ye shall set by a part-offering unto the Lord, even of the jirstfruits, (part) whereof he halloweth unto himself. 9? And say thou unto them: When ye have set apart his firstfruits therefrom, tt shall be reckoned unto the Levites as the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress: 3! and do ye eat thereof in every place, ye and your households, because tt is your reward in return for your ministry in the tabernacle of witness: ? and ye shall contract no sin by reason thereof, when ye shall set apart the firstfruits thereof. And the holy things of the children of Israel ye shall not profane, lest ye die.
inscription 2, chapter 26
2.26.1Connolly, 84
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Hear these things then, ye laymen also, the elect Church of God. For the former People also was called a
2.26.2Hauler, 37–39
tholica sacrosancta ecclesia, regale sacerdotium, multitudo sancta, plebs adoptata, ecclesia magna, sponsa exornata domino Deo. Quae primum dicta sunt, tu nunc audi: delibationes et decumae primitiua sunt principi sacerdotum Christo et ministris eius. Decumae salutaris initium omnis decuma. Audite, sacra et catholica ecclesia, quae decem plagas aufugisti et decem uerba accepisti et legem didicisti et fidem tenuisti, quae decimam cognouisti et in id iofilta credidisti in initio nominis et in finem in gloriam eius confirmata es. Quae tunc erant sacrificia modo sunt orationes et praecationes et gratiarum actiones; quae tunc fuerunt primitiuae et decumae et delibationes et dona nunc sunt prosforae, quae per episcopos offeruntur domino Deo in remissione peccatorum. Isti enim primi sacerdotes uestri; qui tunc erant Leuitae modo sunt diacones, praesbyteri, uiduae et orfani. Primus uero sacerdos uobis est Leuita episcopus: hic est, qui uerbum uobis ministrat et mediator uester est; hic est rex uester potens; hic est magister et post Deum per aquam regenerans pater uester. Hic locum Dei sequens sicuti Deus honoretur a uobis, quoniam episcopus in typum Dei praesedet uobis. Diaconus autem in typum Christi adstat; ergo diligatur a uobis. Diaconissa uero in typum sancti sps honoretur a uobis. Praesbyteri etiam in typum apostolorum spectentur a uobis; uiduae et orfani in typum altaris putentur autem a uobis. Sicuti ergo non licebat eum, qui non erat Leuita, offerre aliquid aut accedere ad altarem sine sacerdote, ita et uos sine episcopo nolite aliquid facere.
… catholic, most holy church, royal priesthood, holy multitude, adopted people, great church, bride adorned for the Lord God. What was said formerly, hear now: offerings and tithes and first fruits belong to Christ the high priest and to his ministers. The saving tithe is the first letter: every tithe … Hear, holy catholic church, you who escaped the ten plagues and received the ten words and learned the law and held fast the faith, you who have come to know the ten and believed in it, the beginning of the name, and have been confirmed to the end in his glory. What were then sacrifices are now prayers and supplications and thanksgivings; what were then first fruits and tithes and offerings and gifts are now the oblations which are offered through the bishops to the Lord God for the remission of sins. For these are your high priests; those who were then Levites are now the deacons, presbyters, widows, and orphans. But your chief priest is the Levite, the bishop: he it is who ministers the word to you and is your mediator; he is your mighty king; he is your teacher and, after God, your father, who has begotten you again through water. Holding the place of God, let him be honored by you as God, since the bishop presides over you in the type of God. The deacon stands by in the type of Christ; so let him be loved by you. The deaconess is to be honored by you in the type of the Holy Spirit. The presbyters, too, are to be regarded by you in the type of the apostles; and the widows and orphans are to be considered by you in the type of the altar. Therefore, just as it was not lawful for one who was not a Levite to offer anything or to approach the altar without the priest, so you too should do nothing without the bishop.
inscription 2
2.27Hauler, 39
Si quis autem sine episcopo facit aliquid, in uano illud facit; non enim illi inputabitur in opus, quia non decet absque sacerdotem aliquid facere. Prosforas ergo uestras sacerdoti offerite siue per uos ipsos siue per diacones; quique suscipiet et, ut decet, diuidet unicuique. Episcopus enim optime nouit eos, qui tribulantur, et unicuique dat secundum dispensationem, ut non unus aut frequenter et in ipso die aut in ipsa hebdomada accipiat, alius autem nec semel. Horum aliquem tribulari cognoscit sacerdos magis; sicut dispensatur, Deus facit et cum ipso, sicut decet. His iterum, qui agapam desiderant facere et petunt aniculas, hanc, quam scit tribulari, frequenter etiam mittat.
But if anyone does anything without the bishop, he does it in vain; for it will not be reckoned to him as a work, because it is not fitting to do anything without the priest. Bring your offerings, then, to the priest, either yourselves or through the deacons; and he will receive them and distribute them to each as is fitting. For the bishop knows best those who are in distress, and gives to each according to the allotment, so that one does not receive often on the same day or in the same week, and another not even once. The priest knows better which of them is in distress; as the distribution is made, God works with him, as is fitting. Again, to those who wish to give an agape and ask for old women, let him often send her whom he knows to be in distress.
inscription 2, chapter 28
2.28.1Hauler, 39–40
Et haec pars, quae ex consuetudine sacerdoti debetur, separetur, etiamsi non est praesens in agapis et erogationibus, in honorem omnipotentis Dei. Sicut ergo unicuique praesbyterarum datur, duplum dabitur singulis diaconibus in sacerdotio Christi; quadruplum autem ei, qui praeest, tamquam in omnipotentis gloria. Si quis autem
And let the portion that by custom is due to the priest be set apart, even if he is not present at the agapes and distributions, in honor of God Almighty. As much as is given to each of the elder women, a double portion shall be given to each of the deacons, in the priesthood of Christ; and fourfold to the one who presides, as to the glory of the Almighty. But if anyone
2.28.2Connolly, 90–92
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
her the rather who is in want.] But let the portion of the pastor be separated and set apart for him according to rule at the suppers or the bounties, even though he be not present, in honour of Almighty God. But how much (soever) is given to one of the widows, let the double be given to each of the deacons in honour of Christ, (but) twice twofold to the leader for the glory of the Almighty. But if any one wish to honour the presbyters also, let him give them a double (portion), as to the deacons; for they ought to be honoured as the Apostles, and as the counsellors of the bishop, and as the crown of the ro Church; for they are the moderators and councillors of the Church. But if there be also a lector, let him too receive with the presbyters. To every order, therefore, let every one of the laity pay the honour which is befitting him, with gifts and presents and with the respect due to his worldly con- dition. But let them have very free access to the deacons, and let them not be troubling the head at all times, but making known what they require through the ministers, that is through the deacons. For neither can any man approach the Lord God Almighty except through Christ. All things therefore that they desire to do, let them make known to the bishop through the deacons, and then do them. For neither formerly in the temple of the sanctuary was anything offered or done without the priest. And moreover, even the idol- temples of the impure and abhorred and reprobate heathen to this day imitate the sanctuary. Far indeed in comparison be the house of abomination from the sanctuary: nevertheless, even in their absurd rites they neither offer nor do anything without their unclean priest; but so they imagine, that the unclean priest is the mouthpiece of the stones; and they wait for what he will command them to do. And in all tbat they purpose to do they consult their unclean priest, and without him do nothing, And because they imagine that what they do is acceptable, they honour him and worship him, as it were for the honour of the dumb stones that are fixed in the walls, and for the service of the foul and evil and cruel demons. If then those who are vain, and their customs false, and who have no hope, but are deceived by an empty hope, study and desire to imitate the sanctuary, and bestow all honour upon those who stand before their absurd idols: you who manifestly and openly believe in the truth, and hold fast to the hope that is not belied, and wait for the glorious promise which shall never pass away nor be made void—why should not you rather honour the Lord God through those who preside over you? Do you therefore esteem the bishop as the mouth of God.
inscription 2
2.29Connolly, 92
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For if Aaron, because he interpreted to Pharaoh the words which were given through Moses, was called a prophet, as the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have given thee as a god to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be to thee a prophet: why then should not you also reckon them as prophets who are for you the mediators of the word, and worship them as God?
2.30Connolly, 92
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But for us now, Aaron is the deacon, and Moses is the bishop. Now if Moses was called a god by the Lord, let the bishop also be honoured by you as God, and the deacon as a prophet.
2.31Connolly, 92–94
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Wherefore, for the honour of the bishop, make known to him all things that you do, and let them be performed through him. And if thou know of one who is in much distress, and the bishop know not of him, do thou inform him; and without him do not, to his discredit, anything, lest thou bring a reproach upon him as one who neglects the poor. For he who sets abroad an evil report against the bishop, whether by word or by deed, sins against God Almighty. And again, if any man speaks evil of a deacon, whether by word or deed, he offends against Christ. Wherefore in the Law also it is written: Thou shalt not revile 4 and their customs false] The text (HS) has ‘and are false customs’ : I have translated from a conjectural reading. IO promise] I o 25) thy gods; and thou shalt not speak evil of a prince of thy people. Now let no man think that the Lord speaks (here) of idols of stone; but he calls ‘gods’ those who preside over you.
2.32Connolly, 94
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Moses also saith in the Book of Numbers, when the people had murmured against him and against Aaron: Not against us do ye murmur, but against the Lord God. And our Saviour likewise said: Every one that rejecteth you, vejecteth me, and him that sent me. For what hope at all is there for him who speaks evil of the bishop, or of the deacon? For if one call a layman fool, or raca, he is liable to the assembly, as one of those who rise up against Christ: because that he calls ‘empty’ his brother in whom Christ dwells, who is not empty but fulfilled; or (calls) him ‘fool’ in whom dwells the Holy Spirit of God, fulfilled with all wisdom: as though he should become a fool by the very Spirit that dwells in him! If then one who should say any of these things to a layman is found to fall under so great condemnation, how much more if he should dare to say aught against the deacon, or against the bishop, through whom the Lord gave you the Holy Spirit, and through whom you have learned the word and have known God, and through whom you have been known of God, and through whom you were sealed, and through whom you became sons of the light, and through whom the Lord in baptism, by the imposition of hand of the bishop, bore witness to each one of you and uttered His holy voice, saying: Thou art my son: I this day have begotten thee.
2.33Connolly, 94
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Wherefore, O man, know thy bishops, through whom thou wast made a son of God, and the right hand, thy mother ; and love him who is become, after God, thy father and thy 7 Every one, etc.] On the reading see p. 60, l. 25. I2 empty] Our author knows the derivation of ‘vaca’ from 775. 22 were sealed] mother: for whosoever shall revile his father or his mother, shall die the death. But do you honour the bishops, who have loosed you from sins, who by the water regenerated you, who filled you with the Holy Spirit, who reared you with the word as with milk, who bred you up with doctrine, who confirmed you with admonition, and made you to partake of the holy Eucharist of God, and made you partakers and joint heirs of the promise of God. These reverence, and honour them with all honour; for they have received from God the authority of life and death: not as judging those who sin and condemning them to death in fire everlasting, by cutting off and casting away those who are judged, which God forbid, but that they may receive and save alive. those who return and repent.
inscription 2, chapter 34
2.34.1Connolly, 94
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Let them be your rulers therefore, and let them be rz accounted of by you as kings; and do you offer them tribute in service as to kings; for by you they ought to be sustained, and those who are with them: for thus is it written in the first Book of Kingdoms: !? Samuel spake all the words of the Lord unto the people, which had asked of him a king, and ao said to them: This ts the law of the king that shall reign over you. your sons he will take, and will set them upon his chariots ; and he will make of them runners before him, and will make him captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. And they shall reap his harvest, and gather his vintage, and fashion the instruments of his chariots. And your daughters he will take to be weavers, and to be the ministers of his house. 1* And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best (of them), he will take away and give to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vine- yards, and give to his servants and to his eunuchs. Y* And your servants and your handmaids, and the best of your cattle, and your asses, he will take and tithe for the service of his work ; “and he will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye also shall be I Bx. eS 7, Mt. XV 4: 19 I Reg. viii 10-17. 6 and made you to partake, etc.] kai rijs dyias kai
2.34.2Hauler, 41–42
numerari nec mensurari, secundum ergo ratam et multitudinem plebis suae et ministeria accipiebat: et modo episcopus de populo accipiens ibi quoscumque loci dignos esse existimauerit praesbyteros constituet et consiliarios sibi et contractatores, diaconos et subdiaconos intra domum ministrare eis. Nam quid plus est dicere? Ille quidem, qui diademam portat, rex, corporis solius regnat super terram solum soluens aut ligans. Episcopus autem et animae et corporis regnat ligans et soluens super terram caelesti potestate; magna enim et caelestis et deifica data est ei potestas. Episcopum ergo diligite ut patrem, timete sicuti regem, honorate ut Deum, fructum et operam manuum uestrarum ad benedictionem uestram offerte decimas uestras et primitiuas et delibationes et dona dantes ei; et ipse utetur ea et eis, qui indigent, dabit omnibus, unicuique sicuti dignus est. Et erit oblatio tua suscepta domino Deo tuo in odorem suauitatis, in latitudinem caelorum, in conspectu domini Dei tui et benedictus eris et multiplicabit super bona promissionis suae, quoniam scriptum est in Sa… Benedictio autem super caput porrigentis. Incumbe in labore, adsiduus esto in operandum et offer,
… [could] not be numbered or measured; so he received according to the proportion and number of his people and their services. And now the bishop, receiving from the people, will appoint there as presbyters as many as he judges worthy of the place, as counselors and assessors for himself, and deacons and subdeacons to minister to them within the house. For what more need be said? He who wears the diadem, the king, reigns over the body only, loosing or binding on earth only. But the bishop reigns over both soul and body, binding and loosing on earth with heavenly power; for great and heavenly and divine power has been given to him. Love the bishop, then, as a father, fear him as a king, honor him as God; for your blessing bring the fruit and the work of your hands, offering your tithes and first fruits and offerings and gifts, giving them to him; and he will use them and will give to all who are in need, to each as he deserves. And your offering will be accepted by the Lord your God as a sweet savor, in the breadth of the heavens, in the sight of the Lord your God, and you will be blessed, and he will multiply [you] in the good things of his promise, for it is written in Wisdom: “A blessing is upon the head of the one who gives.” Apply yourself to labor, be diligent in working, and offer,
2.34.3Connolly, 98
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
offering an oblation. For the Lord has lightened the weight from you, and has loosed from you the collar-bands, and lifted from you the yoke of burden ; and He has put away from you the Second Legislation after the abundance of His mercy ; as it is written in Isaiah: Say to them that are in bonds, Go forth ; and again: To bring forth the prisoners from bonds. And in David he said: His prisoners he hath not despised. And likewise in the Gospel He said: Come unto me, all ye that toil and are laden with heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for 1 am gentle and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is pleasant, and my burden is light.
inscription 2
2.35Connolly, 98–100
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
If then the Lord, by the gift of His grace, has set you loose and given you rest, and brought you out into refreshment, that you should no more be bound with sacrifices and oblations, and with sin offerings, and purifications, and vows, and gifts, and holocausts, and burnt offerings, and (Sabbath) idlings, and shewbread, and the observing of purifications ; nor yet with tithes and firstfruits, and part-offerings, and gifts and oblations,— for it was laid upon them to give all these things as of necessity, but you are not bound by these things,—it behoves you to know the word of the Lord, who said: Except your righteousness abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Now thus shall your righteousness abound more than their tithes and firstfruits and part-offerings, when you shall do as it is written: Sell all thou hast, and give to the poor. So do, therefore, and keep the command through (him who is) bishop and priest and thy mediator with the Lord God. For thou art commanded to give, but he to dispense. And thou shalt require no account of the bishop, nor observe him, how he dispenses And thou shalt require, etc.] Cf. Didache xi 11 xpiOnoera (sc. the prophet) ep’ pera Oeod yap exer Thy Kpiow, and xi 12 mep dAXov etry Sodva, pyndels See again p. 100 l. ‘thou shalt not judge thy bishop nor thy fellow layman’. on w o or IO X5 and discharges his stewardship, or when he gives, or to whom, or where, or whether well or ill, or whether he gives fairly ; for he has One who will require, even the Lord God, who delivered this stewardship into his hands and held him worthy of the priesthood of so great an office. Wherefore, that thou observe not the bishop, nor require an account of him, nor speak ill of him and oppose God, nor offend the Lord,
2.36Connolly, 100–102
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
let that be set before thine eyes which is said to thee in Jeremiah (stc) : Shall the clay say to the potter: Thou workest not, and hast not hands? as one who should say to his father or his mother: Why bearest thou me? But do thou work and labour simply in the house of God; and let that saving word of the renewing of the Law be ever written and laid up in thy heart, and remember it, as the Lord said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul, and with all thy strength. Now thy strength is thy worldly substance. And not with the lips only shall you love the Lord, as did that People, to whom upbraiding them He saith: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is very far from me; but do thou love and honour the Lord with all thy strength, and offer His oblations ever at all times. And hold not aloof from the Church; but when thou hast received the Eucharist of the oblation, that which comes into thy hands cast (in), that thou mayest share it with strangers: for this is collected (and brought) to the bishop for the entertainment of all strangers. Wherefore lay up and set by as much as thou canst, for the Lord has said in the Law: Thou shalt not appear before me empty. Be doing good works therefore, and laying up to thyself treasure everlasting in heaven, where the moth corrupteth not, neither do thieves steal. Andin so doing thou shalt not judge thy bishop nor thy fellow layman; 4-5 and held him worthy . . . office] xai tis lepwotvns Io t2 for to you laymen it is said: Fudge not, that ye be not judged. For if thou judge thy brother and condemn him, thou hast reckoned thy brother guilty: that is, thou hast condemned thyself; for thou shalt be judged with them that are guilty. 5
2.37Connolly, 102
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For it is lawful for the bishops to judge, because to them it is said: Be ye approved money-changers: so that it behoves the bishop, as one who proves money, to separate the bad from the good, and to reject and cast away those that are altogether bad, and to leave in the melting- pot those that are hard, and for whatever reason faulty, like faulty (coins). But to the layman it is not permitted to judge his neighbour, nor to lay upon himself a burden that is not his. For the weight of this burden is not for laymen, but for the bishop. Wherefore, being a layman, thou shalt not lay snares for thyself; but leave judgement in the hand of those who will have to render an account, and do thou study to work peace with all men; and love thy members, thy fellow laymen, for the Lord saith: Love thy neighbour as thyself.
2.38Connolly, 102–104
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if there be false brethren who, through envy or jealousy of the Enemy and Satan, who works in them, bring an accusation against any of the brethren falsely, or even truly, let them know that every one who searches out such things for the purpose of accusing or slandering any man, is a son of wrath: and where wrath is, God is not ; for wrath is of Satan, and through these false brethren he never suffers peace to be in the Church. Wherefore, when you have known those who are thus void of understanding, first of all believe them not ; and secondly, do you the bishops and deacons be wary of them ; and when you hear them saying anything against one of the brethren, take knowledge of him against whom they bring the accusation, and make inquiry prudently, and weigh his conduct ; and if he is found blameworthy, do according to the teaching of our Lord which is written in the Gospel : Reprove him between thyself and him; and save him when he vepenteth and returneth. But if he be not persuaded, reprove him among two or three; that that may be fulfilled which is said: At the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. Now why, brethren, is it required that a testimony be established at the mouth of two or three witnesses ? Because the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit bear witness to the works of men. For where there is the admonition of doctrine, there also is correction and conversion of them that err. Wherefore, the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. But if he obey not, reprove him before the whole church. But if he obey not even the church, let him be accounted by thee as the heathen and as the publican. For the Lord has commanded you, O bishops, that you should not henceforth receive such a one into the Church as a Christian, nor communicate with him. For neither dost thou receive the evil heathen or publicans into the Church and communicate with them except they first repent, professing that they believe and henceforth will do no more evil works: for to this end did our Lord and Saviour grant a place for repentance to those who have sinned.
2.39Connolly, 104
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For I Matthew also, who am one of the twelve Apostles who speak to you in this Didascalia, was formerly a publican; but now, because that I believed, I have obtained mercy, and have repented of my former deeds, and have been counted worthy also to be an 19 apostle and preacher of the word. And the prophet John likewise preached in the Gospel to publicans; and he deprived them not of hope, but taught them how they should order themselves ; and when they asked him for advice, he said to them: Exact no more than that which is commanded and appointed you. And Zacchaeus, too, the Lord received unto repentance when he besought Him. Nor do we withhold life even from the heathen, if they will repent and put away and reject their error. As a heathen,then, and as a publican let him be accounted by you who has been convicted of evil deeds and falsehood ; and afterwards, if he promise to repent—even as when the heathen desire and promise to repent, and say ‘ We believe’, we receive them into the congregation that they may hear the word, but do not communicate with them until they receive the seal and are fully initiated : so neither do we communicate with these until they show the fruits of repentance. But let them by all means come in, if they desire to hear the word, that they may not wholly perish ; but let them not communicate in prayer, but go forth without. For they also, when they have seen that they do not communicate with the Church, will submit themselves, and repent of their former works, and strive to be received into the Church for prayer; and they likewise who see and hear them go forth like the heathen and publicans, will fear and take warning to themselves not to sin, lest it so happen to them also, and being convicted of sin or falsehood they be put forth from the Church.
2.40Connolly, 104
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But thou shalt by no means forbid them to enter the Church and hear the word, O bishop; for neither did our Lord and Saviour utterly thrust away and reject publicans and sinners, but did even eat with them. And for this cause the Pharisees murmured against Him, and said : He eatet with publicans and sinners. Then did our Saviour make answer against their thoughts and their murmuring, and say: They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. Do you therefore consort with those who have been convicted of sins and are sick, and attach them to you, and be careful of them, and speak to them and comfort them, and keep hold of them and convert them.
2.41Connolly, 104–106
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And afterwards, as each one of them repents and shows the fruits of repentance, receive him to prayer after the manner of a heathen. And as thou baptizest a heathen and then receivest him, so also lay hand upon this man, whilst all pray for him, and then bring him in and let him communicate with the Church. For the imposition of hand shall be to him in the place of baptism: for whether by the imposition of hand, or by baptism, they receive the communication of the Holy Spirit. Wherefore, as a compassionate physician, heal all those who sin; and go about with all skill, and bring healing to bear for the succour of their lives. And thou shalt not be ready to cut off the members of the Church; but employ the bandages of the word, and the fomentations of admonition, and the IOSMEZINIO TL METIN LEV S0 f 14 Do you therefore consort, etc.] kai avvavA((eo6e, [27] o compress of exhortation. But if the sore be sunken and lack flesh, nourish it and level it up with healing drugs; and if there be dirt in it, cleanse it with a pungent drug, that is with the word of rebuke. But if the flesh be over swollen, wear it down and level it with a violent drug, that is with the threat of judgement. But if gangrene should set in, cauterize it with burnings, that is, with incisions of much fasting cut away and clear out the rottenness of the sore. But if the gangrene assert itself and prevail even over the burnings, give judgero ment: and then, whichever member it be that is putrified, with advice and much consultation with other physicians, cut off that putrefied member, that it may not corrupt the whole body. Yet be not ready to amputate straightway, and be not in haste to have recourse at once to the saw of many teeth; but use first the knife and cut the sore, that it may be clearly seen, and that it may be known what is the cause of the disease that is hidden within ; so that the whole body may be kept uninjured. But if thou see that a man will not repent, but has altogether abandoned himself, then with grief and sorrow cut him off and cast him out of the Church.
2.42Connolly, 106
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if it be found that the hostile charge is false, and you the pastors, with the deacons, accept the falsehood as truth—whether through respect of persons, or by reason of the presents which you receive—and pervert judgement because you desire to do the will of the Evil One, and expel and cast out from the Church him that is accused, whereas he is innocent of this charge: you shall render an account in the day of the Lord; for it is written: Zhou shalt not respect persons in judgement; and again the Scripture saith: A drzbe . blindeth the eyes of them that see, and perverteth right words; and again it hath said: Deliver ye the oppressed, and judge the fatherless, and acquit the widows; and: Fudge right judgement in the gates. Give heed therefore that you be not respecters of persons and incur the judgement of the Lord’s word, which He spoke thus: Woe to them that make bitter sweet, and sweet bitter ; and call light darkness, and darkness light; and acquit the wicked for his bribe, and turn away the innocency of the innocent. But beware that you condemn not a man wrongfully, nor abet them that are evil; for when you judge others, you judge your own selves, as the Lord said: With the judgement that ye judge, ye shall be judged ; and as ye condemn, ye shall be condemned. Wherefore, remember and have ready by you this saying: Forgive, and it shall be forgiven you; and condemn not, that ye may not be condemned, But if your judgement be without respect of persons, O bishops, observe him that accuses his brother, whether he be not a false brother, and has brought the accusation out of envy or jealousy, that he may disturb the Church of God and slay him who is accused by him through his expulsion from the Church and his delivery over to the sword of fire. Judge him therefore, thou, sternly, because he has brought evil upon his brother. For as regards his own intent, if he had been able to catch beforehand the judge’s ear, he would have slain his brother in fire. It is written: Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, his own blood shall be shed for the blood which he hath shed.
2.43Connolly, 106–108
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
If then he is found to be such, or t expel him from the Church with great denunciation as a murderer; and after a time, if he promise to repent, warn him and correct him sternly; and then lay hand upon him and receive him into the Church. And be wary and guard Such a one, that he no more disturb any other. But if, after he is come in, you see that he is still contentious and minded to accuse others also, and mischievous and designing, and making false complaints against many: drive him out, that he may no further disturb and trouble the Church. For such a one, though he be within, yet because he is unseemly to the Church, he is superfluous to her, and there is no profit in him. For we see that there are some men born with superfluous members to their bodies, as fingers or other excessive flesh ; but these, though they pertain to the body, are a reproach and a disgrace both to the body and to the man, because they are superfluous to him. Yet when they are removed by the surgeon, that man recovers the comeliness and beauty of his body ; and he suffers no defect by the removal from it of that which was superfluous, but is even the more conspicuous in his beauty. In like manner then do you also act, O pastors. For since the Church is a body, and the members are we who believe in God and abide in love in the fear of the Lord, even as we have received command to be perfect: therefore, one who Contrives evil against the Church, and troubles her members, and loves the complaints and fault-findings of the Enemy, to wit, disturbances, quarrels, slanders, murmurings, contentions, controversies, accusations, charges, vexations: he that loves and does these things—rather it is the Enemy that works in him—and remains within the Church, the same is alien to the Church and a domestic of the Enemy ; for to him he ministers that he may be working through him and may thwart and harass the Church. Such a one therefore, if he remain within, is a disgrace to the Church by reason of his blasphemies and his manifold disorder; for through him the Church of God comes in danger of being scattered. Deal with him therefore as it is written in Wisdom: Put forth an evil man from the assembly, and his contention will go out with him; and make an end of strife and ignominy: lest, if he sit in the assembly, he dishonour you all. For when he has gone forth twice from the Church, he is justly cut off; and the Church is the more beautiful in her proper form, forasmuch as peace has been restored to her, which (before) was wanting to her: for from that hour the Church remains free from blasphemy and disorder. But if your mind be not pure—whether it be through respect of persons, or the gifts of filthy lucre which you receive—and you endure that an evil person should remain among you; or again, (if) you thrust away and expel from the Church them that are of good conversation, and foster among you many that are evil, contentious persons and scatterers (of the flock) and riotous: you will bring blasphemy upon the assembly of the Church, and will run the risk of scattering her through these persons; and you will have put yourselves in deadly peril of forfeiting eternal life—because you have pleased men, and have turned back from the truth of God, through respect of persons and the habit of receiving empty gifts: and you will have scattered the Catholic Church, the beloved daughter of the Lord God. CHAPTER XI An Exhortation to Bishops and Deacons
2.44Connolly, 108
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Strive therefore, O bishops, together with the deacons, to be right with the Lord; for the Lord has said: Jf ye will be right with me, I also will be right with you ; and of ye will walk perversely with me, I also will walk perversely with you, saith the Lord of Hosts. Be right therefore, that you may deserve to receive praise of the Lord, and not blame (from him who is) of the contrary part. Let the bishops and the deacons, then, be of one mind; and do you shepherd the people diligently with one accord. For you ought both to be one body, father and son; for you are in the likeness of the Lordship. And let the deacon make known all things to the bishop, even as Christ to His Father. But what things he can, let the deacon order, and all the rest let the bishop judge. Yet let the deacon be the hearing of the bishop, and his mouth and his heart and his soul; for when you are both of one mind, through your agreement there will be peace also in the Church.
2.45Connolly, 108–110
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Now for a Christian this is becoming praise, that he have no evil word with any man. But if by the agency of the Enemy some temptation befall a man, and he have a lawsuit, let him strive to be quit of it, even though he be to suffer some loss: and at all events let him not go to the tribunals of the heathen. And you shall not admit a testi- 3 Jf ye will, etc.] The second part of this text would be satisfied by the references given to Lev. xxvi, but the first part is not from any scriptural mony from the heathen against any of our own people; for through the heathen the Enemy contrives against the servants of God. Wherefore, because the heathen are to stand on the left, He called them ‘the left hand’; for our Saviour spoke thus to us: Let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth.
2.46Connolly, 110–112
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For the heathen are not to know of your lawsuits, and you shall not admit a testimony from them against yourselves, nor go to law before them: as also in the Gospel He saith: Give what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God. Be thou willing therefore to suffer a loss, and striving rather to make peace. For when thou shalt suffer any worldly loss for the sake of peace, with God it shall be gain to thee, because that thou fearest God and doest according to His commandment. But if there be brethren who have a quarrel one with another—which God forbid—you the leaders should know forthwith that it is no work of brotherhood in the Lord that they perform who have dared so to do. But if one of them be found to be of the sons of God, being meek and yielding, he is a son of the light. But one who is hard and froward, and overreaching and blasphemous, is a hypocrite, and the Enemy works in him. Reprove him therefore, and rebuke and upbraid him, and put him forth for correction; and afterwards, as we have already said, receive him, that he may not utterly perish. For when such are corrected and reproved, you will not have many lawsuits. But if they know not the word which was spoken by our Lord in the Gospel, which saith: How many times, if my brother offend against me, shall 4 theleft hand] See again p. 143,1. 12. The author of the Of. imperf. in Matth., Hom. xiii, referstoa Ziber Canonum of the Apostles for the following: ‘ Dextera est populus christianus, qui est ad dexteram Christi; sinistra autem omnis populus, qui est ad sinistram. Hoc ergo dicit: ne christianum facientem eleemosynam, qui est dextera, infidelis aspiciat, qui est to tn I forgive him? but are angry one with another and become enemies, teach them, you, and reprove them, and make peace between them; for the Lord has said: Blessed are the peacemakers. And know that it behoves the bishop and the pres- byters to judge warily: as our Saviour said when we asked Him, How many times, if my brother offend against me, shall J forgive him? unto seven times? But our Lord taught us and said to us: Not seven times, I say, only, but even unto seventyfold seven. For so the Lord desires, that they 1owho are His in truth should never have anything at all against any man, and should not be angry with any man: how much less does He desire that men should have lawsuits one with another?
2.47Connolly, 112
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if aught should happen to come about through the agency of the Enemy, so let them be judged before you as you also are surely to be judged. First, then, let your judgements be held on the second day of the week, that if perchance any one should contest the sentence of your words, you may have space until the Sabbath to compose the matter, and may make peace between them 2c that are at odds and reconcile them on the Sunday. Now let the presbyters and the deacons be ever present in all judgements with the bishops. Judge without respect of persons. When therefore the two parties who have the suit or quarrel one with another shall come and stand together in the judgement, as the Scripture saith, after you have heard them, pass sentence righteously. And give diligence to keep them in friendship before the sentence is pronounced upon them, lest there go forth from you against one of them, being a brother, a condemnation of earthly judgement. And so judge as you also are surely to be judged, even as you have Christ for partner and assessor and counsellor and spectator 3 Mt. v 9. 6 Mt. xviii 21. 8 Mt. xviii 22. ets Cf: Deut. xix. 17. with you in the same cause. But if there be any who are accused by some one, it being charged against them that they conduct themselves not well in the way of the Lord: again, hearing both parties, make diligent inquiry, as being to give sentence in a matter of everlasting life or cruel and bitter death. For if a man is truly convicted, and he be condemned and go forth from the Church, he has been cast out from life and glory everlasting, and is become reprobate among men and guilty before God.
2.48Connolly, 112
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Judge therefore, according to the magnitude of the charge, whatever it be, with much mercy; and incline rather to save alive without respect of persons than to destroy, by condemning, those who are judged. But if there be one who is innocent, and he be condemned by the judges through respect of persons, the judgement of unjust judges shall do him no hurt with God, but shall rather profit him ; for but for a little while is he unjustly judged by men, but afterwards, in the day of judgement, because he has been unjustly condemned, he shall be the judge of (his) unjust judges. For you have been the arbiters of an unjust judgement, and therefore shall be requited by God accordingly, and cast out of the Catholic Church of God. And that shall be fulfilled in your case: With what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged.
2.49Connolly, 112–114
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Wherefore, when you sit to judge, let both parties— for we do not call them brothers until peace has been made between them—come and stand together; and do you make prudent and diligent inquiry as between those who have the suit and quarrel one with another. And learn first concerning him who makes the accusation, whether there be any accusation against him also, or whether perchance he has brought charges against others as well; and again, whether he has brought his accusation out of any former enmity or quarrel, or out of envy; and (inquire) also of what manner his conen versation is—whether he is meek, and without anger, and not given to slander, and whether he loves the widows and the poor and strangers, and is not greedy of filthy lucre; and whether he is quiet, and friendly to all and a lover of all; whether he is merciful and open-handed to give, and not a glutton and greedy, nor grasping, nor drunken, nor intemperate, nor slothful: for the perverse heart contriveth evil, and the same disturbeth cities at all times; and whether no such evil has been committed by him as is (done) in the world. And if he that makes the accusation is free from all these things, it is already evident and manifest that he is trustworthy, and that his accusation is true. But if he is known to be perverse and contentious, and his conduct not right, this (also) is evident, that he brings false witness against your brother. When therefore he is found and known to be an injurious person, rebuke him and put him forth for a time, until he repent and be converted and weep: lest perchance he again blaspheme against some other of our brethren who is of good conversation ; or lest, while he sits in your congregation, some other like him, seeing him unreproved, should himself dare to do in like manner to one of our brethren, and should perish before God. But if he who has sinned is rebuked and corrected and put forth for a season, he also who was ready to imitate him and to do as he did, having seen him put forth, will fear lest it happen to him in like manner, and will submit himself: and he shall live before God, and in no wise be put to shame among men.
2.50Connolly, 114
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And concerning him again who is judged take counsel and thought among you in like manner: and observe his manners and conduct in the world, whether perchance you have heard many charges against him, or whether he has committed many crimes. For if he is found to have committed crimes, it is likely that this charge also which they prefer against him is true. But again, it may happen that he had formerly comopen-handed to give] So edperddoros is rendered at p. 8, l 3. mitted some sin, but is innocent of this present charge. Wherefore, make diligent investigation of these things, that you may give sentence with great caution and surety; and do you judge rightfully concerning him who is found to be guilty, and pass judgement upon him. But let any one of them who will not abide by your judgement be reproved and put forth from the congregation until he repent and make entreaty of the bishop or of the Church, and confess that he has sinned, and is penitent. And thus shall advantage accrue to many: lest at any time some other, seeing him sit in the Church unrebuked and uncorrected, should himself dare to do as he did, thinking him alive among men, whereas with God he is lost.
2.51Connolly, 114–116
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if you hear one party alone, while the other is not present to make his defence to the charge which they bring against him, and you pass sentence hastily, without counsel and without inquiry, and, in accordance with the falsehoods which you have believed, condemn him while he is not present to defend himself: you shall be partners before God of him that brought the false witness, and with him you shall be punished by God. For the Lord has said in Proverbs: He that meddleth in a quarrel that is not his own, is as he that taketh hold of a dog's tail; and again in another place He has said: Fudge right judgement; and again He has said: Fudge the fatherless, and justify the widows; and again He saith: on E - ? Deliver the oppressed, and sever every bond of iniquity. But if you resemble those elders who were in Babylon, who bore false witness against Susanna and wickedly condemned her to death, you also shall be partners of their judgement and of their condemnation; for the Lord by Daniel saved Susanna from the hand of the ungodly, and those elders who were guilty of her blood He condemned to fire.
2.52Connolly, 116
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Now very far apart do we set the things of the sanctuary from those of the world; nevertheless (this) we say : You see, brethren, how, when murderers are brought before the (civil) authority, the judges question diligently those who bring them, and learn from them what they have done. And then again they ask the criminal whether these things are so; and though he himself confess and say, ‘Yea’, they do not send him straightway to death, but question him again for many days, and drawing the curtain take thought and counsel much together. And then at length they pass upon him the s sentence of death, and lifting up their hands to heaven protest that they are innocent of the man's blood. And these things they do though they are heathens and know not God nor the requital they receive from God for those whom they judge and condemn unjustly. And do you, who know who is our God and what His judgements, dare to give sentence upon one who is not guilty? We counsel you therefore that you make inquiry with diligence and much caution. For the word of sentence which you decree ascends straightway to God ; and if you have justly judged, you shall receive of God the reward Of justice, both now and hereafter; but if you have judged unjustly, again you shall receive of God a recompense accordingly. Strive threrefore, brethren, that you be worthy to receive praise from God, and not blame ; for praise from God is everlasting life to men, but blame from God is eternal death
2.53Connolly, 116–118
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Have a care therefore, O bishops, that you be not in haste to sit in judgement forthwith, lest you be constrained to condemn a man; but before they come and stand in the judgement, admonish them and make peace between them. And admonish those who have the suit and quarrel one with another, and teach them in the first place that it is not right for any bo ya man to be angry, because the Lord has said: Every one that is angry with his brother is lable to the judgement; and secondly, that if it should happen through the agency of the Enemy that some anger arise, they ought at once, that very day, to be reconciled and appeased, and to be at peace with one another. For it is written: Let not the sun go down upon thine anger against thy brother ; and in David also He saith: Be angry, and sin not; that is, be speedily reconciled, lest, if anger continue, malice arise and beget sin. He saith in Proverbs: The soul that keepeth malice shall die. And our Lord and Saviour also said: Lf thou offer thy gift upon the altar, and there remember that thy brother keepeth any malice against thee, leave thy gift before the altar, and go, first be reconciled with thy brother: and then come, offer thy gift. Now the gift of God is our prayer and our Eucharist. If then thou keep any malice against thy brother, or he against thee, thy prayer is not heard and thy Eucharist is not accepted; and thou shalt be found void (both) of prayer and Eucharist by reason of the anger which thou keepest. A man ought to pray diligently at all times; but those who bear anger and malice towards their brethren God does not hear; and though thou pray three times in one hour, thou shalt gain nothing, for thou art not heard by reason of thine enmity against thy brother. Wherefore, if thou carest and strivest to be a Christian, follow the saying of the Lord which saith: Loose all ties of iniquity ; and sever the bands of violence and oppression. For upon thee has our Saviour laid this power, that thou shouldst forgive thy brother who has offended 9 lest... beget sin] 5j emipovos prnoikakia Kat en against thee seventyfold seven times, that is, four hundred and ninety. How many times then hast thou forgiven thy brother, that thou wilt no more forgive him, but keepest malice and maintainest enmity, and desirest to go tolaw? Therefore is thy prayer hindered, But even if thou hast forgiven the full four hundred and ninety times, add still more for thine own sake, and of thy bounty, without anger, forgive thy brother. And if thou do it not for thy brother’s sake, bethink thee and do it at least for thine own; and forgive thy neighbour, that thou mayest be heard when thou prayest, and mayest offer an acceptable oblation to the Lord.
2.54Connolly, 118
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Wherefore, O bishops, that your oblations and your prayers may be acceptable, when you stand in the Church to pray let the deacon say with a loud voice: *Is there any man that keepeth aught against his fellow ?’, that if there be found any who have a lawsuit or quarrel one with another, thou mayest entreat them and make peace between them. They who enter a house and say, Peace be in this house, both are proclaimers of peace and do bring peace. If then thou preach peace to others, still more does it behove thee to have peace with thy brethren. As a son of light and peace therefore, be thou light and peace to all men ; and contend with no man, but be in quiet and peace with all men. And be a helper with God that (the number of) those who are saved may be increased; for this is the will of the Lord God. But they who love enmity and quarrels, and contentions and lawsuits, are enemies of God.
2.55Connolly, 118–120
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For the Lord from the beginning, through the prophets and righteous men, called all generations to repentance and salvation ; and we, moreover, the Apostles, who have been accounted worthy to be the witnesses of His manifestation and preachers of His divine word, have heard from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and do know of a surety and say what is His will, and the will of His Father, that no man should perish, but that all men should believe and be saved. (ii. 56] For this is that which He taught us to say when we pray: Thy will be done in earth, as in heaven; that as the angels of heaven and the hosts and all (His) ministers praise God, so too on earth all men should praise God. It is His will, then, to save all; and this is His pleasure, that they who are saved should be many. He who is contentious, or makes himself an enemy to his neighbour, diminishes the people of God. For either he drives out of the Church him whom he accuses, and diminishes her and deprives God of the soul of a man which was being saved, or by his contention he expels and ejects himself from the Church, and so again he sins against God. For God our Saviour spoke thus: Every one that is not with me, is against me; and every one that gathereth not with me, scattereth. Wherefore thou art no helper with God for the gathering together of the people, because thou art a disturber and a scatterer of the flock, and an adversary and enemy of God, Be not therefore for ever embroiled in contentions and quarrels, or wrangling, or enmity, or lawsuits, lest thou scatter some one from the Church. For we by the power of the Lord God have gathered (men) from all peoples and from all tongues, and have brought them to the Church with much labour and toil and in daily peril, that we might do the will of God and fill the house with guests, that is His holy Catholic Church, that they might be glad and rejoicing, and be praising and glorifying God who called them to life. Be you then, O laymen, peaceable one with another, and strive like wise doves to fill the Church, and to convert and tame those that are wild and bring them into her midst. And (for) this is the great reward that is promised by God: if you deliver them from fire, and present them to the Church firmly established and faithful. CHAP FERSXI To Bishops: that they should be peaceable.
2.57Connolly, 120
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And you the bishops, be not hard, nor tyrannical, nor wrathful, and be not rough with the people of God which is delivered into your hands. And destroy not the Lord’s house nor scatter His people; but convert all, that you may be helpers with God ; and gather the faithful with much meekness and long-suffering and patience, and without anger, and with 75 doctrine and exhortation, as ministers of the kingdom everlasting. And in your congregations in the holy churches hold your assemblies with all decent order, and appoint the places for the brethren with care and gravity. And for the presbyters let there be assigned a place in the eastern part of the house; and let the bishop’s throne be set in their midst, and let the presbyters sit with him. And again, let the lay men sit in another part of the house toward the east. For so it should be, that in the eastern part of the house the presbyters sit with as the bishops, and next the lay men, and then the women; that when you stand up to pray, the rulers may stand first, and after them the lay men, and then the women also. For it is required that you pray toward the east, as knowing 5-6 And (for) this, etc.] Compare for the construction, : and in part for the sense, 2 Clem. iii 3 otros otv early 6 pro dos av, cay ovv bporoynowper Ov that which is written: Give ye glory to God, who rideth upon the heaven of heavens toward the east. But of the deacons let one stand always by the oblations of the Eucharist; and let another stand without by the door and observe them that come in; and afterwards, when you offer, let them minister together in the Church. And if any one be found sitting out of his place, let the deacon who is within reprove him and make him to rise up and sit in a place that is meet for him. For our Lord likened the Church to a fold; for as we see the dumb animals, oxen and sheep and goats, lie down and rise up, and feed and chew the cud, according to their families, and none of them separate itself from its kind; and (see) the wild beasts also severally range with their like upon the mountains: so likewise in the Church ought those who are young to sit apart, if there be room, and if not to stand up; and those who are advanced in years to sit apart. And let the children stand on one side, or let their fathers and mothers take them to them; and let them stand up. And let the young girls also sit apart ; but if there be no room, let them stand up behind the women. And let the young women who are married and have children stand apart, and the aged women and widows sit apart. And let the deacon see that each of them on entering goes to his place, that no one may sit out of his place. And let the deacon also see that no one whispers, or falls asleep, or laughs, or makes signs. For so it should be, that with decency and decorum they watch in the Church, with ears attentive to the word of the Lord.
inscription 2, chapter 58
2.58.1Connolly, 120
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if any brother or sister come from another congregation, let the deacon question her and learn whether she is married, or again whether she is a widow (who is) a believer ; and whether she is a daughter of the Church, or belongs perchance to one of the heresies ; and then let him conduct her and set her in a place that is suitable for her. But if a
2.58.2Hauler, 43–44
uenerit, suscipite eum, praesby… episcopus aduenerit, cum episcopo sedeat eundem honorem ab eo recipiens. Et petes eum tu, episcope, ut adloquatur plebem tuam, quoniam peregrinus, cum adloquium dat, adiuuat populum; scriptum est enim: Nullus profeta susceptus est in patria sua. Et in gratia agenda ipse dicat. Si autem, cum sit prudens et honorem tibi reseruans, non uelit, su… alius quis aut alia superuenerit honorabilior saecundum saeculum aut peregrinus aut de ipso loco tuo, episcope, cum dicis uerbum Dei aut audis aut legis, noli propter personarum acceptionem relinquere ministerium uerbi tui et disponere eis sessoria, sed permane inquietus et noli mediare uerbum. Fratres autem eos suscipient. Sin uero locus non fuerit, qui dilectionem fraternam habet et caritatem et honorabilis est, surgens concedet eis locum et ipse stabit. Si autem iuuenioribus sedentibus senior aut anicula surgens concesserint locum, tu, diaconus, circuminspice, de iuuenioribus qui magis iunior est aut iuuencula, et exsurgere facies eam et sedere eam, quae locum concessit; eam uero, quae non cessit exsurgens, facies posteriorem omnibus stare, ut discant et ceteri concedere maioribus aetate. Si autem egenus aut egena … rit et praeterea senior aetate et locus non fuerit,
… comes, receive him; [if a] presbyter …; if a bishop comes, let him sit with the bishop, receiving the same honor from him. And you, O bishop, shall ask him to address your people, for a stranger's address helps the people; for it is written: “No prophet is received in his own country.” And at the thanksgiving let him speak. But if, being prudent and reserving the honor for you, he is unwilling, … Or if some other man or woman comes in who is more honorable in worldly rank, whether a stranger or from your own place, while you, O bishop, are speaking the word of God or listening or reading, do not, out of respect of persons, leave the ministry of your word to arrange seats for them, but remain undisturbed and do not interrupt the word. Let the brothers receive them. And if there is no place, let one who has brotherly love and charity and is honorable rise and give them place, and himself stand. And if, while the younger are sitting, an old man or an old woman rises and gives up the place, you, deacon, look around for whoever is youngest among the young men or girls, and make her stand up, and make the one who gave up her place sit down; and the one who did not give way by rising you shall make stand behind all, so that the others too may learn to give way to their elders. But if a poor man or poor woman … comes, especially one advanced in age, and there is no place,
inscription 2
2.59Hauler, 44
tu, episcope, talibus locum ex toto corde fac, etiamsi tu ipse super humum sederis, ut non fiat aput homines a te personarum acceptio, sed aput Deum ministerium tuum placeat. [Quoniam expedit numquam deesse ab ecclesia.] Docens autem iube et hortare populum in ecclesia frequentare et penitus numquam deesse, sed conuenire semper et ecclesiam
you, O bishop, make room for such with all your heart, even if you yourself must sit on the ground, so that there may be no respect of persons in you before men, but your ministry may be pleasing before God. [That it is expedient never to be absent from church.] And in teaching, command and exhort the people to frequent the church and never to be absent at all, but always to assemble, and not
inscription 2, chapter 60
2.60.1Hauler, 44–45
… non angustare, cum se subtrahunt, et minus membrum facere corpus Christi. Unusquisque autem non de alio hoc cogitet, sed de se ipso, quoniam dictum est: Qui non colligit mecum, spargit. Nolite ergo uosmet ipsos, cum sitis membra Christi, spargere ab ecclesia, cum non coadunamini; Chrm enim caput habentes secundum promissionem ipsius praesentem et conmunicantem uobis, nolite ipsi uos neclegere nec alienare saluatorem a membris suis nec scindere nec spargere corpus eius nec praeponere Dei uerbo necessitates temporariae uitae uestrae. Sed die dominica omnia seponentes concurrite ad ecclesiam. Nam qualem excusationem daturus est Deo, qui non conuenit in eodem die audire salutare uerbum et nutriri ab
… in the church … not to diminish it by withdrawing, and so make the body of Christ less by a member. Let each one think this not of another but of himself, since it has been said: “He who does not gather with me scatters.” Do not, then, scatter yourselves from the church, since you are members of Christ, by not assembling together; for, having Christ as your head, present and sharing with you according to his promise, do not neglect yourselves, nor estrange the Savior from his members, nor divide or scatter his body, nor put the needs of your temporal life before the word of God. But on the Lord's day lay everything aside and hasten to the church. For what excuse will he give to God who does not assemble on that day to hear the saving word and to be nourished by
2.60.2Connolly, 126–128
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
eager to receive temporal things and those that are but for a day and an hour, (but) those that are eternal you neglect ; and you are anxious about baths, and to be fed with the meat and drink of the belly, and about other things, but for the things eternal you have no care, but neglect your soul and have no zeal for the Church, to hear and receive the word of God. And in comparison of them that err what excuse have you? For the heathen, when they daily rise from their sleep, go in the morning to worship and minister to their idols; and before all their works and undertakings they go first and worship their idols. Neither at their festivals and their fairs are they wanting, but are constant in assembling: not only they who are of the district, but even those who come from afar ; and all likewise assemble and come to the spectacle of their theatre. And so in like manner they who are vainly called Jews, they remain idle one day after six, and assemble in their synagogue ; and never do they withdraw themselves or neglect their synagogue, nor disregard their (days of) idleness—even they who by reason of their unbelief are made void of the power of the word, and of the very name by which they call themselves, Jews: for ‘Jew’ is interpreted ‘confession’, but these are no confessors, since they do not confess the passion of Christ, which by transgression of the Law they caused, that they should repent and be saved. If then they who are not saved bestow care at all times on things wherein there is no profit and which avail them nothing, what excuse has he before the Lord God who withdraws himself from the assembly of the Church, and does not even imitate the gentiles, but by reason of his non-attendance grows indifferent and careless, and stands aloof and does evil? to whom the Lord said by Jeremiah (sic) : My laws ye have not kept: but neither have ye conversed after the laws of the gentiles ; and ye have well nigh surpassed them in evildoing; and: Do the gentiles exchange their gods, which yet be no gods? But my people have exchanged their honour Jor that which is without profit. How then shall he excuse himself who is indifferent and has no zeal for the assembly of the Church? But if there be any one who takes occasion of worldly business to withdraw himself, let him know this, that the trades of the faithful are called works of superfluity; for their true work is religion. Pursue your ro trades therefore as a work of superfluity, for your sustenance, but let your true work be religion.
inscription 2
2.61Connolly, 128
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Have a care therefore that you never withdraw yourselves from the assembly of the Church. But if any man leave the assembly of the Church of God and go to the assembly of the gentiles, what shall he say, and what excuse can he make to God in the day of judgement? seeing that he has left the holy Church, and the words of the living God, which are living and lifegiving and able to redeem and to deliver from fire and to save alive, and has gone to the assembly of ao the gentiles, because he has lusted after the spectacle of the theatre. Therefore shall he be accounted as one of them that go in thither; because he has lusted to hear and receive their fables, which are those of dead men and are from the spirit of Satan: for they are dead and deadly, and turn away from the faith and bring to everlasting fire. Nay, but the things of the world are your care, and you attend to the affairs of this life and scorn to betake yourselves to the Catholic Church, the beloved daughter of the Lord God Most High, that you may receive the teaching of God which 4o endures for ever and is able to save them that receive the word of life. Be constant therefore in coming together with the faithful who are being saved in your mother the Church, the living and lifegiving.
2.62Connolly, 128
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And beware of assembling with them that are perishing in the theatre, which is the assembly of the heathen, of error and of destruction. For he who enters an assembly of the gentiles shall be accounted as one of them, and shall receive the Woe. For to such the Lord God said by Isaiah: Woe, woe to them that come from the spectacle. And again He saith: Ye women that come from the spectacle, come: for it is a people without understanding. ‘Women’, then, He called the Churches, which He called and redeemed and brought forth from the spectacle of the theatre, and took and received ; and He taught us from henceforth to go thither no more. For He saith in Jeremiah: Ye shall not learn according to the ways of the gentiles. And He saith again in the Gospel: Zz the way of the gentiles ye shall not go; (and into the cities of the Samaritans ye shall not enter.) Here then He commands and warns us wholly to avoid all heresies, which are the cities of the Samaritans; and furthermore, that we should keep far away from the assemblies of the gentiles, and not enter strange congregations; and that we should utterly avoid the theatre, and their fairs which are held for the sake of idols. A believer must not even come near to a fair, except to buy him nourishment for body tand soul}. Therefore, avoid all vain shows of the idols, and the festivals of their fairs.
2.63Connolly, 128–130
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And let those who are young in the Church be ministering diligently, without sloth, in all things that are needful, with much reverence and modesty. Do you the faithful therefore, all of you, daily and hourly, whenever you are not in the Church, devote yourselves to your work; so that in all the conduct of your life you may either be occupied in the things of the Lord or engaged upon your work, and may never be idle. For the Lord has said: 9 Imitate the ant, O sluggard, and emulate her ways, and be wiser than she. "For she hath no husbandry, nor any to compel her, nor is she under authority: ? yet she gathereth her bread in summer, and storeth up for her much food in the harvest. And again He saith: Go to the bee, and learn how she worketh. For her work she performeth in wisdom: and there is brought of her labour to be food for rich and poor. Beloved and praiseworthy is she: and albeit she is little in strength, she honoureth wisdom, and is commended (thereby). ? How long wilt thou Sleep, thou sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy sleep? Thou shalt slumber a little, and sleep a little, and sit a little, and lay thy hand upon thy bosom a little: and poverty shall overtake thee as a runner, and want as a lusty man. But if thou wilt not be slothful, thine increase shall abound and overflow as a fountain, and poverty as a feeble runner shall depart from thee. Therefore, be always working, for idleness is a blot for which there is no cure. But if any man among you will not work, let him not eat: for the Lord God also hateth sluggards; for it is not possible for a sluggard to be a believer.
inscription 3
3.1Connolly, 130
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Appoint as a widow one that is not under fifty years old, who in some sort, by reason of her years, shall be remote from the suspicion of taking a second husband. But if you appoint one who is young to the widows’ order, and she endure not widowhood because of her youth, and marry, she will bring a reproach upon the glory of widowhood; and she shall render an account to God, first, because she has married a second husband; and again, because she promised to be a widow unto God, and was receiving (alms) as a widow, but did not continue in widowhood. But if there be one who is young, who has been a short time with her husband, and her husband die, or for any other cause there be a separation, and she continue by herself alone, having the honour of widowhood: she shall be blessed of God; for she is likened to the widow of Sarepta of Sidon with whom rested the holy angel, the prophet of God. Or again, she shall be like Anna, who hailed the coming of Christ and received a (good) testimony; and she shall be honoured for her virtue, winning honour on earth from men, and praise from God in heaven.
3.2Connolly, 130–132
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But let not young widows be appointed to the widows’ order: yet let them be taken care of and helped, lest by reason of their being in want they be minded to marry I I Tim. v 9. I a widow] ‘widows’ HS ; but the construction goes on in the singular : u) &Aarrov iva twi THs Svyapias a second time, and some harmful matter ensue. For this you know, that she who marries one husband may lawfully marry also a second; but she who goes beyond this is a harlot.
3.3Connolly, 132
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Wherefore, assist those who are young, that 5they may persevere in chastity unto God. And do thou accordingly, O bishop, bestow care upon these. And be mindful also of the poor, and assist and support them,
3.4Connolly, 132
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
even though there be among them those who are not widowers or widows, yet are in need of help through want or sickness or the rearing of children, and are in distress. It behoves thee to be careful of all and heedful of all. And hence it is that they who give gifts do not themselves with their own hands give them to the widows, but bring them to thee, that thou who art well acquainted of those who are in distress mayest, like a good steward, make distribution to them of those things which are given to thee: for God knows who it is that gives, even though he does not chance to be present. And when thou makest distribution, tell them the name of him who gave, that they may pray for him by name. For in all the Scriptures the Lord makes mention of the poor, and gives command concerning them; ... and even if they be married persons. And he adds further by Isaiah and says thus: Break thy bread to the hungry: and the poor 2 marries one husband, etc.] Or possibly ‘marries one husband according to law, may also marry a second’. Cf. Hermas Mand. iv 4. 1-2, as well as man, that hath no roof, bring into thine house; and when thou seest the naked, cover him: and thou shalt not despise one that is of thine own flesh. By all means therefore be careful of the poor.
3.5Connolly, 132–134
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Every widow therefore ought to be meek and quiet and gentle. And let her also be without malice and without anger; and let her not be talkative or clamorous, or forward in tongue, or quarrelsome. And when she sees anything unseemly done, or hears it, let her be as though she saw and heard it not. For a widow should have no other care save to be praying for those who give, and for the whole Church. And when she is asked a question by any one, let her not straightway give an answer, except only concerning righteousness and faith in God ; but let her send them that desire to be instructed to the rulers. And to those who question them let them (the widows) make answer only in refutation of idols and concerning the unity of God. But concerning punishment and reward, and the kingdom of the name of Christ, and His dispensation, neither a widow nor a layman ought to speak; for when they speak without the knowledge of doctrine, they will bring blasphemy upon the word. For our Lord likened the word of His tidings to mustard; but mustard, unless it be skilfully tempered, is bitter and sharp to those who use it. Wherefore our Lord said in the Gospel, to widows and to all the laity: Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they trample upon them and turn against you and rend you. For when the Gentiles who are being instructed hear the word of God not fittingly spoken, as it ought to be, unto edification of eternal life—and all the more in that it is spoken to them by a woman—how that our Lord clothed Himself in a body, and concerning the passion of Christ : they will mock and scoff, instead of applauding the word of doctrine ; and she shall incur a heavy judgement for sin.
inscription 3, chapter 6
3.6.1Connolly, 134
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
It is neither right nor necessary therefore that women should be teachers, and especially concerning the name of Christ and the redemption of His passion. For you have not been appointed to this, O women, and especially widows, that you should teach, but that you should pray and entreat the Lord God. For He the Lord God, Jesus Christ our Teacher, sent us the Twelve to instruct the People and the Gentiles; and there were with us women disciples, Mary Magdalene and Mary the daughter of James and the other Mary; but He did not send them to instruct the people with us. For if it were required that women should teach, our Master Himself would have commanded these to give instruction with us. But let a widow know that she is the altar of God ; and let her sit ever at home, and not stray or run about among the houses of the faithful to receive. For the altar of God never strays or runs about anywhere, but is fixed in one place. A widow must not therefore stray or run about among the houses. For those who are gadabouts and without shame cannot be still even in their houses; for they are no widows, but *wallets*, and they care for nothing else but to be making ready to receive. And because they are gossips and chatterers and murmurers, they stir up quarrels; and they are bold and shameless. Now they that are such are unworthy of Him who called them ; for neither in the common assembly of rest of the Sunday, when they have come, are such women or men watchful, but they either fall asleep or prate about some other matter: so that through them others also are taken captive by ro the enemy Satan, who suffers not such persons to be watchful unto the Lord. And they who are such, coming in empty to the Church, go out more empty still, since they hearken not to that which is spoken or read to receive it with the ears of their hearts. Such persons, then, are like those of whom Isaiah said: Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand ; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not see. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and with their ears they hear heavily, and their eyes they have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, aud hear with their ears. (iii. 7] So in like manner the ears of such widows’ hearts are stopped, because they will not sit beneath the roof of their houses and pray and entreat the Lord, but are impatient to be running after gain; and by their chattering they execute the desires of the Enemy. Now such a widow does not conform to the altar of Christ; for it is written in the Gospel: Zf two shall agree together, and shall ask concerning any thing whatsoever, it shall be given them. And tf they shall say to a mountain that it be removed and fall into the sea, tt shall so be done.
3.6.2Hauler, 46–49
Uidemus ergo aliquantas uidulas non conuenire, quia non inpetrant, cum petant. Quae tales itaque fuerint tamquam operationem rem ipsam existimant et ex eo, quod aware accipiunt, et pro, ut deberent, fructuare sibi aut dare episcopo ad susceptionem peregrinorum aut tribulantium repausationem ad amarissimas usuras commodant et de solo mammona cogitant; quorum Deus est sacculus: ubi est thensaurus eorum, ibi et mens eorum est. Illa enim, quae ad circumeundum iam instituta est, ad opus spiritale non recte sentit, seruit autem mammonae, id est lucro, Deo uero placere non potest nec ministeriis eius adbunde obaudire poterit, quoniam uoluntas eius circum multa occupatur et ad lucrum magis festinat. Tamen etsi adstat interpellare et rememorata fuerit, ubi debeat ire propter accipiendum lucrum aut quia amicae suae oblita est uerbum aliquod dicere, et, cum stat, iam non orationi intendit, sed ei, quae circumuenit eam, cogitationi. Quae talis ergo fuerit nec exauditur citius, quia dereliquid praecem et mens eius uentilatur et non ex toto corde offeret Deo praecem et pergit magis ad inspirationes maligni, quae non possunt saluare eam, et amicae suae exponit eas, quoniam nescit, qui ei locus creditus est uel cuius gradus digna effecta est. Quae autem Deo placere uult uidua sedens intra tectum suum quae domini sunt sapit, noctu et die incessabili ore sincer… his, quibus petit, cum sinceram praecem fundit, quoniam mens eius ad hoc solum uacat. Nec enim uoluntas eius awara est ad accipiendum nec desiderium eius est, ut multum expendat ad expensa sua. Nec oculis aliquid potest desiderare, quia nec uidit aliquid tale nec insedit menti eius, nec, quae cum audit, in uerba malorum adcommodauit aurem suam aut ipsa ministrauit, quoniam nec curam habuit. De his ergo nihil poterit inpediri orationi eius. Sic igitur castitas eius et inturbulentia cum sit Deo manifesta, mox, cum coeperit petere aliquit a Deo, praeueniet praecem eius, quoniam quae talis est uidua non diligens pecuniam neque turpilucrum amans nec awara nec gluterix, sed magis mansueta, sine turbulentia agens omnia, religiosa et uerecunda et sedens in domo sua et lanam deforis accipit, ut magis praebeat tribulantibus quam ipsa alicui sit molesta, ut accipiat ab eis, rememorans eius uiduae, cui in euangelio testimonium fertur a domino, quae ueniens misit in gazofylacio denarios minutos duos, quod est quadrantes. Quam cum uidisset magister et dominus noster cordis scientiam habens, dixit nobis: ‘O discipuli mei, ista uidua pauperrima ab omnibus plus misit elemosynam:
We see, then, that some widows do not behave fittingly, since they do not obtain what they ask for. Such women regard the thing itself as a trade, and what they greedily receive, instead of using it for themselves, as they ought, or giving it to the bishop for the reception of strangers or the relief of the distressed, they lend at the bitterest usury, and they think of mammon alone; their god is the purse: where their treasure is, there also is their mind. For a widow who has already taken to going about does not think rightly about spiritual work, but serves mammon, that is, gain, and cannot please God, nor will she be able to obey his ministries fully, since her will is busy about many things and hastens rather after gain. Even if she stands to intercede, and remembers where she ought to go to collect some gain, or that she forgot to say something to a friend of hers, then, as she stands, she no longer attends to prayer but to the thought that has come upon her. Such a woman, therefore, is not quickly heard, because she has abandoned prayer, and her mind is tossed about, and she does not offer her prayer to God with all her heart, but goes rather after the promptings of the evil one, which cannot save her, and recounts them to her friend, since she does not know what place has been entrusted to her or of what rank she has been made worthy. But the widow who wishes to please God, sitting within her house, minds the things of the Lord, night and day, with unceasing mouth … for those for whom she asks, when she pours out sincere prayer, since her mind is free for this alone. For her will is not greedy to receive, nor is it her desire to spend much on her own expenses. Nor can she desire anything with her eyes, because she has not seen any such thing, nor has it entered her mind; nor, when she hears, has she lent her ear to the words of the wicked or served them herself, since she has had no care for them. Therefore nothing of these things can hinder her prayer. So, since her chastity and calm are manifest to God, as soon as she begins to ask anything of God, he will anticipate her prayer; for such a widow does not love money nor love shameful gain, is neither greedy nor gluttonous, but rather meek, doing everything without disturbance, devout and modest, sitting in her house; and she takes in wool from outside, so that she may rather give to the distressed than be a burden to anyone by receiving from them, remembering that widow to whom testimony is given by the Lord in the Gospel, who came and put into the treasury two small coins, that is, quadrantes. When our Master and Lord, who knows the heart, saw her, he said to us: “O my disciples, this very poor widow has put in more alms than all;
inscription 3, chapter 8
3.8.1Hauler, 49
quoniam omne populum de abundantia sua misit, haec autem omnem uitam suam uel substantiam, quam habebat, in caelo sibi thensaurizauit’. Sinceras ergo oportet esse uiduas, subditas episcopis et diaconibus et metuentes sicut Deum et reuerentes et trementes episcopum, non habentes potestatem in aliquo nec absque dispositionem aliquid facientes et citra consilium aut imperium episcopi, et ne uelint ad aliquem pergere ad manducandum aut bibendum aut ieiunari cum aliquo aut accipere ab aliquo quicquam aut manus alicui imponere et orare, ut superius diximus, absque consilio episcopi uel diaconis. Si quid autem non iussa fecerit, corripiatur illa, quae sine disciplina est. Quid enim scis, mulier, a quo accipias
for all the people put in out of their abundance, but she has laid up for herself in heaven her whole living, that is, all the substance she had.” Widows, then, ought to be sincere, subject to the bishops and deacons, fearing, revering, and trembling before the bishop as before God, having no authority in anything, nor doing anything without arrangement, apart from the counsel or command of the bishop; and they should not wish to go to anyone to eat or drink, or to fast with anyone, or to receive anything from anyone, or to lay hands on anyone and pray, as we said above, without the counsel of the bishop or the deacon. And if she does anything she has not been told to do, let her who is undisciplined be rebuked. For how do you know, woman, from whom you are receiving
3.8.2Connolly, 140–142
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
thou receivest, or from what ministry thou art nourished, or for whom thou fastest, or upon whom thou layest hand? For knowest thou not that concerning every one of these thou shalt render an account to the Lord in the day of judgement, seeing that thou communicatest in their works? But thou, O widow who art without discipline, seest thy fellow widows or thy brethren in sickness, and hast no care to fast and pray over thy members, and to lay hand upon them and to visit them, but feignest thyself to be not in health, or not at leisure; but to others, who are in sins or are ro gone forth from the Church, because they give much, thou art ready and glad to go and to visit them. You then who are such ought to be ashamed ; for you wish to be wiser and to know better, not only than the men, but even than the presbyters and the bishops. Know then, sisters, that what- soever the pastors with the deacons command you, and you obey them, you obey God; and with whomsoever you communicate by the command of the bishop, you are without blame before God; and so is every brother of the laity who obeys the bishop and submits to him: for they (the bishops) are to render an account for all. But if you obey not the mind of the bishops and deacons, they indeed will be quit of your offences, but you shall render an account of all that you do of your own will, whether men or women. Now whosoever prays or communicates with one that is expelled from the Church, must rightly be reckoned with him; for these things lead to the undoing and destruction of souls. For if one communicate and pray with him who is expelled from the Church, and obey not the bishop, he obeys not God ; and he is defiled with him (that is expelled). And ao moreover he suffers not that man to repent. For if no one communicate with him, he will feel compunction and weep, and will ask and beseech to be received (again) ; and he will repent of what he has done, and will be saved.
inscription 3
3.9Connolly, 142–146
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
That a woman should baptize, or that one should be baptized by a woman, we do not counsel, for it is a transgression of the commandment, and a great peril to her who baptizes and to him who is baptized. For if it were lawful to be baptized by a woman, our Lord and Teacher Himself would have been baptized by Mary His mother, whereas He was baptized by John, like others of the people. Do not therefore imperil yourselves, brethren and sisters, by acting beside the law of the Gospel. [iii ro] But concerning envy or jealousy, or slander and to fault-finding, or contention and ill-will, and carping or rivalry, we have already told you that these things ought not to be found in a Christian; but among widows it is not fitting that any one of them should so much as be named. Yet because the author of evil has many wiles and devices, he enters into those who are no widows and boasts himself in them. For there are some indeed who profess themselves widows, but do not works worthy of their name. For not for the name of widowhood are they found worthy to enter into the kingdom, but for faith and works. For if one practise 2 good works, she shall be praised and accepted; but if she practise evil works and do the works of the Evil One, she shall be blamed and cast out of the kingdom everlasting: because she has left the things eternal and desired and loved H Now we see and hear that there are widows in whom there is envy one towards another. For when thy fellow aged woman has been clothed, or has received somewhat from some one, thou oughtest, O widow, on seeing thy sister refreshed—if thou be a widow of God—to say: ‘Blessed be God, who hath refreshed my fellow aged woman,’ and to praise God; and afterwards (to praise) him that ministered, and say: ‘May his work be acceptable in truth, and: ‘ Remember him, Lord, for good in the day of Thy recompense, and my bishop who hath ministered well before Thee and hath dis- But concerning, etc.] mepi POdvov i) (Xov 3) Katadadias i) EpSos i) pensed the alms fairly; for my fellow aged woman was naked, and hath been provided: and add unto him glory, and give him also a crown of glory in the day of the manifestation of Thy coming. And likewise also the widow who has received 5an alms of the Lord, let her pray for him that provided this ministration, suppressing his name like a wise woman, that his righteousness may be with God and not with men,—as He said in the Gospel: When thou doest an alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth—lest, when thou pro- nounce and reveal his name in praying for him that gave, his name be disclosed and come to the ears of a heathen, and the heathen, being a man of the left hand, know it. Or it may even chance that one of the faithful, hearing thee, will go out and talk: and it is not expedient that those things which are done or spoken in the Church should come abroad and be revealed; for he that divulges and speaks of them disobeys God, and becomes a betrayer of the Church. But do thou in praying for him suppress his name; and so shalt thou fulfil that which is written, thou and the widows who are such (as thou): for you are the holy altar of God, (even of) Jesus Christ. But now we hear that there are widows who do not behave according to the commandment, but care only for this, that they may stray and run about asking questions. And moreover she who has received an alms of the Lord—being without sense, in that she discloses (the matter) to her that asks her—has revealed and declared the name of the giver; and the other, hearing it, murmurs and finds fault with the bishop who has dispensed, or with the deacon, or with him I2 a man of the left hand] See p. 110. altar of God] See p. 88, who has made some gift, saying: Knewest thou not that I was nearer to thee and in more distress than she?’ And she knows not that it was not by man's will that this was done, but by the command of God. For if thou protest and say to him: ‘I was nearer to thee, and thou knewest that I was more naked than she': it behoved thee to know who it was that commanded, and to be silent and not find fault with him that ministered, but to go into thy house and fall upon thy face and give thanks to God for thy fellow widow ; and to pray likewise for him that gave and for him that ministered, and to beseech the Lord that He would open to thee also the door of His favour. And the Lord would presently have heard thy prayer bountifully, and have sent thee more favour than thy fellow widow, from whence thou never thoughtest to receive a ministry ; and (such) proof of thy patience would have been praiseworthy. Or know you not that it is written in the Gospel: When thou doest an alms, sound not the trumpet before men to be seen of them, as the hypocrites do. For verily I say unto you, they have received their reward. Now if God has commanded that a ministry be ministered in secret, and he that ministered did so minister: why then dost thou, who hast received in secret, proclaim it openly? Or thou, again (who hast not received), why dost thou question it? For thou not only findest fault and murmurest, as one who is no widow, but even utterest a curse like the heathen. Or hast thou not heard what the Scripture saith: Avery one that blesseth, is blessed; and every one that curseth, is cursed? And again in the Gospel He saith: Bless them that curse you ; and again: When ye enter into a house, say: Peace be in this 12-13 thy prayer bountifully] Or ‘ thy prayer (made) without envy’; but without envy’ is used to render 18 before men to be seen of them) From the previous verse, Mt. vi I. 23 Or thou, again] Clearly the other widow is meant, who grumbled and asked questions (see above) house. And tf that house be worthy of peace, your peace shall come upon it; but if it be not worthy, your peace shall return unto you. (iii. rr] If then peace returns to them that send it, much more will a curse return upon those who utter 5it idly: because that he upon whom it was sent does not merit to receive a curse, For every one who curses a man idly, curses himself, since it is written in Proverbs: As birds and fowl fly, so do idle curses return. And again He saith: They that utter curses are void of understanding. For we are to set forth in a parable by the example of the bee, as the Lord saith: Go the bee, and learn how she worketh. For her work she performeth in wisdom ; and there ds brought of her labour to be food for rich and poor. Beloved and praiseworthy is she, albeit she is little in strength. As then the bee is little 27 strength, and when she has stung a man she loses her sting, and becomes barren and presently dies; so also we the faithful in like manner: whatever evil we do to another, we do it to ourselves; for, Whatsoever thou hatest that it should be done to thee, thou shalt not do to another. Wherefore, every one that blesseth ts blessed. Do you therefore admonish and rebuke those (widows) who are undisciplined and likewise exhort and encourage and help forward those who conduct themselves rightly. And let widows keep themselves from cursing, for they have been appointed to bless. Wherefore, let not the bishop, nor a presbyter, nor a deacon, nor a widow utter a curse out of their mouth, that they may not inherit a curse but a blessing. And let this also be thy care, O bishop, that not even one of the laity utter from his mouth a curse: for thou hast the 18 Whatsoever thou hatest, etc.] See p. 4, 1. 26.
3.12Connolly, 146–148
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
On the appointment of Deacons and Deaconesses. Wherefore, O bishop, appoint thee workers of righteousness as helpers who may co-operate with thee unto salvation. Those that please thee out of all the people thou shalt choose and appoint as deacons: a man for the performance of the most things that are required, but a woman for the ministry of women. For there are houses whither thou canst not send a deacon to the women, on account of the heathen, but mayest send a deaconess. Also, because in many other matters the office of a woman deacon is required. In the first place, when women go down into the water, those who go down into the water ought to be anointed by a deaconess with the oil of anointing ; and where there is no woman at hand, and especially no deaconess, he who baptizes must of necessity anoint her who is being baptized. But where there is a woman, and especially a deaconess, it is not fitting that women should be seen by men: but with the imposition of hand do thou anoint the head only. As of old the priests and kings were anointed in Israel, do thou in like manner, with the imposition of hand, anoint the head of those who receive baptism, whether of men or of women ; and afterwards—whether thou thyself baptize, or thou command the deacons or presbyters to baptize—let a woman deacon, as we have already said, anoint the women. But let a man pronounce over them the invocation of the divine Names in the water. And when she who is being baptized has come up from the water, let the deaconess receive her, and teach and instruct her how the seal of baptism ought to be (kept) unbroken in purity and holiness. For this cause we say that the ministry of a woman deacon is especially needful and important. For our Lord and Saviour also was ministered unto by women ministers, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the daughter of Fames and mother of Fose, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with other women beside. And thou also hast need of the ministry of a deaconess for many things; for a deaconess is required to go into the houses of the heathen where there are believing women, and to visit those who are sick, and to minister to them in that of which they have need, and to bathe those who have begun to recover from sickness.
inscription 3, chapter 13
3.13.1Connolly, 148
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And let the deacons imitate the bishops in their conversation: nay, let them even be labouring more than he. And let them love filthy lucre ; but let them be diligent in the ministry. And in proportion to the number of the congregation of the people of the Church, so let the deacons be, that they may be able to take knowledge (of each) severally and refresh all; so that for the aged women who are infirm, and for brethren and sisters who are in sickness—for every one they may provide the ministry which is proper for him. But let a woman rather be devoted to the ministry of women, and a male deacon to the ministry of men. And let him be ready to obey and to submit himself to the command of the bishop. And let him labour and toil in every place whither he is sent to minister or to speak of some matter to any one. For it behoves each one to know his office and to be diligent in executing it. And be you (bishop and deacon) of one counsel and of one purpose, and one soul dwelling in two bodies. And know what the ministry is, according as our Lord and Saviour said in the Gospel: Whoso among you desireth to be chief, let him be your servant: even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a I daughter of James] See also pp. 133, 183. ‘Daughter of James’ for 7) is found in syr. sin. here and at Mk. xv 40 (syr. cur. is wanting in both places), and in syz. sin. and cur. at Lk. xxiv Io. IO nay, to o
3.13.2Hauler, 52–53
suam redemptionem pro multis. Ita ergo et uos diaconos oportet facere, ut, si necessitas uos exegerit et animam pro fratre ponere, per ministerium uestrum ponatis nolite dubitare. Nec enim dominus et saluator noster haesitabat seruiens nobis, sicuti et per Eseiam mandatum est: Iustificare iustum bene seruientem multis. Si ergo dominus caeli et terrae nobis seruiit et omnia passus est propter nos et sustinuit, quomodo non magis nos oportet hoc facere pro fratribus, quia discipuli eius sumus et locum Christi sortiti? Nam et in euangelio inuenietis scriptum, quomodo dominus noster succingens se linteum et accipiens in pelue aquam recumbentibus omnibus nobis ueniens lauit pedes nostros et detersit de linteo, Hoc autem faciens ostendebat fraternam caritatem, ut et nos inuicem hoc faciamus. Si ergo dominus hoc fecit, uos, diacones, nolite dubitare, ut superinponentes et infirmis hoc faciatis, quia operarii ueritatis estis, Christi exemplo succincti. Ministrate igitur cum dilectione, non murmurantes nec dubitantes; nam si ita agitis, secundum hominem facitis ea … tram similem diaconiae uestrae accipietis in die uisitationis. Oportet ergo uos, diacones, uisitare omnes, qui egent. Et de his, qui tribulantur, renuntiate episcopo. Et debes anima eius esse et eritis ad omnia excussior et obaudiens ei.
… his own redemption for many. So you deacons too must act, so that, if necessity requires of you even to lay down your life for a brother, you lay it down in your ministry; do not hesitate. For neither did our Lord and Savior hesitate in serving us, as it was also commanded through Isaiah: “To justify the righteous one who serves many well.” If, then, the Lord of heaven and earth served us and suffered and endured all things for our sake, how much more ought we to do this for our brothers, since we are his disciples and have received the place of Christ? For you will find it written in the Gospel too how our Lord girded himself with a towel and, taking water in a basin, while we were all reclining, came and washed our feet and dried them with the towel. In doing this he showed brotherly love, so that we too should do this for one another. If, then, the Lord did this, you deacons, do not hesitate to do this also for the sick and infirm, since you are workers of the truth, girded after the example of Christ. Minister, therefore, with love, not murmuring or doubting; for if you act so, you do it … like your service, you will receive on the day of visitation. You deacons, then, must visit all who are in need, and report to the bishop about those who are in distress. And you must be his soul, and you will be in all things more alert and obedient to him.
inscription 4
4.1Hauler, 53
Si quis autem orfanus fuerit de Christianis puer uel uirgo, bonum quidem est, si quis fratrum non habens filium puerum habuerit in locum fili, uirginem uero accipiat, qui habet puerum, id est filium, qui tempore nuptiarum possit eam accipere; et sic opera eius consummata est ad ministerium Dei. Si quis autem non sunt tales, sed ambulant, ut hominibus placeant, confusionem habentes propter diuitias suas et contemnunt membra orfanitatis, ipsi in talibus incident, qui abundantiam eorum consumant: Quae enim non manducarunt sancti, manducarunt Assyrii;
If any child of Christians, boy or girl, is orphaned, it is good that one of the brothers who has no son should take the boy in place of a son; and as for the girl, let one take her who has a boy, that is, a son, who at the time of marriage may take her; and so his work is completed for the service of God. But if some are not such, but walk to please men, being ashamed because of their riches and despising the orphaned members, they will themselves fall among such as will consume their abundance: “For what the saints did not eat, the Assyrians ate”;
4.2Hauler, 53–54
et: Regionem uestram in conspectu uestro alienigenae consummabunt eam. Uos ergo, episcopi, solliciti estote de educatione eorum, ut nihil eis desit. Et uir… puerum autem accipiens substantiam artem discat, ut mercedem dignam accipiat per artem, ut possit construere sibi et ea, quae ad artem necessaria sunt, instrumenta, etiam non grauet eam, quae fratribus in eum facta est sine dolo
and: “Your land, before your eyes, strangers will consume.” You bishops, therefore, take care of their upbringing, that they lack nothing. And … the boy, receiving support, let him learn a trade, so that by his trade he may earn a worthy wage and be able to provide for himself the tools needed for the trade, and so no longer burden the love sincerely shown toward him by the brothers.
4.3Hauler, 54
aritas. Nam uere beatus est, qui potest iuware se, ut non tribulet locum orfani, peregrini et uiduae; haec autem gratia a Deo est. Uae autem his, qui habent et cum dolo accipiunt aut qui possunt sibi iuware et accipiunt. Unusquisque uero de accipientibus dabit rationem domino Deo in die iudicii, quare acceperit. Si enim in orfanitate constitutus est aut in paupertate aut per senectutis defectionem aut propter aegritudinis infirmitatem aut propter filiorum, quia multi sunt, nutrimenta accipit, qui talis, inquit, est et laudabitur; altar is enim Dei deputatus est a Deo et honorabitur, quoniam sine dubitatione pro his, qui dant illi, frequenter orat et non otiose accipiebat, sed pro id, quod dabatur illi mercis, quantum uirtus illius admittebat.
For truly blessed is he who can help himself, so as not to burden the place of the orphan, the stranger, and the widow; and this grace is from God. But woe to those who have and receive with guile, or who can help themselves and yet receive. Every one of those who receive will give account to the Lord God on the day of judgment for why he received. For if one receives because he is an orphan, or in poverty, or through the weakness of old age, or because of the infirmity of sickness, or for the nurture of his children, because they are many, such a one, it says, will even be praised; for he has been reckoned by God as an altar of God and will be honored, since without hesitation he often prays for those who give to him; and he did not receive idly, but in return for what was given to him he made recompense, as far as his strength allowed.
inscription 4, chapter 4
4.4.1Hauler, 54–55
Hii igitur in aeterna uita a Deo beatificabuntur. Qui habent autem et in hypocrisi accipiunt … aut iterum, cum sunt pigri et cum debeant operari et iuuare sibi et aliis, ipsi accipientes praestabunt rationem, quoniam pauperorum fidelium grauarent locum. Qui enim habet pecunias et non erogat eas aliis neque ipse utitur, sed thensaurizat thensaurum sibi, qui perit, consimilabitur serpenti super thensaurum dormienti et periclitatur per momenta, ut cum thensauro suo deputetur. Qui autem habet in hypocrisim, non credidit Deo, sed iniquo mammonae. Lucri causa uerbum in
These, then, will be blessed by God in eternal life. But those who have and receive in hypocrisy … or again, when they are idle and, though they ought to work and help themselves and others, themselves receive, they will render account, because they burden the place of the faithful poor. For he who has money and neither gives it to others nor uses it himself, but lays up for himself a treasure that perishes, will be likened to a serpent sleeping on a treasure, and is in danger at every moment of being reckoned with his treasure. But he who has, and receives in hypocrisy, has not believed God but unrighteous mammon. For the sake of gain the word in
4.4.2Connolly, 156
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
hypocrisy, and he is fulfilled in unbelief. Now such a one will come in danger of being reckoned with the unbelievers. But he who gives simply to every man, does well in giving, and he is innocent. He also who receives on account of distress, and uses sparingly those things which he has received, has received well; and he shall be praised by God in the life and rest everlasting.
inscription 4
4.5Connolly, 156–158
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
That it ts not right to receive gifts of alms from reprehensible persons. Do you the bishops and the deacons be constant therefore in the ministry of the altar of Christ,—we mean the widows and the orphans,—so that with all care and with all diligence you make it your endeavour to search out concerning the things that are given, (and to learn) of what manner is the conversation of him, or of her, who gives for the nourishment—we say again—of ‘the altar’. For when widows are nourished from (the fruits of) righteous labour, they will offer a holy and acceptable ministry before Almighty God through His beloved Son and His holy Spirit: to whom be glory and honour for evermore. Make it your care and endeavour therefore to minister to widows out of the ministry of a clean conscience, that what they ask and request may be granted them at once upon their praying for it. But if there be bishops who are careless and give no heed to these matters, through respect of persons, or for the sake of filthy lucre, or because they neglect to make 2-4 Cf. Hermas Mand. ii 4-6, Didache i 5. 2-4 But he... is innocent] Cf. Herm. Mand. ii 6 6 d:d0vds adads eariv : and Didache i diols... yap 6 praised] Lani o struction. The writer insists on his identification of widows and orphans with the altar, and so explains how it is that he can speak of the nourishment’ of the altar. 16-18 through, etc.] dia rod vio) abro) "Incod Xpiorod rod kupiov Hav, de ob 1 dda TH Oe@ ev mvevpare kai dAnOeia inquiry; they shall render no ordinary account.
4.6Connolly, 158–160
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For they receive, forsooth, to administer for the nourishment of orphans and widows, from rich persons who keep men shut up in prison, or ill-treat their slaves, or behave with cruelty in their cities, or oppress the poor ; or from the lewd, and those who abuse their bodies; or from evildoers; or from forgers ; or from dishonest advocates, or false accusers ; or from hypocritical lawyers; or from painters of pictures; or from makers of idols ; or from workers of gold and silver and bronze (who are) thieves ; or from dishonest tax-gatherers; or from spectators of shows; or from those who alter weights or measure deceitfully; or from inn-keepers who mingle water (with their wine) ; or from soldiers who act lawlessly ; or from murderers ; or from spies who procure condemnations ; or from any Roman officials, who are defiled with wars and have shed innocent blood without trial : perverters of judgement who, in order to rob them, deal unjustly and deceitfully with the peasantry and with all the poor; and from idolaters; or from the unclean; or from those who practise usury, and extortioners. Now they who nourish widows from these (sources) shall be found guilty in judgement in the day of the Lord ; for the Scripture has said: Better is a supper of herbs with love and amity than the slaughter of fatted oxen with hatred. For ifa widow be nourished with bread only from the labour of righteousness, it shall even be abundant for her; but if much be given her from (the proceeds) of iniquity it shall be insufficient for her. But again, if she be nourished from (the proceeds) of iniquity, she cannot offer her ministry and her intercession with purity before God ; and even though she be righteous and pray for the wicked, her intercession for them will not be heard, but that for herself alone; for God makes trial of the hearts in judgement, and receives intercessions with discernment. But if they pray for those who have sinned and repent, their prayers will be heard. But those who are in sin, and do not repent, not only are they not heard when they pray, but they even call to remembrance their transgressions before the Lord.
4.7Connolly, 160
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Wherefore, O bishops, fly and avoid such ministra- tions ; for it is written: There shall not go up upon the altar of the Lord (that which cometh) of the price of a dog,or of the hire of a harlot. For if widows pray for fornicators and transgressors through your blindness, and be not heard, not receiving their requests, you will perforce bring blasphemy upon the word through your evil management, as though God were not good and ready to give. Take good heed therefore that you minister not to the altar of God out of the ministrations of transgression. For you have no pretext to say, ‘We do not know’ ; for you have heard that which the Scripture saith: Depart from an evil man, and thou shalt not fear; and trembling shall not come nigh unto thee. iv. 8] But if you say: ‘ These are they alone who give alms; and if we receive not of them, from whence shall the orphans and widows and those in distress be provided?’ God saith to you: ‘ To this end did you receive the gifts of the Levites, the firstfruits and offerings of your people, that you might be sustained and even have over and above, that you might not be constrained to receive from evil persons.’ But if the Churches are so poor that those in want must needs be supported by such, it were better for you rather to be wasted with famine than to receive from evil persons. Search out and make trial, therefore, that you may be receiving from the faithful, who communicate with the 13-14 be not heard, not receiving their requests] The sense suggests ‘ be not heard: whereas they do not receive’, etc., but the punctuation and Churches and conduct themselves well, (wherewithal) to nourish those in distress, and may not receive from those who are expelled from the Church until they are found worthy to be members of the Church. But if you are in want, tell the brethren, and let them treat together and give; and thus per- form your ministrations in righteousness.
4.9Connolly, 160
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And teach your people and tell them that it is written: Honour the Lord with (the fruits of) righteous labour, and with the chiefest of all your increase. Wherefore, nourish and clothe those in want from the righteous labour of the faithful; and those things which are given by them, as we have already said, bestow for the ransom of the faithful ; and redeem slaves and captives and prisoners, and those who are treated with violence, and those condemned by the mob, and those sentenced to fight with beasts, or to the mines, or to exile, and those condemned to ;; the games. And let the deacons go in to those who are in distress, and let them visit each one and provide him with what he lacks.
4.10Connolly, 160
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if ever it should happen that you are constrained and receive unwillingly some pieces of money from any evil person, you shall not employ them for (the purchase of) food ; but if they be few, spend them on firewood for yourselves and for the widows, lest a widow, receiving of them, be forced to buy her some food with them. And so, unsullied by iniquity, the widows will pray and receive from God all good things for which they ask and make petition, all of them together and each one severally: and you also will not be reproached with these sins.
4.11Connolly, 192–194
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And teach your children crafts that are agreeable and befitting to religion, lest through idleness they give themselves to wantonness, For if they are not corrected by their parents, they will do those things that are evil, like the heathen. Therefore spare not to rebuke and correct and teach them ; for you will not kill them by chastising them, but rather save them alive: as our Lord also teaches us in Wisdom, saying thus: Chasten thy son, that there may be hope Jor him: for thou shalt strike him with a rod, and deliver his soul from Sheol, And He saith again: Whosoever spareth his vod, hateth his son. Now our rod is the Word of God, Jesus Christ: even as Jeremiah also saw Him (as) an almond rod. Every man accordingly who spares to speak a word of rebuke to his son, hates his son. Therefore teach your sons the word of the Lord, and punish them with stripes, and bring them into subjection from their youth by your word of religion. And give them no liberty to set themselves up against you their parents; and let them do nothing without your counsel, lest they go with those of their own age and meet together and carouse ; for in this way they learn mischief, and are caught and fall into fornication. Now, whether this happen to them without their parents, their parents themselves will be accountable before God for the judgement of their souls; or whether again by your licence they are undisciplined and sin, you their parents will likewise be guilty on their account before God. Therefore be careful to take wives for them, and have them married when their time is come, lest in their early age by the ardour of youth they commit fornication like the heathen, and you have to render an account to the Lord God in the day of judgement.
inscription 5
5.1Connolly, 160–162
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
That it is a duty to take care of those who for the name of Christ suffer affliction as Martyrs. You shall not turn away your eyes from a Christian who for the name of God and for His faith and love is condemned to the games, or to the beasts, or to the mines; but of your labour and of the sweat of your face do you send to him for nourishment, and for a payment to the soldiers that guard him, that he may have relief and that care may be taken of him, so that your blessed brother be not utterly afflicted. For let him that is condemned for the name ofthe Lord God be esteemed of by you as a holy martyr, an angel of God, or God upon earth, even one that is spiritually clothed with the Holy Spirit of God ; for through him you see the Lord our Saviour, inasmuch as he has been found worthy of the incorruptible crown, and has renewed again the witness of (His) passion. To those therefore who are bearing witness it is the duty of all you the faithful to minister with care, and to refresh them out of your possessions through your bishop. But if there be a man who has nothing, let him fast, and that which would have been spent by him that day let him give for his brethren. But if thou art rich, thou must minister to them according to [9] ur thy power, or even give thy whole possession and redeem them from bonds; for they it is who are worthy of God, and the sons who perform His will; as the Lord has said: Every one that shall confess me before men, I also will confess him before my Father. And you shall not be ashamed to go to them where they are imprisoned. And when you do these things, you shall inherit everlasting life, for you become sharers of their martyrdom. For let us learn how our Lord said in the Gospel: Come unto me, all ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom which was prepared for you from before the foundations of the world. For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; and I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink; Iwasa stranger, and ye gathered me ; and I was naked, and ye covered me; I was sick, and ye visited me; and I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then will the righteous answer and say: Our Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee to eat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? or naked, and covered thee ? or sick, and did visit thee? or a stranger, and gathered thee? or in prison, and came unto thee? And he will answer and say to them: All that ye did to one of these little and mean ones, ye did it to me. And then skall they go into life everlasting.
5.2Connolly, 162–164
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But if there be one who is called a Christian, and he fall away and be tempted by Satan, and be convicted of evil deeds and condemned for (his) deeds, whether of theft or murder: avoid such persons, lest any one of you be put on trial by those who seize him. For if one seize thee and question thee, and say to thee: ‘Art thou also a Christian, like this man?’ thou canst not deny that thou art a Christian, but must needs confess it. But thou wilt not be condemned as a Christian, but punished as a malefactor. For he asks thee whether thou art ‘like this man’: and thy confession is rendered void. But if thou deny, thou hast also denied the Lord. Therefore avoid them, that you may be without offence. But the faithful who are violently and unjustly seized and imprisoned as evildoers, or even bound, help (as) your members with abundant care and with much pains, that you may deliver them from the hand of evil men. But if any man come near to them and be seized with them, and for no offence suffer or affliction for his brother's sake, blessed is he in being called a Christian; for he has confessed the Lord, and he shall live before God. For if a man come near to those who are bound for the name of the Lord and be seized with them, he shall be blessed in being found worthy of such company.
5.3Connolly, 164
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
And those again who are persecuted for the faith and pass from city to city, according to the Lord's command, do you receive and refresh; and when you receive them, rejoice, for you are made sharers of their persecution. For our Lord ro spoke concerning them in the Gospel thus: Blessed are ye, when they shall persecute you and revile you for my names sake. For when a Christian is persecuted and bears witness and is slain for the faith, he becomes a man of God; and he is now no more persecuted by any man, for he has won him 17 not persecuted] H: S omits the negative: ody er save his life, by denying, shall lose it. For what shall a man be profited if he acquire the whole world, and forfeit his soul? or what shall he give in exchange for his soul? And again: Fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but fear me rather, that am able to destroy soul and body in hell.
5.5Connolly, 164–166
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Now every one who learns any craft watches his master and sees how by his skill and his knowledge he executes the work of his craft; and he himself copies him and executes the work which he has set him, that he rnay not be ill spoken of by him. But if he abate anything of the (tasks) set him, he is not perfect. We, then, who have our Lord for master and teacher, why do not we imitate His teaching and His conversation? For Heleft riches and favour, and power and glory, and came thus in poverty ; and moreover He parted with Mary His blessed mother, and with His brethren, and with His life itself, and endured persecution even unto the cross. And these things He endured for our sake, that He might redeem us, who are of the People, from the bonds of *the Second Legislation*, of which we have already spoken, and might redeem you also, who are of the Gentiles, from the worship of idols and from all ungodliness, and get you for an inheritance. If then He suffered thus for our sake, to redeem us who believe in Him, and was not ashamed, why do not we also imitate His sufferings, while He gives us endurance ?—and this for our own sake, fear me, etc.] A striking alteration of the Gospel words, due no doubt to - uo that we may be delivered from the death of fire. For He endured for our sake, but we for our own sake. Or has our Lord any need that we should suffer for Him? Rather it is this alone that He desires, to make proof of the love of our faith, and of our free will.
5.6Connolly, 166–168
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Let us then part with our parents and our kinsfolk, and with all that is in this world, and even with our life. We must indeed pray that we come not into temptation ; yet if we be called to martyrdom, let us confess when we are ro interrogated, and when we suffer let us endure, and when we are afflicted let us rejoice, and when we are persecuted let us not grieve; for so doing, not only shall we deliver ourselves from hell, but we shall also teach those who are young in the faith, and the hearers, to do the like: and they shall live before God. But if we fail in faith towards the Lord, and deny through the infirmity of the body—as our Lord said : The spirit is willing and ready, but the body is weak—we shall not only destroy ourselves, but shall kill also our brethren with us. For when they see our denial, they will think that ao they have been made disciples of an erring doctrine; and when they stumble, we shall render an account for them as well as for ourselves, every one of us, to the Lord in the day of judgement. But if thou be taken and brought before the authority, and deny the hope that thou hast towards the Lord by thy holy faith, and thou be set at large to-day, but to-morrow fall sick of a fever and take to thy bed; or if thy stomach ail thee and retain no food, but vomit it out with grievous pains; or thou be afflicted with a disease of the belly, or with a disease in one of thy members; or thou bring up blood and bile from within thee by reason of dire disorders; or thou have an ulcer in one of thy members and be cut by the hands of physicians, and die in manifold afflictions and torments: what then will thy denial have availed thee which thou hast denied, Oman? For behold, thy soul has inherited pains and afflictions, and thou hast destroyed thy life for ever before God ; and thou shalt burn and be tormented without respite everlastingly: even as the Lord has said: Every one that loveth his life, shall lose it; and every one that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find tt. Now a Christian who denies, loves his life for a little while in this world, that he may not die for the name of the Lord God; but he has destroyed himself for ever in fire, for he has to fallen of himself into Gehenna. For Christ has denied him, as He said in the Gospel: Whosoever shall deny me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven; but those whom the Lord has denied they put forth and cast into the outer darkness: and there ts their weeping 13 and their gnashing of teeth. For He said: Every one that loveth his life more than me, is not worthy of me. Let us be earnest then to commit ourselves to the Lord God; and if any man be found worthy of martyrdom, let him accept of it with joy, seeing that he has been counted worthy of so great a crown, and that his departure from this world is by martyrdom. For the Lord our Saviour has said: There zs no disciple better than his master: but every one shall be perfected as his master. Now our Lord consented to all these His sufferings that He might save us; and He submitted to be beaten, and that men should blaspheme Him and spit in His face, and to drink vinegar and gall; and at last He endured even to be hanged upon the cross. Let us therefore, who are His disciples, be also His imitators. For if He bore and endured all things for us, even to the sufferings (of His passion), how much more ought we, for our own sakes, to be patient when we suffer? And we ought not to doubt; for so He has promised us, that if we should be burned with coals of fire, while we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in God His Father, the Lord God Almighty, and in His Holy Spirit, —to whom be glory and honour for evermore, Amen. —
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
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
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.
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;
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.
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.
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.
5.14Connolly, 182–186
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For while He was yet with us before He suffered, as we were eating the Passover with Him, He said tous: To-day, in this night, one of you will betray me. And we said unto Flim, each one of us: Ts it I, Lord? And he answered and said to us: He that putteth forth his hand with me into the dish. And Judas Iscariot, who was one of us, rose up and went his way to betray Him. Then our Lord said to us: Verily I say unto you, a little while and ye will leave me, for it ds written: I will strike the shepherd, and the lambs of his flock shall be scattered. And Judas came with the scribes and with the priests of the people, and betrayed our Lord Jesus. Now this was done on the fourth day of the week. For when we had eaten the passover on the third day of the week at even, we went forth to the Mount of Olives ; and in the night they seized our Lord Jesus. And the next day, which was the fourth of the week, He remained in ward in the house of Caiaphas the high priest. And on the same day the chiefs of the people were assembled and took counsel against Him. And on the next day again, which was the fifth of the week, they brought Him to Pilate the governor. And He remained again in ward with Pilate the night after the fifth day of the week. But when it drew on (towards day) on the Friday, they accused him much before Pilate; and they could show nothing that was true, but gave false witness against Him. And they asked Him of Pilate to be put to death; and they crucified Him on the same Friday. He suffered, then, at the sixth hour on Friday. And these hours wherein our Lord was crucified were reckoned a day. And afterwards, again, there was darkness for three hours; and it was reckoned a night. And again, from the ninth hour until evening, three hours, (reckoned) a day. And afterwards again, (there was) the night of the Sabbath of the Passion.— But in the Gospel of Matthew it is thus written: At even on the sabbath, when the first day of the week drew on, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the tomb. And there was a great earthquake: for an angel of the Lord came down and rolled away the stone.— And again (there was) the day of the Sabbath ; and then three hours of the night after the Sabbath, wherein our Lord slept. And that was fulfilled which He said : The Son of man must pass three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, as it is written in the Gospel. And again it is written in David: Behold, thou hast set my days in measure. Now because those days and nights came short, it was so written. In the night, therefore, when the first day of the week drew on, He appeared to Mary Magdalene and to Mary the daughter of James ; and in the morning of the first day of the week He went in to (the house of) Levi; and then He appeared also to us ourselves. And He said to us, teaching us: ‘ Are ye fasting for Me these days? or have I any need that ye should afflict yourselves? But it is for your brethren that ye have done this; and do ye the same in these days when ye fast, and on the fourth of the week and on the Friday always, ro as it is written in Zechariah: The fourth fast, and the fifth fast, which is the Friday. For it is not lawful to you to fast on the first of the week, because it is My resurrection ; wherefore the first of the week is not counted in the number of the days of the Fast of the Passion, but they are counted from the second day of the week, and are }fivet days. Wherefore, The fourth fast, and the fifth fast, and the seventh fast, and the tenth fast shall be to the house of Israel. Fast then from the second day of the week, six days wholly, until the night after the Sabbath; and it shall be reckoned to you as a week. But the tenth,—because the beginning of My name is Yod,— wherein was made the inception of the fasts. But (fast) not after the custom of the former People, but according to the new testament which I have appointed you: that you may be fasting for them on the fourth day of the week, because on the ; fourth of the week they began to destroy their souls, and apprehended Me.—-For the night after the third of the week belongs to the fourth of the week, as it is written: Z7Zere was evening and there was morning, one day. The evening therefore belongs to the following day : foron the third of the week at even I ate My Pascha with you, and in the night they apprehended Me.—But fast for them also on the Friday, because thereon they crucified Me,in the midst of their festival of unleavened bread, as it is said of old in David: Jn the midst of their festivals they set their signs, and they knew not. ‘And be ye constant in fasting during these days always, and especially you who are of the Gentiles. For because the People was not obedient, I delivered them (the Gentiles) from blindness and from the error of idols and received them: that through your fast and theirs who are of the Gentiles, and your service during those days, when you pray and intercede for the error and destruction of the People, your prayer and intercession may be accepted before My Father who is in heaven, as though from one mouth of all the faithful on earth; and (that) all things which they did unto Me may be forgiven them. For this cause also I have already said to you in the Gospel: Pray for your enemies, and: Blessed are they that mourn, over the destruction of them that believe not.’ Know therefore, our brethren, that (as regards) our fast which we fast in the Pascha, it is on account of the disobedience of our brethren that you are to fast. For even though they hate you, yet ought we to call them brethren ; for we have it written in Isaiah thus: Call them brethren that hate and reject you, that the name of the Lord may be glorified. For their sake therefore, and for the judgement and destruction of the (holy) place, we ought to fast and to mourn, that we may be glad and take our pleasure in the world to come; as it is written in Isaiah: Rejoice, all ye that mourn over Zion; and again He saith: To comfort all them that mourn over Zion: instead of ashes, the oM of gladness; and instead of a spirit affitcted with pain, a vesture of glory.
5.15Connolly, 186–188
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
We ought then to take pity on them, and to have faith and to fast and to pray for them. For when our Lord came to the People, they did not believe Him when He taught them, but put away His teaching from their ears. Therefore, because this People was not obedient, He received you, the brethren who are of the Gentiles, and opened your ears that your heart might hear; as our Lord and Saviour Himself said by the prophet Isaiah: 7 appeared unto them that asked not after me, and I was found of them that sought me not; and I said, Behold, I am here, to a people that called not (upon) my name. Now of whom did He speak thus? Was it not of the Gentiles, because that they had never known God, and because that they were serving idols? But when our Lord came to the world and taught you, you believed, you who have believed in Him, that God is one; and they also who are worthy shall believe, until the number is filled up of them that are to be saved, a thousand thousand, and ten thousand times ten thousand, as it is written in David. But concerning the People, who believed not in Him, He said thus: 7 spread forth my hands all the day long to a people that obey not and resist, and walk in a way that is not good, and go after their sins: a people that is provoking before me. |v. 16] See, then, that the People provoked our Lord in that they believed not in Him. Wherefore he saith: They provoked the holy Spirit; and he was turned to enmity unto them. And again He speaks otherwise of them by Isaiah the prophet: Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond Fordan, Galilee of the nations, a people that sitteth in darkness: ye have seen a great light ; and they that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, light is risen upon them. They that sit in darkness He said concerning those who have believed in our Lord Jesus from (among) the People. For by ro reason of the blindness of the People a great darkness was round about them. For they saw Jesus, but that He is the Christ they knew not ; and they understood Him not, neither from the writings of the prophets nor from His works and His healings. But to you of the People who have believed in Jesus we say: Learn how the Scripture bears witness to us and saith, they have seen a great light. You then who have believed in Him have seen a great light, even Jesus Christ our Lord; and they also shall see who are (yet) to believe in Him. But 77ey that sit in the shadow of death are you who are of the Gentiles ; for you were zz the shadow of death, because you had set your hope on the worship of idols, and knew not God. But when Jesus Christ our Lord and Teacher appeared to us, ight rose upon you, for you beheld and set your hope on the promise of the kingdom everlasting; and you have departed from the customs and practices of (your) former error, and no more serve idols as you were wont to serve them, but have already believed and been baptized in Him: and a great light is risen upon you. Thus then, because the People were not obedient, they were made darkness; but the hearing of the ear of you who are of the Gentiles was made light. Wherefore, do you pray and intercede for them, and especially in the days of the Pascha, that by your prayers they may be found worthy of forgiveness, and may return to our Lord Jesus Christ.
5.17Connolly, 188–190
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
It behoves you then, our brethren, in the days of the Pascha to make inquiry with diligence and to keep your fast with all care. And do you make a beginning when your brethren who are of the People keep the Passover. For when our Lord and Teacher ate the Passover with us, He was betrayed by Judas after that hour ; and immediately we began to be sorrowful, because He was taken from us. By the number of the moon, as we count according to the reckoning of the believing Hebrews, on the tenth of the moon, on the second day of the week, the priests and elders of the people assembled and came to the court of Caiaphas the high priest ; and they took counsel to apprehend Fesus and put him to death: but they feared, saying: Not in the festival, lest the people make a tumult; for all men were hanging upon Him, and they held him for a prophet on account of His miracles of But Jesus was that day in the house of Simon the leper, and we together with Him, and He related to us that which was about to happen to Him. But Judas went out privily from us, thinking that he would evade our Lord, and went to the house of Caiaphas where the chief priests and elders were assembled, and said to them: What will ye give me, and I will betray Him to you when I have found an occasion? But they appointed I4 Mt. xxvi 3-5. I8 Lk. xix 48. I9 Mt. xxi 46. 21 Mt. xxvi. 26 Mt.xxvi 15. 7 And do you make a beginning, etc.] Cf. Epiphan. Haer. lxx dpitovar yap th of amdarodot, Ort vpeis py vnhitnre, adda moveire Gray of ddehpot of ek meptropns, peT avr&v dpa moteire, On this and gave him thirty pieces of silver. And he said to them: Make ready young men armed, because of His disciples, that if He go forth by night to a desert place I may come and lead you'. And they made ready the young men and prepared to seize Him. And Judas was watching, when he might find him an occasion to betray him. But by reason of the multitudes of all the people, from every city and from all the villages, who were coming up to the temple to keep the Passover in Jerusalem, the priests and elders took counsel and commanded and appointed that they should keep the festival straightway, that they might seize Him without disturbance. For the inhabitants of Jerusalem were engaged with the sacrifice and the eating of the Passover; and moreover, all the people that were without were not yet come, for they had deceived them as to the days. That they might be convicted before God of erring utterly in all things, therefore they anticipated the Passover by three days, and kept it on the eleventh of the moon, on the third day of the week. For they said: ‘ Because the whole people is gone astray after Him, now that we have an occasion let us seize Him ; and then, when all the people are come, let us put Him to death before all, that this may be known openly, and all the people may turn back from after Him.’ And so in the night when the fourth day of the week drew on, (Judas) betrayed our Lord to them. But they made the 5; payment to Judas on the tenth of the month, on the second day of the week; wherefore they were accounted by God as though on the second day of the week they had seized Him, 12-13 were engaged with, etc.] This must refer to Tuesday the 11th of Nisan. had deceived them] i i. e., apparently, by not notifying them of the anticipation of the Passover. 16-17 therefore they anticipated, etc.] Similarly Epiphan. Haer. li 26 ap kal TO Tao Xa, Pno: ebayyedoy . . : obv Bio nuep@v trod Qayeiv, TH tpirn edee rj : and he says this Tuesday was the 11th of the moon. 26 onthetenth] See also p. 187,1. 13. 28 on the second day of the week they had seized Him] B (in cid S marg.: H reads ‘they had seized Him’, then omitting ‘because... put Him to death’. B and S marg. certainly give the original text. because on the second of the week they had taken counsel to seize Him and put Him to death; and they accomplished their malice on the Friday: as Moses had said concerning the Passover, thus: 72 shall be kept by you from the tenth until the fourteenth: and then all Israel shall sacrifice the passover.
5.18Connolly, 190
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Therefore you shall fast in the days of the Pascha from the tenth, which is the second day of the week ; and you shall sustain yourselves with bread and salt and water only, at io the ninth hour, until the fifth day of the week. But on the Friday and on the Sabbath fast wholly, and taste nothing.
5.19Connolly, 190–192
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
You shall come together and watch and keep vigil all the night with prayers and intercessions, and with reading of the Prophets, and with the Gospel and with Psalms, with fear and trembling and with earnest supplication, until the third hour in the night after the Sabbath ; and then break your fasts. For thus did we also fast, when our Lord suffered, for a testimony of the three days ; and we were keeping vigil and praying and interceding for the destruction of the People, because that they erred and confessed not our Saviour. So do youalso pray that the Lord may not remember their guilt against them unto the end for the guile which they used against our Lord, but may grant them a place of repentance and conversion, and forgiveness of their wickedness. For he who was a heathen and of a foreign people, Pilate A E Xi 6, ff, Cf. (055. of Peter 1. 7 Therefore, etc.] rais TOU Xa via amo THs mapagkevije Kai caf EE 7 nye pas, pov Xpopevor dprQ kai kal Aaxdvous kal roro VOart . . . THY TapacKeviy kal TO 25etc. For he who, etc.] Cf. . Gosp. of Peter 1 be ovdeis eviiyato Tas xeipas, ove “Hpodns eis TOY KpiTGy avTov. Kal vivrao Oat kai Tore kehevet “Hpodns Baorreds: mapCadrny )pOjvar Tov elma avrois Oru’ doa tpiy ToT a a’T@, TOMTATE. the judge, did not consent to their deeds of wickedness, but took water and washed his hands, and said: T am innocent of the blood of this man. But the People answered and said: Hts blood be upon us, and upon our children; and Herod commanded that He should be crucified ; and our Lord suffered for us on the Friday. Especially incumbent on you therefore is the fast of the Friday and of the Sabbath ; and likewise the vigil and watching of the Sabbath, and the reading of the Scriptures, and psalms, and prayer and intercession for them that have sinned, and the expectation and hope of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, until the third hour in the night after the Sabbath. And then offer your oblations ; and thereafter eat and make good cheer, and rejoice and be glad, because that the earnest of our resurrection, Christ, is risen. And this shall be a law to you for ever, unto the end of the world. For to those who r5 have not believed in our Saviour He is dead, because their hope in Him is dead; but to you who believe, our Lord and Saviour is risen, because your hope in Him is immortal and living for ever. Fast then on the Friday, because thereon the People killed themselves in crucifying our Saviour ; and on the Sabbath also, because it is the sleep of our Lord; for it is a day which ought especially to be kept with fasting: even as blessed Moses also, the prophet of all (things touching) this matter, commanded. For because he knew by the Holy Spirit and it was commanded him by Almighty God, who knew what the People were to do to His Son and His beloved Jesus Christ,— as even then they denied Him in the person of Moses, and said : Who hath appointed thee head and judge over us?—therefore he bound them beforehand with mourning perpetually, in that he set apart and appointed the Sabbath for them. For they deserved to mourn, because they denied their Life, and laid o to LJ [21 7 the vigil] Cf. Tertullian ad Uxor. ii 4 ‘Quis denique sollemnibus paschae abnoctantem securus sustinebit ?’ 18 because your hope, His beloved] HS marg.: ‘His Son His beloved’ S. 28 as they... Moses] S (‘Him’ from S marg.) ; ‘in the person of’ is lit, ‘through’: ‘as they denied Moses’ H. 32 because they] Or ‘who’. hands upon their Saviour and delivered Him to death. Wherefore, already from that time there was laid upon them a mourning for their destruction.
5.20Connolly, 192
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But let us observe and see, brethren, that most men s in their mourning imitate the Sabbath ; and they likewise who keep Sabbath imitate mourning. For he that mourns kindles no light : neither do the People on the Sabbath, because of the commandment of Moses; for so it was commanded them by him. He that mourns takes no bath: nor yet the People on the io Sabbath. He that mourns does not prepare a table: neither do the People on the Sabbath, but prepare and lay for themselves the evening before; because they have a presentiment of mourning,secing that they were to lay hands on Jesus. He that mourns docs no work, and does not speak, but sits in sorrow: so too the ig People on the Sabbath ; for it was said to the People concerning the mourning of the Sabbath thus: Thou shalt not lift thy Joot to do any work, and thou shalt speak no word out of thy mouth. Now who testifies that the Sabbath is a mourning for them? The Scripture testifies, and saith: Then shall the 29 people lament, family overagainst family: the family of the house of Levi apart, and their women apart; the house of Fudah apart, and their women apart: even as, after the mourning of Christ until now, on the ninth of the month of Ab (August) they come together and read the Lamentations of Jeremiah 16 Thou shalt not, etc.] dpeis aov en’ haga eis bpyq ordpurds aov Isa. lviii 13 (LXX). The reference is supplied by Punk; Flemming took the words to be from an apocryphal source ; and so Kesch p. 298. 18-19 that the Sabbath ... The Scripture] B H, S marg. 23 month of Ab] Cf. Josephus Bell. Lud. vi 4.5 (as to the destruction of the temple by the Romans) rod 6’ dpa Kareyy perro pev wip 6 beds mada, mapy 4 srepiodous Ao0v pnvds, fjv kai Uno TOU tov BaBvAeviov pn On. On the dates ‘gth’ or ‘roth’ see Jewish Encyclop. s.v. Ab’, Comp. St. Jerome /n Sophon. i f.‘ Uideas in die quo capta esta Romanis et diruta Ierusalem uenisse populum lugubrem, confluere decrepitas mulierculas et senes pannis annisque obsitos ... Congregatur turba miserorum . . . plangere ruinam templi sui populum miserum’, etc. (quoted by and wail and lament. Now nine represents Theta; but Theta denotes God. For God therefore they lament, even for Christ who suffered—rather, on account of God our Saviour, but over themselves and their own destruction. Does any man lament, brethren, except he have a grief? Therefore do you also mourn for them on the day of the Sabbath of the Pascha until the third hour in the night following; and thereafter, in the Resurrection of Christ, rejoice and make good cheer for their sake, and break your fast; and the surplus of en your fast of six days offer to the Lord God. And let those of io you who have abundance of worldly possessions minister diligently to those who are poor and needy and refresh them, that the reward of your fast may be received. Wherever, then, the Fourteenth of the Pascha falls, so keep it; for neither the month nor the day squares with the same season every year, but is variable. When therefore that People keeps the Passover, do you fast; and be careful to perform your vigil within their (feast of) unleavened bread. But on the first day of the week make good cheer at all times ; for he is guilty of sin, whosoever afflicts his soul on the first of the week. And hence it is not lawful, apart from the Pascha, for any one to fast during those three hours of the night between the Sabbath and the first of the week, because that night belongs to the first of the week; but in the Pascha alone you are to fast these three hours of that night, being assembled together, you who are Christians, in the Lord. I represents The same unexpected order again at p. 216, 1.15, where seealsoLat. 17-18 perform your vigil, etc.] pacxovcr (sc. the A postles) rijv dypurviay pepe pecaCdyray Epiphan. Haer.lxxto. Didase. would appear to mean that the Saturday before Easter day should be the first Saturday after the Jewish Passover. The Christian fast is fixed to the days of the week— Monday to Saturday—so that the days may coincide with those of the week in which Christ suffered. Thusthe Passoverisan index only to the date of the Pascha week: there is no question here of Quartodecimanism, only of the date of Easter. The Quartodecimans observed ' the 14th of the first month, on whatever day (of the week) it might fall’ (Hippolytus Philos. viii 18). 19-20 for he is guilty of sin, etc.] yap &arat
inscription 6
6.1Connolly, 194
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Before all things beware of all abominable and evil and bitter heresies, and fly from them as from a blazing fire, and from those who adhere to them. For if when a man makes a schism, he condemns himself to fire together with ro those who go astray after him, how much more if one go and sink himself in the heresies. For know this, that if any of you covet the primacy and dare to make a schism, he shall inherit the place of Korah and Dathan and Abiram, he and they that are with him, and with them he shall be condemned to fire. For even the adherents of Korah were Levites, and ministered in the tabernacle of witness; but they coveted the primacy, and desired the high priesthood ; and they began to speak evil of the great Moses, because, said they, he is married to a heathen woman—/for he had an Ethiopian wife—and is defiled with her; and many others, and they of the following of Zimri, who committed fornication with the Midianite women, are with him. And the people, said they, that are with him are defiled; and his brother Aaron, too, was the author of idolatry, who made for his people the molten and graven image. And they spoke evil of Moses,
6.3Connolly, 194–198
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
who wrought so many mighty works and signs from God for the People; who did these excellent and marvellous works for their benefit; who brought the ten plagues upon the Egyptians; who divided the Red Sea that the waters stood up as a wall on this side and on that, and caused the People to pass over as in the dry desert, and drowned their enemies and them that evil entreated them, and all that were with them ; who made sweet for them the fountain of water, and brought them forth streams from the flinty rock, so that they drank and were satisfied; who brought them down manna from heaven, and with the manna gave them also flesh ; who gave them a pillar of fire by night for light and guidance, and a cloud by day for a covert, and in the desert stretched forth the hand to them for the dispensation of the Law, and gave them the Ten Words of God. And they spoke evil against the friend and good servant of the Lord God, as men glorying in righteousness, and boasting of holiness, and making a show of purity, and in hypocrisy making a display of service. And thus, as puritans and sticklers for holiness, they said: *Let us not be polluted with Moses and the people that is with him, because they are defiled. And there rose up two hundred and fifty men, and they (Korah, &c.) led them astray to forsake the great Moses, that (men) might suppose con- 2g cerning them that they were giving God more glory and ministering to Him more zealously. For among that multitude of the people aforesaid but one censer of incense was offered to the Lord God; but they who were in the schism, two hundred and fifty men with their leaders, offered each one a censer of incense, two hundred and fifty censers, as though forsooth they were far more religious and pure and zealous than Moses and Aaron and the people that was with them. But the more numerous ministry of those in the schism availed them nothing, but fire was kindled from before as the Lord, and devoured them; and those two hundred and fifty men were burned up, holding the censers in their hands. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up Korah and Dathan and Abiram, and their tents and their vessels, and all that were with them: and they went down alive to Sheol unto punishment. And thus were the error-leaders of the schism swallowed up by the earth; and those two hundred and fifty men who went astray were burned with fire while the whole people beheld it. But the most of the people the Lord spared, among whom were many sinners, whom the Lord would judge each according to his works. And the most of the people He spared; but those who supposed that they were pure and holy, and performing a better ministry, the fire devoured, because that they were in the schism. And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron: Take the censers of brass from the midst of the burning, and make (of) them fine plates, and overlay the altar therewith; that the children of Israel may see, and no more do so. And scatter the strange five there; because it hath sanctified the censers of (them that were) sinners in their souls. Let us regard therefore and see, beloved, the end of the schismatics, what befell them. For though they should appear pure and holy and chaste, their last end is given unto fire and burning everlasting. Let this then inspire you with fear, that even the fire of the schismatics was judged with fire: not because it sanctified the censers, but because they zz their souls as sanctified them ; that is, forasmuch as the fire was performing its work, they also supposed in their heart, and zz ZZezr souls, that their censers were holy. For it behoved the fire, which was employed for the ministry of transgression and the provocation of God, not to obey them but to cease from its opera- tion, or to be quenched, and not to devour or burn or consume that which was put upon it. But now, because it did not the will of the Lord God, but obeyed the schismatics, therefore it was said: And scatter also the strange fire there; that is, With fire the Lord judgeth the fire.
6.4Connolly, 198
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
If therefore upon those schismatics, who supposed that they were glorifying God, this threat and judgement was laid, what will happen to these heretics who blaspheme Him? Do you then, when you see from the Scriptures with the eyes of faith the plates of brass laid over the altar, beware of making schisms. For the adherents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram were made a monument and example of the destrucro tion of schismatics; and every one who imitates them shall perish even as they. As men therefore who believe and know, keep yourselves far from schisms, and go not near them in any wise: as Moses said concerning them to the people: Separate yourselves from among these stubborn men, and come not near to any thing that is theirs, lest ye perish with them in all their sins. And when the anger of the Lord had burned against the schismatics, it is written that the people fled from them, and said: Lest the earth swallow us also with them. So then do you also, as men contending for their lives, flee from schisms; and those who would do any such thing reject, for you know the place of their condemnation.
6.5Connolly, 198–200
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But as for heresies, be unwilling even to hear their names, and defile not your ears (with them) ; for not only do they in no wise glorify God, but they verily blaspheme against Him. Wherefore, the heathen are judged because they have not known, but the heretics are condemned because they withstand God: as also our Lord and Saviour Jesus said: 2 With fire the Lord judgeth the fire] See also p. 196,1. 24 above. Band S have in the margin this comment: ‘ With fire the Lord judgeth the fire: because fire came out from before the Lord and burned up those who offered incense without authority’. As the author appears to treat the phrase as a Scriptural saying, we may compare Isa. lxvi 16 r@ mvpi Kupiov kptOnoerar ij yj, where Heb. has ‘for with fire the Lord will judge’. There shall be heresies and schisms: and again: Woe unto the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals and schisms come: yet woe to the man by whom they come. Then indeed we did but hear, but now we have also seen, even as the Scripture declares by Jeremiah saying: Defile- ment is gone forth in all the earth. Now these defilements, of heresies, ave gone forth; and they have come about for the persuasion of our hearts, and for the confirming of our belief that those things which were foretold are true; for behold, they have come to pass and are accomplished. For all the ro working of the Lord our God has passed from the People to the Church through us the Apostles; and He has withdrawn Himself and left the People, as it is written in Isaiah: He hath left his people the house of Facob; and: Ferusalem is deserted, and Fudah is fallen. And their tongues are (busy) is with iniquity, and they obey not the Lord; and: I will leave (my) vineyard; and: Behold, your house ts left to you desolate. He has left that People, therefore, and has filled the Church ; and He has accounted her a mountain of habitation, and throne of glory, and lofty house, as He said in David: The mount of the Lord is a mountain of fatness, a mountain of peaks. What think ye of the mountain of peaks? It ts the mountain which the Lord hath chosen him to dwell therein: the Lord shall abide therein for ever. You see then how He Mt. xxiv IT, 24. 3 and schisms| Added under influence of the previous the beginning of a quotation is left before ‘defilements’ in 1. 6. The saith to others: What think ye? even to those who err (in thinking) that there are other churches : for one is she that is the mountain of God's sanctuary. And by Isaiah He said again: In the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord, the God of Facob, shall be established on the top of the mountains, and higher than the hills; and all nations shall look unto it; and many peoples shall go and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob ; and he shall teach us his way, and we will go therein. ro And again He said: There shall be signs and wonders in the midst of the people from the Lord of Sabaoth, and him that dwelleth in Mount Zion. And again by Jeremiah He said: A high throne is our sanctuary. As then He left the People, so did He leave their temple to them desolate; and He rent the veil, and took away from it the Holy Spirit, and shed Him upon them that believed from among the Gentiles, as He said by Joel: Z will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh. For He took away the Holy Spirit, and the power of the word, and all the ministry from that People, and set it in His Now in like manner did Satan also, the tempter, depart from that People and come against the Church. And he now no longer tempts that People, because by their evil works they have fallen into his hands, but he has set about to tempt the Church and to exercise his agency in her. And he has raised up against her afflictions and persecutions, and blasphemies and heresies and schisms.
6.6Connolly, 200
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Formerly indeed, in that time, there were heresies and schisms in that People; but now Satan by his evil agency has driven forth (some) that were of the Church, and has made heresies and schisms.
6.7Connolly, 200
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Now the beginning of heresies was on this wise. Satan clothed himself in a certain Simon, one that was a magician and his minister of old; and when we, by the gift of the Lord our God and by the power of the Holy Spirit, were working miracles of healing in Jerusalem, and by the laying on of our hand the fellowship of the Holy Spirit was given to those who drew nigh (to the faith), then Ze offered us much money, and desired that, as he had deprived Adam of the knowledge of life through eating of the tree, so by the gift of money he might deprive us also of the gift of God, and might take captive our minds with the bestowal of possessions, to the end that we should barter away and give to him for money the power of the Holy Spirit. Hereupon were we all stirred up; then Peter looked upon Satan, who was dwelling in Simon, and said to him: Ty money go with thee to perdi- tion: but thou shalt have no part in this word.
6.8Connolly, 200
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But when we had divided the whole world into twelve parts, and were gone forth among the Gentiles into all the world to preach the word, then Satan set about and stirred up the People to send after us false apostles for the undoing of the word. And he sent out from the People one whose name was Cleobius, and joined him to Simon, and others also after them.
inscription 6, chapter 9
6.9.1Connolly, 200
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Now the party of Simon followed hard upon me Peter, and came to corrupt the word. And when he was in Rome he disturbed the Church much and subverted many ; and he even made a show as though he would fly. And he was capturing the Gentiles, moving them by the power and agency of his magic arts. And on a certain Acts viii 18f. I5 Acts viii 20f. 18-19 Cf. Mk. xvi I5. IO I5
6.9.2Hauler, 62
operationibus et uirtutibus. Sicuti in una die procedens uidi illum per aera uolantem et ferebatur. Et subsistens dixi: ‘In uirtute sancti nominis Iesu excido uirtutes tuas’; et sic ruens femur pedis sui fregit. Multi quidem tunc abscesserunt ab eo; alii autem, qui digni illo fuerunt, manserunt cum ipso et tunc prima illa fixa est haeresis illius et per ceteros pseudoapostolos operatus est diabolus.
… with workings and powers. One day, as I was going out, I saw him flying through the air, and he was being carried along. And standing still I said: “In the power of the holy name of Jesus I cut off your powers”; and so, falling, he broke his thigh. Many then left him; but others, who were worthy of him, remained with him, and then that first heresy of his was established, and through the other false apostles the devil worked.
inscription 6, chapter 11
6.11.1Hauler, 62–63
Et erat quidem illis omnibus aequaliter lex, decreta et ut profetas non utantur et ut patrem Deum blasfemarent et resurrectionem non credant; cetera autem diuerse per doctrinas suas inspergebant. Alii enim multos docebant non debere nubere dicentes, quia qui non nubet castitatem studeret; per castitatem sensus suos ad haeresim detulerunt. Alii iterum ex ipsis neque carnem sumere docebant dicentes ea, quae animam habent, non debere manducari. Alii autem dicebant a sola porcina carne debere se abstinere, ea uero, quae in lege sunt munda, debere manducare et secundum legem circumcidi. Alii uero aliter docentes seditiones faciebant et ecclesias depraedabant. Nos autem, qui rectum catholicae ecclesiae uerbum ante praedicaueramus, reuertebamur iterum ad ecclesias et inueniebamus illos ad alias uoluntates fuisse praeuentos. Alius
And there was for all of them alike one law, decreed: that they should not use the prophets, that they should blaspheme God the Father, and that they should not believe in the resurrection; the rest they scattered variously through their teachings. For some taught many that they ought not to marry, saying that whoever does not marry pursues chastity; through chastity they carried their minds into heresy. Others of them again taught not to eat meat, saying that things that have a soul ought not to be eaten. Others said that one should abstain from pork alone, but should eat what is clean in the law and be circumcised according to the law. Others, teaching otherwise, caused seditions and plundered the churches. And we, who had earlier preached the right word of the catholic church, were returning again to the churches and found that they had been taken over by other wills. Another
6.11.2Connolly, 204
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For some forsooth were observing holiness ; and some abstained from flesh and from wine, and some from swine's flesh; and they were observing (some or other) of all the bonds which are in the Second Legislation.
inscription 6
6.12Connolly, 204–208
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
When therefore the whole Church was in peril of falling into heresy, all we the twelve Apostles came together to Jerusalem and took thought what should be done. And zz seemed good to us, being all of one accord, to write this Catholic Didascalia for the confirming of you all. And we have established and set down therein that you worship God to Almighty and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit; that you employ the holy Scriptures, and believe in the resurrection of the dead; and that you make use of all His creatures with thanksgiving ; and that men should marry: for He saith in Proverbs: Of God is a woman betrothed to aman; and in the Gospel again our Lord saith: He that created from the beginning the male, said that he created also the female. Therefore aman shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one body. What therefore God hath coupled, let not man separate. But sufficient for the faithful is the circumcision of the heart, (which is) spiritual, as He said by Jeremiah: Light you a lamp, and sow not among thorns. Be circumcised unto the Lord your God, and circumcise the Joreskin of your heart, ye men of Judah. And again in Joel He saith: Rend your hearts, and not your garments. And as for baptism also, one is enough for you, even that which has perfectly forgiven you your sins. For Isaiah said not (only) Wash, but Wash, and be cleansed. Now we had much questioning, as men contending for life ; and not we the Apostles only, but also the people, together with James the bishop of Jerusalem, who is our Lord’s brother after the flesh, and with his presbyters and deacons and all the Church. For also some days before, certain men had come down from Fudaea to Antioch, and were teaching the brethren, (saying): Except ye be circumcised and conduct yourselves according to the law of Moses, and keep yourselves clean from meats, and all the rest, ye cannot be saved ; and they had much conflict and questioning. And when the brethren of Antioch ; knew that we were all assembled and come to make inquiry of these matters, they sent to us certain men (that were) believers and had knowledge of the Scriptures to learn concerning this question. And when they were come to Ferusalem, they related to us the controversy which they had in the Church of Antioch. And there rose up certain (men) who had believed Jvom the sect of the Pharisees, saying: Ye ought to be circumcised and to keep the law of Moses. And others also were crying out and saying in like manner. Then I Peter rose up and said to them: ‘ Men, brethren, ye yourselves know that from the first days when I was among you, God made choice that by my hands the gentiles should hear the gospel and believe. And God, who proveth the hearts, gave witness of them; for to Cornelius, a certain centurion, there had appeared an angel and told him of me; and he sent for me. But when I was ready to go to him, it was shown me concerning the Gentiles that they were about to believe, and concerning all meats. For I ? Lad gone up to a housetop to pray ; “and I saw the heavens opened, and a certain vessel, that was tied by its four corners, being lowered and let down upon the earth ; and there were therein all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls of the heaven, ?? And there came to me a voice saying: Simon, arise, slay and eat. 1* But I said: God forbid, Lord, for I have never eaten any thing defiled and profane. And there came to me again another. voice, the second time, saying: What God hath made clean, do not thou make profane, 515 Now this was done thrice: and the vessel was taken up to heaven. Thereupon / bethought me, and understood the word of the Lord, how that He had said: Rejoice, ye gentiles, with the people, and that everywhere He had spoken of the calling of the Gentiles; and I rose up and went my way. And when I was entered into his house and had begun to speak the word of the Lord, the Holy Spirit lighted down upon him and upon all the Gentiles that were there present. God, then, ath given the Holy Spirit to them even as to us,and hath made no distinction between us and them in the faith, and he hath cleansed their hearts. Now therefore, why tempt ye God, that ye should lay a yoke upon the necks of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But by the grace of our Lord Fesus Christ we believe that we shall be saved even as they also. For our Lord came and released us from those bonds, and said: ao Come unto me, all ye that toil and are laden with heavy burdens, and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart: and ye shall find vest unto your souls. For my yoke is pleasant, and my burden is light. Uf then our Lord has released and unburdened us, why will ye lay snares for your own selves ?’ 13 Then all the people was silent; and I Fames answered and said: Men, brethren, hear me. Simon hath told how formerly God said that he would choose him out a people from the gentiles to his name: whereunto agree the words of the prophets, as tt is written: Hereafter will I raise up and build the tabernacle of David, that is fallen; and the ruins thereof will I build and raise up ; that the residue of men may seek the Lord, and all the gentiles upon whom my name is called, 18 saith the Lord who maketh known these things from everlasting. !? Wherefore I say, that no man vex them that turn to God from among the gentiles, but that word be sent them on s this wise: that they abstain from evil (practices), and from idols, and from that which is sacrificed, and from that which is strangled, and from blood. ** Then we the apostles and the bishops and the elders, together with the whole church, thought it well to choose out men from amongst them and send them (to Antioch) in company with Barnabas and Paul, who were come thence. And we chose and appointed Yudas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, notable men among the brethren, 23 and wrote by them as followeth :—The apostles and elders and brethren to the brethren who are of the gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting. ** Forasmuch as we have heard that some have troubled you with words, that they might corrupt your souls, whom we sent not: we have determined, being all assembled together, to choose out and send men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and his companions, whom ye sent (hither). ?' And we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you of these things by word (of mouth). For it hath seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, that no further burden be laid upon you, save that ye abstain from (these) necessary things: ? from that which is sacrificed, and from blood, and from that which is strangled, and from fornication. And from these keep yourselves, and do well. Fare ye well.
6.13Connolly, 208
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
Now the epistle we sent; but we ourselves remained 6-8 abstain... from blood] and trav dM I5
inscription 6, chapter 14
6.14.1Hauler, 64–65
dies in Hierusolymis remansimus simul et conquirentes de communi utilitate ad emendationem nec non etiam catholicam hanc Doctrinam scribentes et tractatum consilii nostri aduersus eos, qui nunc errauerunt, statuimus redire iterum ecclesias, sicuti in principio fuerunt praedicationis, et secundiare et confortare fideles, abstinere se a praedictis scandalis et non suscipere eos, qui false sub nomine apostolorum uenient, cognoscentes eos per commutationem uerborum et ab actione operarum suarum, quoniam hii sunt, de quibus dixit dominus: Uenient ad uos in indumentis ouium, ab intus autem sunt lupi rapaces. Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos. Adtendite uobis. Exsurgent enim pseudochristi et pseudoprofetae et seducent multos. Et, quoniam abundabit iniquitas, refrigescet caritas multorum. Qui autem sustenuerit in finem, hic saluus erit. Qui sustinuerint et non fuerint peruersi et qui a peruersione penituerint, permitti in ecclesia, eos uero, qui iam tenti sunt in peruersione et non penitentur, eici decreuimus et separari a fidelibus, quoniam heretici facti sunt, et praecipi fidelibus omni modo abstinere ab ipsis et neque per uerbum neque per orationem com… et contrarii ecclesiae. De his nobis fidelibus praecipiens dominus dixit: Adtendite a fermento Farisaeorum et Sadduceorum et in ciuitates Samaritanorum nolite ingredi. Haec enim sunt ciuitates Samaritanorum, id est hereses peruerso itinere ambulantes, de quibus in Prouerbiis dixit dominus: Est uia, quae uidetur aput homines recta esse, per serlora uero eius ueniunt ad intimum inferni. Hii sunt, de quibus
… days we remained in Jerusalem, and, deliberating together about the common good for amendment, and also writing this catholic Teaching, and having drawn up the treatise of our counsel against those who have now gone astray, we decided to go back again to the churches, as they were at the beginning of the preaching, and to strengthen and confirm the faithful, that they abstain from the aforesaid offenses and not receive those who come falsely in the name of apostles, recognizing them by the change of their words and by the conduct of their works, since these are those of whom the Lord said: “They will come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Take heed to yourselves. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. And because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Those who endured and were not perverted, and those who repented of perversion, we decreed should be admitted in the church; but those who are already held fast in perversion and do not repent we decreed should be cast out and separated from the faithful, since they have become heretics, and that the faithful be commanded to keep away from them in every way, and neither in word nor in prayer to communicate … and opponents of the church. Concerning these the Lord commanded us, the faithful, saying: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” and “Do not enter the cities of the Samaritans.” For these are the cities of the Samaritans, that is, heresies walking in a perverse way, of which the Lord said in Proverbs: “There is a way that seems right to men, but its ends come to the depths of the underworld.” These are those of whom
6.14.2Connolly, 212
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
spoilers of the Church ; for concerning these our Lord commanded us and said to us: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees ; and: Into the cities of the Samaritans ye shall not enter. Now the cities of the Samaritans are those of the heresies, which go in a perverse way, concerning which He said in Proverbs: There is a way which men think right: but the end thereof leadeth to the bottom of Sheol. These are they concerning whom our Lord sternly and bitterly gave sentence and said: It shall not be forgiven them, neither in this world nor in the world to come. For as regards the People, who believed not ro in Christ and laid hands upon Him, it is against the Son of Man, on whom they laid hands, that they blaspheme; and our Lord said: 77 shall be forgiven them; and again our Lord said of them: My Father, they know not what they have done, nor what they speak: if it be possible, forgive them. And as for the Gentiles again, it is against the Son of Man also that they blaspheme, by reason of the cross; and for these there shall come forth forgiveness. For to those who have believed, from the People or from the Gentiles, forgiveness of their evil works has been granted through baptism; as the Lord Christ said: Wherefore I say unto you: All sins and blasphemies shall be forgiven to men: but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven, neither in this world nor in the world to come. And every one that shall say a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but every one that shall say (it) against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come. But those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit, those who lightly and in hypocrisy blaspheme God Almighty, those heretics who receive (not) His holy Scriptures, or receive them ill, in hypocrisy with blaspheming, who with evil words blaspheme the Catholic Church which is the receptacle of the Holy Spirit: it is they who, before the judgement to 13 Zt shall be forgiven them] Referring to Mt. xii 32, as below. 14 My Father, etc.] This strange quotation has occurred already at p. 52, where IO T5
6.14.3Hauler, 67–68
iudicium futurum sine excusatione a Christo iam nunc condemnati sunt, quod enim dicit: “Non talis remittetur sententia condemnationis, quia illis exit’. Et haec statuentes et unum sentientes egressi sumus unusquisque iterum ad priorem sortem adquaestus sui confirmantes ecclesias, quoniam ea, quae praedicta sunt, inpleta sunt et occulti lupi adfuerunt et falsi Christi et falsi profetae manifesti facti sunt. Procedente autem tempore et fine saeculi adpropinquante pluriores et pessimiores erunt; ex quibus eripiet uos dominus Deus. Hos uero, qui intellexerunt in ea, quae sine Deo est perversio, in multa correptione et uerbo doctrinae et obsecratione sanantes incolumes in ecclesia dimisimus. Hos autem, qui mortaliter laesi sunt in uerbo peruersionis, magis autem sine uerbo, peruersione cum insanabile haberent uulnus, eiecimus, ut neque inquinent electam sanctam catholicam ecclesiam Dei neque uelut scabia transeat aut serpeat putredo et omnes maculet, sed munda et sine macula et incolumis ecclesia permaneat domino Deo. Et haec per ciuitates omnes in uniuersam terram fecimus, relinquentes hanc catholicam Doctrinam digne et iuste ecclesiae catholicae ad commemorationem confirmationis credentibus contestati.
… the judgment to come, they have already now been condemned by Christ without excuse, for he says: “Such a sentence of condemnation will not be remitted, because it has gone out against them.” And having decreed these things and being of one mind, we went out, each one again to the lot that had fallen to him, confirming the churches, since what had been foretold has been fulfilled: hidden wolves have appeared, and false christs and false prophets have been made manifest. And as time goes on and the end of the world draws near, they will be more numerous and worse; but from them the Lord God will rescue you. Those who were caught in the perversion that is without God we healed with much correction and the word of teaching and entreaty, and let them remain unharmed in the church. But those who had been mortally wounded by the word of perversion — or rather by perversion without the word — since they had an incurable wound, we cast out, so that they might neither defile the elect, holy, catholic church of God, nor might the corruption pass on like scabies or creep and stain everyone, but the church might remain pure and without spot and unharmed for the Lord God. And this we did through all the cities in the whole world, leaving this catholic Teaching, worthily and justly, to the catholic church as a memorial, as a confirmation for believers, having borne our witness.
inscription 6
6.15Hauler, 68–70
Qui autem conuertentur de populo, ut credant Deo et saluatori nostro Iesu Christo, iam priorem conuersationem non teneant obseruantes uincula uana et purificationes et segregationes et asparsiones baptismi et escarum discretiones, quoniam dicit uobis dominus: Ne mementote antiquorum, et ecce facio noua, quae nunc exorientur, et scietis. Et dabo in deserto uiam. Desertae ante erant ecclesiae, in quabus modo diuina et sine errore uia religionis Christianae firmata est. Cognoscentes igitur dom Iesum Chrm et universam eius dispensationem, quae a principio facta est, scitote, quia dedit legem simplicem quondam, salubrem, sanctam, in qua et saluator proprium nomen infixit. Decalogum enim proferens significauit Iesum; iota enim signific… , iota autem initium nominis est Iesu. Lex ergo domini inrepraehensibilis, conuertens animas. Et alia multa ubique sic dictum est; nam et in conpletione scripturarum profeticarum iam in fine per Malacchiam loquens, qui nuncupatur et angelus, dominus ita dixit: Mementote legis Moysi, pueri mei, quomodo uobis dedit praecepta et iustitias. Et saluator similiter, cum mundaret leprosum, ad legem eum transmisit dicens: Pergens ostende te principi sacerdotum et offer munus purgationis tuae, sicuti praecepit Moyses, in testimonium illorum; quoniam non distruo legem, sed doceo, quid sit lex et quid secundatio le… profetas, sed adinplere. Lex ergo est indestructibilis, secundatio autem legis temporalis. Lex uero est decalogus et iudicia, sicuti testimonium praebet Iesus dominus dicens: Iota, id est unus apex, non transiet a lege. Iota quidem est, quod non transiet a lege; iota autem significatur per decalogum nomen Iesu, apex uero signum est extensionis ligni. Nam et Moyses et Helias erant cum domino in montem, id est lex et profetae. Lex ergo est decalogus et iudicia, quae, antequam uitulum faceret populus et idololatriaret, locutus est dominus.
Those from the People who turn to believe in God and our Savior Jesus Christ should no longer keep their former way of life, observing vain bonds and purifications and separations and sprinklings of baptism and distinctions of foods; for the Lord says to you: “Do not remember the former things; behold, I make new things, which shall now spring forth, and you shall know them. And I will make a way in the desert.” The churches were deserts before, in which now the divine and unerring way of the Christian religion has been established. Knowing, then, the Lord Jesus Christ and his whole dispensation, which was made from the beginning, know that he once gave a simple law, wholesome and holy, in which the Savior also fixed his own name. For in setting forth the Decalogue he signified Jesus; for iota signifies … and iota is the beginning of the name of Jesus. “The law of the Lord is irreproachable, converting souls.” And many other things are said in this way everywhere; for at the completion of the prophetic Scriptures, at the end, speaking through Malachi, who is now also called “angel”, the Lord said thus: “Remember the law of Moses, my servants, how he gave you commandments and judgments.” And the Savior likewise, when he cleansed the leper, sent him to the law, saying: “Go, show yourself to the chief priest and offer the gift for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them”; for “I do not destroy the law, but I teach what the law is and what the second legislation is” … “the prophets, but to fulfil.” The law, then, is indestructible, but the second legislation temporary. Now the law is the Decalogue and the judgments, as the Lord Jesus bears witness, saying: “One iota, that is, one stroke, shall not pass from the law.” It is the iota that shall not pass from the law; and through the Decalogue the iota signifies the name of Jesus, while the stroke is the sign of the stretching out of the wood. For Moses and Elijah also were with the Lord on the mountain, that is, the law and the prophets. The law, then, is the Decalogue and the judgments, which the Lord spoke before the people made the calf and practiced idolatry.
inscription 6, chapter 16
6.16.1Hauler, 70–71
Nam lex uocata est specialiter propter iudicia. Lex autem haec simplex est et leuis, non habens onerantes parationes escarum neque sacrificia neque conbustionum oblationes. In hac lege de ecclesia et de preputio dicit, sed dispensationem solam modo dicit de sacrificiis ita: Si autem facis mihi altarem, de terra facies illud; si autem ex lapidibus, non facies illos secatos; quoniam ferramentum tuum inmisisti, inerit in eo: maculatum est. Non ergo in bipenne facies, sed de manuale, quod est medicinale ferramentum, quod et circumcidit praeputium. Non autem dixit: ‘Facis altarem’, non inposuit necessitatem, sed quod futurum erat alterare. Non enim sacrificia egebat dominus; sed quoniam et antea Cain et Abel, cum non fuissent postulati, a semet ipsis hostiam offerunt et oblatio eorum internecionem fraternam operata est, et Noe similiter, sed repraehensus est, … ras, cum non indigeam, sacrifica. Haec ergo sinplex et leuis et facillima lex est. Sed cum populus Deum denegasset, qui per Moysetem in tribulatione ipsorum uisitauerat illos, qui signa in uirga et manu fecit, qui Aegyptios decem plagarum poena percussit, qui rubrum mare diuisit in separationibus, qui transduxit illos in medio aquae sicut in desertum aridam, qui inimicos et aduersarios eorum submersit, qui Myrram amarissimam fontem per lignum indulcauit, qui de petra rupis produxit illis ad saturitatem aquam, qui per columnam ignis et per columnam nubis adumbrabat eos et
For it is called the law especially because of the judgments. And this law is simple and light, having no burdensome distinctions of foods, nor sacrifices, nor burnt offerings. In this law it speaks of the church and of the uncircumcision, and concerning sacrifices it speaks only of an allowance, thus: “If you make me an altar, you shall make it of earth; and if of stones, you shall not make them hewn; for if you have put your iron tool to it, it will remain in it: it is defiled.” You shall not, then, make it with an axe, but with a hand tool, that is, the surgeon's iron, which also circumcises the foreskin. And he did not say, “You shall make an altar”; he laid down no necessity, but spoke of what was going to change. For the Lord did not need sacrifices; but since before this Cain and Abel, without being asked, offered victims of their own accord, and their offering brought about the slaying of a brother, and Noah likewise, but he was rebuked, … sacrifice, since I have no need. This, then, is the simple and light and easiest law. But when the people denied God, who through Moses had visited them in their affliction, who did signs with the rod and the hand, who struck the Egyptians with the punishment of ten plagues, who divided the Red Sea into parts, who led them through the midst of the water as through a dry desert, who drowned their enemies and adversaries, who sweetened the most bitter spring of Marah through the wood, who brought forth water for them from the rock of the cliff to satisfy them, who overshadowed them by the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud, and
6.16.2Connolly, 222–224
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
POdvos adedpoxroviay 13 and was blamed] For this there is no authority in the Bible. 13-15 If thou desire, etc.] @vew emOupeis, pp. 194-5. shadowed and guided them, who brought them down manna from heaven, and gave them flesh from the sea, who ordained the Law for them in the mount: Him they denied and said: We have no God to go before us; and they made them a molten calf and worshipped it and sacrificed to a graven image. Therefore the Lord was angry ; and in His hot anger-—(yet) with the mercy of Hisgoodness—He bound them with theSecond Legislation, and laid heavy burdens upon them, and a hard yoke upon their neck. And He says now no longer: If thou shalt make, as formerly ; but He said: ‘ Make an altar, and sacrifice continually', as though He had need of these things. Wherefore He laid upon them continual burnt offerings with a necessity, and caused them to abstain from meats by means of distinctions of meats. For from that time were animals discerned, and clean and unclean flesh ; from that time were separations, and purifications, and baptisms, and sprinklings; from that time were sacrifices, and offerings, and tables ; from that time were burnt offerings, and oblations, and shewbread, and the offering up of sacrifices, and firstlings, and redemptions, and he-goats for sin, and vows, and many other things marvellous. For because of manifold sins there were laid upon them customs unspeakable; but by none of them did they abide, but they again provoked the Lord. Wherefore He yet added to them by the Second Legislation a blindness worthy of their works, and spoke thus: Zf there be found in a man sins worthy of death, and he die, and ye hang him upon a tree; his body shall not remain the night upon the tree, but ye shall surely bury him the same day : for cursed is every one that is hanged upon a tree; that when Christ should come they might not be able to help Him, but might suppose that He was guilty of a curse. For their blinding therefore was this spoken, as Isaiah said: Behold, I show my righteousness, and thine evils: and they shall not help thee at all, For the Lord 2 flesh from the sea] i. e. the quails blown up ‘from the sea’ (Nu. xi 31). possibly ‘and flesh of that which is clean and that which is unclean’. judged them with a just judgement, and dealt thus with them because of their wickedness, and hardened their heart like Pharaoh's; as the Lord said to them by Isaiah: Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, gross; and their eyes they have shut, and their ears they have stopped, that they may not be converted : lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears. And in the Gospel again He said : 7s people's heart is waxed gross ; and their eyes they have shut, and their ears they have stopped, lest at any time they should be converted. But blessed are your eyes that see, and your ears that hear. For you have been released from the bonds, and relieved of the Second Legislation, and set free from bitter slavery, and the curse has been taken off and put away from you.
inscription 6
6.17Connolly, 224–226
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
For the Second Legislation was imposed for the making of the calf and for idolatry. But you through baptism have been set free from idolatry, and from the Second Legislation, which was (imposed) on account of idols, you have been released. For in the Gospel He renewed and fulfilled and affirmed the Law; but the Second Legislation He did away and abolished. For indeed it was to this end that He came, that He might affirm the Law, and abolish the Second Legislation, and fulfil the power of men's liberty, and show forth the resurrection of the dead. For even before His coming He foretold His coming through the prophets, and together with His coming He signified also the disobedience of the People, and preached the undoing of the Second Legislation; as He said by Jeremiah: Why bring ye me frankins cense from Sheba, and cinnamon from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable unto me, and your sacrifices delight me not. And again He said: Bring together your burnt offerings with your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I gave youno command, when I brought you out from the land of Egypt, neither concerning burnt offerings nor concerning sacrifices. Yea, verily, in the Law He gave no command, but in the bonds of the Second Legislation, after that they had served idols. And again by Isaiah also He said: To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord. 1 am sated with burnt offerings of rams ; and the fat of lambs and the blood of oxen I desire not. And when ye come to see my face, who hath required these things at your hands? Trample my courts no more. If ye will bring me fine flour, it i$ a vain oblation ; and your new moons and your sabbaths and solemn days are rejected of me: your fasts and your restings are not acceptable unto me, and your festivals my soul hateth. And in all the Scriptures He speaks thus; and through the sacrifices He abolishes the Second Legislation; for, as we have already said, it is in the Second Legislation that sacrifices are prescribed. If, then, even before His coming He made known and revealed His coming, and the disobedience of the People, and spoke of the abolition of the Second Legislation, much more, being come, did He fully and completely abolish the Second Legislation, For He did not use sprinklings, or baptisms, or other wonted rites ; nor did He offer sacrifices or burnt offerings, or any thing that it is written in the Second Legislation to offer. And what else did He (hereby) signify but the abolition of the Second Legislation? as also He loosed you and called you from the bonds, and said: Come unto me, all ye that toil and are laden with heavy burdens; and I will give you vest. Now we know that our Saviour did not say (this) to the Gentiles, but He said it to us His disciples from among the Jews, and brought us out from burdens and a heavy load. Those therefore who do not obey Him, that He may lighten and deliver them from the bonds of the Second Legislation, obey not God, who has called them to come forth unto IO M To
inscription 6, chapter 18
6.18.1Hauler, 73–74
ligant [h]oneribus secundationis non bonis. Ipse enim dominus Deus, qui legem et secundationem illis dedit, in lege quidem perhibet testimonium uitam esse in ea his, qui utuntur eam, secundationem autem manifestat uinculum esse cecitatis. Ubique enim distinguit, legi testimonium perhibens et conuincens, et in lege quidem nos esse iubet. Omnis enim, qui non est sub lege, in lege est; propterea testimonium perhibet legi ita: Sed in lege domini uoluntas eius et in lege eius meditabitur die et nocte. Non sic impii. Uidemus, fratres, iustos quidem beatificari per ipsum in iustitia et in legis conuersatione, non autem ita impios; neque enim sunt iusti neque consentiunt legi neque meditantur eam. Ergo impios illos dixit, qui non utuntur lege. Nam et in euangelio confirmat legem. De uinculorum autem onere et de secundatione prouocans nos educit. Quia uero aliut est secundatio, et in Dauid distinguens dicit: Dirumpamus uincula ipsorum et proiciamus a nobis iugum eorum. Uidete, quomodo sps sanctus tamquam ex sonu unius uocis dicit et populi cogitatum adnuntians adserit iugum quidem esse legem, uincula autem secundationem. Iugum ergo legem hanc propter dicit, quia ueluti iugus boum inposita est tam super priorem populum quam etiam super ecclesiae populum, sicuti et modo in ecclesia est tam super nos, qui de populo uocati sumus, quam super uos, qui de gentibus misericordiam estis consecuti. Utrosque igitur in
… bind them with the burdens of the second legislation, which are not good. For the Lord God himself, who gave them the law and the second legislation, bears witness in the law that there is life in it for those who use it, but shows that the second legislation is a bond of blindness. For everywhere he distinguishes them, bearing witness to the law and convicting the other, and he commands us to be in the law. For everyone who is not under the law is in the law; therefore he bears witness to the law thus: “But in the law of the Lord is his will, and in his law he will meditate day and night. Not so the ungodly.” We see, brothers, that the righteous are blessed by him in righteousness and in the conduct of the law, but not so the ungodly; for they are neither righteous nor agree with the law nor meditate on it. So he called those ungodly who do not use the law. For in the Gospel too he confirms the law. But from the burden of the bonds and from the second legislation he calls us out and leads us forth. And because the second legislation is something different, he distinguishes it in David too, saying: “Let us burst their bonds and cast their yoke from us.” See how the Holy Spirit speaks as with the sound of one voice, and, announcing the thought of the people, declares that the yoke is the law and the bonds the second legislation. He calls the law a yoke for this reason, that, like a yoke of oxen, it was laid both on the former people and on the people of the church, as it is now in the church both on us, who were called from the People, and on you, who have obtained mercy from among the Gentiles. Both, then, in
6.18.2Connolly, 230–238
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
gathered and held us both together in one accord. But He well calls the Second Legislation ‘ bonds’; for when the People served idols, there was added to them the weight of the Second Legislation. For the bonds were justly imposed, as it befell the People then ; but the Church has not been bound. For to Ezekiel He explains and makes known that the Law of life is one, but the second Law, of death, is another ; for He spoke thus: Z brought them forth from the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness, and gave them my commandments, and made known to them my judgements: that if aman should do them, he might live by them. And afterwards, upbraiding them because they had sinned and had not kept the Law of life, He repeats to them and saith thus: I have given them commandments that are not good, and judgements whereby they may not live. Now the judgements which do not give life are those of the bonds. Hence also the word aforesaid in the Second Legislation was for the blinding of a blind people, to wit: Cursed is every one that is hanged upon a tree. For thus did they think of Him who gives and distributes blessings to them that are worthy, that He is under a curse. Wherefore, (because) they knew Him not, even after the signs that were done by Him in the world: when He suffered, justly in accordance with their works that word was set down for the blinding of the People; and it was a bar that they might not believe and be saved. Whence also by Isaiah He speaks thus: Who is blind, but my servants? and the servants of God are blinded. And 1 have brought out a blind people, that have eyes, and see not: and their ears also are deaf. For by this word, because of their works, their eyes .were blinded, and their ears made deaf like Pharaoh’s. Hence with this word the Second Legislation also was imposed, which Moses appointed. And it is the Second Legislation that He called judgements that are not good ; and it cannot save alive. They therefore who bring upon themselves those things which were imposed for the worship of idols, shall inherit the Woes ; for Woe to them that prolong their sins as a long rope, and their iniquity as the band of a heifers yoke. For the yoke of the bonds is the hezfer’s yoke—the bonds of the (Second) Legislation (now) upon the People, which like a long rope is laid upon them by reason of other men’s sins which from former times and generations they bring upon themselves. Every one who strives to be under the (Second) Legislation becomes guilty of the calf-worship ; for the Second Legisla- tion was imposed for nothing else but for idolatry. For the bonds were decreed because of idolatry; they therefore who regard them are bondsmen and idolaters. Wherefore, every one who binds himself becomes guilty of the Woe, and ought likewise to profess idolatry. Now one who is such asserts also the curse against our Saviour; for if thou uphold the Second Legislation, thou also assertest the curse against our Saviour, and thou art held fast in the bonds and made guilty of the Woe—an enemy of the Lord God. Cease therefore, beloved brethren, you who from among the People have believed, yet desire (still) to be tied with the bonds, and say that the Sabbath is prior to the first day of the week because that the Scripture has said: Jn six days did God make all things; and on the seventh day he finished all his works, and he sanctified tt. We ask you now, which is first, Alaf or Tau? For that (day) which is the greater is that which is the beginning of the world, even as the Lord our Saviour said by Moses: Jn the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. But the earth was invisible and unshapen. And again He said: And there was one day: and as yet the seventh day was unknown. But what say you? Which is greater, that which had come into being, and existed, or that which was yet unknown, and of which there was no expectation that it should come to be? But again we ask you: Are your last children blessed, or the firstborn? as the Scripture also saith: Facob shall be blessed among the firstborn; and: My son, my firstborn (is) Israel ; and: Every male that openeth the womb of his mother is blessed to the Lord. But that we may make you firm in the faith, hear ye. The first day and the last are equal; for learn how you find it written, that Jz kis kingdom the day of the Lord is as a thousand years: the day of yesterday which is past; and as a watch of the night. (One day therefore is a thousand years in the kingdom of Christ, wherein also will be the judgement. For a watch of the night) He said concerning the judgement, which is a dark prison to them that are condemned. A day therefore is to be revealed in which the sun will stand in his mid-course, and the moon likewise, following the sun. For He said: Behold, I make the first things as the last, and the last as the first; and: The last shall be first, and the first as last; and: Remember no more the former things, and let them not come to your mind. Behold, I make things new, which now shall be revealed; and: In those days and in that time they shall no more say: The ark of the covenant ; neither shall it come to mind, nor be visited, nor any more be made. But the Sabbath itself is counted even unto the Sabbath, and it becomes eight (days); thus an ogdoad is (reached), which is more than the Sabbath, even the first of the week. Wherefore, brethren, every day is the Lord’s; for the Scripture has said: The earth is the Lord's with the fullness thereof: the world that is under heaven, and all that dwell therein. For if God willed that we should be idle one day for six, first of all the patriarchs and righteous men, and all they that were before Moses, would have remained idle (upon it), and God Himself also with all His creatures. But now all the governance of the world is carried on ever continually ; and the spheres do not cease even for a moment from their course, but at God’s command (their universal and perpetual motion proceeds.) For if He would say: Thou shalt be idle, and thy son, and thy servant, and thy maidservant, and thine ass, how does He (continue to) work, causing to generate, and making tthe winds to blowt, and fostering and nourishing us His creatures? On the Sabbath day He causes (the winds) to blow, and (the waters) to flow, and (thus) works. But this (the Sabbath) has been set as a type for the times, even as many other things have been set for a type. The Sabbath therefore is a type of the (final) rest, signifying the seventh thousand (-years).
inscription 6, chapter 19
6.19.1Connolly, 238
English translation by R. H. Connolly (1929); the original is not shown
But the Lord our Saviour, when He was come, fulfilled the types and explained the parables, and He showed those things that are life-giving, and those that cannot help He did away, and those that cannot give life He abolished. And not only in His own person did He show this, but He wrought also by the Romans; and He overthrew the temple, and caused the altar to cease, and made an end of sacrifices, and all the commands and bonds that are in the Second Legislation He abolished. For the Romans also hold the Law, but they refuse the Second Legislation: therefore is their dominion strong. Thou, therefore, who desirest to-day to be under the Second Legislation, whilst the Romans rule thou canst not perform aught that is written in the Second Legislation. For thou canst not stone the wicked, nor kill idolaters, nor discharge the ministry of sacrifices, nor perform the libations and sprinklings (with the ashes) of a heifer; nor canst thou fulfil aught else of those things which are in the Second Legislation, nor observe them. For it is written: Cursed is every one that keepeth not these words to do them; and this is a thing impossible, to fulfil the Second Legislation
6.19.2Hauler, 78–79
possitis. Unde, cum eam contingere coeperis, sub maledicto incides et conligando temet ipsum uae possidebis et optinebis maledictum; quod aduersum saluatorem es[t], tamquam Deo resistens condemnaberis, sequens uero Chrm benedictiones possidebis. Non est discipulus super magistrum, hoc oportet nos sequi et nomine euangelico contentos esse et a secundatione omni modo nos abstinere, sicuti ipse dominus, cum regnum hominibus conmitteret et cognosceret, quod iusti deberent custodire praecepta ipsius, secundum tempora et leges definitionis fecit. Habentes itaque euangelium recapitulationem et uerticem legis, signaculum, quod plus est a lege, a profetis, ut euangelio nolite nihil aliud quaerere. Secundatio enim destructa est, lex autem confirmata est et, qui uolunt esse sine lege, inuiti sub lege sunt. In lege dicit: Non occides. Si quis ergo interfecerit, a lege per Romanos condemnatur et sub lege est.
… you may be able. Hence, when you begin to touch it, you will fall under the curse, and by binding yourself you will incur a woe and obtain the curse; because it is against the Savior, you will be condemned as one resisting God; but following Christ you will possess blessings. “A disciple is not above his teacher”; him we must follow, and be content with the name of the Gospel, and keep away in every way from the second legislation, just as the Lord himself, when he entrusted the kingdom to human beings and knew that the righteous ought to keep his precepts, made laws of determination according to the times. Having, therefore, the Gospel, the recapitulation and summit of the law, the seal, which is more than the law and the prophets, seek nothing else beyond the Gospel. For the second legislation has been abolished, but the law confirmed; and those who wish to be without law are under the law against their will. In the law it says: “You shall not kill.” If anyone, then, kills, he is condemned by the law through the Romans and is under the law.
inscription 6
6.20Hauler, 79
Si ecclesiasticam uero regulam et euangelicam formam utamur et contenti eis simus, et spes nostra in dom non diminuabitur. Obseruate igitur uos ab omni heretico, qui legem non utuntur neque profetas et Deo omnipotenti non credentes inimicantur et abstinentes se a cibis et prohibent nubere et
But if we use the church's rule and the form of the Gospel and are content with them, our hope in the Lord will not be diminished. Guard yourselves, then, from every heretic: they do not use the law or the prophets, and, not believing God Almighty, they are hostile, and abstain from foods and forbid marriage and
6.21Hauler, 79–85
resurgere in carne nolunt, tamquam nolentes manducare et bibere, sed demones uolunt resurgere spiritales in fantasmis; quique condemnabuntur in perenni igne in aeternum et ibi iudicabuntur. Fugite ergo ab ipsis, ut non simul cum eis pereatis. Si qui uero obseruantes secundum secundationem custodiunt consuetudinaria, naturaliter Seminis sui cursus et adproximationes mulierum, primum quidem cognoscant, sicuti praediximus, quoniam ex secundatione, quod aduersum saluatorem est maledictum, uanale confirmant ad propriam condemnationem, postea dicant, in quibus horis aut diebus obseruant, ne orentur aut eucharistiam percipiant aut librum contingant, quoniam a sancto spu euacuati sunt; per baptismum enim sanctum spm accepimus, qui cum his, qui iuste conuersantur, semper est et obseruat illos. Mulieri numquam separatur propter naturalem meatum et conmixtionem; sed semper adest et custodit eos, qui illum possident, sicuti in Prouerbiis dicit dominus: Cum autem dormis, custodiat te et, cum surgens, adloquatur te. Et iterum in euangelio similiter dicit dominus: Omni habenti dabitur et abundabit; ab eo autem, qui non habet, et quod se sperat habere tolletur ab eo. Ergo his, qui habent, additur illis; ab his autem, qui sperant se in aliquibus diebus non habere, et id, quod in aliis diebus sperant se habere, tollitur ab ipsis. Si enim speras te, o mulier, in septem diebus in sessione fuisse et a sancto spiritu uacuatam, si defuncta fueris in diebus illis, uacua et sine spe ibis. Si autem spm habes semper, ab oratione uero et gratiarum actione et a libris subterfugis, cogita, quia et oratio per sanctum spm suscipitur et gratiarum actio per sanctum spm sanctificatur et libri, cum sancti sps sonus sint, sancti sunt. Si ergo in te habes sanctum spm, uane, inaniter obseruas sancti sps operas tangere, sicuti et [h]ii, qui dicunt: Quicumque iurauerit in altare, nihil est; qui autem iurauerit in dono eius, quod desuper est, debet. Quibus dixit dominus: ‘Stulti et caeci, quid est maius: munus aut altare, quod sanctificat munus?” Qui ergo iurauerit in altare, iurat in illo et in omnibus, quae sunt super ipsud, “Et qui iurauerit in templo, iurat in eo et in habitante in illo. Et qui iurauerit in caelo, iurat in throno Dei et in eo, qui super ipsum sedet. Si itaque sanctum obseruas, et audies similiter a domino Deo Christo: “Stulta et caeca, quid est maius: panis aut sanctus sps, qui sanctificat panem?’ Ergo si spm sanctum possides, uana obseruas et uana custodis. Si habes sanctum spm, quid est, quod obseruas? Sanctus enim sps possidentibus se semper adest et ab his, a quibus recesserit, longe est semper. Si autem ab aliquo sanctus sps … spiritus ingreditur, sicuti dixit dominus: Cum exierit inmundus sps ab homine, circuit per inaquosa loca (id est per eos, qui non sunt baptizati, homines) et, cum non inuenerit refrigerium, “dicit: ‘In domum meam reuertar priorem, unde exii’. Si ergo ueniens inuenerit uacantem secum alios septem spiritus maligniores se et uenientes habitabunt in hominem illum et fiunt nouissima hominis illius peiora prioribus. Quare ergo cum egressus fuerit inmundus sps, nusquam requiem inuenit. Discite, quoniam omnis homo repletus est fidelis quidem de sancto spiritu, infidelis autem de inmundo et ingressum non suscipit alieni sps; qui uero per baptismum reiecit et deposuit et liberatus est ab inmundo spu, sancto repletur. Si itaque bonum operatus fuerit, permanet in illum sps sanctus et manet repletus et inmundus locum non inuenit. Quia omnes homines a propriis spiritibus pleni sunt, et non recedent a gentilibus inspirationibus paenitus, quamdiu gentiles permanent, etiamsi bonum faciant: nulla est alia curatio, ut abscedat ab eo sps inmundus, nisi per sacram purgationem et sanctum baptismum. Ita ergo cum non possit ingredi, nusquam reuertetur ad eum, qui illum reiecit et deposuit. Qui autem repletus est sancto spu, non illum succipit. Tu autem, o mulier, sicuti dicis, etiamsi in diebus sessionis tuae uacua sis, ab inmundo repleris spu; conuertitur enim in te et inuenit locum uacantem et erit in sempiternum in te inmundi et mundi sps ingressus et egressus et perpetuum bellum. Unde stulta, quae talis est, suspicio a uobis speratur? Et ex eo, quod tales obseruationes custoditis, per suspicionem uacatio in uobis a sancto spu erit et repletio ab inmundo et ita erit uitae reiectio et conbustio aeterna. Dicito mihi uero postea, o mulier: Septem diebus tuae suspurgationis uel sessionis tuae inmunda tibi eris secundum secundationem, et inueniris post septem dies tamquam non baptizata et purgaris aut baptizaris, ut uidearis quasi mundata, et, quod est perfectum, purgationem peccatorum cum non inueneris, aeternae igni daris tamquam non baptizata. Secundum enim tuam suspicionem inmunda permanes et nihil tibi prodest septem dierum uana abstinentia, sed contrario et nociua, quia per conscientiam inquinata es et sicuti coinquinata condemnaris. Haec igitur super omnes cogitate, qui seminum cursus et adproximationes mulierum obseruant; nam quae tales sunt obseruationes omnes stultae et nociuae sunt. Si enim cursum seminis quis passus et adproximans mulieri baptizetur et stratum suum lauet, et erit illi hoc fatigatio, numquam deficiens a baptismo et a lauatione rerum et a stratu suo, et nihil aliut poterit agere. Si enim post seminis cursum et conmixtionem secundum secundationem baptizaris, necesse
… do not wish to rise in the flesh, as not wishing to eat and drink, but would have people rise as spirits, like demons, in phantoms; and they will be condemned to perpetual fire forever, and there they will be judged. Flee from them, then, so that you do not perish with them. But if any, observing according to the second legislation, keep the customary observances concerning the natural flow of their seed and intercourse with women, first let them know, as we said before, that from the second legislation, which is a curse against the Savior, they confirm vain things to their own condemnation; then let them say during which hours or days they take care not to pray or receive the eucharist or touch the book, on the ground that they are emptied of the Holy Spirit. For through baptism we have received the Holy Spirit, who is always with those who live righteously and watches over them. From a woman he is never separated because of the natural flow and intercourse; but he is always present and guards those who possess him, as the Lord says in Proverbs: “When you sleep, may it guard you, and when you rise, may it speak with you.” And again in the Gospel likewise the Lord says: “To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.” So to those who have, more is added; but from those who think that on certain days they do not have, even what they think they have on other days is taken away. For if you think, O woman, that during the seven days of your sitting apart you are emptied of the Holy Spirit, if you die in those days you will depart empty and without hope. But if you always have the Spirit, and yet you shun prayer and the thanksgiving and the books, consider that prayer is accepted through the Holy Spirit, and the thanksgiving is sanctified through the Holy Spirit, and the books, being the voice of the Holy Spirit, are holy. If, then, you have the Holy Spirit within you, it is vain and empty that you take care not to touch the works of the Holy Spirit, like those who say: “Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is upon it is bound.” To them the Lord said: “Fools and blind, which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.” If, then, you keep this observance, you will likewise hear from the Lord God, Christ: “Foolish and blind woman, which is greater, the bread or the Holy Spirit who sanctifies the bread?” So if you possess the Holy Spirit, you observe vain things and keep vain things. If you have the Holy Spirit, why do you keep these observances? For the Holy Spirit is always present with those who possess him, and is always far from those he has left. But if the Holy Spirit … from anyone, a spirit enters, as the Lord said: “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he goes about through waterless places” (that is, through people who are not baptized), “and when he finds no rest, he says, ‘I will return to my former house from which I came out.’ If, then, coming he finds it empty, … with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and coming they will dwell in that man, and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.” Why, then, when the unclean spirit has gone out, does he find rest nowhere? Learn that every person is filled, the believer with the Holy Spirit, the unbeliever with the unclean spirit, and does not admit the entrance of a foreign spirit; but whoever through baptism has rejected and put off the unclean spirit and been freed from him is filled with the Holy Spirit. If, then, he does good, the Holy Spirit remains in him, and he stays filled, and the unclean spirit finds no place. For all people are full of their own spirits, and they will not be wholly free of heathen promptings as long as they remain heathen, even if they do good; there is no other cure to make the unclean spirit depart from a person except the holy cleansing and holy baptism. So, since he cannot enter, he will never return to the one who rejected and put him off. And whoever is filled with the Holy Spirit does not receive him. But you, O woman, if, as you say, you are empty in the days of your sitting apart, are filled with the unclean spirit; for he returns into you and finds the place empty, and there will be in you forever the entering and leaving of the unclean and the clean spirit, and perpetual war. Why, then, do you hold such a foolish supposition? And because you keep such observances, by your supposition there will be in you an emptying of the Holy Spirit and a filling by the unclean spirit, and so there will be rejection of life and eternal burning. Tell me again, O woman: for the seven days of your purification or of your sitting apart you will be unclean in your own eyes according to the second legislation; are you then found, after seven days, as though unbaptized, and are you purified or baptized, so as to seem cleansed? And, to complete it, since you have not found cleansing of sins, you are handed over to eternal fire as though unbaptized. For according to your supposition you remain unclean, and the vain abstinence of seven days profits you nothing but is rather harmful, because you are defiled in conscience and are condemned as one defiled. Consider these things above all, you who keep observances concerning flows of seed and intercourse with women; for all such observances are foolish and harmful. For if anyone who has had a flow of seed, or has come near a woman, is to be baptized and wash his bed, this will be a weariness to him, never ceasing from baptizing and from washing things and his bed, and he will be able to do nothing else. For if after a flow of seed and intercourse you are baptized according to the second legislation, it is necessary
6.22Hauler, 85–88
te est et hoc facere, ut, etiam si soricem calcaueris, baptizeris; et si ossum morticinum aut pellem aut ossuum uulneratum et monumentum tetigeris, debes baptizari. Et numquam exis mundus; nam et calciamenta de mortuis animalibus et a uitulis immolatis pellibus calciaris et uestes de similibus lanis coperiris et nunquam poteris mundari et sacratissimum baptismum infirmas et renouas delicta tua et in peccatis tuis prioribus inueniris et secundationem in te recipies et confirmas et uituli idololatriam. Suscipis enim secundationem in te, recipis et idololatriam, propter quam secundatio posita est; et aliena et uetustissima peccata ut funiculam longam et ut legis uinculum, iugum et lorum et iugum ipse tibi induces et uae adtrahes; secundationem confirmas, etiam in maledicto, quod aduersus saluatorem fuit, consentis et id, quod contra benedictionem et, qui benedictionis diuidit dignis, Chrm maledictum est, testimonium praebens maledictiones confirmas … sidebis. Si quis enim maledicit, maledictus est. Qualium maledictionum et qualum et quantarum condemnationum rei erunt, qui saluatoris nostri domini Dei maledictum laudant. Unde fugite a talibus obseruationibus, dilectissimi, et cum acceperitis solutionem, et ipsos nolite conligare et a domino et saluatore releuati uosmet ipsos nolite onerare, sed penitus nolite obseruare et sperare tales esse inquinationes et quaerere segregationes aut asparsiones aut baptismas aut purgationes. Secundum secundationem tactionem monumenti uel mortui et baptizantur. Uos uero secundum euangelium et secundum sancti sps uirtutem et in memorilis congregantes uos et sacrarum scripturarum facite lectionem et ad Deum praeces indesinenter offerite, et eam, quae secundum similitudinem regalis corporis Christi est, regalem eucharistiam offerte tam in collectis uestris quam etiam et in coemiteriis et in dormientium exinitione, panem mundum praeponentes, qui per ignem factus est et per inuocationem sanctificatur, sine discretione [sanctificatur sine discretione orantes offerite pro dormientibus. Qui enim Deo crediderunt, secundum euangelium, etiamsi mortui fuerint, non sunt mortui, sicuti dominus et saluator noster dicit Sadduceis: De resurrectione mortuorum non legistis, quod scriptum est, quoniam ego sum Deus Abraham et Deus Isac et Deus Iacob? Non est Deus mortuorum, sed uiuorum. Nam et Eliseus profeta, cum dormisset, uetustissimum iam mortuum suscitauit; tetigit enim corpus eius corpus defuncti et suscitauit ilud. Numquam uero hoc fuisset, nisi corpus illius, qui dormierat, sanctum fuisset et repletum sancto spiritu. Unde ergo eos, qui requiescunt, sine obseruatione tangentes nolite abominari et, quod in consuetudinibus est, id nolite segregare. Nam et ea, quae fluctum patiebatur, cum tetigisset salubrem fimbriam, non est repraehensa, sed tum sana… meruit. Itaque, cum naturalia profluunt uxoribus uestris, nolite conuenire illis, sed sustinete eas et scientes propria membra esse, diligite sicut proprias animas, sicuti et in Malachia, qui nuncupatus est angelus, in duodecim Profetis scriptum est: … Quoniam dominus contestatus est inter medi… quam dereliquisti: et ipsa particeps tua; et non alius fecit et reliquum sps eius. Et dixistis: Quid aliut quaerit dominus nisi semen? Et custodite in spu uestro et mulierem iuuentutis tuae ne derelinquas. Et mulier ergo, cum in menstruis est, et uir, cum in cursu seminis, et uir et mulier legibus ad nupti… gentes sine obseruatione et non loti orent et mundi sunt. Quicumque autem alienam uxorem sollicitans inquinauerit post inluminationem, quod dicit Grae… meretrici exsurrexeris ab ea, etiamsi omne pelagum uel omnibus fluminibus lotus fueris, mundus esse non poteris. Cauete stultas obseruationes, et ea, quae inmortalitatem praestant, pertinaces et cari custodientes in uno
for you also to do this: even if you tread on a mouse, to be baptized; and if you touch the bone of a dead body, or a skin, or a wounded bone, or a tomb, you must be baptized. And you never come out clean; for you also wear shoes made from the skins of dead animals and of sacrificed calves, and clothe yourself with garments of such wool, and you will never be able to be cleansed; and you weaken the most holy baptism and renew your offenses and are found in your former sins, and you will receive the second legislation into yourself and confirm the idolatry of the calf. For when you receive the second legislation into yourself, you receive also the idolatry on account of which the second legislation was imposed; and you will put upon yourself the alien and most ancient sins, like a long cord and like the bond of the law, a yoke and a strap and a yoke, and draw a woe upon yourself; you confirm the second legislation, you consent even to the curse that was against the Savior, and to what is against the blessing; and Christ, who distributes the blessing to the worthy, is cursed, while you bear witness to the curses and confirm them … For if anyone curses, he is cursed. Of what curses, and what and how great condemnations, will they be guilty who praise the curse of our Savior, the Lord God! Flee, then, from such observances, most beloved, and since you have received release, do not bind yourselves again, and, having been relieved by the Lord and Savior, do not burden yourselves; but do not observe at all, nor suppose that such things are defilements, nor seek separations or sprinklings or baptisms or purifications. According to the second legislation [they count] the touching of a tomb or of a dead person [unclean], and are baptized. But you, according to the Gospel and according to the power of the Holy Spirit, gather also in the cemeteries and read the holy Scriptures, and offer prayers to God unceasingly, and offer the royal eucharist, which is after the likeness of the royal body of Christ, both in your assemblies and in the cemeteries and at the departure of those who have fallen asleep, setting out pure bread, which is made by fire and sanctified by invocation; and without hesitation, praying, offer for those who have fallen asleep. For those who have believed in God according to the Gospel, even if they have died, are not dead, as our Lord and Savior says to the Sadducees: “Concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what is written, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” For Elisha the prophet too, after he had fallen asleep, raised a man who was already long dead; for his body touched the body of the dead man and raised it. This would never have happened unless the body of him who had fallen asleep had been holy and filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore do not abhor those who are at rest, but touch them without these observances, and do not set apart what is in the customs. For the woman too who suffered from a flow, when she touched the healing fringe, was not rebuked, but rather was found worthy to be healed. So, when your wives have their natural flow, do not come together with them, but bear with them, and, knowing that they are your own members, love them as your own souls, as it is also written in Malachi, who was called an angel, in the Twelve Prophets: “… because the Lord has borne witness between … whom you have forsaken; and she is your partner; and did not one make her, and the remnant of his spirit? And you said: What else does the Lord seek but seed? And keep watch in your spirit, and do not forsake the wife of your youth.” So the woman, when she is in her menses, and the man, when he has a flow of seed, and the man and the woman who come together lawfully in marriage, may pray without these observances and unwashed, and they are clean. But whoever seduces another man's wife and defiles her after enlightenment, which the Greek calls … or a harlot, when you rise from her, even if you wash in the whole sea and in all the rivers, you cannot be clean. Beware of foolish observances; and, keeping steadfastly and lovingly the things that confer immortality, in one
6.23Hauler, 88–91
coniugium corpus uestrum inmaculatum et absque inquinati… Dei et conmunionis efficiamini et promissionem domini Dei accipientes requiescatis in saecula saeculorum. Et per pluriores et similes manifestationes adhuc habentes uobis clariorem facere doctrinam, cum ampliaretur scriptura, hic alicubi iam deponimus uerbum, ut non per seueriorem ueritatem ad satietatem uobis fiat doctrinae nostrae sermo. Unde nolite grauiter ferre de his, quae dicta sunt; nam et ipse dominus et saluator noster cum seueritate respondens his, qui digni erant condemnatione, dixit: Tollite illos et mittite in tenebras exteriores; et ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium et: Abite a me, maledicti, in ignem aeternum, quem [prae]parauit pater meus diabolo et angelis eius. Et ignis et gladii operas facit uerbum. Et per Hieremiam dicit: Uerbum domini sicuti secure caedens lapidem et ignis perambulans et consumens. Gladius ergo et ignis et securis non est audientibus ueritatem; uerbum, quod populum non libenter audiuit, cum argueretur a domino et magistro nostro, sed non crediderunt sperantes esse sic, ut est ferrum et ignis, eo, quod non faciebant audientes, quae ab eo dicebantur; dura enim eis uidebantur uerba ipsius. Sic itaque dicebat illis: Quid[e] me dicitis: ‘Domine, domine’, et non facitis, quae dico? Similiter ergo et scriptura nostra quibusdam uidetur seuerissima esse propter ueritatem suam. Si enim scripsissemus humaniora ad gratiam hominibus, multi a fide potuissent debilitari et nos rei pro eis eramus. Sicuti ergo medicus non diu tenere sapiens putridinem per medicamina et emplastros, sed ad acutiorem uenit curationis medellam, id est ad ferrum et cauteria, per quae sola optinet infirmitatem et sanat eum, similiter uerbum domini his quidem, qui audiunt illum et faciunt, emplaster et cataplasma et malacma est, his uero, qui audiunt et non faciunt, ferrum et ignis esse uidetur. Ipsi ergo, qui potens est aperire aures cordis uestri, ut suscipiatis quae ministrata sunt eloquia domini per euangelium et per doctrinam Iesu Christi Nazoreni, qui crucifixus est sub Pontio Pilato et dormiuit, ut euangelizaret Abraham et Isac et Iacob et sanctis suis uniuersis tam finem saeculi quam resurrectionem, quae erit mortuorum, et exurrexit a mortuis, ut ostendat et det notis suis pig… per uirtutem Dei et sps eius, et sedenti[s] ad dextram sedis omnipotentis Dei super Cherubin, qui ueniunt cum uirtute et gloria iudicare uiuos et mortuos: ipsi est potentia et gloria et magnitudo et regnum, patri et filio, qui erat et est et erit et nunc in generationes generationum et in omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
marriage, keep your body spotless and without defilement … of God and of communion, and, receiving the promise of the Lord God, may rest for ages of ages. And though we still have many more such demonstrations by which to make the teaching clearer to you, since the writing would grow too long, we here lay down the word, lest through truth too severe the discourse of our teaching should weary you. Do not, then, take hard what has been said; for our Lord and Savior himself also, answering with severity those who deserved condemnation, said: “Take them and cast them into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” and: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which my Father has prepared for the devil and his angels.” And the word does the work of fire and sword. And through Jeremiah he says: “The word of the Lord is like an axe cutting stone, and a fire going through and consuming.” Sword, then, and fire and axe it is not to those who listen to the truth; but the word which the people did not hear willingly when they were rebuked by our Lord and Teacher — they did not believe, supposing it to be like iron and fire, because, though they heard, they did not do what he said; for his words seemed hard to them. So he said to them: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Likewise our writing too seems to some most severe because of its truth. For if we had written more leniently, to please people, many could have been weakened in the faith, and we would have been guilty for them. As, then, a wise physician does not long treat a festering wound with medicines and plasters, but comes to a sharper remedy, that is, to the knife and the cautery, by which alone he overcomes the disease and heals the patient, so the word of the Lord is a plaster and poultice and soothing salve to those who hear it and do it, but to those who hear it and do not do it, it seems to be knife and fire. To him, then, who is able to open the ears of your heart, so that you may receive the oracles of the Lord ministered through the Gospel and through the teaching of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and fell asleep, to preach the good news to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and to all his saints, both of the end of the world and of the resurrection of the dead that will be, and who rose from the dead, to show and give to those who know him a pledge … through the power of God and of his Spirit, and who sits at the right hand of the throne of God Almighty above the Cherubim, who comes with power and glory to judge the living and the dead: to him be power and glory and majesty and kingdom, to the Father and the Son, who was and is and will be, both now and to generations of generations and to all the ages of ages. Amen.