The Didache in English

An English Translation of the Didache

Alan Garrow

The Gospel of Matthew’s Dependence on the Didache

(T&T Clark International, 2004)

The following translation is annotated according to considerations discussed in The Gospel of Matthew’s Dependence on the Didache.

Column 'A' indicates the redactional layer to which the accompanying text is attributed in Part 1 of The Gospel of Matthew’s Dependence on the Didache.

1 = the Peri or Base layer (also referred to as P/B)

2 = the Prophet layer (also referred to as PR)

3 = the Modifying Teacher layer (also referred to as MT)

4 = the Gospel layer

5 = the Jerusalem addition

Column 'B' indicates the presence of previously existing traditions incorporated into, or quoted by, one of the Didache's five contributors.

TW = the Two Ways tradition

LS = a Law Summary

SO = a Sayings Onion; SO.a-e represent five individual elements of that collection

GV= a saying on Giving, possibly from Sirach 12.1

TK = the so-called Teknon teaching, a wisdom tradition based on Ps. 36 (LXX)

BA = a tradition concerning Baptism and the baptismal fast

LP = a version of the Lord's Prayer

DG = a saying regarding giving what is holy to Dogs

PR = the Prophet document (which constitutes the entirety of the Prophet layer)

FF = a tradition regarding Firstfruits

ML = a quotation of Malachi 1.11

AP = a self-contained Apocalypse or eschatological warning

Where column 'B' is vacant, this indicates a direct contribution by the editor of the layer whose number is indicated in column 'A'.

Column 'C' indicates those verses of Matthew's Gospel that contain conceptual and verbal similarities to the corresponding text of the Didache. Underlining of this text indicates a direct verbal parallel between the Didache and the verse indicated in Matthew's Gospel.

The Teaching of the Lord, by the Twelve Apostles,

to the Gentiles.

28.16,20

28.19

1.1 There are two ways, one of life, the other of death,

and there is a great difference between the two ways.

7.13-14

1.2a Now the way of life is this:

1.2b first,

1.2c you shall love the God who made you;

22.38

1.2d second, your neighbour as yourself,

22.39

1.2e and everything that you would not have done to you,

do not do to another.

7.12

1.3a The teaching of these words is this:

1.3b Bless [pl. throughout v. 3] those that curse you and

pray for your enemies,

fast for those that persecute you.

SO.a
SO.a
SO.a

5.44

1.3c For what merit is there

if you love those that love you?

Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

But love those who hate you

and you will not have any enemy.

SO.b
SO.b
SO.b

SO.b

5.46

5.47

1.4a Avoid the fleshly and bodily passions.

SO.c

1.4b If someone strikes you on your right cheek,

turn the other to him also,

1.4b (r) and you will be perfect.

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

If someone takes your coat, give him your shirt also.

If someone takes away from you what is yours,

do not ask for it back, since you cannot.

SO.d
SO.d

SO.d

5.39

5.48; 19.21

5.41

5.40

1.5a To everyone asking of you give, and do not ask for it back,

for the Father wishes that gifts be given to all from his own bounty.

SO.e

5.42

5.45

1.5b Blessed is the one who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. 1.5c Woe to

the one who receives. For if he receives because he has need,

he is guiltless, but if he does not have need, he shall stand trial

as to why he received and for what, and being put in prison he will be examined about what he has done, and he will not come out of it until he pays the last penny.

5.26

1.6 But of this it was also said,

'Let your charitable gift sweat in your hands

until you know to whom you give'.

2.1 The second commandment of the teaching means:

2.2 You shall not murder,

You shall not commit adultery.

5.21; 19.18

5.27; 19.18

You shall not corrupt boys. You shall not fornicate.

You shall not steal. You shall not practice magic.

19.18

You shall not use sorcery.

You shall not murder a child by abortion or commit infanticide.

You shall not covet what belongs to your neighbour.

2.3 You shall not swear falsely.

You shall not bear false witness.

You shall not speak evil.

You shall not harbour a grudge.

5.33

2.4 You shall not be double-minded, nor double-tongued,

for the double tongue is a snare of death.

2.5 Your word shall not be false or empty

but fulfilled by action.

2.6 You shall not be covetous, nor a swindler,

nor a hypocrite, nor ill-tempered, nor proud. You shall not plot

evil against your neighbour.

2.7 You shall not hate anyone. But some you shall reprove, and for some you shall pray. And some you shall love more than your own life.

3.1 My child, flee from all evil

and from everything like it.

3.2 Do not be angry, for anger leads to murder;

nor jealous nor contentious nor hot-tempered,

for all these things breed murder.

5.21,22

3.3 My child, do not be lustful,

for lust leads to fornication;

nor should you use obscene speech or lustful gazes,

for all these breed acts of adultery.

5.27

5.28

3.4 My child, do not be a soothsayer,

for this leads to idolatry;

nor an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a magician;

do not be willing to even look at such things,

for all these breed idolatry.

3.5 My child do not be a liar,

for lying leads to theft;

nor avaricious, nor vainglorious,

for all these breed theft.

3.6 My child, do not be a grumbler,

for this leads to blasphemy;

nor self-willed, nor evil-minded,

for all these breed blasphemy.

3.7 but be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth.

TK/

5.5

3.8 Be patient and merciful, and guileless, and quiet

and good, and always revering the words

you have heard.

5.7

3.9 You shall not exalt yourself

or admit arrogance into your soul.

Your soul shall not associate with the lofty

but you shall walk with those who are righteous and humble.

3.10 Accept the things that happen to you as good,

knowing that nothing is done without God.

4.1 My child, be mindful night and day of the one who speaks

the word of God to you. You shall honour him as the Lord, for wherever the Lord's nature is spoken of, there the Lord is.

4.2 You shall seek out daily the presence of the saints

to find support in their words.

4.3 You shall not cause division; instead you shall reconcile those who quarrel. You shall judge righteously. You shall not show partiality in reproving people for their faults.

4.4 You shall not doubt whether a thing shall be or not.

4.5 Do not be someone holding out your hands to receive,

but closing them when it comes to giving.

4.6 If you have earned something through the work of your hands, you shall give something as a ransom for your sins.

4.7 You shall not hesitate to give, nor grumble when giving,

for you will know the good paymaster of your reward.

4.8 You shall not turn the needy away; but you shall hold everything in common with your brother, and not say that anything is your own, for if you share in what is immortal,

how much more in mortal things?

4.9 You shall not withhold your hand from your son or your daughter, but from their youth you shall teach them the fear of God.

4.10 You shall not command in bitterness your slave or your maid who trusts in the same God, lest they stop revering the God who is over you both.

For he comes not to call people according to their status

but he comes to those whom the Spirit has prepared.

4.11 And you slaves shall be subject to your masters,

as symbols of God, with reverence and fear.

4.12 You shall hate all hypocrisy and all that is not pleasing to the Lord. 4.13 You shall not abandon the commandments of the Lord but shall keep what you have received without adding or subtracting anything. 4.14 In the assembly you shall confess your faults, and you shall not approach prayer

with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.

5.1a And the way of death is this.

First of all, it is evil and full of accursedness;

5.1b murder, adultery, lust, fornication, theft,

idolatry, magic, sorcery, robbery,