1 Give heed to the bishop, that GOD may also give heed to you. I am devoted to those who are subject to the bishop, presbyters, and deacons; and may it be mine to have my lot with them in GOD. Labour with one another, struggle together, run together, suffer together, rest together, rise up together as GOD’s stewards and assessors and servants. 2. Be pleasing to Him in whose ranks you serve, from whom you receive your pay,—let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism remain as your arms, your faith as a helmet, your love as a spear, your endurance as your panoply, let your works be your deposits that you may receive the back-pay due to you. Be therefore long-suffering with one another in gentleness, as GOD is with you. May I have joy in you always.

Vii

1 Since the Church which is in Antioch has peace through your prayers, as it has been reported to me, I was myself the more encouraged in the freedom from care given by GOD, if I may but attain to GOD through my sufferings, that I may be found your disciple at the resurrection. 2. You ought, O Polycarp, most blessed of GOD, to summon a godly council, and elect someone who is very dear to you and is zealous, who can be called GOD’s courier; appoint him to go to Syria to glorify your zealous love to the glory of GOD. 3. A Christian has no power over himself, but

gives his time to GOD. This is the work of GOD and of yourselves, when you complete it. For I believe in the grace of GOD, that you are ready to do the good deeds which are proper for GOD. I exhort you by no more than these few lines, for I recognise your fervour for the truth.

Viii

1 Since I could not write to all the Churches because of my sudden sailing from Troas to Neapolis as the will of GOD enjoins, you shall write as one possessing the mind of GOD to the Churches on the road in front of me, that they also shall treat me in the same way (let those who can send messengers, and the others send letters through those whom you send, that you may be glorified by a memorable deed), as is worthy of you.

2 I greet all by name, and the wife of the Procurator with the whole house of herself and her children. I greet my beloved Attalus. I greet him who shall be appointed to go to Syria. Grace will be with him through all, and with Polycarp, who sends him. 3. I bid you farewell always in our GOD [through] Jesus Christ; may you remain in Him in the unity and care of GOD. I greet Alce, a name very dear to me. Farewell in the Lord.

THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS OF SAINT POLYCARP, BISHOP OF SMYRNA AND HOLY MARTYR

Polycarp and the Elders with him to the Church of GOD sojourning in Philippi; mercy and peace from GOD Almighty be multiplied to you.

I

1 I rejoice greatly with you in our [master] Jesus Christ that you have followed the pattern of true love, and have helped on their way, as opportunity was given you, those who were bound in chains, which become the saints, and are the diadems of those who have been truly chosen by GOD [our Lord]. 2. I rejoice also that your firmly rooted faith, which was famous in past years, still flourishes and bears fruit unto our [master] Jesus Christ, who endured [for GOD’s cause] even to [the threat of] death, “whom GOD raised up, having loosed the pangs of Hades,” 3. in whom, though you did not see him, you believed in “unspeakable and glorified joy,”—into which joy many desire to come, knowing that “by grace ye are saved, not by works [alone] but by the will of GOD [through the message of] Jesus Christ.”

Ii

1 “Wherefore girding up your loins serve GOD in fear” and truth, putting aside empty vanity and vulgar error, “believing on Him who raised up our [master] Jesus Christ from the dead and gave him glory,” and [a place of honour], “to Whom are subject all things in heaven and earth,” Whom all breath serves, Who is coming as “the Judge of the living and of the dead,” [Who] will require [an account] from them who disobey [Him]. 2. Now “He who raised him” from the dead “will also raise us up” if we do His will, and walk in His commandments and love the things which He loved, refraining from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness, “rendering not evil for evil, or railing for railing,” or blow for blow, or curse for curse, 3. but remembering what the [master] taught when he said, “Judge not that ye be not judged, forgive and it shall be forgiven unto you, be merciful that ye may obtain mercy, with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again,” and, “Blessed are the poor, and they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of GOD.”

Iii

1 These things, brethren, I write to you concerning righteousness, not at my own instance, but because you first invited me. 2. For neither am I, nor is any other like me, able to follow the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul, who when he was among you in the presence of the men of that time taught accurately and steadfastly the word of truth, and also when he was absent wrote letters to you, from the study of which you will be able to build yourselves up into the faith given you; 3. “which is the mother of us all” when faith follows, and love of GOD and Christ and neighbour goes before. For if one be in this company he has fulfilled the command of righteousness, for he who has love is far from all sin.

Iv

1 “But the beginning of all evils is the love of money.” Knowing therefore that “we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it,” let us arm ourselves with the armour of righteousness, and let us first of all teach ourselves to walk in the commandment of the Lord; 2. next teach our wives to remain in the faith given to them, and in love and purity, tenderly loving their husbands in all truth, and loving all others equally in all chastity, and to educate their children in the fear of GOD. 3. Let us teach the widows to be discreet in the faith of the Lord, praying ceaselessly for all men, being far from all slander, evil speaking, false witness, love of money, and all evil, knowing that they are an altar of GOD, and that all offerings are tested, and that nothing escapes Him of reasonings or thoughts, or of “the secret things of the heart.”

V

1 Knowing then that “GOD is not mocked” we ought to walk worthily of His commandment and glory. 2. Likewise must the deacons be blameless before His righteousness, as the servants of GOD [and followers of] Christ and not of man, not slanderers, not double-tongued, not lovers of money, temperate in all things, compassionate, careful, walking according to the truth of the [master], who was the “servant of all.” For if we please Him [GOD] in this present world we shall receive from Him that which is to come; even as He promised us to raise us from the dead, and that if we are worthy citizens of His community, “we shall also reign with Him,” if we have but faith. 3. Likewise also let the younger men be blameless in all things; caring above all for purity, and curbing themselves from all evil; for it is good to be cut off from the lust of the things in the world, because “every lust warreth against the Spirit, and neither fornicators nor the effeminate nor sodomites shall inherit the Kingdom of GOD,” nor they who do iniquitous things. Wherefore it is necessary to refrain from all these things, and to be subject to the presbyters and deacons [for GOD’s sake]. The virgins must walk with a blameless and pure conscience.

Vi

1 And let the presbyters also be compassionate, merciful to all, bringing back those that have wandered, caring for all the weak, neglecting neither widow, nor orphan nor poor, but “ever providing for that which is good before GOD and man,” refraining from all wrath, respect of persons, unjust judgment, being far from all love of money, not quickly believing evil of any, not hasty in judgment, knowing that “we all owe the debt of sin.” 2. If then we pray the Lord to forgive us, we also ought to forgive, for we stand before the eyes of the Lord [GOD], and “we must all appear before the judgment seat of [GOD], and each must give an account of himself.” 3. So then “let us serve Him with fear and all reverence,” as He Himself commanded us, and as did the Apostles, who brought us the Gospel, and the Prophets who foretold the coming of our [master]. Let us be zealous for good, refraining from offence, and from the false brethren, and from those who bear the name of the Lord in hypocrisy, who deceive empty-minded men.

Vii

1 “For everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is an anti-Christ”; and whosoever does not confess [the testimony of GOD] is of the devil: and whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord for his own lusts, and says that there is neither resurrection nor judgment,—this man is the first-born of Satan. 2. Wherefore, leaving the foolishness of the crowd, and their false teaching, let us turn back to the word which was delivered to us in the beginning, “watching unto prayer” and persevering in fasting, beseeching the all-seeing GOD in our supplications “to lead us not into temptation,” even as the [master] said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Viii

1 Let us then persevere unceasingly in our hope, and in the pledge of our righteousness, that is in [the message of] Christ Jesus, “who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth,” but for our sakes, that we might live in him, he endured all things. 2. Let us then be imitators of his endurance, and if we suffer for his name’s sake let us glorify [GOD]. For this is the example which he gave us in himself, and this is what we have believed.

Ix

1 Now I beseech you all to obey the word of righteousness, and to endure with all the endurance which you also saw before your eyes, not only in the blessed Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus, but also in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself, and in the other Apostles; 2. being persuaded that all of these “ran not in vain,” but in faith and righteousness, and that they are with the Lord in the “place which is their due,” with whom they also suffered. For they did not “love this present world” but [GOD].

X

1 Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the example of the [master], “firm and unchangeable in faith, loving the brotherhood, affectionate to one another,” joined together in the truth, forestalling one another in the gentleness of the Lord, despising no man. 2. When you can do good defer it not, “for almsgiving sets free from death; be ye all subject one to the other, having your conversation blameless among the Gentiles,” that you may receive praise “for your good works” and that the Lord be not blasphemed in you. 3. “But woe to him through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed.” Therefore teach sobriety to all and show it forth in your own lives.

Xi

1 I am deeply sorry for Valens, who was once made a presbyter among you, that he so little understands the place which was given to him. I advise, therefore, that you keep from avarice, and be pure and truthful. Keep yourselves from all evil. 2. For how may he who cannot attain self-control in these matters enjoin it on another? If any man does not abstain from avarice he will be defiled by idolatry, and shall be judged as if he were among the Gentiles who “know not the judgment of GOD.” Or do we “not know that the saints shall [bear witness against] the world?” as Paul teaches. 3. But I have neither perceived nor heard any such thing among you, among whom the blessed Paul laboured, who are praised in the beginning of his Epistle. For concerning you he boasts in all the Churches who then alone had known the Lord, for we had not yet known him. 4. Therefore, brethren, I am deeply sorry for him (i.e. Valens) and for his wife, and “may the Lord grant them true repentance.” Therefore be yourselves also moderate in this matter, and “do not regard such men as enemies,” but call them back as fallible and straying members, that you may make whole the body of you all. For in doing this you edify yourselves.

Xii

1 For I am confident that you are well versed in the Scriptures, and from you nothing is hid; but to me this is not granted. Only, as it is said in these Scriptures, “Be ye angry and sin not,” and “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Blessed is the man who remembers this, and I believe that it is so with you. 2. Now may GOD, [the Lord] of our [master] Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth, and in all gentleness, and without wrath, and in patience, and in longsuffering, and endurance, and purity, and may He give you lot and part with His saints, and to us with you, and to all under heaven who shall believe in our [master] Jesus Christ and in his [Lord] “who raised him from the dead.” 3. “Pray for all the saints. Pray also for the Emperors,” and for potentates, and princes, and for “those who persecute you and hate you,” and for “the enemies of [the truth]” that “your fruit may be manifest among all men, that you may be perfected” in [GOD].

Xiii

1 Both you and Ignatius wrote to me that if anyone was going to Syria he should also take your letters. I will do this if I have a convenient opportunity, either myself or the man whom I am sending as a representative for you and me. 2. We send you, as you asked, the letters of Ignatius, which were sent to us by him, and others which we had by us. These are subjoined to this letter, and you will be able to benefit greatly from them. For they contain faith, patience, and all the edification which pertains to our [master]. Let us know anything further which you have heard about Ignatius himself and those who are with him.

Xiv

1 I have written this to you by Crescens, whom I commended to you when I was present, and now commend again. For he has behaved blamelessly among us, and I believe that he will do the same with you. His sister shall be commended to you when she comes to you. Farewell in [the Lord] in grace, with all who are yours. Amen.

The Didache, Or Teaching Of The Twelve Apostles

The Lord’s teaching to the heathen by the Twelve Apostles.

I

1 There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways.

2 The Way of Life is this: “First, thou shalt love the GOD who made thee, secondly, thy neighbour as thyself; and whatsoever thou wouldst not have done to thyself, do not thou to another.”

3 Now, the teaching of these words is this: “Bless those that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those that persecute you. For what credit is it to you if you love those that love you? Do not even the heathen do the same?” But, for your part, “love those that hate you,” and you will have no enemy. 4. “Abstain from carnal” and bodily “lusts.” “If any man smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also,” and thou wilt be perfect. “If any man impress thee to go with him one mile, go with him two. If any man take thy coat, give him thy shirt also. If any man will take from thee what is thine, refuse it not”—not even if thou canst. 5. Give to everyone that asks thee, and do not refuse, for [GOD’s] will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received. Blessed is he that gives according to the mandate; for he is innocent. Woe to him who receives; for if any man receive alms under pressure of need he is innocent; but he who receives it without need shall be tried as to why he took and for what, and being in prison he shall be examined as to his deeds, and “he shall not come out thence until he pay the last farthing.” 6. But concerning this it was also said, “Let thine alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou art giving.”

Ii

1 But the second commandment of the teaching is this; 2. “Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not commit adultery”; thou shalt not commit sodomy; thou shalt not commit fornication; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not use magic; thou shalt not use philtres; thou shalt not procure abortion, nor commit infanticide; “thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods”; 3. thou shalt not commit perjury, “thou shalt not bear false witness”; thou shalt not speak evil; thou shalt not bear malice. 4. Thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is the snare of death. 5. Thy speech shall not be false nor vain, but completed in action. 6. Thou shalt not be covetous nor extortionate, nor a hypocrite, nor malignant, nor proud, thou shalt make no evil plan against thy neighbour. 7. Thou shalt hate no man; but some thou shalt reprove, and for some shalt thou pray, and some thou shalt love more than thine own life.

Iii

1 My child, flee from every evil man and from all like him. 2. Be not proud, for pride leads to murder, nor jealous, nor contentious, nor passionate, for from all these murders are engendered. 3. My child, be not lustful, for lust leads to fornication, nor a speaker of base words, nor a lifter up of the eyes, for from all these is adultery engendered. 4. My child, regard not omens, for this leads to idolatry; neither be an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a magician, neither wish to see these things, for from them all is idolatry engendered. 5. My child, be not a liar, for lying leads to theft, nor a lover of money, nor vain-glorious, for from all these things

are thefts engendered.

6 My child, be not a grumbler, for this leads to blasphemy, nor stubborn, nor a thinker of evil, for from all these are blasphemies engendered,

7 but be thou “meek, for the meek shall inherit the earth;”

8 be thou long-suffering, and merciful and guileless, and quiet, and good, and ever fearing the words which thou hast heard.

9 Thou shalt not exalt thyself, nor let thy soul be presumptuous. Thy soul shall not consort with the lofty, but thou shalt walk with righteous and humble men.

10 Receive the accidents that befall thee as good, knowing that nothing happens without GOD.