THE DIDACHE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 THE ORIGINAL TEACHINGS  OF   THE 12 APOSTLES TO THE NATIONS, 

 KNOWN AS THE DIDACHE 

 Copyright © 2020   By New Maccabees Ministry
 
 
 
 
  INTRODUCTION   
 The Didache (did-a-key), Διδαχή, or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, is an early  text that most scholars date to the first or early second century. 

 The Didache was highly regarded by many early  authors and theologians.  

 Athanasius of Alexandria (†373) recommended it to converts, and it had a great influence on the Apostolic Constitutions (375). 

  Before the New Testament canon was formally settled in 692, a number of Biblical canons included the Didache; John of Damascus (†749) was also a noted supporter. 

The text disappeared and was lost for centuries, until it was rediscovered in 1873 by Philotheos Bryennios, Metropolitan of Nicomedia. 

Today it is usually included among the second-generation  writings known as the Apostolic Fathers. 

The Didache’s First Section,   “The Two Ways,” is a treatise on basic  theology, morality, and conduct. Catechumens (new converts in training) were instructed in its teachings before they were baptized.  

 The Second Section,  deals with the administration of several sacraments: baptism, the Pesakh), and anointing with oil. 

 The Third Section,  discusses relations among Believers, offering practical instruction in different types of hospitality. It also gives insight into the clerical hierarchy of the early Assembly, which included familiar institutions like (bishops) and  (deacons), and also institutions that fell out of use early on, such as prophets (those who spoke in tongues).   It should be noted that, at this time in the Assembly history, there was no distinct class of clergy who were presbyters (priests). The community was small, and there was not yet a need to delegate a bishop’s priestly duties to lower clergy; bishops personally lead the Assembly in worship in each  community.   

The Final Section,   The Final Section is a brief Apocalypse, or Revelation of the end times.   This is notable, as the Didache was likely written even before the book of Revelation, which was not universally accepted into the New Testament until the 7th century. Even though the Didache itself did not find its way into the final canon of the New Testament, it is nevertheless a useful manual for living as a Believer, even today.  

 The Good News
 The basic teachings of the Gospel are condensed into easily-understood pieces of wisdom and instruction, and insight is gained into first-century Assembly liturgy and worship. The Didache is a book that all Believers can find profit in.   Scripture weaves through the text’s clear teachings, demonstrating why the book was so well-loved and appreciated by the early Assembly.    
 
 
 
 
 THE TWO WAYS   
 There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways.
 THE WAY OF LIFE
 The Way of Life is this; First of all the Commands, you shall love the Elohim who made you.   Second, love your neighbor as yourself.   
 And all things you would not want done to you, do not do to another person.   Now the teaching of these words is this. Bless those who curse you,  and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you.   
  For what credit is it to you, if you love those who love you?   Do the people of the nations not do the same? But you should love those who hate you, and you will not have an enemy. Abstain from the desires of the flesh and of the body. If anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him also, and you will be perfect. If anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him for two miles. If anyone takes away your coat, give him your shirt also. If anyone takes away what is yours, do not demand its return, for you cannot.
 To anyone who asks something of you, give it to him, and do not ask for it back, for the Father desires that gifts be given to all from His own riches. Blessed is he who gives charitably according to the commandment, for he is blameless.   Woe to him who receives.   If a needy man receives charity, he is blameless, but anyone is not in need will be called to account for why he accepted it. And being imprisoned, he will be interrogated concerning his actions, and he will not be released until he has repaid every last penny. Indeed, it has also been said: Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you have discerned to whom you will give.   THE SECOND COMMANDMENT  This is the second commandment of the teaching.   You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not be sexually perverse. You shall not be sexually promiscuous. You shall not steal. You shall not practice magic.     REF.; Jer. 21:8; Mat. 7:13. b Lev. 19:18; Mat. 22:37-39. c Mat. 7:12. d Luke 6:28; Mat. 5:44. e Luke 6:27-28; Mat. 5:44. f Luke 6:32. g Luke 6:33; Mat. 5:46-47. h Luke 6:27; Mat. 5:44. i 1 Pet. 3:13. j 1 Pet. 2:11. k Mat. 5:39; Luke 6:29. l Mat. 5:48, 19:21. m Mat. 5:41. n Mat. 5:40. o Mat. 5:42; Luke 6:30. p Luke 6:30. q Mat. 5:39. r Luke 6:30; Mat. 5:42. s Mat. 5:25, 18:34; Luke 12:58. t Exod. 20:15(13). u Exodus. 20:13(14).  Lit. “You shall not corrupt boys.” w Deut. 23:17. x Exod. 20:14(15). y Deut. 18:10. You shall not practice sorcery. (Pharmacacea; making or taking drugs) You shall not murder a child by abortion, nor kill a child at birth.   You shall not covet your neighbor’s things.   You shall not commit perjury. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not speak evil. You shall not bear a grudge. You shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for the double tongue is a snare of death. Your words shall not be false or empty, but fulfilled in your actions.   You shall not be greedy,  nor a swindler, nor a hypocrite, nor bad-tempered, nor proud.   You shall not plot against your neighbor.   You shall not hate any man, but you shall reprove some, and you shall pray for others, and others you shall love more than your own life. “ THE “FENCES”   My child, fee from every evil thing, and everything that is like it.   Do not be angry, for anger leads to murder.   Do not be jealous, nor argumentative, nor hot-tempered; for all of these things give birth to murder.   My child, do not be lustful, for lust leads to sexual promiscuity.   Do not speak obscenely, and do not have wandering eyes; for all of these things give birth to promiscuity.   
 My child, do not deal in omens, since it leads to idolatry.   Do not be an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a magician—do not even be around such things; for all of these things give birth to idolatry.   
 My child, do not be a liar, since it leads to theft.   Do not be greedy or vain; for all of these things give birth to theft.   
 My child, be not a complainer, since it leads to blasphemy.   
 Do not be stubborn nor evil-minded; for all of these things give birth to blasphemy.   Be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Be patient, and merciful, and sincere, and quiet, and kind, and always fearing the Word which you have heard. Do not praise yourself, and do not let arrogance enter your soul.   Do not join your soul with a pompous person, but walk only with the righteous and the humble. Whatever happens to you, accept it as good, knowing that nothing is done without YAHWEH.   
 My child, remember him who proclaims to you The Word of YAHWEH.   Remember him night and day, and honor him as YAHWEH; for wherever he speaks, YAHWEH himself is there.   
 Every day, seek out the company of the saints, that you may find rest in their words.   Do not cause division, but bring peace between those who dispute.   Judge righteously. Do not favor any person    REF.; Deut. 18:10. n Mat. 5:40. o Mat. 5:42; Luke 6:30. p Luke 6:30. q Mat. 5:39. r Luke 6:30; Mat. 5:42. s Mat. 5:25, 18:34; Luke 12:58. t Exod. 20:15(13). u Exod. 20:13(14). v Lit.   You shall not corrupt boys.   Ref.; Deut. 23:17. x Exod. 20:14(15).   Deut. 18:10. i Ps. 37:11; Mat. 5:5. j Isa. 66:2. k Rom. 12:16; Jas. 2:2-3. l Heb. 13:7. m Deut. 1:16-17; Prov. 31:9.   
 
 
 
 Do not choose one side when you reprove others.   Do not be double-minded when you consider whether or not a thing should be.   Do not hold out your hand to receive, only to pull your hand back when you should give. If you have gained something through your work, give it away as a ransom for your sins.   Do not hesitate to give, nor complain when you give, for you know the good paymaster of your reward. Do not turn away from anyone who is in need, but share everything with your your brother, and   Do not say that anything is your own;   For if you all share in the heavenly things, how much more in earthly things?   
 Do not relax your control over your son or your daughter, but from their youth teach them the fear of YAHWEH.   Do not give a command in your anger to your servant, who trusts in the same Elohim, lest he ceases to fear YAHWEH who is over both of you. For HE does not call men according to worldly status, but YAHWEH comes to those whom the Spirit has prepared.   
 And you who are servants, be obedient to your Masters as to YAHWEH in respect and fear.
 Hate all hypocrisy, and everything that is not pleasing to YAHWEH .   Never forsake t YAHWEH ’s commandments. But you shall guard the things which you have received, neither adding to them nor taking away from them.
 Confess your sins in assembly, and do not go to prayer with a guilty conscience. This is the Way of Life.   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 THE WAY OF DEATH  

But the way of death is this;
 
 
 First of all, it is evil and full of curses: murder, adultery, lust, promiscuity, theft, idolatry, magical arts, witchcraft, robbery, false testimony, hypocrisy, duplicity, treachery, pride, malice, stubbornness, greed, foul language, jealousy, arrogance, pride, and boasting.   
 Also, Persecutors of good men, hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing the reward of righteousness, not adhering to the good nor to good judgment, alert to evil rather than to good; neither gentle nor patient; loving worthless things, pursuing a reward, not having mercy on the poor, not working for the downtrodden, not recognizing the G-d who made them, murderers of children, corrupter of YAHWEH’s creation, turning away from the needy, oppressing the afflicted, advocates of the rich, unjust judges of the poor—sinful in every way!   May you be delivered, my children, from all these things.   
 CONCLUSION   Beware, lest anyone lead you astray from this way of righteousness, for he teaches apart from YAHWEH. For if you can bear the whole yoke of YAHWEH, you will be perfect; but if you cannot, do as much as you can. REF.; Acts 4:32. o Eph. 6:1-9; Col. 3:18–4:1. p Deut. 4:2, 12:32. q Mat. 15:19; Rom. 1:29; Gal. 5:20. r Rom. 12:9. s Ps. 4:2; Isa. 1:23. t Epistle of Barnabas 19:8.   
     
   
 
 
 
 INSTRUCTION For A YOUNG BELIEVER   
 
 
  CONCERNING FOOD  
 Now concerning eating, observe the Commands as best you can.   But do not eat meat sacrificed to idols, for it is the worship of dead gods.
 
 CONCERNING BAPTISM   
 Baptize in this way.   Having instructed him in all of these teachings, baptize the Young Believer   in the Glory of the Father, and   in the Name of the Son, and   of Power the Holy Spirit, in running water.    And before the baptism, let both the baptizer and the Young Believer fast, and also any others who are able. And be sure that the Young Believer fasts a day or two before.
  CONCERNING FASTING
 Do Not let not your fasts fall on the same days as the hypocrites; For they fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Keep your fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.   
 CONCERNING PRAYER   
 Do Not pray as the hypocrites either,  but pray as Yahshua commanded in His Gospel:   
 YAHWEH Our Father,   Who art in heaven, Holy is Your Name;   We pray Your Kingdom come;   Your  will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.   Give us this day our daily bread;    Forgive us our trespasses(debt and sin), as we forgive those who trespass against us;   Do not let us be led  into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One;   For You Are the power and the glory FOREVER!   Pray this way Morning, Noon and Night.
 CONCERNING THE PESAKH
  N ow concerning the PESAKH give thanks in this way.   
 First, as concerning the cup:   We give you thanks, our Father, for the holy vine of your son David, a which you made known to us through your Son Yahshua. Yours is the glory unto ages of ages.   
 Then as regards the broken bread:   We give you thanks, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you made known to us through your Son Yahshua.   Yours is the glory unto ages of ages.   
   As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and being gathered together became one,
 ( u Acts 15:29. v Mat. 28:19. w Mat. 6:16. x Mat. 6:5f. y Mat. 6:9f. z 1 Cor. 11:23-25. a John 15:1. b Acts 3:13, 26. c John 3:15, 5:26, 6:68f. DIDACHE 9)
 so may your Assembly be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.   For yours is the glory and the power through Yahshua Messiah unto ages of ages.   Do not let anyone eat or drink of this Pesakh (Passover) who has not been baptized into the name of Yahshua for concerning this the Master has said,   “Do not give the holy things to the dogs.”   
 And after you have been filled, give thanks as follows:   
 We give you thanks, holy Father, for your set-apart name YAHWEH, which you have made to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which you have made known unto us through your Son Yahshua.   Yours is the glory unto ages of ages.
 You, Almighty Master, created all things for your name’s sake, and gave food and drink to men for their enjoyment, that they might give you thanks. And you have given us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through your Son.  Most of all, we give you thanks that You are powerful.  Yours is the glory unto ages of ages.  Remember, Father, your Assembly and deliver it from all evil and to perfect it in Thy love.    Gather it— the sanctified one—together from the four winds into Your Kingdom which you have prepared for it.   For yours is the power and the glory unto ages of ages.   
 May grace come and may this world pass away.
 Hosanna to the Elohim of David.   If any man is set apart, let him come; if any man is not, let him repent.   
 Maranatha. m Amen.   
 But permit the prophets to offer thanksgiving as much as they desire.   
 
 CONCERNING THE OINTMENT  
 And concerning the ointment, give thanks as follows:   
 We give you thanks, our Father, for the fragrant ointment which you have made known to us through your Son Yahshua.   Yours is the glory unto ages of ages. Amen.   
 THE APPROVED TEACHER
 THE APPROVED TEACHER whoever comes and teaches you all these things that have been taught before, receive him. But if the teacher himself turns aside and teaches a different doctrine that subverts what has been taught before, do not listen to him
  If his teaching fosters righteousness and the knowledge of YAHWEH, receive him as you would Yahshua
 Ref,'.o d Mat. 7:6. e John 1:14, 6:56-57. f Rev. 4:11. g John 6:27. h Mat. 16:18. i John 17:15. j Mat. 24:31. k Rev. 22:20. l Mat. 21:9, 15. m Hebrew: “Our Lord has come.” 1 Cor. 16:22. n Gal. 1:6-9. o Mat. 10:40; John 13:20.   
 
  LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS   
 Concerning apostles and prophets, act according to the Gospel’s teaching. Receive every apostle as YAHWEH. He should not stay for more than a single day, or two days if necessary. But if he remains for three days, he is a false prophet. When he leaves, let the apostle receive nothing except bread, until he finds a place to stay. But if he asks for money, he is a false prophet. Do not test or judge any prophet who speaks in the Spirit. Every other sin will be forgiven, but this sin will not be forgiven.  And not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, but only he who follows the ways of YAHWEH. From his behavior, then, you will know a false prophet from a true prophet.  Any prophet who orders a meal in Spirit will not eat from it, but if he does eat of it, he is a false prophet. Any prophet who teaches the truth, but does not do the things he teaches, is a false prophet. Every true prophet, if he performs a worldly mystery of the Assembly, but does not teach others to do likewise, he must not be judged by you. He has his judgment in the presence of YAHWEH, as with the prophets of old.   
 If anyone says in the Spirit, “Give me money,” do not listen to him.  But if he tells you to give to others who are in need, let no one judge him.   
 HOSPITALITY TO TRAVELERS
 
 HOSPITALITY TO TRAVELERS receive everyone who comes in the name of YAHWEH. Examine him and learn the nature of his situation. If he is only passing through, help him as much as you can, but he must not stay with you more than two or three days. If he wishes to settle with you and knows a trade, let him work and earn his bread. If he does not know a trade, use your judgment to decide how he should live as a Believer among you, but not in idleness.   
 If he will not do this, he is trafficking upon Messiah Beware of such men.   
 SUPPORTING YAHWEH’S MINISTERS
 SUPPORTING YAHWEH’S MINISTERS
 Every  true prophet who desires to settle among you is worthy of his food.   Likewise, a true teacher, like the worker, deserves his food Take every firstfruit of the wine press and of the threshing floor, of your oxen and of your sheep, and give as the firstfruit to the First Born, for they are your  priests. But if you do not have a First Born among you,  give it to the prophet,   But if you do not have a prophet, give your firstfruits to the poor.   
 Ref,;p 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 3:5. q Mat. 7:15f, 10:40-41; Luke 10:4f. r Mat. 10:40; John 13:20. s Mat. 12:31. t 2 Pet. 2:1; John 4:1. u Mat. 10:8. v Ps. 118:26; Mat. 21:9. w 2 Tess. 3:10; Acts 18:3. x 1 Tim. 6:5. y Mat 10:10; 1 Tim. 5:18. z Deut. 18:1-5.   
 THE SACRIFICE
 If you make bread, take the firstfruit and give according to the commandment. Likewise, when you open a jug of wine or oil, take the firstfruit and give to the Firstborn among you. If there are no Firstborn give it to the prophet But if you do not have a prophet, give your firstfruit to the poor.  And so with money, and clothing, and every possession—take the firstfruit, as it seems appropriate to you, and give according to the commandment.   
 THE ASSEMBLY
 Gather together each Sabbath ,and break bread and give thanks;         first confessing your sins, that your sacrifice may be pure.   And let no man, having a disagreement with his brother, join you until they have been reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled For it was this sacrifice that was spoken of by Yahshua:   
 “In every place and at every time offer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a Great King, says the Mastewr, and my name is wonderful among the nations.”
 
 ASSEMBLY LEADERS   
 Appoint for yourselves elders and deacons who are worthy of Yahshua:         men who are meek and not lovers of money, and who are honest and proven.         For they also perform the service of the prophets and teachers. Therefore, do not hold them in contempt, for they are honorable men along with the prophets and teachers.   
 COMMUNITY DISCIPLINE   
 Reprove one another, not in anger but in peace, as you find in the Writings.   Shun anyone who has sinned against his neighbor; do not say a word to him until he repents But say your prayers, and give your alms, and do everything according to the Gospel of Yahshua.
 Ref.;.h a Rev. 1:10. b Mat. 5:23. c Mal. 1:11. d Mal. 1:14. e 1 Tim. 3:2-13; Tit. 1:5-9. f Eph. 4:11-12. g Mat. 5:22-26, 18:15-35. h Mat. 6:1-15.    
 
 
 
 YAHSHUA IS COMING  
 Watch over your life.   Do not let your lamps burn out, nor your waist be ungird