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Anonymous, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
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Constitutions of the holy apostles via Clement.
[Sec. I.—General Commandments.]
[That We Ought Not to Return Injuries, Nor Revenge Ourselves on Him that Does Us Wrong.]
[What Books of Scripture We Ought to Read.]
[That We Ought to Abstain from All the Books of Those that are Out of the Church.]
[Concerning the Subjection of a Wife to Her Husband, and that She Must Be Loving and Modest.]
[That a Woman Must Not Bathe with Men.]
[Concerning a Contentious and Brawling Woman.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[That a Bishop Must Be Well Instructed and Experienced in the Word.]
[What Ought to Be the Characters of a Bishop and of the Rest of the Clergy.]
[In What Things a Bishop is to Be Examined Before He is Ordained.]
[That a Bishop Must Not Be Given to Filthy Lucre, Nor Be a Surety Nor an Advocate.]
[What Ought to Be the Character of the Initiated.]
[Concerning a Person Falsely Accused, or a Person Convicted.]
[That a Bishop Ought Not to Receive Bribes.]
[That a Bishop Who by Wrong Judgment Spares an Offender is Himself Guilty.]
[How a Bishop Ought to Judge Offenders.]
[Instruction as to How a Bishop Ought to Behave Himself to the Penitent.]
[That We Ought to Beware How We Make Trial of Any Sinful Course.]
[That a Priest Must Neither Overlook Offences, Nor Be Rash in Punishing Them.]
[Of Repentance, the Manner of It, and Rules About It.]
[That a Bishop Must Be Unblameable, and a Pattern for Those Who are Under His Charge.]
[How the Governed are to Obey the Bishops Who are Set Over Them.]
[Amon May be an Example to Such as Sin with an High Hand.]
[That Christ Jesus Our Lord Came to Save Sinners by Repentance.]
[According to What Patterns and Dignity Every Order of the Clergy is Appointed by God.]
[What is the Dignity of a Bishop and of a Deacon.]
[After What Manner the Laity are to Be Obedient to the Deacon.]
[That the Deacon Must Not Do Anything Without the Bishop.]
[After What Manner the Bishops are to Be Honoured, and to Be Reverenced as Our Spiritual Parents.]
[That Priests are to Be Preferred Before Rulers and Kings.]
[That Both the Law and the Gospel Prescribe Offerings.]
[The Recital of the Ten Commandments, and After What Manner They Do Here Prescribe to Us.]
[That We are Not to Be Implacable to Him Who Has Once or Twice Offended.]
[That a Judge Must Not Be a Respecter of Persons.]
[After What Manner False Accusers are to Be Punished.]
[That the Deacon is to Ease the Burden of the Bishops, and to Order the Smaller Matters Himself.]
[That Contentions and Quarrels are Unbecoming Christians.]
[That the Judicatures of Christians Ought to Be Held on the Second Day of the Week.]
[What are to Be the Characters of Accusers and Witnesses.]
[That Former Offences Do Sometimes Render After Accusations Credible.]
[Against Judging Without Hearing Both Sides.]
[That Christians Ought Not to Be Contentious One with Another.]
[That Every Christian Ought to Frequent the Church Diligently Both Morning and Evening.]
[That We Must Not Prefer the Affairs of This Life to Those Which Concern the Worship of God.]
[That Christians Must Abstain from All the Impious Practices of the Heathens.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[The Age at Which Widows Should Be Chosen.]
[That We Must Avoid the Choice of Younger Widows, Because of Suspicion.]
[What Character the Widows Ought to Be Of, and How They Ought to Be Supported by the Bishop.]
[That We Ought to Be Charitable to All Sorts of Persons in Want.]
[That the Widows are to Be Very Careful of Their Behavior.]
[That Women Ought Not to Teach, Because It is Unseemly And What Women Followed Our Lord.]
[What are the Characters of Widows Falsely So Called.]
[That Women Ought Not to Baptize, Because It is Impious, and Contrary to the Doctrine of Christ.]
[The Rejection of All Uncharitable Actions.]
[How the Widows are to Pray for Those that Supply Their Necessities.]
[That It Does Not Become Us to Revile Our Neighbours, Because Cursing is Contrary to Christianity.]
[Concerning the Sacred Initiation of Holy Baptism.]
[What is the Meaning of Baptism into Christ, and on What Account Everything is There Said or Done.]
[Of What Character He Ought to Be Who is Initiated.]
[What are the Characters of a Deacon.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[Those Who Have No Children Should Adopt Orphans, and Treat Them as Their Own Children.]
[How the Bishop Ought to Provide for the Orphans.]
[Who Ought to Be Supported According to the Lord’s Constitution.]
[With What Fear Men Ought to Partake of the Lord’s Oblations.]
[Whose Oblations are to Be Received, and Whose Not to Be Received.]
[In What Things We Ought to Be Subject to the Rulers of This World.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[That We are to Avoid Intercourse with False Brethren When They Continue in Their Wickedness.]
[That It is an Horrible and Destructive Thing to Deny Christ.]
[That We Ought to Imitate Christ in Suffering, and with Zeal to Follow His Patience.]
[Concerning James the Brother of the Lord, and Stephen the First Martyr.]
[An Admonition Instructing Men to Avoid the Abominable Sin of Idolatry.]
[Of the Great Week, and on What Account They Enjoin Us to Fast on Wednesday and Friday.]
[How the Passover Ought to Be Celebrated.]
[A Constitution Concerning the Great Passover Week.]
[A Prophetic Prediction Concerning Christ Jesus.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[Who They Were that Ventured to Make Schisms, and Did Not Escape Punishment.]
[That It is Not Lawful to Rise Up Either Against the Kingly or the Priestly Office.]
[That Even Among the Jews There Arose the Doctrine of Several Heresies Hateful to God.]
[Whence the Heresies Sprang, and Who Was the Ringleader of Their Impiety.]
[Who Were the Successors of Simon’s Impiety, and What Heresies They Set Up.]
[How the Heresies Differ from Each Other, and from the Truth.]
[An Exposition of the Preaching of the Apostles.]
[For Those that Confess Christ, But are Desirous to Judaize.]
[That We Must Separate from Heretics.]
[Who Were the Preachers of the Catholic Doctrine, and Which are the Commandments Given by Them.]
[Concerning Books with False Inscriptions.]
[Matrimonial Precepts Concerning Clergymen.]
[An Exhortation Commanding to Avoid the Communion of the Impious Heretics.]
[To Those that Speak Evil of the Law.]
[Which is the Law of Nature, and Which is that Afterwards Introduced, and Why It Was Introduced.]
[That We Who Believe in Christ are Under Grace, and Not Under the Servitude of that Additional Law.]
[That the Law for Sacrifices is Additional, Which Christ When He Came Took Away.]
[That It Pleased the Lord that the Law of Righteousness Should Be Demonstrated by the Romans.]
[That We Ought to Avoid the Heretics as the Corrupters of Souls.]
[Of Some Jewish and Gentile Observances.]
[Of the Love of Boys, Adultery, and Fornication.]
[How Wives Ought to Be Subject to Their Own Husbands, and Husbands Ought to Love Their Own Wives.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[The Prohibition of Conjuring, Murder of Infants, Perjury, and False Witness.]
[The Prohibition of Malignity, Acceptation of Persons, Wrath, Malice, and Envy.]
[Concerning Augury and Enchantments.]
[The Prohibition of Murmuring, Insolence, Pride, and Arrogance.]
[Concerning Long-Suffering, Simplicity, Meekness, and Patience.]
[Concerning Him that is Double-Minded and Desponding.]
[How Masters Ought to Behave Themselves to Their Servants, and How Servants Ought to Be Subject.]
[Concerning Hypocrisy, and Obedience to the Laws, and Confession of Sins.]
[Concerning the Observance Due to Parents.]
[Concerning the Subjection Due to the King and to Rulers.]
[Concerning the Pure Conscience of Those that Pray.]
[That We Ought to Avoid the Eating of Things Offered to Idols.]
[A Constitution of Our Lord, How We Ought to Baptize, and into Whose Death.]
[Which Days of the Week We are to Fast, and Which Not, and for What Reasons.]
[What Sort of People Ought to Pray that Prayer that Was Given by the Lord.]
[A Thanksgiving at the Divine Participation.]
[A Thanksgiving About the Mystical Ointment.]
[That We Ought Not to Be Indifferent About Communicating.]
[A Constitution Concerning Oblations.]
[What Qualifications They Ought to Have Who are to Be Ordained.]
[A Prediction Concerning Futurities.]
[A Prayer Declarative of God’s Various Providence.]
[A Prayer Declarative of God’s Various Creation.]
[A Prayer, with Thanksgiving, Declarative of God’s Providence Over the Beings He Has Made.]
[A Prayer Commemorative of the Incarnation of Christ, and His Various Providence to the Saints.]
[A Prayer for the Assistance of the Righteous.]
[How the Catechumens are to Be Instructed in the Elements.]
[The Renunciation of the Adversary, and the Dedication to the Christ of God.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Anointing with the Mystical Oil.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Mystical Water.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Mystical Ointment.]
[A Prayer for the New Fruits.]
[Who Were They that the Holy Apostles Sent and Ordained? ]
constitutions of the holy apostles.
[On Whose Account the Powers of Miracles are Performed.]
[Concerning Unworthy Bishops and Presbyters.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Bishop.]
[The Divine Liturgy, Wherein is the Bidding Prayer for the Catechumens.]
[Imposition of Hands Prayer for PenItents.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Faithful.]
[The Constitution of James the Brother of John, the Son of Zebedee.]
[The Bidding Prayer for the Faithful After the Divine Oblation.]
[The Bidding Prayer After the Participation.]
[The Form of Prayer After the Participation.]
[Concerning the Ordination of Presbyters—The Constitution of John, Who Was Beloved by the Lord.]
[Concerning the Ordination of Deacons—The Constitution of Philip.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deacon.]
[Concerning the Deaconess—The Constitution of Bartholomew.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deaconess.]
[Concerning the Sub-Deacons—The Constitution of Thomas. ]
[Concerning the Readers—The Constitution of Matthew.]
[Concerning the Confessors—The Constitution of James the Son of Alpheus.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitution Concerning Virgins.]
[The Constitution of Lebbæus, Who Was Surnamed Thaddæus, Concerning Widows.]
[The Same Apostle Concerning the Exorcist.]
[Simon the Canaanite Concerning the Number Necessary for the Ordination of a Bishop.]
[The Same Apostle’s Canons Concerning Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons, and the Rest of the Clergy.]
[Concerning the Blessing of Water and Oil—The Constitution of Matthias.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitution Concerning First-Fruits and Tithes.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitutions Concerning the Remaining Oblations.]
[Upon Which Days Servants are Not to Work.]
[At What Hours, and Why, We are to Pray.]
[The Constitution of James the Brother of Christ Concerning Evening Prayer.]
[The Bidding Prayer for the Evening.]
[The Thanksgiving for the Evening.]
[The Thanksgiving for the Morning.]
[The Imposition of Hands for the Morning.]
[The Form of Prayer for the First-Fruits.]
[The Bidding Prayer for Those Departed.]
[That Memorials or Mandates Do Not at All Profit the Ungodly Who are Dead.]
[Concerning the Receiving Such as are Persecuted for Christ’s Sake.]
[Moral Exhortations of the Lord’s Constitutions Agreeing with the Ancient Prohibitions of the Divine Laws. The Prohibition of Anger, Spite, Corruption, Adultery, and Every Forbidden Action. ]
II. The first way, therefore, is that of life; and is this, 10 “Not far,” the reading of the V. mss. The others read: “And being separated from us, He prayed earnestly.” “Not far,” the reading of the V. mss. The others read: “And being separated from us, He prayed earnestly.” “Not far,” the reading of the V. mss. The others read: “And being separated from us, He prayed earnestly.” which the law also does appoint: “To love the Lord God with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, who is the one and only God, besides whom there is no other;” 11 I.uke xxii. 42; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. I.uke xxii. 42; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. I.uke xxii. 42; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. “and thy neighbour as thyself.” 12 Luke xxii. 47; Matt. xxvi. 47. Luke xxii. 47; Matt. xxvi. 47. Luke xxii. 47; Matt. xxvi. 47. And whatsoever thou wouldest not should be done to thee, that do not thou to another.” 13 Ps. xxii. 12, 16. Ps. xxii. 12, 16. Ps. xxii. 12, 16. “Bless them that curse you; pray for them that despitefully use you.” 14 Luke xxiii. 14; John xviii. 38. Luke xxiii. 14; John xviii. 38. Luke xxiii. 14; John xviii. 38. “Love your enemies; for what thanks is it if ye love those that love you? for even the Gentiles do the same.” 15 Luke xxiii. 2. Luke xxiii. 2. Luke xxiii. 2. “But do ye love those that hate you, and ye shall have no enemy.” For says He, “Thou shalt not hate any man; no, not an Egyptian, nor an Edomite;” 16 Luke xxiii. 21. Luke xxiii. 21. Luke xxiii. 21. for they are all the workmanship of God. Avoid not the persons, but the sentiments, of the wicked. “Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts.” 17 Ps. xxvii. 12. Ps. xxvii. 12. Ps. xxvii. 12. “If any one gives thee a stroke on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” 18 Ps. xxii. 16. Ps. xxii. 16. Ps. xxii. 16. Not that revenge is evil, but that patience is more honourable. For David says, “If I have made returns to them that repaid me evil.” 19 Jer. xii. 8. Jer. xii. 8. Jer. xii. 8. “If any one compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” 20 Ps. lxix. 21. Ps. lxix. 21. Ps. lxix. 21. And, “He that will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.” 21 Ps. xxii. 18. Ps. xxii. 18. Ps. xxii. 18. “And from him that taketh thy goods, require them not again.” 22 Isa. liii. 12. Isa. liii. 12. Isa. liii. 12. “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee do not shut thy hand.” 23 Zech. xiv. 7. The V. mss. read: “On that day there will not be light, but there will be cold and frost for one day.” Zech. xiv. 7. The V. mss. read: “On that day there will not be light, but there will be cold and frost for one day.” Zech. xiv. 7. The V. mss. read: “On that day there will not be light, but there will be cold and frost for one day.” For “the righteous man is pitiful, and lendeth.” 24 The words from “All which things” to “mystical good things” are omitted in one V. ms. The words from “All which things” to “mystical good things” are omitted in one V. ms. The words from “All which things” to “mystical good things” are omitted in one V. ms. For your Father would have you give to all, who Himself “maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth His rain on the just and on the unjust.” 25 Luke xxiii. 39, etc. Luke xxiii. 39, etc. Luke xxiii. 39, etc. It is therefore reasonable to give to all out of thine own labours; for says He, “Honour the Lord out of thy righteous labours,” 26 Matt. xxvii. 46 Matt. xxvii. 46 Matt. xxvii. 46 but so that the saints be preferred. 27 Luke xxiii. 34 Luke xxiii. 34 “Thou shalt not kill;” 28 Luke xxiii. 46 Luke xxiii. 46 that is, thou shalt not destroy a man like thyself: for thou dissolvest what was well made. Not as if all killing were wicked, but only that of the innocent: but the killing which is just is reserved to the magistrates alone. “Thou shalt not commit adultery:” for thou dividest one flesh into two. “They two shall be one flesh:” 29 Matt. xii. 40 Matt. xii. 40 for the husband and wife are one in nature, in consent, in union, in disposition, and the conduct of life; but they are separated in sex and number. “Thou shall not corrupt boys:” 30 Mark xvi. 9; John xx. 11, etc.; Luke xxiv. 18; Mark xvi. 14 Mark xvi. 9; John xx. 11, etc.; Luke xxiv. 18; Mark xvi. 14 for this wickedness is contrary to nature, and arose from Sodom, which was therefore entirely consumed with fire sent from God. 31 Luke xix. 44 Luke xix. 44 “Let such a one be accursed: and all the people shall say, So be it.” 32 Ps. lxxiv. 4 Ps. lxxiv. 4 “Thou shall not commit fornication:” for says He, “There shall not be a fornicator among the children of Israel.” 33 Isa. lxv. 1 Isa. lxv. 1 “Thou shalt not steal:” for Achan, when he had stolen in Israel at Jericho, was stoned to death; 34 Dan. vii. 10. Dan. vii. 10. and Gehazi, who stole, and told a lie, inherited the leprosy of Naaman; 35 The words from “A thousand” to “of the prosperous” are not in the V. mss. The words from “A thousand” to “of the prosperous” are not in the V. mss. and Judas, who stole the poor’s money, betrayed the Lord of glory to the Jews, 36 Ps. xci. 7. Ps. xci. 7. and repented, and hanged himself, and burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out; 37 Ps. lxviii. 17. Ps. lxviii. 17. and Ananias, and Sapphira his wife, who stole their own goods, and “tempted the Spirit of the Lord,” were immediately, at the sentence of Peter our fellow-apostle, struck dead. 38 Isa. lxv. 2. Isa. lxv. 2.
[2] Πρώτη οὖν τυγχάνει ἡ ὁδὸς τῆς ζωῆς: καὶ ἔστιν αὕτη, ἣν καὶ ὁ Νόμος διαγορεύει: «Ἀγαπᾶν Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς τὸν ἕνα καὶ μόνον, παρ' ὃν ἄλλος οὐκ ἔστιν, καὶ τὸν πλησίον ὡς ἑαυτόν.» Καὶ: «Πᾶν, ὃ μὴ θέλεις γενέσθαι σοι, τοῦτο ἄλλῳ οὐ ποιήσεις». Τοῦτ' ἔστιν: «Ὃ σὺ μισεῖς, ἄλλῳ οὐ ποιήσεις.» «Εὐλογεῖτε τοὺς καταρωμένους ὑμᾶς, προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐπηρεαζόντων ὑμᾶς, ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν. Ποία γὰρ ὑμῖν χάρις, ἐὰν φιλῆτε τοὺς φιλοῦντας ὑμᾶς; Καὶ γὰρ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τοῦτο ποιοῦσιν.» Ὑμεῖς δὲ φιλεῖτε τοὺς μισοῦντας ὑμᾶς. Καὶ ἐχθρὸν οὐχ ἕξετε. «Οὐ μισήσεις γὰρ πάντα ἄνθρωπον, φησί, οὐκ Αἰγύπτιον, οὐκ Ἰδουμαῖον», ἅπαντες γάρ εἰσιν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἔργα. Φεύγετε δὲ οὐ τὰς φύσεις, ἀλλὰ τὰς γνώμας τῶν πονηρῶν. «Ἀπέχου τῶν σαρκικῶν καὶ κοσμικῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν. Ἐάν τίς σοι δῷ ῥάπισμα εἰς τὴν δεξιὰν σιαγόνα, στρέψον αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην», οὐ φαύλης οὔσης τῆς ἀμύνης, ἀλλὰ τιμιωτέρας τῆς ἀνεξικακίας. Λέγει γὰρ ὁ Δαυίδ: «Εἰ ἀνταπέδωκα τοῖς ἀνταποδιδοῦσί μοι κακά.» «Ἐὰν ἀγγαρεύσῃ σέ τις μίλιον ἕν, ὕπαγε μετ' αὐτοῦ δύο, καὶ τῷ θέλοντί σοι κριθῆναι καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν, ἄφες αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἴροντος τὰ σὰ μὴ ἀπαίτει. Τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε δίδου, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ θέλοντος δανείσασθαι παρὰ σοῦ μὴ ἀποκλείσῃς τὴν χεῖρα: »δίκαιος γὰρ ἀνὴρ οἰκτείρει καὶ κιχρᾷ«: πᾶσι γὰρ θέλει δίδοσθαι ὁ Πατὴρ ὁ τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλων ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς καὶ τὸν ὑετὸν αὐτοῦ βρέχων ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους. Πᾶσιν οὖν δίκαιον διδόναι ἐξ οἰκείων πόνων: »Τίμα γάρ, φησί, τὸν Κύριον ἀπὸ σῶν δικαίων πόνων.« Προτιμητέον δὲ τοὺς ἁγίους. Οὐ φονεύσεις, τοῦτ' ἔστιν οὐ φθερεῖς τὸν ὅμοιόν σου ἄνθρωπον, διαλύεις γὰρ τὰ καλῶς γινόμενα: οὐχ ὡς παντὸς φόνου φαύλου τυγχάνοντος, ἀλλὰ μόνου τοῦ ἀθώου, τοῦ δ' ἐνδίκου ἄρχουσι μόνοις ἀφωρισμένου. Οὐ μοιχεύσεις, διαιρεῖς γὰρ μίαν σάρκα εἰς δύο: »Ἔσονται γάρ, φησίν, οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν.« Ἓν γάρ εἰσιν ἀνὴρ καὶ γυνὴ τῇ φύσει, τῇ συμπνοίᾳ, τῇ ἑνώσει, τῇ διαθέσει, τῷ βίῳ, τῷ τρόπῳ, κεχωρισμένοι δέ εἰσιν τῷ σχήματι καὶ τῷ ἀριθμῷ. Οὐδὲ παιδοφθορήσεις: παρὰ φύσιν γὰρ τὸ κακὸν ἐκ Σοδόμων φυέν, ἥτις πυρὸς θεηλάτου παρανάλωμα γέγονεν. »Ἐπικατάρατος δὲ ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἐρεῖ πᾶς ὁ λαός: Γένοιτο, γένοιτο.« Οὐ πορνεύσεις: »Οὐκ ἔσται γάρ, φησίν, πορνεύων ἐν υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ.« Οὐ κλέψεις: Ἄχαρ γὰρ κλέψας ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ἱεριχὼ λίθοις βληθεὶς τοῦ ζῆν ὑπεξῆλθεν, καὶ Γιεζεῖ κλέψας καὶ ψευσάμενος ἐκληρονόμησεν τοῦ Νεεμὰν τὴν λέπραν, καὶ Ἰούδας κλέπτων τὰ τῶν πενήτων τὸν Κύριον τῆς δόξης παρέδωκεν Ἰουδαίοις, καὶ μεταμεληθεὶς ἀπήγξατο καὶ ἐλάκησεν μέσος καὶ ἐξεχύθη πάντα τὰ σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ, καὶ Ἀνανίας καὶ Σαπφείρα ἡ τούτου γυνή, κλέψαντες τὰ ἴδια καὶ πειράσαντες τὸ Πνεῦμα Κυρίου, παραχρῆμα ἀποφάσει Πέτρου τοῦ συναποστόλου ἡμῶν ἐθανατώθησαν.