Teachings Of The Twelve The Didache
From Our First Shlichim
The Didache meaning “Teaching in Greek” is the short name of a “Nazarene” manual compiled before 300 AD. The full title is The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles [In Greek]. Some believers thought the Didache was inspired but the “church” rejected it when making the final decision about which scrolls to include in the New Testament.
1 There are two derachot, one of chayim and one of death. And there is a great difference between the two derachot.
2 The derech of chayim is this: First, you shall love Ahlohim who made you. And second, love your neighbor as yourself and do not do to another, what you would not want done to you
3 The meaning of these sayings is this: Bless those who curse only you and make tefillah for your enemies and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the goyim do the same? But you should love those who hate you and then you shall have no enemies.
4 Abstain from fleshly and bodily lusts: If someone strikes your right cheek, turn the other also and be perfect. If someone forces you to go one mile, go two. If someone takes your cloak, give also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, don’t ask for it back. You really cannot.
5 Give to everyone who asks you and don’t ask for it back. The Abba wants His brachot shared. Simcha has the giver who lives according to this rule, for that one is guiltless. But the receiver must beware; for if one receives who has need, he is guiltless but if one receives not having need, he shall stand trial, answering for why he received and for what reason. If he is found guilty he shall not escape, until he pays back the last penny.
6 However, concerning this, there is a saying: Let your alms sweat in your hands until you know to whom to give them.
2 The second mitzvah of the teaching is this:
2 Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not corrupt boys; do not have illicit sex; do not steal; do not practice magic; do not practice witchcraft; you shall not murder a child, whether it be born or unborn. Do not covet the things of your neighbor.
3 Do not swear or bear false witness. Do not speak evil of others; do not bear grudges.
4 You should not be double minded or double tongued, for a double tongue is a deadly snare.
5 Your speech should not be false nor empty but fulfilled by action.
6 Do not be covetous, or greedy, or hypocritical, or malicious, or arrogant. Do not have designs against your neighbor.
7 Hate no one; correct some, make tefillah for others and some you should love more than your own chayim.
3 My child, flee evil of all kinds and everything like it.
2 Don’t be prone to anger, for anger leads to murder. Don’t be jealous or quarrelsome or hot tempered, for all these things lead to murder.
3 My child, don’t be lustful, for lust leads to illicit sex. Don’t be a filthy talker or allow your eyes a free reign, for these lead to adultery.
4 My child, don’t observe omens, since it leads to idolatry. Don’t be an enchanter, or an astrologer, or a purifier, or be willing to see or hear about these things, for these all lead to idolatry.
5 My child, don’t be a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Don’t love money or seek tifereth, for these things lead to thievery.
6 My child, don’t grumble, since it leads to blasphemy and don’t be self willed or evil minded, for all these things lead to blasphemy.
7 On the contrary, be gentle, since the meek will inherit the earth.
8 Be longsuffering and have pity on others, guileless and gentle and tov and with trembling, treasure the Words you have received.
9 Don’t exalt yourself or open your lev to overconfidence. Don’t be on intimate terms with mighty people but with just and lowly ones.
10 Accept whatever happens to you as a bracha, knowing that nothing comes to pass apart from Ahlohim.
4 My child, remember yom and lyla him who speaks the Word of Ahlohim to you and esteem him as Yahushua Himself. For wherever His malchut is spoken of, there He is.
2 Seek each yom the faces of the kidushim, in order that you may be refreshed by their words.
3 Do not initiate divisions but rather bring shalom to those who contend against one another. Judge righteously and do not take social status into account when reproving for transgressions.
4 Do not waver in your decisions once reached.
5 Do not be one who opens his hands to receive, or closes them when it is time to give.
6 If you have anything, by your hands you should give ransom for your sins.
7 Do not hesitate to give and do not complain about it. You will know in time who is the Tov Rewarder.
8 Do not turn away from one who is in want; rather, share all things with your brother and do not say that they are your own. For if you are sharers in what is imperishable, how much more in things which perish.
9 Do not remove your hand from your son or daughter; teach them the fear of Ahlohim from their youth.
10 Do not give orders to your avadim when you are angry, for they tikvah in the same Ahlohim and they may lose the fear of Ahlohim, who is over both of you. Ahlohim is surely not coming to call on us according to our outward appearance or station in chayim but to them whom The Ruach has prepared.
11 And you, avadim, be subject to your masters as to Ahlohim ‘s image, in modesty and fear.
12 You should hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not pleasing to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏.
13 Do not in any derech neglect the mitzvoth of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 but keep what you have received, neither adding nor taking away anything.
14 In your gatherings, confess your transgressions and do not come for tefillah with a guilty conscience. This is the derech of chayim.
5 The derech of death, on the other hand, is this: It is evil and cursed; murders, adulteries, lust, illicit sex, thefts, idolatries, magical arts, sorceries, robberies, false testimonies, hypocrisies, double heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over confidence, loftiness, boastfulness, those who do not fear Ahlohim.
2 The derech of death is the derech of those who persecute the tov, hate the emet, love lies and do not understand the reward for tzedakah. They do not cleave to tov or tzadik mishpat; they do not watch for what is tov but for what is evil. They are strangers to meekness and patience, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, without pity for the needy and oppressed. They do not know their Creator; they are murderers of children, destroyers of Ahlohim ‘s image. They turn away from those who are in need, making matters worse for those who are distressed. They are advocates for the rich, unjust shophtim of the poor. In a word, the derech of death is full of those who are steeped in sin. Be delivered, children, from all of this.
6 See that no one leads you astray from the derech of this teaching, since all other teachings train you without the da’at of Ahlohim.
2 For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, you will be perfect; but if you are not able, then at least do what you can.
3 Concerning food, do what you are able to do and be on guard against food offered to idols, for that is to worship dead ahlohim.
7 Concerning mikvah, you should mikvah this derech: After first explaining all things, mikvah in the one Name of The Abba and of The Son and of The Set Apart Ruach, in flowing mayim.
2 But if you have no running mayim, mikvah in other mayim; and if you cannot do so in cold mayim, then in warm mayim.
3 If you have very little, pour mayim three times on the head in the one Name of Abba and Son and Set Apart Ruach.
4 Before the mikvah, both the immerser and the candidate for mikvah, plus any others who can, should fast. The candidate should fast for one or two yamim beforehand.
8 Your fasts should not be with the hypocrites, for they fast on yom two and yom six. You should fast on yom four and yom six.
2 And do not make tefillah like the hypocrites but rather as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 commanded in the Besorah: Our Abba in the shamayim, kadosh be your Name. Your malchut come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in the shamayim. Give us enough lechem, yom by yom. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial but rescue us from the evil one.
3 Make tefillah of this three times each yom.
9 Concerning the Master’s Shulchan, give hodu in this derech.
2 First, concerning the cup of dahm: We thank You, our Abba, for the Kadosh Vine of Dawid Your eved, which You made known to us through 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 Your eved. To You be the tifereth le-olam-va-ed.
3 Next, concerning the broken lechem: We thank You, our Abba, for the chayim and da’at which You made known to us through 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 Your eved. To you be the tifereth le-olam-va-ed.
4 Even as this broken lechem was scattered over the hills and was gathered together and became echad, so let your kehilla be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your malchut. To You is the tifereth and the kavod through 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 le-olam-va-ed.
5 Allow no one to eat or drink of Your Master’s Shulchan, unless they have been mikvahed in The Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏. For concerning this,Yahushua has said, Do not give what is kadosh to dogs.
10 After the Master’s Shulchan when you are filled, give hodu this derech:
2 We give hodu, kadosh Abba, for Your kadosh Name which you enshrined in our levavot and for the da’at and emunah and immortality that You made known to us through 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 Your eved. To You be the tifereth le-olam va-ed.
3 You, Master Almighty, have created all things for Your Name’s sake. You gave food and drink to all people for enjoyment, that they might give hodu to You; but to us you freely give spiritual food and drink and chayim eternal through 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏, Your eved.
4 Before all things we thank You because You are Almighty. To You be the tifereth le-olam-va-ed.
5 Remember, oh 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏, Your kehilla. Deliver it from all evil and make it perfect in Your ahava and gather it from the four winds, sanctified for Your malchut, which You have prepared for it. For Yours is the kavod and the tifereth le-olam-va-ed.
6 Let chesed come and let this olam pass away. Hoshiana to The Son of Dawid. If anyone is kadosh, let him come; if anyone is not kadosh, let him repent. Maranatha-Maharon-Atah. Ahmein.
7 But permit the neviim to make the Master’s Shulchan, as much as they desire.
11 Welcome the moreh when he comes to instruct you in all that has been said.
2 But if he turns and trains you in another tradition to the destruction of this Besorah teaching, do not listen. If he teaches so as to increase tzedakah and the da’at of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, receive him as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏.
3 Act according to the precepts of the Besorah concerning all shlichim and neviim:
4 Let every sholiach who comes to you be received as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 Himself, with the same kavod and respect.
5 But he must not remain more than one yom, or two, if there’s a need. If he stays three yamim, he is a false navi.
6 And when the sholiach goes away, let him take nothing but lechem to last him until his next lyla of lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false navi.
7 In addition, if any navi speaks in The Ruach, you shall not try or judge him; every sin will be forgiven but this sin cannot be forgiven.
8 But not everyone who speaks in The Ruach is a navi; only he is a navi who has the actions of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 in his chayim. By their actions will the false navi and the emet navi be known.
9 Any navi who orders a meal in The Ruach does not eat it; if he does, he is indeed a false navi.
10 And any navi who teaches the emet but does not do what he teaches, is a false navi.
11 When a navi, proven emet, works for the sod of the kehilla in the olam but does not teach others to do what he himself does, he will not be judged among you, for his mishpat is already before Ahlohim. The ancient neviim acted in this derech, also.
12 But whoever says in The Ruach, Give me money, or something else like this, you must not listen to him. But if he tells you to give for the sake of others who are in need, let no one judge him.
12 Welcome anyone coming in The Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏. Receive everyone who comes in The Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 but then, test them and use your discretion as you observe their character.
2 If he who comes is a transient with no roots or stability, assist him as far as you are able; but he should not remain with you more than two or three yamim, if need be.
3 If he wants to stay with you and is a craftsman, let him work for his living.
4 But if he has no trade, use your discernment in providing for him; for a believer should not live idle in your midst.
5 If he is dissatisfied with this sort of an arrangement, he is a Moshiach peddler. Watch that you keep away from such people.
13 Every genuine navi who wants to live among you is worthy of support.
2 So also, every emet moreh is, like a workman, entitled to his support.
3 Every bikkur, therefore, of the products of vintage and harvest, of cattle and of sheep, should be given as bikkurim to the neviim, for they are your esteemed kohanim.
4 But if you have no navi, give it all to the poor.
5 If you bake lechem, take the first loaf and give it according to the mitzvah of bikkurim.
6 If you open a new jar of wine or of oil, take the bikkur and give it to the neviim.
7 If you acquire money or clothing or any other possession, set aside a portion first, as it may seem tov to you and give according to the mitzvah of bikkurim.
14 On the Shabbat yom, gather yourselves together and break lechem, give hodu but first confess your sins so that your service may be pure.
2 However; let no one who is at odds with his brother come together with you, until he has reconciled, so that your service may not be profaned.
3 For this is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 has said: For from the rising of the shemesh to its setting My Name is great among the goyim and in every place incense is offered to My Name and a pure offering; for My Name is great among the goyim, says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 of Hosts. For I AM a great Melach, says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 of Hosts and My Name is reverenced among the goyim.
15 Appoint overseers for yourselves, as well as zechanim, worthy of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏, of meek disposition, unattached to money, truthful and proven; for they also render to you the service of neviim and teachers.
2 Do not despise them, after all, for they are your esteemed ones, together with the neviim and teachers.
3 And reprove one another, not in anger but in shalom, as you have it in the Besorah. But to anyone who acts wildly against another, let no one speak to him, nor let him hear anything from you until he repents. But your tefillot and alms and all your deeds so do, as you have it in the Besorah of our 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏.
16 Watch over your own chayim, that your lamps are never quenched and that your loins are never unloosed. Be ready, for you do not know on what yom your Master is coming.
2 Come together often, seeking the things that are tov for your naphsoth. A chayim of emunah will not profit you, if you are not made mature by the end of this age.
3 For in the yamim ha-acharonim false neviim and corrupters will be plenty and the sheep will be turned into wolves and love will be turned into hate.
4 When Torah breaking increases, they will hate and persecute and betray one another and then the olam’s deceiver will appear, claiming to be the son of ahlohim, the anti messiah and he will do signs and wonders and the earth will be delivered into his hands and he will do evil things that have not been seen since the beginning of the olam.
5 Then humankind will enter into the fire of trial and many will be made to stumble and many will perish; but those who endure in their emunah will be saved from under the curse itself.
6 And then the signs of The Emet One will appear: the first ot, an opening of the shamayim; the second ot, the sounding of the shofar; and the third ot, the resurrection of the believing dead.
7 Not of everyone but as it is said: Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 my Ahlohim will come and all the kadosh ones with Him.
8 Finally, Then the ot of The Ben Ahdahm will appear in the shamayaim and then all the tribes of the olam will mourn and they will see The Ben Ahdahm coming on the clouds of the shamayim with kavod and great tifereth, and all the kadosh ones with Him, sitting on His royal kesay to give mishpat to the olam hazeh and its deceiver and to reward each one according to his own mitzvoth.