22568 occurrences across the corpus

Ethiopian Orthodox Broader Canon

The Ethiopic Didascalia 24:1

THAT VIRGINS OUGHT NOT TO VOW UNTIL THEY PROVE THEMSELVES. [iv., 14.] (Vircins) ought not to enter on this service until they prove themselves, and keep them- selves in purity. Thus we command them that they enter not hastily (on it) before their full time come, even as Solomon saith, “It is better not to vow, than to vow and repent.””* Let the virgin, then, be pure in her soul and in her body, that she may be the house of God, and the habitation of Christ, and the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit; and let her walk in the way of the preaching of the Gospel, and in the commandment which is well-pleasing to God, and let not her actions be after the fashion of this world, and let her not go about in the city, nor walk in evil ways, nor be of a double heart; but let her be wise and pure, without blame, and not desirous of praise, nor, above all, of idle talk.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 24:1

THAT VIRGINS OUGHT NOT TO VOW UNTIL THEY PROVE THEMSELVES. [iv., 14.] (Vircins) ought not to enter on this service until they prove themselves, and keep them- selves in purity. Thus we command them that they enter not hastily (on it) before their full time come, even as Solomon saith, “It is better not to vow, than to vow and repent.””* Let the virgin, then, be pure in her soul and in her body, that she may be the house of God, and the habitation of Christ, and the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit; and let her walk in the way of the preaching of the Gospel, and in the commandment which is well-pleasing to God, and let not her actions be after the fashion of this world, and let her not go about in the city, nor walk in evil ways, nor be of a double heart; but let her be wise and pure, without blame, and not desirous of praise, nor, above all, of idle talk.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 24:1

THAT VIRGINS OUGHT NOT TO VOW UNTIL THEY PROVE THEMSELVES. [iv., 14.] (Vircins) ought not to enter on this service until they prove themselves, and keep them- selves in purity. Thus we command them that they enter not hastily (on it) before their full time come, even as Solomon saith, “It is better not to vow, than to vow and repent.””* Let the virgin, then, be pure in her soul and in her body, that she may be the house of God, and the habitation of Christ, and the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit; and let her walk in the way of the preaching of the Gospel, and in the commandment which is well-pleasing to God, and let not her actions be after the fashion of this world, and let her not go about in the city, nor walk in evil ways, nor be of a double heart; but let her be wise and pure, without blame, and not desirous of praise, nor, above all, of idle talk.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 25:1

OF THE MARTYRS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL AND AFFLICTED WITH SORE PUNISHMENT. [OF THE FEASTS OF THE PASSOVER. |] ! {v., 1.] Ir there be any Christian who hath been brought before the judgment-seat of the ungodly, whether for execution, or banishment, or imprison- ment, or that he may be given to the wild beasts for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the true faith and the love of God, turn not your face from them, but send them sustenance of your substance and of the sweat of your brow; and give sustenance besides to the soldiers who guard them, that they may not afflict them with sore torment. And spurn not a Christian your brother whom they have dragged before the judgment-seat for the name of the Lord our God. He is a holy martyr, the brother of our Lord, and the son of the Most High, and the habitation of the Holy Spirit. He is a faithful (witness) who hath kept the ® Eccl 5, 4. the chapter. This long chapter ' The last words of the title is divided in Arabic (IT) at AC seem to be out of place, having v., 7. nothing to say to the subject of commandment of the Gospel and inherited the crown of life, and is a martyr for the sake of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the t¢ fellowship t? of His precious blood. Wherefore, ye faithful, with your labour and with your substance do service to the saints, and let such as have no money fast for their sakes, and let such as have give a portion of their substance to the saints. And if there be anyone who giveth all his substance as a ransom for them to save them, he is blessed and a friend of Christ. If there be anyone who giveth his substance to the poor, he is elect and holy; much more then he who freely giveth his substance for the martyrssake. He is one that hath fulfilled the will of God, and hath imitated the saints who confessed our Lord before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For it is said, “ Who- soever shall confess me in the presence of men, him will T also confess in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.” * Christ, then, shall bear witness before the Father to those who do thus. And as for you, it is not right that ye should be negligent and ashamed to go to the prison and visit the prisoners. Help them rather, and comfort them, and if ye do this, ye shall be reckoned with the martyrs. For as for them their witness is written, because they have suffered and been afflicted: and ye also have been reckoned with them, because ye have done them service with a ready heart and a good ministry without sloth. And of these our Lord saith, “Come unto me, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the world (was): for IT was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye spake unto me. And then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and 2So0 AC rowwvla. Eth. has: > Mt 10, 32. heloved, received thee? or naked, «and clothed thee? or sick, (and) visited thee? or in prison, and spake unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, whatsvever ye did unto one of these little ones, ye did unto me. And then he shall say to those on his left hand, Depart, ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for Satan and for his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye spake not unto me. Then shall those on the left hand answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall the King answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye did not to one of these little ones, ve did not to me. And these shall go away into eternal condemnation, but the rightcous into eternal life.” 4 {v., 2.] If there be anyone who saith, I am a Christian; and doeth evil, committeth fornication, and is impure; and they pass on him the sentence of death, from such a man keep far away. Christians ought not to transgress the law or break (it) by evil doing, but rather (ought) to turn aside from the ungodly and unbelieving and have no fellowship with them. But as for those whom the ungodly have imprisoned, or banished, or bound, or delivered up to death for Christs names sake, take heed to save your brethren and your fellow-members from the hands of the un- godly. And if there be a Christian who hath toiled for their sakes, blessed is he, for he shall be reckoned with the martyrs, because he hath suffered for Christs sake. And on us too in like manner came suffering and affliction from Caiaphas, and those with Alexander, and Annas the high-priest, and afterwards we went out from them rejoicing that we were worthy to endure the sufferings of Christ. In like manner do ye also endureMt 25, 34ff. patiently and rejoice concerning suffering, tha be blessed in that day. Penna estar {[v., 3.] But as for those who are persecuted for the sake of the faith, and go forth from city to city for the sake of the commandment of the Gospel of our Lord, receive them and give them rest and shelter with you as martyrs, rejoicing that ye are companions with them. Understand then that they are blessed® of the Lord. For our Lord saith, “Blessed are ye when they revile you, and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” © And again He saith, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”7 And again He saith, “If they persecute you in this city, flee ye to the next.’ 8 And, “In this world ye shall be sad and troubled,” ® for, “they shall deliver you up to the synagogue and their judges shall scourge you, and they shall bring you before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testi- mony ’’; 1° and, “He who patiently endureth to the end, shall be saved.’’!! | He who is persecuted for Christs names sake, and by patient endurance becometh a martyr is in truth a man of God. [v., 4.] But he who consorteth with the ungodly, and hath denied Christ lest the unbelievers should hate him and loveth himself more than his Lord, ¢ in whose hand his breath is t , is hated and despised and tor- mented of God, because he hath preferred the love of man, and hath become a hater of God, and taken part with the accursed, and not with the Saints. Instead of the Kingdom prepared for the blessed he hath chosen for himself the eternal fire of Gehenna prepared for Satan and his angels. And concerning such a one our Lord answered, and said, “ Whosoever denieth me in the presence of men, him will I also deny in the presence of my lather who is in heaven.” 13 And again, He hath commanded, saying, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth his son or his daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and he that taketh not up his cross,'4 and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, let him lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What doth it profit a man if he have gained the whole world and lost his life? and what would he not give as a ransom for his life?” 25 And again He saith, “ Fear not them that kill your bodies, but are not able to kill your souls; but fear him who is able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.” !¢ {v., 5-] For it is right that he who hath learned a craft should teach others, and if he teach not others he is not perfect as his master. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and our Master. How then shall we not love doctrine and admonition? For our Lord hated haughti- ness, and pride, and luxury, and riches, and covetous- ness, and revenge; and moreover He lightly esteemed !” sister and mother for love of His Father and love of man. And again, He patiently endured suffering, and stripes, and reproach, and reviling, and mockery, and yet more He was wounded '8 on the Cross to save all those who believe in Him. And if He patiently endured all this, and disdained not to be crucified on the Cross and patiently endured the suffer- ings of death, how then shall not we endure the suffer- ings of our Saviour? But if he suffered willingly for our sakes, yet we do not (suffer) for His sake, but rather hope for His mercy.'’® But there is nothing which He desireth to receive from us, but only a belief in the right faith. {v., 6.) Wherefore let us lightly esteem our parents, and our kinsfolk, and our friends, and our wives, and our children, and all the good things of this world. And if we love these, we shall not keep this command- ment. However let us take heed that we enter not into temptation; and when we are called to (bear) witness, let us hold fast our faith in the precious name of our Saviour. Let us rejoice and patiently. endure, when we are persecuted, that we may inherit life eternal. Let us, then, not love honour and praise as the people of the Jews who rejected the miracles of Christ, and believed not on Him, because they feared the chief priests; but preferred praise from men, and not Nile from God. But we have believed in the right faith, that we may instruct the new (converts) who have received baptism, and may confirm the hearts of the catechumens. But if we keep the faith in our hearts, and speak not out boldly unto men through fear of condemnation and affliction, we shall forfeit life eternal; and (shall become) moreover a stumbling-block to others (and)* a snare to many. And if we act thus we shall be requited with a twofold penalty. Let us take heed, then, lest we fall into affliction, and pray lest we enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Let us be wise, then, lest we fall away from this right faith through fear of the ungodly and unbelievers, for our years are but few. And if there be any one that abandons his hope in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all his life long he shall be afflicted with suffering that hath no remedy, and with wrath that weakeneth the limbs and breaketh the bones, and hereafter he shall lose life eternal, and be punished in the fire of Gehenna, and in weeping and gnashing of teeth. But he who hath suffered for the Lord, and hath been a martyr, shall rejoice in God, because he hath chosen for himself the crown of the Kingdom, and his departure from this world hath been perfect in the right faith. And if a catechumen suffer and patiently endure affliction and die for Christs sake, his sufferings shall be to him instead of baptism, andThe word ‘‘and "’ is added in E. he shall win-a good hope and life eternal. And others too who have fought a good fight, and died for Christs name's sake in the right faith, shall rejoice and be glad, for they have kept the admonition of their master. For He saith, “Be ye worthy as your master (is worthy).”#!_ Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes and patiently endured reviling and mockery, and bore the spitting of the unclean, reproach, and reviling and blows; and after this they scourged Him, and pierced Him on the Cross, and gave Him vinegar to drink (mingled) with gall, and when He had accom- plished all that was written He said unto God, “ Father, behold into thy hand, I commend my soul.” And he who desireth to be a disciple, let him patiently endure sufferings and affliction, and bear stripes with a brave heart and (with) love. And if he be cast into the fire, there shall be nothing that shall touch him, even as the Three Children were saved from the furnace of fire. And everyone who hath suffered for His sake shall receive a reward, because he hath believed in one God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the great High- priest, our teacher and the guide of our souls, and the Giver of our life; to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [v., 7.] He then is the Lord God Almighty, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall confirm us in His faith, and raise us up with those that have fallen asleep, and {who) fulfilled His will perfectly without omission. And if we be drowned in the sea, or (if) beasts and birds devour our flesh, (yet) not one hair of our heads shall perish, for the world and all that is therein are holden in His hand. Wherefore He hath taught us, saying, “By your patience, ye shall possessyour souls.’’ % For at the last day every creature shall rise again, righteous men and sinners. And concerning the resur- rection of the dead, and the reward of the martyrs Gabriel said unto Daniel, ‘Many of those who have fallen asleep shall rise from the dust, some shall rise to life eternal, and some shall rise in shame and con- tempt; but the righteous shall shine as the sun and as the bright stars.” 2% Behold the holy Gabriel fore- told and said, And the saints shall shine as the bright stars. And again he bare witness concerning them that they knew the truth and understood His holy name. For he did not say this concerning the resur- rection from the dead of the martyrs alone, but con- cerning the resurrection of all men, whether righteous or sinners, that they may be recompensed each one according to his deeds. For the Jews say, There is no resurrection of the dead. ‘‘ Behold our bones are dust and our flesh dried up.’’ 2? And to those who think this our Lord answereth, saying, ‘‘ Behold I will open your graves, and bring you forth therefrom, and I will put my spirit upon you, and ye shall live. Now ye shall know that I am the Lord, (even I) who t speak t”? and perform.” 2% And moreover Isaiah saith, ‘‘The dead shall arise, and those that are in the graves shall live, and those that (rest) in the earth shall rejoice, for the dew that is from thee is theirlife.” 9° He hath told us much concerning the resurrection from the dead, and (their) abode! in life eternal, which is full of grace and truth, which He hath prepared for those that love Him; and (concerning) the judgment of the ungodly, their fall, shame and misery; the fire that never shall be quenched, ant the worm that sleepeth not shall come upon them. But God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Behold He hath told us that Enoch and Elijah did not taste of death, and hath revealed unto us that the dead shall rise in His time. Elijah raised the widows son, and Elisha raised (the son of) theDn 12, 2f. * Cf. Ezek 37, 11ff. t Shunammite ¢ 52. Behold we understand that the death of the righteous is not a judgment of those saints who receive it with joy. In like manner Jesus Christ the Lord of the Apostles and the Life of the faithful shall raise the dead. And so let us also toil ®* in this world, and after a brief while we shall enter into rest, and the race of Adam shall be renewed, and shall rise with him® to life eternal. It is said, “All the dead shall hear his voice, and those that hear shall live.’’ * Wherefore we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ.*%7 And moreover He who raised Lazarus from the grave on the fourth day raised from the dead both the daughter of Jairus and the widows son. And He Himself too rose from the dead on the third day by the will of His Father, and became.the Word of life. And He also it is who brought forth Jonah alive and unhurt from the whales belly on the third day, and saved the Three Children from the furnace of fire in the land of Babylon, and Daniel from the mouth of the lions. He, then, who hath authority and might will raise the dead at the last day. But if the ungodly who believe not the Holy Scrip- tures mock at us, behold the Sibyl their own prophetess maketh glad * their hearts, and saith thus unto them, “When the flesh hath decayed, and is become dust, the fire shall consume it by the commandment of God, who waxeth not old and decayeth not; (and) God shall taise up again the bones which were burned in the fire and became ashes. Then shall God pronounce the sentence of judgment upon all the world. Such as have done ® evil shall descend to the depths of the earth, ** The Eth. is obviously a *? So E. The reading of A corruption of this. seems to mean: we believe that ‘ #* The next two sentences are the resurrection of the dead is rather obscure. The translation the second coming of Christ. given is literal, but can hardly ** The Eth. word has no claim to be very intelligible. other meaning. It seems strange *“ Or, we too toil. even as a paraphrase of the 33 Or, Him. Greek wiotwadto. * Jn 5, 45- ** So E reads. A has: do. 12 and those that have kept his commandment shall have eternal life, and God will give unto them the spirit of life; and those that are saved shall look one upon another.” 40 And if they believe not in the resurrection, let them not refuse belief in (?) another creature.4! Behold that bird whose name is the phoenix will cause the ungodly to understand, who themselves say that it is alone of its kind. Of this bird they say that it lives for five hundred years, and then goes down to Egypt and brings with it cinnamon, and cassia, and aloe-wood.” And it alights on the image of the idol whose name is *Ion,*? and looks towards the east, and worships the Sun, and then is consumed and turned to ashes. Then there comes forth from the ashes a small worm and it becomes a young phoenix, and, when it is grown, it returns to the land of Arabia.“ If then they know of the resurrectionof this bird, how can they question with us of that which we say and believe? Cannot He who created man out of nothing raise the dead by His great power? Wherefore it is right that we should patiently endure the various sufferings and afflictions that come upon us. But if we believe not in the resur- rection of the dead, our suffering and our affliction is in vain. We believe in what Moses saith, “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.” There was not one thing that He needed, (and) knowing that all things are created by His Word, it was His pleasure that there should be heaven and earth, and light and darkness, and night, (and) day,‘® and the stars, and birds, and whales, and beasts, and creeping “* The reference given by Eth. word according to Dill- Funk is Orac. Sibyll. iv, 179- mann. AC kas: balsam-wood. 185, 189, 189-90. Ed. Geffcken. ‘“' The Eth. is obscure. AC gives no help. The words might mean: let them not lead astray another generation. The trans- lation in the text is only a para- phrase guessing at the meaning intended. “2 Such is the meaning of the “? Obviously some confusion, with the name of the city On, or Heliopolis. Neither AC nor the Syriac Didascalia mention On, though both allude to thealtar of the sun.’’ “« Or, the West. things, and trees, and herbs. Thus He raised them up by His will, and needed no other helper. He it is who is able by His power to renew the world again and ¢ to raise t47 the dead. Man, however, was not created first, but He created him from the four elements, and gave him a soul. And in like manner He will give back to this (soul) the body of flesh that is dissolved. I*or the resurrection is for those that have fallen asleep and not for those that have not been created. For He created (it) from what was fleshless, and put within it many marvels. And again He will raise up and save those that have fallen asleep, as He created flesh out of seed in the womb. As Jeremiah the prophet saith, “Before I created thee in the womb, I knew thee.” #8 And again it is said, “I am the Lord who created the heavens, and laid the founda- tions of the earth, and I create the soul in man.” # Even as the Scripture saith concerning this, God the Father said ® to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, “Let us make man in our image and inour likeness. And then God created them male and female.” 5! And furthermore the holy victor Job saith thushe of whom the Scripture saith that ‘‘he will rise with those whom the Lord raises.” 52 ‘Thou hast milked me like milk, and curdled me like cheese; thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and hast bound my bones with sinews; and thou hast shown me compassion and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. I know this that is with thee, that thou canst do all things and that there is nothing that is impossible with thee.” 53 And again, David, the lover of God, saith, ‘Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandment.” 4 And elsewhere he saith, ‘‘Thou hast created me and laid thy handA slight change of reading the Father said. is required to give this sense. "Gn 1, 26f. As the MS. reads it should be : *? Job 42, 17a. In a_ pas. and He shall raise. sage not found in the Hebrew. ““ Jer 1, 5. * Job 10, 10ff.” “* Zech 12, 1. ** Ps 118, 73. ** So E. A reads: God said, upon me. Marvellous is thy work, and (that) my soul knoweth right well. And my bones were not hidden from thee, which thou didst make in secret, nor my substance, (which was) beneath the earth. And that which I have done, thine eyes have seen, and all is written in thy book.’’55 Isaiah also saith, “We are the clay and thou hast created us." 5 If, then, men are Gods creation, made by Christ, they shall be raised with Christ, and those that have done His will shall receive honour and the crown of life. Thus the ungodly and unbelieving, who have not received baptism and believe not in the resurrection, shall be condemned to eternal punishment, but those that have done good shall shine like the stars of light. For David saith, ‘The Lord is faithful in all his words and righteous in all his works.” 57 He who created for Himself a body of a virgin (and) who is the Creator of the whole world ® is the only one who hath risen from the dead, and moreover He will make all the dead to rise. He who maketh the grain of wheat to shoot from the earth, and multiplieth its fruit; “and (who) is able to make shoot forth again the tree that is hewn down, and to multiply its branches; and (who) made Aarons dry rod to blossom, is able also in like manner to raise us up with Him in the glory t wherewith +59 He ascended. He who made straight the feet of the lame, and cured the palsied, and healed the man whose hand was withered; He who spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the eyes of the man who was born blind; He who healed the wasted limbs, shall He not be able to raise us up also? He who satisfied the souls of five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishesand tney took up of what was left twelve baskets fulland (who) made water wine; who sent Peter, and he took a penny from the fishs mouth. He it is who will raise the dead. Behold we are His witnesses con- ** Possibly this and the two following words (one word in Eth.) should be omitted. There is nothing to correspond in AC. 55 Ps 138, 14ff. ** Isa 64, 8. cerning everything which the prophets proclaimed con- cerning Him. We, His companions, ate and drank with Him, and saw His miracles and His life. And again, we saw His sufferings, and His agony, and His death, and His resurrection. And we heard His words, and were His friends, and abode with Him forty days. And after He rose from the dead He charged us to publish the preaching of the holy Gospel in all the world, and commanded us to baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, And when He had given this charge, He, in the flesh that He took of us, ascended into heaven to the Father who had sent Him. If ye thus believe, blessed are ye, but if ye believe not, ye are far from Him because ye have not kept His commandment.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 26:1

OF THE MARTYRS. {v., 8.) BeHoLD I" say unto you, magnify and extol with double honour the martyrs, even as the blessed James and Stephen the first martyr are had in honour amongst us. Such are blessed before God, and elect and holy, a people pure from sin, and without (thought of) revenge; rather are they peacemakers and unwearied also in doing His will and in keeping His command- ment. And concerning them David saith, ‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the righteous.” ? And furthermore Solomon saith, ‘“‘The remembrance of the righteous is perfect with praise.” * And again the prophet saith, ‘His horn shall be exalted with honour.” ¢ {v., 9.) This we have said concerning those who have been martyrs in truth for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, then, we understand and know that those, who honour the mart : yrs and the faithful who have fought a good fight and finished their course, and died for Christs sake in the right faith, te win a good reward and eternal life. And thoseho were martyrs in truth, and judged uprightly, and Gleaged God iw thei nes _aiichs aball (ehientt Kingdom of heaven. : pee ay ne

The Ethiopic Didascalia 26:1

OF THE MARTYRS. {v., 8.) BeHoLD I" say unto you, magnify and extol with double honour the martyrs, even as the blessed James and Stephen the first martyr are had in honour amongst us. Such are blessed before God, and elect and holy, a people pure from sin, and without (thought of) revenge; rather are they peacemakers and unwearied also in doing His will and in keeping His command- ment. And concerning them David saith, ‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the righteous.” ? And furthermore Solomon saith, ‘“‘The remembrance of the righteous is perfect with praise.” * And again the prophet saith, ‘His horn shall be exalted with honour.” ¢ {v., 9.) This we have said concerning those who have been martyrs in truth for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, then, we understand and know that those, who honour the mart : yrs and the faithful who have fought a good fight and finished their course, and died for Christs sake in the right faith, te win a good reward and eternal life. And thoseho were martyrs in truth, and judged uprightly, and Gleaged God iw thei nes _aiichs aball (ehientt Kingdom of heaven. : pee ay ne

The Ethiopic Didascalia 26:1

OF THE MARTYRS. {v., 8.) BeHoLD I" say unto you, magnify and extol with double honour the martyrs, even as the blessed James and Stephen the first martyr are had in honour amongst us. Such are blessed before God, and elect and holy, a people pure from sin, and without (thought of) revenge; rather are they peacemakers and unwearied also in doing His will and in keeping His command- ment. And concerning them David saith, ‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the righteous.” ? And furthermore Solomon saith, ‘“‘The remembrance of the righteous is perfect with praise.” * And again the prophet saith, ‘His horn shall be exalted with honour.” ¢ {v., 9.) This we have said concerning those who have been martyrs in truth for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, then, we understand and know that those, who honour the mart : yrs and the faithful who have fought a good fight and finished their course, and died for Christs sake in the right faith, te win a good reward and eternal life. And thoseho were martyrs in truth, and judged uprightly, and Gleaged God iw thei nes _aiichs aball (ehientt Kingdom of heaven. : pee ay ne

The Ethiopic Didascalia 26:1

OF THE MARTYRS. {v., 8.) BeHoLD I" say unto you, magnify and extol with double honour the martyrs, even as the blessed James and Stephen the first martyr are had in honour amongst us. Such are blessed before God, and elect and holy, a people pure from sin, and without (thought of) revenge; rather are they peacemakers and unwearied also in doing His will and in keeping His command- ment. And concerning them David saith, ‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the righteous.” ? And furthermore Solomon saith, ‘“‘The remembrance of the righteous is perfect with praise.” * And again the prophet saith, ‘His horn shall be exalted with honour.” ¢ {v., 9.) This we have said concerning those who have been martyrs in truth for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, then, we understand and know that those, who honour the mart : yrs and the faithful who have fought a good fight and finished their course, and died for Christs sake in the right faith, te win a good reward and eternal life. And thoseho were martyrs in truth, and judged uprightly, and Gleaged God iw thei nes _aiichs aball (ehientt Kingdom of heaven. : pee ay ne

The Ethiopic Didascalia 26:1

OF THE MARTYRS. {v., 8.) BeHoLD I" say unto you, magnify and extol with double honour the martyrs, even as the blessed James and Stephen the first martyr are had in honour amongst us. Such are blessed before God, and elect and holy, a people pure from sin, and without (thought of) revenge; rather are they peacemakers and unwearied also in doing His will and in keeping His command- ment. And concerning them David saith, ‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the righteous.” ? And furthermore Solomon saith, ‘“‘The remembrance of the righteous is perfect with praise.” * And again the prophet saith, ‘His horn shall be exalted with honour.” ¢ {v., 9.) This we have said concerning those who have been martyrs in truth for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, then, we understand and know that those, who honour the mart : yrs and the faithful who have fought a good fight and finished their course, and died for Christs sake in the right faith, te win a good reward and eternal life. And thoseho were martyrs in truth, and judged uprightly, and Gleaged God iw thei nes _aiichs aball (ehientt Kingdom of heaven. : pee ay ne

The Ethiopic Didascalia 26:1

OF THE MARTYRS. {v., 8.) BeHoLD I" say unto you, magnify and extol with double honour the martyrs, even as the blessed James and Stephen the first martyr are had in honour amongst us. Such are blessed before God, and elect and holy, a people pure from sin, and without (thought of) revenge; rather are they peacemakers and unwearied also in doing His will and in keeping His command- ment. And concerning them David saith, ‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the righteous.” ? And furthermore Solomon saith, ‘“‘The remembrance of the righteous is perfect with praise.” * And again the prophet saith, ‘His horn shall be exalted with honour.” ¢ {v., 9.) This we have said concerning those who have been martyrs in truth for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, then, we understand and know that those, who honour the mart : yrs and the faithful who have fought a good fight and finished their course, and died for Christs sake in the right faith, te win a good reward and eternal life. And thoseho were martyrs in truth, and judged uprightly, and Gleaged God iw thei nes _aiichs aball (ehientt Kingdom of heaven. : pee ay ne

The Ethiopic Didascalia 26:1

OF THE MARTYRS. {v., 8.) BeHoLD I" say unto you, magnify and extol with double honour the martyrs, even as the blessed James and Stephen the first martyr are had in honour amongst us. Such are blessed before God, and elect and holy, a people pure from sin, and without (thought of) revenge; rather are they peacemakers and unwearied also in doing His will and in keeping His command- ment. And concerning them David saith, ‘ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the righteous.” ? And furthermore Solomon saith, ‘“‘The remembrance of the righteous is perfect with praise.” * And again the prophet saith, ‘His horn shall be exalted with honour.” ¢ {v., 9.) This we have said concerning those who have been martyrs in truth for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, then, we understand and know that those, who honour the mart : yrs and the faithful who have fought a good fight and finished their course, and died for Christs sake in the right faith, te win a good reward and eternal life. And thoseho were martyrs in truth, and judged uprightly, and Gleaged God iw thei nes _aiichs aball (ehientt Kingdom of heaven. : pee ay ne

The Ethiopic Didascalia 27:1

THAT CHRISTIANS OUGHT NOT TO ENTER A HOUSE OF REVELRY AND DANCING, BUT (OUGHT) RATHER TO GIVE PRAISE AND SING IN THE CHURCH.' [v., 10.] BEHOLD, beloved brethren, we giv good counsel, that ye keep far from impure edi ad hearing of songs, and from dainty meats and luxury and from all works of vanity wherein is no profit Work not the pleasure of the desire of your flesh on the Sabbath day, for the prophet saith, ‘Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice unto Him with trembling.” ? For it beseemeth not a Christian to listen to singing and music and playing on instruments, as the foolish people do. And moreover, let them not take on their lips the names of the (falsé) gods and idols, nor name the name of Satan and his angels,* for, when they name his name, the Holy Spirit departeth from them, and in His stead an unclean spirit abideth on them. ;

The Ethiopic Didascalia 27:1

THAT CHRISTIANS OUGHT NOT TO ENTER A HOUSE OF REVELRY AND DANCING, BUT (OUGHT) RATHER TO GIVE PRAISE AND SING IN THE CHURCH.' [v., 10.] BEHOLD, beloved brethren, we giv good counsel, that ye keep far from impure edi ad hearing of songs, and from dainty meats and luxury and from all works of vanity wherein is no profit Work not the pleasure of the desire of your flesh on the Sabbath day, for the prophet saith, ‘Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice unto Him with trembling.” ? For it beseemeth not a Christian to listen to singing and music and playing on instruments, as the foolish people do. And moreover, let them not take on their lips the names of the (falsé) gods and idols, nor name the name of Satan and his angels,* for, when they name his name, the Holy Spirit departeth from them, and in His stead an unclean spirit abideth on them. ;

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 28:1

THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT NOT TO SWEAR BY THE NAMES OF THE (FALSE) GODS AND DEMONS, NOR EVER MAKE MENTION OF THEM ACCORDING TO HIS FORMER WONT. [v., 11.] We Christians ought not to swear by the names of the (false) gods, nor make mention of their The title of this chapter in i ip.”” Arabic ay i auite i aac on aie . vente worship. at we shou shun evil "So E. A has: deeds and lying words especially The two words Rese names with our lips, nor b ow before them, nor fear them, for he who so doeth and serveth (false) gods, shall be far from God, the giver * of life. Howbeit they are not gods, but the work of mens hands, and spirits of Satan. For God said concerningthe children of Israel, ‘They have forsaken me, and have sworn by strange gods, and have provoked me to anger by their gods.” * For despised and hateful and impure (is accounted) in the Scriptures every one that worshippeth and serveth (false) gods, and that sweareth by their names. {v., 12.] And not these only (are so accounted), but also astrologersand magicians who practise super- stition. [Serve them not nor worship them.] § And moreover it is said, “ When thou regardest the heavens, worship not the sun, and the moon, and the stars. “Walk not then in the way (And elsewhere it is said), im } of the nations, nor learn their works, nor fear the signs of the heaven.” ’ For (God) created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, to give light to men, and not that they should worship them. For Israel in the wilderness bowed down before the idol, the molten calf, and they worshipped also the stars and the sun, even as Ezekiel saithBeasts that speak not they made for themselves as gods. And in like manner the Egyptians worshipped many (other) gods and (also the god with) the dog's face.* And in Judah (they worshipped) gods of gold and silver, as God saith by the mouth of the prophet, “The gods of the nations are of gold and silver, the 1 Lit, maker. - AC has wepi. The Eth. would more naturally meanto.” work of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not; they have eyes, and see not; they have ears, and hear not; they have noses, and smell not; they have hands, and handle not; they have feet, and walk not; neither speak they with their throat; and there is no breath in their mouths. Like unto them be all they that make them, and all they that trust in them.” ?° Behold, then, beloved brethren, ye have heard what God saith, that evil and defiled are all they that worship idols, and bow down to the sun and the moon, and the stars. But Christians who love God ought not to swear by the sun and the moon, nor by the stars of heaven nor by the earth. And our Master hath bidden.us never to swear by anything. Behold then let our words be prudent, for our Lord saith, “Swear not by heaven, for it is Gods throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head,” 1! for the foolish Jews swear by their heads. For He hath commanded that the words of the faithful should be one, either yea, yea, or nay, nay; and what- soever is more than these is evil. For he that sweareth falsely transgresseth the law, and honoureth the (false) gods as the truth, since God hath made them to err in the blindness of their hearts and in the evil of their doings, that they may do that which is unseemly.

The Ethiopic Didascalia 29:1

THAT MEN OUGHT TO KEEP AND OBSERVE THE FEAST-DAYS WITH SPIRITUAL JOY. {v., 13.] Keep, then, the feast-days, beloved brethren. The first feast is the day of Christs Birth, on the twenty-fifth (day) of the ninth month according to the reckoning of the Hebrews, but according to the reckon- ing of the Egyptians on the twenty-ninth (day) of the © Ps 113, 12ff. “Mt §, 34ff- mT month Tahsas,' which is the fourth month. And after this celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, on which the Lord manifested the glory of His Godhead in (His) baptism by John in the River Jordan. Keep (it) in the tenth month on the sixth (day) according to the reckon- ing of the Hebrews, and according to the reckoning of the Egyptians on the eleventh (day) of the month Tobi,? which is Ter, (that is) in the fifth month. And after this observe in purity the forty days of the Holy Fast, which teacheth us quietness and patience, fasting and prayer, which bring us near unto Christ. And this Holy Fast shall be ended on the day of the Passover, on which came Salvation. But let the beginning ® of your (paschal) fast be on the second day (of the week) before the Passover, [v., 14.] for on the day after the (feast of) Hosanna,‘ on the second day (of the week) the wicked Jews, transgressors against the faith and the law, were gathered together and took counsel against the Lord in the first month*® . . . which is Miyazyaand on the third day of the week they took still further counsel,’ and on the fourth day of the week they at length decided * to deliver Him up to death on the Cross. And Judas knew this counsel of theirs, (and) as he was a thief, forthwith Satan made him to fall through love of money, for he kept the purse® and stole the money of the poor. And though he did all this, the Lord did not thrust him away, for He knew the evil of his heart. And while we were eating with Him, our Lord desired to admonish him; and behold He gave us to understand that he should betray Him. Wherefore He said,’® Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And we spake among ourselves, each one, saying, Lord, is it 1? And | arose (being) one of the Twelve, for He loved me more than all the disciples, (and) I asked Him and said unto Him, Lord, who is he that shall betray thee? And our Lord told us not his name, but showed us by two signs (who it was); first, in that He said, He who dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me; and that He said in the second place, He to whom I shall give the bread, the same shall betray me. For (Judas) said unto Him, Is it I, Lord? But our Lord did not say unto him, Yea, thou; but He said unto him, Thou hast said. He did not wish to name him openly, but said unto him, It were good for that man by whose hands the Son of Man shall be delivered up, if he had not been born. And Judas, hearing this, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will betray Him unto you? And they bargained with him to give him thirty (pieces of) silver. It was the fifth day of the week on which our Lord ate the Passover with us. And Judas took the bread, and dipped his hand in the dish, and went out at night. And our Lord said unto us, The hour hath come. Behold ye shall be scattered every one, and shall leave me alone. And we said, every one of us, We will not leave thee; and I Peter said unto Him, Though they all leave Thee, yet will I not leave Thee, but will die with Thee. And He said unto me, Verily, I say unto thee, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny thrice that thou .kknowest me. Behold He declared unto us this holy mystery, which is His holy Body and His précious Blood, while Judas was with us. And then our Lord went forth to the Mount of Olives, and we also went with Him, praying and singing praises, as we were wont. He withdrew a little from us, and prayed to the Father, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let thisThe references to the vari- following passage are omitted. ous N.T. texts alluded to in the a ee ed cup pass from me, nevertheless let Thy will and not my will be done. ‘hus He did three times. And our eyes were heavy with sleep because of sorrow; and our Lord came to us, and said unto us, The time hath come, behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners. Behold Judas came, and many ungodly men with him, and he had given them as the sign ** whereby he should betray Hima kiss, a sign with deceit which was full of wickedness. And when they perceived the sign which Judas had given unto them, they laid hold on Jesus, and, when they had bound (Him), led Him away to Caiaphas the High-priest, to a place where were no good men, nor holy priests, but rather an evil people and unholy priests, who were transgressors of the law. And they cease not to blaspheme against Him and revile Him, and beat Him, and spit in His face, and mock Him, and buffet Him. And they seek false witnesses against Him, who say, He speaketh blasphemy against Moses, and will destroy the Temple, and will cause the sacrifices to cease, { and is an enemy of ¢ 1? the Romans, and rebellcth against the kings, and maketh Himself a king. All this did these ‘‘many dogs and fat bulls,”'* in whom was no mercy, do against Him. And at night they brought Him forth, and led Him before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and wrought much evil against Him, and delivered Him up to Pilate the Roman governor; and it was then the sixth day of the week. And they accused Him much in many words which it were unseemly to utter. And Pilate, the Roman governor, when he heard, believed them not, but said unto them, I have found in this man no fault for which He should die. And then they brought against Him'™* two 11 There is some confusion in the Romans to take away the the text here, but the generalsacrifices. AC has: ‘‘a taker- meaning is clear enough. away of sacrifices, an enemy of 12 As the Eth. text stands, it the Romans." This has been means: will take away the followed in the text. sacrifices of the Romans; orCf. Ps at, 13. ; possibly (construing the verb 1 Or, to him (i.e. to Pilate). with two accusatives): cause witnesses who uttered and spake lies against Christ. And Pilate knew that their witness agreed not. Then they changed their minds,'® and devised a plan by which to make Pilate afraid, and they said, This man maketh Himself a king, and focbiddeth us to do service to the king. They lied and gave a wicked judgment; they cried out and said, Crucify Him, crucify Him, that in Him might be fulfilled the word of the prophet which saith, “False witnesses have risen up against me, and what I know not, they have spoken against me. They have rewarded me evil for good.” ** And again it is said, ‘‘Many dogs have surrounded me, and _ the assembly of the wicked hath laid hold on me.” !7— And when Pilate was not able to save Jesus for fear of the Jews, he took counsel to do the will of the peoplefor before Pilate had testified, and said, There is no fault which I have found in Him for which He should die. But the wicked Jews crucified Him on the Cross, and pierced Himthough the Romans have a law, and put no man to death, unless he be convicted in trial before the governor. But the soldiers of the guard took the Lord of Glory, and at the third hour they raised Him on the tree,’® and at the sixth hour they crucified Him, and gave Him vinegar and myrrh to drink, mingled with gall. They took His garments and divided them amongst themselves, and they crucified with Him two malefactors, one on His right hand, and one on His left, that it might be fulfilled which is written, saying, ‘And they cast gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” '* And again it is said, ‘‘On my vesture they did cast lots.” 7° And somewhere it is said, ‘He was reckoned with the transgressors.” 71 And then there came a darkness for three hours, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour: and then the darkness departed, and the light appeared, even as it is written, saying, “It was not day, nor night: and in the evening the light appeared.” 7? And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘Elohe, ‘elohe, lama sab&qtani, which, being interpreted, meaneth, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And then He cried and said, Father, forgive them, for they do what they know not. And again He said, Father, into Thy hand I commend my soul; and then He bowed His head, and His spirit departed. And they took Him down from the Cross, and buried Him in a new tomb, f and it was evening. And late on the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week tHe rose from the dead, fulfilling all that He had said unto us, before He suffered, that the Son of Man should be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. And after He rose from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and to Mary (the mother) of James, and to the son of 4 Cleopas in the way. And after this He appeared to us, His disciples, while we were hidden for fear of the Jews. For this is written in the Gospel. And again He commanded us to keep the holy fast of the Passover for six days because of the transgression of the ungodly and the wickedness of the Jews, who were transgressors of the law. And again He com- manded us to fast on the fourth and the sixth days of the weekon the fourth because (on it) the Jews com- pleted their evil design against Him; and on the sixth, because of the sufferings of the Saviour.2> We ought not to fast on the Sabbath, except on the one day (the Sabbath) of the Passion; but the other Sabbaths let us honour because our Lord rested from all His work on the Sabbath day. For our Lord came, but they believed not on Him, and received not His teaching; and therefore they have missed their salvation. {v., 15.] But ye are blessed and a holy race, for ye are not as the people of old, but ye have been saved from ungodliness and idolatry.. And ye are a people of God, and to you have been opened the gates of life, though formerly ye were hateful and despised. But now beingHis elect and beloved (ye are) a holy people unto God, who are worthy to proclaim the wonderful works of our Saviour. For it is said, “ They have found me, who sought not after me; and 1 was manifested to those who thought not of me.” ?’ And He said to the people that did not know ¢ His name,t 7* Behold | have sought you, and ye have not sought me; but ye have believed in me, and hearkened unto my Church, and have been saved from error (even from false) gods, and have followed the One God, the Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ. And ye are reckoned with those who believed on me, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands; and ye were not as Israel who believed not on me. And concerning them it is said, “All the day long I lift up my hands to a disobedient people, who neither hear, nor obey; but walk in an evil way, that is not good; for” (they are) a people who follow after sin, and provoke me to anger continually.” °° {v., 16.] Behold, then, ye have seen that they have transgressed against the Lord, and believed not on Him. Wherefore it is said, “These did provoke the Holy Spirit to anger,” (and) their heart was blinded, and punishment was increased upon them for the wickedness of their imagination. For they said, We believe in Christ, but they believed not that He was the Lord God, who was begotten of the Fatherbefore the Creation, the only-begotten Son, the Word of the Father. But they being lacking in faith knew Him not, and understood not the prophecies of the %* E reads: But now ye are His elect and beloved a holy, etc. 37 Isa 65, 1. , 3° Eth. “my name,’”’ which is unintelligible. The whole phrase is a corruption of the latter part of verse just quoted from Isaiah. For intelligibility either the suffix must be altered as above, or ‘‘I said '’ must be read. 2° Eth. but. ** Isa 65, 2f. *! Eth. (A) omits : the Father. The word is found in E. prophets that were written concerning Him, that Christ should be borne of a virgin, though they read and heard what He saith, ‘‘ Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. for unto us a child was born: unto us a son was given, and the government *? was upon his shoulder, and his name is called Great in counsel, and the Angel of peace; for I will bring peace to the rulers, and life is his, and great is his beginning and of his peace there is no end.” ** And because of the wicked- ness of their doings which was without end (they believed not). Wherefore, it is said, ‘“‘Lord, who believed our word? and to whom hath thine arm been revealed?’ ** And again it is said, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not know, for the heart of this people is darkened.” ** Wherefore wisdom was hidden from them, because, when they saw, they knew not; and when they heard, they understood not.. But ye are Gentiles, and to you hath been given the kingdom, thouyrh formerly ye knew not God, but now ye know Him by a right faith and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Giver of life to all who hope in, Him. Behold ye have abandoned the worship of idols that have no life, and have despised unclean sacrifices, and turned away from the rulers of dark- ness. Wherefore ye have entered into the true light through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Him ** ye have known the One true God, the Father, and have been made inheritors of His kingdom, for ye have been baptized into His death and His resurrection. Ye must needs, then, be as new-born babes that have no evil in their hearts. Put away sin from you, for He hath redeemed you with His precious blood, that ye should worship the living God. In those days the Lord spake concerning Israel in the case of °’ those that believed not: ‘The kingdom of heaven shall be taken from them, and given to a nation that doeth righteous- ness.” *8 But be ye zealous to bring forth the fruit of soundwisdom, for you He sent of old to His vine- yard. And they hearkened not unto you, but hardened their hearts, and rose up against the keepers of the Lords vineyard, and laid hold on them. One they killed, and one they stoned with stones, and one they slew with the sword, and one they sawed asunder, and one they killed in the temple. And the Heir also they killed and rejected Him, and stoned Him [with the stone which the builders rejected].‘° And concerning you it is said, “‘A people whom I knew not, hath served me, and at the hearing of the ear have they obeyed me.’? #!

The Ethiopic Didascalia 29:1

THAT MEN OUGHT TO KEEP AND OBSERVE THE FEAST-DAYS WITH SPIRITUAL JOY. {v., 13.] Keep, then, the feast-days, beloved brethren. The first feast is the day of Christs Birth, on the twenty-fifth (day) of the ninth month according to the reckoning of the Hebrews, but according to the reckon- ing of the Egyptians on the twenty-ninth (day) of the © Ps 113, 12ff. “Mt §, 34ff- mT month Tahsas,' which is the fourth month. And after this celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, on which the Lord manifested the glory of His Godhead in (His) baptism by John in the River Jordan. Keep (it) in the tenth month on the sixth (day) according to the reckon- ing of the Hebrews, and according to the reckoning of the Egyptians on the eleventh (day) of the month Tobi,? which is Ter, (that is) in the fifth month. And after this observe in purity the forty days of the Holy Fast, which teacheth us quietness and patience, fasting and prayer, which bring us near unto Christ. And this Holy Fast shall be ended on the day of the Passover, on which came Salvation. But let the beginning ® of your (paschal) fast be on the second day (of the week) before the Passover, [v., 14.] for on the day after the (feast of) Hosanna,‘ on the second day (of the week) the wicked Jews, transgressors against the faith and the law, were gathered together and took counsel against the Lord in the first month*® . . . which is Miyazyaand on the third day of the week they took still further counsel,’ and on the fourth day of the week they at length decided * to deliver Him up to death on the Cross. And Judas knew this counsel of theirs, (and) as he was a thief, forthwith Satan made him to fall through love of money, for he kept the purse® and stole the money of the poor. And though he did all this, the Lord did not thrust him away, for He knew the evil of his heart. And while we were eating with Him, our Lord desired to admonish him; and behold He gave us to understand that he should betray Him. Wherefore He said,’® Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And we spake among ourselves, each one, saying, Lord, is it 1? And | arose (being) one of the Twelve, for He loved me more than all the disciples, (and) I asked Him and said unto Him, Lord, who is he that shall betray thee? And our Lord told us not his name, but showed us by two signs (who it was); first, in that He said, He who dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me; and that He said in the second place, He to whom I shall give the bread, the same shall betray me. For (Judas) said unto Him, Is it I, Lord? But our Lord did not say unto him, Yea, thou; but He said unto him, Thou hast said. He did not wish to name him openly, but said unto him, It were good for that man by whose hands the Son of Man shall be delivered up, if he had not been born. And Judas, hearing this, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will betray Him unto you? And they bargained with him to give him thirty (pieces of) silver. It was the fifth day of the week on which our Lord ate the Passover with us. And Judas took the bread, and dipped his hand in the dish, and went out at night. And our Lord said unto us, The hour hath come. Behold ye shall be scattered every one, and shall leave me alone. And we said, every one of us, We will not leave thee; and I Peter said unto Him, Though they all leave Thee, yet will I not leave Thee, but will die with Thee. And He said unto me, Verily, I say unto thee, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny thrice that thou .kknowest me. Behold He declared unto us this holy mystery, which is His holy Body and His précious Blood, while Judas was with us. And then our Lord went forth to the Mount of Olives, and we also went with Him, praying and singing praises, as we were wont. He withdrew a little from us, and prayed to the Father, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let thisThe references to the vari- following passage are omitted. ous N.T. texts alluded to in the a ee ed cup pass from me, nevertheless let Thy will and not my will be done. ‘hus He did three times. And our eyes were heavy with sleep because of sorrow; and our Lord came to us, and said unto us, The time hath come, behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners. Behold Judas came, and many ungodly men with him, and he had given them as the sign ** whereby he should betray Hima kiss, a sign with deceit which was full of wickedness. And when they perceived the sign which Judas had given unto them, they laid hold on Jesus, and, when they had bound (Him), led Him away to Caiaphas the High-priest, to a place where were no good men, nor holy priests, but rather an evil people and unholy priests, who were transgressors of the law. And they cease not to blaspheme against Him and revile Him, and beat Him, and spit in His face, and mock Him, and buffet Him. And they seek false witnesses against Him, who say, He speaketh blasphemy against Moses, and will destroy the Temple, and will cause the sacrifices to cease, { and is an enemy of ¢ 1? the Romans, and rebellcth against the kings, and maketh Himself a king. All this did these ‘‘many dogs and fat bulls,”'* in whom was no mercy, do against Him. And at night they brought Him forth, and led Him before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and wrought much evil against Him, and delivered Him up to Pilate the Roman governor; and it was then the sixth day of the week. And they accused Him much in many words which it were unseemly to utter. And Pilate, the Roman governor, when he heard, believed them not, but said unto them, I have found in this man no fault for which He should die. And then they brought against Him'™* two 11 There is some confusion in the Romans to take away the the text here, but the generalsacrifices. AC has: ‘‘a taker- meaning is clear enough. away of sacrifices, an enemy of 12 As the Eth. text stands, it the Romans." This has been means: will take away the followed in the text. sacrifices of the Romans; orCf. Ps at, 13. ; possibly (construing the verb 1 Or, to him (i.e. to Pilate). with two accusatives): cause witnesses who uttered and spake lies against Christ. And Pilate knew that their witness agreed not. Then they changed their minds,'® and devised a plan by which to make Pilate afraid, and they said, This man maketh Himself a king, and focbiddeth us to do service to the king. They lied and gave a wicked judgment; they cried out and said, Crucify Him, crucify Him, that in Him might be fulfilled the word of the prophet which saith, “False witnesses have risen up against me, and what I know not, they have spoken against me. They have rewarded me evil for good.” ** And again it is said, ‘‘Many dogs have surrounded me, and _ the assembly of the wicked hath laid hold on me.” !7— And when Pilate was not able to save Jesus for fear of the Jews, he took counsel to do the will of the peoplefor before Pilate had testified, and said, There is no fault which I have found in Him for which He should die. But the wicked Jews crucified Him on the Cross, and pierced Himthough the Romans have a law, and put no man to death, unless he be convicted in trial before the governor. But the soldiers of the guard took the Lord of Glory, and at the third hour they raised Him on the tree,’® and at the sixth hour they crucified Him, and gave Him vinegar and myrrh to drink, mingled with gall. They took His garments and divided them amongst themselves, and they crucified with Him two malefactors, one on His right hand, and one on His left, that it might be fulfilled which is written, saying, ‘And they cast gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” '* And again it is said, ‘‘On my vesture they did cast lots.” 7° And somewhere it is said, ‘He was reckoned with the transgressors.” 71 And then there came a darkness for three hours, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour: and then the darkness departed, and the light appeared, even as it is written, saying, “It was not day, nor night: and in the evening the light appeared.” 7? And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘Elohe, ‘elohe, lama sab&qtani, which, being interpreted, meaneth, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And then He cried and said, Father, forgive them, for they do what they know not. And again He said, Father, into Thy hand I commend my soul; and then He bowed His head, and His spirit departed. And they took Him down from the Cross, and buried Him in a new tomb, f and it was evening. And late on the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week tHe rose from the dead, fulfilling all that He had said unto us, before He suffered, that the Son of Man should be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. And after He rose from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and to Mary (the mother) of James, and to the son of 4 Cleopas in the way. And after this He appeared to us, His disciples, while we were hidden for fear of the Jews. For this is written in the Gospel. And again He commanded us to keep the holy fast of the Passover for six days because of the transgression of the ungodly and the wickedness of the Jews, who were transgressors of the law. And again He com- manded us to fast on the fourth and the sixth days of the weekon the fourth because (on it) the Jews com- pleted their evil design against Him; and on the sixth, because of the sufferings of the Saviour.2> We ought not to fast on the Sabbath, except on the one day (the Sabbath) of the Passion; but the other Sabbaths let us honour because our Lord rested from all His work on the Sabbath day. For our Lord came, but they believed not on Him, and received not His teaching; and therefore they have missed their salvation. {v., 15.] But ye are blessed and a holy race, for ye are not as the people of old, but ye have been saved from ungodliness and idolatry.. And ye are a people of God, and to you have been opened the gates of life, though formerly ye were hateful and despised. But now beingHis elect and beloved (ye are) a holy people unto God, who are worthy to proclaim the wonderful works of our Saviour. For it is said, “ They have found me, who sought not after me; and 1 was manifested to those who thought not of me.” ?’ And He said to the people that did not know ¢ His name,t 7* Behold | have sought you, and ye have not sought me; but ye have believed in me, and hearkened unto my Church, and have been saved from error (even from false) gods, and have followed the One God, the Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ. And ye are reckoned with those who believed on me, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands; and ye were not as Israel who believed not on me. And concerning them it is said, “All the day long I lift up my hands to a disobedient people, who neither hear, nor obey; but walk in an evil way, that is not good; for” (they are) a people who follow after sin, and provoke me to anger continually.” °° {v., 16.] Behold, then, ye have seen that they have transgressed against the Lord, and believed not on Him. Wherefore it is said, “These did provoke the Holy Spirit to anger,” (and) their heart was blinded, and punishment was increased upon them for the wickedness of their imagination. For they said, We believe in Christ, but they believed not that He was the Lord God, who was begotten of the Fatherbefore the Creation, the only-begotten Son, the Word of the Father. But they being lacking in faith knew Him not, and understood not the prophecies of the %* E reads: But now ye are His elect and beloved a holy, etc. 37 Isa 65, 1. , 3° Eth. “my name,’”’ which is unintelligible. The whole phrase is a corruption of the latter part of verse just quoted from Isaiah. For intelligibility either the suffix must be altered as above, or ‘‘I said '’ must be read. 2° Eth. but. ** Isa 65, 2f. *! Eth. (A) omits : the Father. The word is found in E. prophets that were written concerning Him, that Christ should be borne of a virgin, though they read and heard what He saith, ‘‘ Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. for unto us a child was born: unto us a son was given, and the government *? was upon his shoulder, and his name is called Great in counsel, and the Angel of peace; for I will bring peace to the rulers, and life is his, and great is his beginning and of his peace there is no end.” ** And because of the wicked- ness of their doings which was without end (they believed not). Wherefore, it is said, ‘“‘Lord, who believed our word? and to whom hath thine arm been revealed?’ ** And again it is said, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not know, for the heart of this people is darkened.” ** Wherefore wisdom was hidden from them, because, when they saw, they knew not; and when they heard, they understood not.. But ye are Gentiles, and to you hath been given the kingdom, thouyrh formerly ye knew not God, but now ye know Him by a right faith and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Giver of life to all who hope in, Him. Behold ye have abandoned the worship of idols that have no life, and have despised unclean sacrifices, and turned away from the rulers of dark- ness. Wherefore ye have entered into the true light through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Him ** ye have known the One true God, the Father, and have been made inheritors of His kingdom, for ye have been baptized into His death and His resurrection. Ye must needs, then, be as new-born babes that have no evil in their hearts. Put away sin from you, for He hath redeemed you with His precious blood, that ye should worship the living God. In those days the Lord spake concerning Israel in the case of °’ those that believed not: ‘The kingdom of heaven shall be taken from them, and given to a nation that doeth righteous- ness.” *8 But be ye zealous to bring forth the fruit of soundwisdom, for you He sent of old to His vine- yard. And they hearkened not unto you, but hardened their hearts, and rose up against the keepers of the Lords vineyard, and laid hold on them. One they killed, and one they stoned with stones, and one they slew with the sword, and one they sawed asunder, and one they killed in the temple. And the Heir also they killed and rejected Him, and stoned Him [with the stone which the builders rejected].‘° And concerning you it is said, “‘A people whom I knew not, hath served me, and at the hearing of the ear have they obeyed me.’? #!

The Ethiopic Didascalia 29:1

THAT MEN OUGHT TO KEEP AND OBSERVE THE FEAST-DAYS WITH SPIRITUAL JOY. {v., 13.] Keep, then, the feast-days, beloved brethren. The first feast is the day of Christs Birth, on the twenty-fifth (day) of the ninth month according to the reckoning of the Hebrews, but according to the reckon- ing of the Egyptians on the twenty-ninth (day) of the © Ps 113, 12ff. “Mt §, 34ff- mT month Tahsas,' which is the fourth month. And after this celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, on which the Lord manifested the glory of His Godhead in (His) baptism by John in the River Jordan. Keep (it) in the tenth month on the sixth (day) according to the reckon- ing of the Hebrews, and according to the reckoning of the Egyptians on the eleventh (day) of the month Tobi,? which is Ter, (that is) in the fifth month. And after this observe in purity the forty days of the Holy Fast, which teacheth us quietness and patience, fasting and prayer, which bring us near unto Christ. And this Holy Fast shall be ended on the day of the Passover, on which came Salvation. But let the beginning ® of your (paschal) fast be on the second day (of the week) before the Passover, [v., 14.] for on the day after the (feast of) Hosanna,‘ on the second day (of the week) the wicked Jews, transgressors against the faith and the law, were gathered together and took counsel against the Lord in the first month*® . . . which is Miyazyaand on the third day of the week they took still further counsel,’ and on the fourth day of the week they at length decided * to deliver Him up to death on the Cross. And Judas knew this counsel of theirs, (and) as he was a thief, forthwith Satan made him to fall through love of money, for he kept the purse® and stole the money of the poor. And though he did all this, the Lord did not thrust him away, for He knew the evil of his heart. And while we were eating with Him, our Lord desired to admonish him; and behold He gave us to understand that he should betray Him. Wherefore He said,’® Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And we spake among ourselves, each one, saying, Lord, is it 1? And | arose (being) one of the Twelve, for He loved me more than all the disciples, (and) I asked Him and said unto Him, Lord, who is he that shall betray thee? And our Lord told us not his name, but showed us by two signs (who it was); first, in that He said, He who dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me; and that He said in the second place, He to whom I shall give the bread, the same shall betray me. For (Judas) said unto Him, Is it I, Lord? But our Lord did not say unto him, Yea, thou; but He said unto him, Thou hast said. He did not wish to name him openly, but said unto him, It were good for that man by whose hands the Son of Man shall be delivered up, if he had not been born. And Judas, hearing this, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will betray Him unto you? And they bargained with him to give him thirty (pieces of) silver. It was the fifth day of the week on which our Lord ate the Passover with us. And Judas took the bread, and dipped his hand in the dish, and went out at night. And our Lord said unto us, The hour hath come. Behold ye shall be scattered every one, and shall leave me alone. And we said, every one of us, We will not leave thee; and I Peter said unto Him, Though they all leave Thee, yet will I not leave Thee, but will die with Thee. And He said unto me, Verily, I say unto thee, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny thrice that thou .kknowest me. Behold He declared unto us this holy mystery, which is His holy Body and His précious Blood, while Judas was with us. And then our Lord went forth to the Mount of Olives, and we also went with Him, praying and singing praises, as we were wont. He withdrew a little from us, and prayed to the Father, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let thisThe references to the vari- following passage are omitted. ous N.T. texts alluded to in the a ee ed cup pass from me, nevertheless let Thy will and not my will be done. ‘hus He did three times. And our eyes were heavy with sleep because of sorrow; and our Lord came to us, and said unto us, The time hath come, behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners. Behold Judas came, and many ungodly men with him, and he had given them as the sign ** whereby he should betray Hima kiss, a sign with deceit which was full of wickedness. And when they perceived the sign which Judas had given unto them, they laid hold on Jesus, and, when they had bound (Him), led Him away to Caiaphas the High-priest, to a place where were no good men, nor holy priests, but rather an evil people and unholy priests, who were transgressors of the law. And they cease not to blaspheme against Him and revile Him, and beat Him, and spit in His face, and mock Him, and buffet Him. And they seek false witnesses against Him, who say, He speaketh blasphemy against Moses, and will destroy the Temple, and will cause the sacrifices to cease, { and is an enemy of ¢ 1? the Romans, and rebellcth against the kings, and maketh Himself a king. All this did these ‘‘many dogs and fat bulls,”'* in whom was no mercy, do against Him. And at night they brought Him forth, and led Him before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and wrought much evil against Him, and delivered Him up to Pilate the Roman governor; and it was then the sixth day of the week. And they accused Him much in many words which it were unseemly to utter. And Pilate, the Roman governor, when he heard, believed them not, but said unto them, I have found in this man no fault for which He should die. And then they brought against Him'™* two 11 There is some confusion in the Romans to take away the the text here, but the generalsacrifices. AC has: ‘‘a taker- meaning is clear enough. away of sacrifices, an enemy of 12 As the Eth. text stands, it the Romans." This has been means: will take away the followed in the text. sacrifices of the Romans; orCf. Ps at, 13. ; possibly (construing the verb 1 Or, to him (i.e. to Pilate). with two accusatives): cause witnesses who uttered and spake lies against Christ. And Pilate knew that their witness agreed not. Then they changed their minds,'® and devised a plan by which to make Pilate afraid, and they said, This man maketh Himself a king, and focbiddeth us to do service to the king. They lied and gave a wicked judgment; they cried out and said, Crucify Him, crucify Him, that in Him might be fulfilled the word of the prophet which saith, “False witnesses have risen up against me, and what I know not, they have spoken against me. They have rewarded me evil for good.” ** And again it is said, ‘‘Many dogs have surrounded me, and _ the assembly of the wicked hath laid hold on me.” !7— And when Pilate was not able to save Jesus for fear of the Jews, he took counsel to do the will of the peoplefor before Pilate had testified, and said, There is no fault which I have found in Him for which He should die. But the wicked Jews crucified Him on the Cross, and pierced Himthough the Romans have a law, and put no man to death, unless he be convicted in trial before the governor. But the soldiers of the guard took the Lord of Glory, and at the third hour they raised Him on the tree,’® and at the sixth hour they crucified Him, and gave Him vinegar and myrrh to drink, mingled with gall. They took His garments and divided them amongst themselves, and they crucified with Him two malefactors, one on His right hand, and one on His left, that it might be fulfilled which is written, saying, ‘And they cast gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” '* And again it is said, ‘‘On my vesture they did cast lots.” 7° And somewhere it is said, ‘He was reckoned with the transgressors.” 71 And then there came a darkness for three hours, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour: and then the darkness departed, and the light appeared, even as it is written, saying, “It was not day, nor night: and in the evening the light appeared.” 7? And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘Elohe, ‘elohe, lama sab&qtani, which, being interpreted, meaneth, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And then He cried and said, Father, forgive them, for they do what they know not. And again He said, Father, into Thy hand I commend my soul; and then He bowed His head, and His spirit departed. And they took Him down from the Cross, and buried Him in a new tomb, f and it was evening. And late on the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week tHe rose from the dead, fulfilling all that He had said unto us, before He suffered, that the Son of Man should be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. And after He rose from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and to Mary (the mother) of James, and to the son of 4 Cleopas in the way. And after this He appeared to us, His disciples, while we were hidden for fear of the Jews. For this is written in the Gospel. And again He commanded us to keep the holy fast of the Passover for six days because of the transgression of the ungodly and the wickedness of the Jews, who were transgressors of the law. And again He com- manded us to fast on the fourth and the sixth days of the weekon the fourth because (on it) the Jews com- pleted their evil design against Him; and on the sixth, because of the sufferings of the Saviour.2> We ought not to fast on the Sabbath, except on the one day (the Sabbath) of the Passion; but the other Sabbaths let us honour because our Lord rested from all His work on the Sabbath day. For our Lord came, but they believed not on Him, and received not His teaching; and therefore they have missed their salvation. {v., 15.] But ye are blessed and a holy race, for ye are not as the people of old, but ye have been saved from ungodliness and idolatry.. And ye are a people of God, and to you have been opened the gates of life, though formerly ye were hateful and despised. But now beingHis elect and beloved (ye are) a holy people unto God, who are worthy to proclaim the wonderful works of our Saviour. For it is said, “ They have found me, who sought not after me; and 1 was manifested to those who thought not of me.” ?’ And He said to the people that did not know ¢ His name,t 7* Behold | have sought you, and ye have not sought me; but ye have believed in me, and hearkened unto my Church, and have been saved from error (even from false) gods, and have followed the One God, the Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ. And ye are reckoned with those who believed on me, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands; and ye were not as Israel who believed not on me. And concerning them it is said, “All the day long I lift up my hands to a disobedient people, who neither hear, nor obey; but walk in an evil way, that is not good; for” (they are) a people who follow after sin, and provoke me to anger continually.” °° {v., 16.] Behold, then, ye have seen that they have transgressed against the Lord, and believed not on Him. Wherefore it is said, “These did provoke the Holy Spirit to anger,” (and) their heart was blinded, and punishment was increased upon them for the wickedness of their imagination. For they said, We believe in Christ, but they believed not that He was the Lord God, who was begotten of the Fatherbefore the Creation, the only-begotten Son, the Word of the Father. But they being lacking in faith knew Him not, and understood not the prophecies of the %* E reads: But now ye are His elect and beloved a holy, etc. 37 Isa 65, 1. , 3° Eth. “my name,’”’ which is unintelligible. The whole phrase is a corruption of the latter part of verse just quoted from Isaiah. For intelligibility either the suffix must be altered as above, or ‘‘I said '’ must be read. 2° Eth. but. ** Isa 65, 2f. *! Eth. (A) omits : the Father. The word is found in E. prophets that were written concerning Him, that Christ should be borne of a virgin, though they read and heard what He saith, ‘‘ Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. for unto us a child was born: unto us a son was given, and the government *? was upon his shoulder, and his name is called Great in counsel, and the Angel of peace; for I will bring peace to the rulers, and life is his, and great is his beginning and of his peace there is no end.” ** And because of the wicked- ness of their doings which was without end (they believed not). Wherefore, it is said, ‘“‘Lord, who believed our word? and to whom hath thine arm been revealed?’ ** And again it is said, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not know, for the heart of this people is darkened.” ** Wherefore wisdom was hidden from them, because, when they saw, they knew not; and when they heard, they understood not.. But ye are Gentiles, and to you hath been given the kingdom, thouyrh formerly ye knew not God, but now ye know Him by a right faith and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Giver of life to all who hope in, Him. Behold ye have abandoned the worship of idols that have no life, and have despised unclean sacrifices, and turned away from the rulers of dark- ness. Wherefore ye have entered into the true light through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Him ** ye have known the One true God, the Father, and have been made inheritors of His kingdom, for ye have been baptized into His death and His resurrection. Ye must needs, then, be as new-born babes that have no evil in their hearts. Put away sin from you, for He hath redeemed you with His precious blood, that ye should worship the living God. In those days the Lord spake concerning Israel in the case of °’ those that believed not: ‘The kingdom of heaven shall be taken from them, and given to a nation that doeth righteous- ness.” *8 But be ye zealous to bring forth the fruit of soundwisdom, for you He sent of old to His vine- yard. And they hearkened not unto you, but hardened their hearts, and rose up against the keepers of the Lords vineyard, and laid hold on them. One they killed, and one they stoned with stones, and one they slew with the sword, and one they sawed asunder, and one they killed in the temple. And the Heir also they killed and rejected Him, and stoned Him [with the stone which the builders rejected].‘° And concerning you it is said, “‘A people whom I knew not, hath served me, and at the hearing of the ear have they obeyed me.’? #!

The Ethiopic Didascalia 29:1

THAT MEN OUGHT TO KEEP AND OBSERVE THE FEAST-DAYS WITH SPIRITUAL JOY. {v., 13.] Keep, then, the feast-days, beloved brethren. The first feast is the day of Christs Birth, on the twenty-fifth (day) of the ninth month according to the reckoning of the Hebrews, but according to the reckon- ing of the Egyptians on the twenty-ninth (day) of the © Ps 113, 12ff. “Mt §, 34ff- mT month Tahsas,' which is the fourth month. And after this celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, on which the Lord manifested the glory of His Godhead in (His) baptism by John in the River Jordan. Keep (it) in the tenth month on the sixth (day) according to the reckon- ing of the Hebrews, and according to the reckoning of the Egyptians on the eleventh (day) of the month Tobi,? which is Ter, (that is) in the fifth month. And after this observe in purity the forty days of the Holy Fast, which teacheth us quietness and patience, fasting and prayer, which bring us near unto Christ. And this Holy Fast shall be ended on the day of the Passover, on which came Salvation. But let the beginning ® of your (paschal) fast be on the second day (of the week) before the Passover, [v., 14.] for on the day after the (feast of) Hosanna,‘ on the second day (of the week) the wicked Jews, transgressors against the faith and the law, were gathered together and took counsel against the Lord in the first month*® . . . which is Miyazyaand on the third day of the week they took still further counsel,’ and on the fourth day of the week they at length decided * to deliver Him up to death on the Cross. And Judas knew this counsel of theirs, (and) as he was a thief, forthwith Satan made him to fall through love of money, for he kept the purse® and stole the money of the poor. And though he did all this, the Lord did not thrust him away, for He knew the evil of his heart. And while we were eating with Him, our Lord desired to admonish him; and behold He gave us to understand that he should betray Him. Wherefore He said,’® Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And we spake among ourselves, each one, saying, Lord, is it 1? And | arose (being) one of the Twelve, for He loved me more than all the disciples, (and) I asked Him and said unto Him, Lord, who is he that shall betray thee? And our Lord told us not his name, but showed us by two signs (who it was); first, in that He said, He who dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me; and that He said in the second place, He to whom I shall give the bread, the same shall betray me. For (Judas) said unto Him, Is it I, Lord? But our Lord did not say unto him, Yea, thou; but He said unto him, Thou hast said. He did not wish to name him openly, but said unto him, It were good for that man by whose hands the Son of Man shall be delivered up, if he had not been born. And Judas, hearing this, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will betray Him unto you? And they bargained with him to give him thirty (pieces of) silver. It was the fifth day of the week on which our Lord ate the Passover with us. And Judas took the bread, and dipped his hand in the dish, and went out at night. And our Lord said unto us, The hour hath come. Behold ye shall be scattered every one, and shall leave me alone. And we said, every one of us, We will not leave thee; and I Peter said unto Him, Though they all leave Thee, yet will I not leave Thee, but will die with Thee. And He said unto me, Verily, I say unto thee, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny thrice that thou .kknowest me. Behold He declared unto us this holy mystery, which is His holy Body and His précious Blood, while Judas was with us. And then our Lord went forth to the Mount of Olives, and we also went with Him, praying and singing praises, as we were wont. He withdrew a little from us, and prayed to the Father, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let thisThe references to the vari- following passage are omitted. ous N.T. texts alluded to in the a ee ed cup pass from me, nevertheless let Thy will and not my will be done. ‘hus He did three times. And our eyes were heavy with sleep because of sorrow; and our Lord came to us, and said unto us, The time hath come, behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners. Behold Judas came, and many ungodly men with him, and he had given them as the sign ** whereby he should betray Hima kiss, a sign with deceit which was full of wickedness. And when they perceived the sign which Judas had given unto them, they laid hold on Jesus, and, when they had bound (Him), led Him away to Caiaphas the High-priest, to a place where were no good men, nor holy priests, but rather an evil people and unholy priests, who were transgressors of the law. And they cease not to blaspheme against Him and revile Him, and beat Him, and spit in His face, and mock Him, and buffet Him. And they seek false witnesses against Him, who say, He speaketh blasphemy against Moses, and will destroy the Temple, and will cause the sacrifices to cease, { and is an enemy of ¢ 1? the Romans, and rebellcth against the kings, and maketh Himself a king. All this did these ‘‘many dogs and fat bulls,”'* in whom was no mercy, do against Him. And at night they brought Him forth, and led Him before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and wrought much evil against Him, and delivered Him up to Pilate the Roman governor; and it was then the sixth day of the week. And they accused Him much in many words which it were unseemly to utter. And Pilate, the Roman governor, when he heard, believed them not, but said unto them, I have found in this man no fault for which He should die. And then they brought against Him'™* two 11 There is some confusion in the Romans to take away the the text here, but the generalsacrifices. AC has: ‘‘a taker- meaning is clear enough. away of sacrifices, an enemy of 12 As the Eth. text stands, it the Romans." This has been means: will take away the followed in the text. sacrifices of the Romans; orCf. Ps at, 13. ; possibly (construing the verb 1 Or, to him (i.e. to Pilate). with two accusatives): cause witnesses who uttered and spake lies against Christ. And Pilate knew that their witness agreed not. Then they changed their minds,'® and devised a plan by which to make Pilate afraid, and they said, This man maketh Himself a king, and focbiddeth us to do service to the king. They lied and gave a wicked judgment; they cried out and said, Crucify Him, crucify Him, that in Him might be fulfilled the word of the prophet which saith, “False witnesses have risen up against me, and what I know not, they have spoken against me. They have rewarded me evil for good.” ** And again it is said, ‘‘Many dogs have surrounded me, and _ the assembly of the wicked hath laid hold on me.” !7— And when Pilate was not able to save Jesus for fear of the Jews, he took counsel to do the will of the peoplefor before Pilate had testified, and said, There is no fault which I have found in Him for which He should die. But the wicked Jews crucified Him on the Cross, and pierced Himthough the Romans have a law, and put no man to death, unless he be convicted in trial before the governor. But the soldiers of the guard took the Lord of Glory, and at the third hour they raised Him on the tree,’® and at the sixth hour they crucified Him, and gave Him vinegar and myrrh to drink, mingled with gall. They took His garments and divided them amongst themselves, and they crucified with Him two malefactors, one on His right hand, and one on His left, that it might be fulfilled which is written, saying, ‘And they cast gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” '* And again it is said, ‘‘On my vesture they did cast lots.” 7° And somewhere it is said, ‘He was reckoned with the transgressors.” 71 And then there came a darkness for three hours, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour: and then the darkness departed, and the light appeared, even as it is written, saying, “It was not day, nor night: and in the evening the light appeared.” 7? And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘Elohe, ‘elohe, lama sab&qtani, which, being interpreted, meaneth, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And then He cried and said, Father, forgive them, for they do what they know not. And again He said, Father, into Thy hand I commend my soul; and then He bowed His head, and His spirit departed. And they took Him down from the Cross, and buried Him in a new tomb, f and it was evening. And late on the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week tHe rose from the dead, fulfilling all that He had said unto us, before He suffered, that the Son of Man should be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. And after He rose from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and to Mary (the mother) of James, and to the son of 4 Cleopas in the way. And after this He appeared to us, His disciples, while we were hidden for fear of the Jews. For this is written in the Gospel. And again He commanded us to keep the holy fast of the Passover for six days because of the transgression of the ungodly and the wickedness of the Jews, who were transgressors of the law. And again He com- manded us to fast on the fourth and the sixth days of the weekon the fourth because (on it) the Jews com- pleted their evil design against Him; and on the sixth, because of the sufferings of the Saviour.2> We ought not to fast on the Sabbath, except on the one day (the Sabbath) of the Passion; but the other Sabbaths let us honour because our Lord rested from all His work on the Sabbath day. For our Lord came, but they believed not on Him, and received not His teaching; and therefore they have missed their salvation. {v., 15.] But ye are blessed and a holy race, for ye are not as the people of old, but ye have been saved from ungodliness and idolatry.. And ye are a people of God, and to you have been opened the gates of life, though formerly ye were hateful and despised. But now beingHis elect and beloved (ye are) a holy people unto God, who are worthy to proclaim the wonderful works of our Saviour. For it is said, “ They have found me, who sought not after me; and 1 was manifested to those who thought not of me.” ?’ And He said to the people that did not know ¢ His name,t 7* Behold | have sought you, and ye have not sought me; but ye have believed in me, and hearkened unto my Church, and have been saved from error (even from false) gods, and have followed the One God, the Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ. And ye are reckoned with those who believed on me, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands; and ye were not as Israel who believed not on me. And concerning them it is said, “All the day long I lift up my hands to a disobedient people, who neither hear, nor obey; but walk in an evil way, that is not good; for” (they are) a people who follow after sin, and provoke me to anger continually.” °° {v., 16.] Behold, then, ye have seen that they have transgressed against the Lord, and believed not on Him. Wherefore it is said, “These did provoke the Holy Spirit to anger,” (and) their heart was blinded, and punishment was increased upon them for the wickedness of their imagination. For they said, We believe in Christ, but they believed not that He was the Lord God, who was begotten of the Fatherbefore the Creation, the only-begotten Son, the Word of the Father. But they being lacking in faith knew Him not, and understood not the prophecies of the %* E reads: But now ye are His elect and beloved a holy, etc. 37 Isa 65, 1. , 3° Eth. “my name,’”’ which is unintelligible. The whole phrase is a corruption of the latter part of verse just quoted from Isaiah. For intelligibility either the suffix must be altered as above, or ‘‘I said '’ must be read. 2° Eth. but. ** Isa 65, 2f. *! Eth. (A) omits : the Father. The word is found in E. prophets that were written concerning Him, that Christ should be borne of a virgin, though they read and heard what He saith, ‘‘ Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. for unto us a child was born: unto us a son was given, and the government *? was upon his shoulder, and his name is called Great in counsel, and the Angel of peace; for I will bring peace to the rulers, and life is his, and great is his beginning and of his peace there is no end.” ** And because of the wicked- ness of their doings which was without end (they believed not). Wherefore, it is said, ‘“‘Lord, who believed our word? and to whom hath thine arm been revealed?’ ** And again it is said, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not know, for the heart of this people is darkened.” ** Wherefore wisdom was hidden from them, because, when they saw, they knew not; and when they heard, they understood not.. But ye are Gentiles, and to you hath been given the kingdom, thouyrh formerly ye knew not God, but now ye know Him by a right faith and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Giver of life to all who hope in, Him. Behold ye have abandoned the worship of idols that have no life, and have despised unclean sacrifices, and turned away from the rulers of dark- ness. Wherefore ye have entered into the true light through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Him ** ye have known the One true God, the Father, and have been made inheritors of His kingdom, for ye have been baptized into His death and His resurrection. Ye must needs, then, be as new-born babes that have no evil in their hearts. Put away sin from you, for He hath redeemed you with His precious blood, that ye should worship the living God. In those days the Lord spake concerning Israel in the case of °’ those that believed not: ‘The kingdom of heaven shall be taken from them, and given to a nation that doeth righteous- ness.” *8 But be ye zealous to bring forth the fruit of soundwisdom, for you He sent of old to His vine- yard. And they hearkened not unto you, but hardened their hearts, and rose up against the keepers of the Lords vineyard, and laid hold on them. One they killed, and one they stoned with stones, and one they slew with the sword, and one they sawed asunder, and one they killed in the temple. And the Heir also they killed and rejected Him, and stoned Him [with the stone which the builders rejected].‘° And concerning you it is said, “‘A people whom I knew not, hath served me, and at the hearing of the ear have they obeyed me.’? #!

The Ethiopic Didascalia 29:1

THAT MEN OUGHT TO KEEP AND OBSERVE THE FEAST-DAYS WITH SPIRITUAL JOY. {v., 13.] Keep, then, the feast-days, beloved brethren. The first feast is the day of Christs Birth, on the twenty-fifth (day) of the ninth month according to the reckoning of the Hebrews, but according to the reckon- ing of the Egyptians on the twenty-ninth (day) of the © Ps 113, 12ff. “Mt §, 34ff- mT month Tahsas,' which is the fourth month. And after this celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, on which the Lord manifested the glory of His Godhead in (His) baptism by John in the River Jordan. Keep (it) in the tenth month on the sixth (day) according to the reckon- ing of the Hebrews, and according to the reckoning of the Egyptians on the eleventh (day) of the month Tobi,? which is Ter, (that is) in the fifth month. And after this observe in purity the forty days of the Holy Fast, which teacheth us quietness and patience, fasting and prayer, which bring us near unto Christ. And this Holy Fast shall be ended on the day of the Passover, on which came Salvation. But let the beginning ® of your (paschal) fast be on the second day (of the week) before the Passover, [v., 14.] for on the day after the (feast of) Hosanna,‘ on the second day (of the week) the wicked Jews, transgressors against the faith and the law, were gathered together and took counsel against the Lord in the first month*® . . . which is Miyazyaand on the third day of the week they took still further counsel,’ and on the fourth day of the week they at length decided * to deliver Him up to death on the Cross. And Judas knew this counsel of theirs, (and) as he was a thief, forthwith Satan made him to fall through love of money, for he kept the purse® and stole the money of the poor. And though he did all this, the Lord did not thrust him away, for He knew the evil of his heart. And while we were eating with Him, our Lord desired to admonish him; and behold He gave us to understand that he should betray Him. Wherefore He said,’® Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And we spake among ourselves, each one, saying, Lord, is it 1? And | arose (being) one of the Twelve, for He loved me more than all the disciples, (and) I asked Him and said unto Him, Lord, who is he that shall betray thee? And our Lord told us not his name, but showed us by two signs (who it was); first, in that He said, He who dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me; and that He said in the second place, He to whom I shall give the bread, the same shall betray me. For (Judas) said unto Him, Is it I, Lord? But our Lord did not say unto him, Yea, thou; but He said unto him, Thou hast said. He did not wish to name him openly, but said unto him, It were good for that man by whose hands the Son of Man shall be delivered up, if he had not been born. And Judas, hearing this, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will betray Him unto you? And they bargained with him to give him thirty (pieces of) silver. It was the fifth day of the week on which our Lord ate the Passover with us. And Judas took the bread, and dipped his hand in the dish, and went out at night. And our Lord said unto us, The hour hath come. Behold ye shall be scattered every one, and shall leave me alone. And we said, every one of us, We will not leave thee; and I Peter said unto Him, Though they all leave Thee, yet will I not leave Thee, but will die with Thee. And He said unto me, Verily, I say unto thee, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny thrice that thou .kknowest me. Behold He declared unto us this holy mystery, which is His holy Body and His précious Blood, while Judas was with us. And then our Lord went forth to the Mount of Olives, and we also went with Him, praying and singing praises, as we were wont. He withdrew a little from us, and prayed to the Father, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let thisThe references to the vari- following passage are omitted. ous N.T. texts alluded to in the a ee ed cup pass from me, nevertheless let Thy will and not my will be done. ‘hus He did three times. And our eyes were heavy with sleep because of sorrow; and our Lord came to us, and said unto us, The time hath come, behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners. Behold Judas came, and many ungodly men with him, and he had given them as the sign ** whereby he should betray Hima kiss, a sign with deceit which was full of wickedness. And when they perceived the sign which Judas had given unto them, they laid hold on Jesus, and, when they had bound (Him), led Him away to Caiaphas the High-priest, to a place where were no good men, nor holy priests, but rather an evil people and unholy priests, who were transgressors of the law. And they cease not to blaspheme against Him and revile Him, and beat Him, and spit in His face, and mock Him, and buffet Him. And they seek false witnesses against Him, who say, He speaketh blasphemy against Moses, and will destroy the Temple, and will cause the sacrifices to cease, { and is an enemy of ¢ 1? the Romans, and rebellcth against the kings, and maketh Himself a king. All this did these ‘‘many dogs and fat bulls,”'* in whom was no mercy, do against Him. And at night they brought Him forth, and led Him before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and wrought much evil against Him, and delivered Him up to Pilate the Roman governor; and it was then the sixth day of the week. And they accused Him much in many words which it were unseemly to utter. And Pilate, the Roman governor, when he heard, believed them not, but said unto them, I have found in this man no fault for which He should die. And then they brought against Him'™* two 11 There is some confusion in the Romans to take away the the text here, but the generalsacrifices. AC has: ‘‘a taker- meaning is clear enough. away of sacrifices, an enemy of 12 As the Eth. text stands, it the Romans." This has been means: will take away the followed in the text. sacrifices of the Romans; orCf. Ps at, 13. ; possibly (construing the verb 1 Or, to him (i.e. to Pilate). with two accusatives): cause witnesses who uttered and spake lies against Christ. And Pilate knew that their witness agreed not. Then they changed their minds,'® and devised a plan by which to make Pilate afraid, and they said, This man maketh Himself a king, and focbiddeth us to do service to the king. They lied and gave a wicked judgment; they cried out and said, Crucify Him, crucify Him, that in Him might be fulfilled the word of the prophet which saith, “False witnesses have risen up against me, and what I know not, they have spoken against me. They have rewarded me evil for good.” ** And again it is said, ‘‘Many dogs have surrounded me, and _ the assembly of the wicked hath laid hold on me.” !7— And when Pilate was not able to save Jesus for fear of the Jews, he took counsel to do the will of the peoplefor before Pilate had testified, and said, There is no fault which I have found in Him for which He should die. But the wicked Jews crucified Him on the Cross, and pierced Himthough the Romans have a law, and put no man to death, unless he be convicted in trial before the governor. But the soldiers of the guard took the Lord of Glory, and at the third hour they raised Him on the tree,’® and at the sixth hour they crucified Him, and gave Him vinegar and myrrh to drink, mingled with gall. They took His garments and divided them amongst themselves, and they crucified with Him two malefactors, one on His right hand, and one on His left, that it might be fulfilled which is written, saying, ‘And they cast gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” '* And again it is said, ‘‘On my vesture they did cast lots.” 7° And somewhere it is said, ‘He was reckoned with the transgressors.” 71 And then there came a darkness for three hours, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour: and then the darkness departed, and the light appeared, even as it is written, saying, “It was not day, nor night: and in the evening the light appeared.” 7? And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘Elohe, ‘elohe, lama sab&qtani, which, being interpreted, meaneth, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And then He cried and said, Father, forgive them, for they do what they know not. And again He said, Father, into Thy hand I commend my soul; and then He bowed His head, and His spirit departed. And they took Him down from the Cross, and buried Him in a new tomb, f and it was evening. And late on the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week tHe rose from the dead, fulfilling all that He had said unto us, before He suffered, that the Son of Man should be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. And after He rose from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and to Mary (the mother) of James, and to the son of 4 Cleopas in the way. And after this He appeared to us, His disciples, while we were hidden for fear of the Jews. For this is written in the Gospel. And again He commanded us to keep the holy fast of the Passover for six days because of the transgression of the ungodly and the wickedness of the Jews, who were transgressors of the law. And again He com- manded us to fast on the fourth and the sixth days of the weekon the fourth because (on it) the Jews com- pleted their evil design against Him; and on the sixth, because of the sufferings of the Saviour.2> We ought not to fast on the Sabbath, except on the one day (the Sabbath) of the Passion; but the other Sabbaths let us honour because our Lord rested from all His work on the Sabbath day. For our Lord came, but they believed not on Him, and received not His teaching; and therefore they have missed their salvation. {v., 15.] But ye are blessed and a holy race, for ye are not as the people of old, but ye have been saved from ungodliness and idolatry.. And ye are a people of God, and to you have been opened the gates of life, though formerly ye were hateful and despised. But now beingHis elect and beloved (ye are) a holy people unto God, who are worthy to proclaim the wonderful works of our Saviour. For it is said, “ They have found me, who sought not after me; and 1 was manifested to those who thought not of me.” ?’ And He said to the people that did not know ¢ His name,t 7* Behold | have sought you, and ye have not sought me; but ye have believed in me, and hearkened unto my Church, and have been saved from error (even from false) gods, and have followed the One God, the Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ. And ye are reckoned with those who believed on me, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands; and ye were not as Israel who believed not on me. And concerning them it is said, “All the day long I lift up my hands to a disobedient people, who neither hear, nor obey; but walk in an evil way, that is not good; for” (they are) a people who follow after sin, and provoke me to anger continually.” °° {v., 16.] Behold, then, ye have seen that they have transgressed against the Lord, and believed not on Him. Wherefore it is said, “These did provoke the Holy Spirit to anger,” (and) their heart was blinded, and punishment was increased upon them for the wickedness of their imagination. For they said, We believe in Christ, but they believed not that He was the Lord God, who was begotten of the Fatherbefore the Creation, the only-begotten Son, the Word of the Father. But they being lacking in faith knew Him not, and understood not the prophecies of the %* E reads: But now ye are His elect and beloved a holy, etc. 37 Isa 65, 1. , 3° Eth. “my name,’”’ which is unintelligible. The whole phrase is a corruption of the latter part of verse just quoted from Isaiah. For intelligibility either the suffix must be altered as above, or ‘‘I said '’ must be read. 2° Eth. but. ** Isa 65, 2f. *! Eth. (A) omits : the Father. The word is found in E. prophets that were written concerning Him, that Christ should be borne of a virgin, though they read and heard what He saith, ‘‘ Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. for unto us a child was born: unto us a son was given, and the government *? was upon his shoulder, and his name is called Great in counsel, and the Angel of peace; for I will bring peace to the rulers, and life is his, and great is his beginning and of his peace there is no end.” ** And because of the wicked- ness of their doings which was without end (they believed not). Wherefore, it is said, ‘“‘Lord, who believed our word? and to whom hath thine arm been revealed?’ ** And again it is said, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not know, for the heart of this people is darkened.” ** Wherefore wisdom was hidden from them, because, when they saw, they knew not; and when they heard, they understood not.. But ye are Gentiles, and to you hath been given the kingdom, thouyrh formerly ye knew not God, but now ye know Him by a right faith and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Giver of life to all who hope in, Him. Behold ye have abandoned the worship of idols that have no life, and have despised unclean sacrifices, and turned away from the rulers of dark- ness. Wherefore ye have entered into the true light through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Him ** ye have known the One true God, the Father, and have been made inheritors of His kingdom, for ye have been baptized into His death and His resurrection. Ye must needs, then, be as new-born babes that have no evil in their hearts. Put away sin from you, for He hath redeemed you with His precious blood, that ye should worship the living God. In those days the Lord spake concerning Israel in the case of °’ those that believed not: ‘The kingdom of heaven shall be taken from them, and given to a nation that doeth righteous- ness.” *8 But be ye zealous to bring forth the fruit of soundwisdom, for you He sent of old to His vine- yard. And they hearkened not unto you, but hardened their hearts, and rose up against the keepers of the Lords vineyard, and laid hold on them. One they killed, and one they stoned with stones, and one they slew with the sword, and one they sawed asunder, and one they killed in the temple. And the Heir also they killed and rejected Him, and stoned Him [with the stone which the builders rejected].‘° And concerning you it is said, “‘A people whom I knew not, hath served me, and at the hearing of the ear have they obeyed me.’? #!

The Ethiopic Didascalia 29:1

THAT MEN OUGHT TO KEEP AND OBSERVE THE FEAST-DAYS WITH SPIRITUAL JOY. {v., 13.] Keep, then, the feast-days, beloved brethren. The first feast is the day of Christs Birth, on the twenty-fifth (day) of the ninth month according to the reckoning of the Hebrews, but according to the reckon- ing of the Egyptians on the twenty-ninth (day) of the © Ps 113, 12ff. “Mt §, 34ff- mT month Tahsas,' which is the fourth month. And after this celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, on which the Lord manifested the glory of His Godhead in (His) baptism by John in the River Jordan. Keep (it) in the tenth month on the sixth (day) according to the reckon- ing of the Hebrews, and according to the reckoning of the Egyptians on the eleventh (day) of the month Tobi,? which is Ter, (that is) in the fifth month. And after this observe in purity the forty days of the Holy Fast, which teacheth us quietness and patience, fasting and prayer, which bring us near unto Christ. And this Holy Fast shall be ended on the day of the Passover, on which came Salvation. But let the beginning ® of your (paschal) fast be on the second day (of the week) before the Passover, [v., 14.] for on the day after the (feast of) Hosanna,‘ on the second day (of the week) the wicked Jews, transgressors against the faith and the law, were gathered together and took counsel against the Lord in the first month*® . . . which is Miyazyaand on the third day of the week they took still further counsel,’ and on the fourth day of the week they at length decided * to deliver Him up to death on the Cross. And Judas knew this counsel of theirs, (and) as he was a thief, forthwith Satan made him to fall through love of money, for he kept the purse® and stole the money of the poor. And though he did all this, the Lord did not thrust him away, for He knew the evil of his heart. And while we were eating with Him, our Lord desired to admonish him; and behold He gave us to understand that he should betray Him. Wherefore He said,’® Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And we spake among ourselves, each one, saying, Lord, is it 1? And | arose (being) one of the Twelve, for He loved me more than all the disciples, (and) I asked Him and said unto Him, Lord, who is he that shall betray thee? And our Lord told us not his name, but showed us by two signs (who it was); first, in that He said, He who dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me; and that He said in the second place, He to whom I shall give the bread, the same shall betray me. For (Judas) said unto Him, Is it I, Lord? But our Lord did not say unto him, Yea, thou; but He said unto him, Thou hast said. He did not wish to name him openly, but said unto him, It were good for that man by whose hands the Son of Man shall be delivered up, if he had not been born. And Judas, hearing this, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will betray Him unto you? And they bargained with him to give him thirty (pieces of) silver. It was the fifth day of the week on which our Lord ate the Passover with us. And Judas took the bread, and dipped his hand in the dish, and went out at night. And our Lord said unto us, The hour hath come. Behold ye shall be scattered every one, and shall leave me alone. And we said, every one of us, We will not leave thee; and I Peter said unto Him, Though they all leave Thee, yet will I not leave Thee, but will die with Thee. And He said unto me, Verily, I say unto thee, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny thrice that thou .kknowest me. Behold He declared unto us this holy mystery, which is His holy Body and His précious Blood, while Judas was with us. And then our Lord went forth to the Mount of Olives, and we also went with Him, praying and singing praises, as we were wont. He withdrew a little from us, and prayed to the Father, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let thisThe references to the vari- following passage are omitted. ous N.T. texts alluded to in the a ee ed cup pass from me, nevertheless let Thy will and not my will be done. ‘hus He did three times. And our eyes were heavy with sleep because of sorrow; and our Lord came to us, and said unto us, The time hath come, behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners. Behold Judas came, and many ungodly men with him, and he had given them as the sign ** whereby he should betray Hima kiss, a sign with deceit which was full of wickedness. And when they perceived the sign which Judas had given unto them, they laid hold on Jesus, and, when they had bound (Him), led Him away to Caiaphas the High-priest, to a place where were no good men, nor holy priests, but rather an evil people and unholy priests, who were transgressors of the law. And they cease not to blaspheme against Him and revile Him, and beat Him, and spit in His face, and mock Him, and buffet Him. And they seek false witnesses against Him, who say, He speaketh blasphemy against Moses, and will destroy the Temple, and will cause the sacrifices to cease, { and is an enemy of ¢ 1? the Romans, and rebellcth against the kings, and maketh Himself a king. All this did these ‘‘many dogs and fat bulls,”'* in whom was no mercy, do against Him. And at night they brought Him forth, and led Him before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and wrought much evil against Him, and delivered Him up to Pilate the Roman governor; and it was then the sixth day of the week. And they accused Him much in many words which it were unseemly to utter. And Pilate, the Roman governor, when he heard, believed them not, but said unto them, I have found in this man no fault for which He should die. And then they brought against Him'™* two 11 There is some confusion in the Romans to take away the the text here, but the generalsacrifices. AC has: ‘‘a taker- meaning is clear enough. away of sacrifices, an enemy of 12 As the Eth. text stands, it the Romans." This has been means: will take away the followed in the text. sacrifices of the Romans; orCf. Ps at, 13. ; possibly (construing the verb 1 Or, to him (i.e. to Pilate). with two accusatives): cause witnesses who uttered and spake lies against Christ. And Pilate knew that their witness agreed not. Then they changed their minds,'® and devised a plan by which to make Pilate afraid, and they said, This man maketh Himself a king, and focbiddeth us to do service to the king. They lied and gave a wicked judgment; they cried out and said, Crucify Him, crucify Him, that in Him might be fulfilled the word of the prophet which saith, “False witnesses have risen up against me, and what I know not, they have spoken against me. They have rewarded me evil for good.” ** And again it is said, ‘‘Many dogs have surrounded me, and _ the assembly of the wicked hath laid hold on me.” !7— And when Pilate was not able to save Jesus for fear of the Jews, he took counsel to do the will of the peoplefor before Pilate had testified, and said, There is no fault which I have found in Him for which He should die. But the wicked Jews crucified Him on the Cross, and pierced Himthough the Romans have a law, and put no man to death, unless he be convicted in trial before the governor. But the soldiers of the guard took the Lord of Glory, and at the third hour they raised Him on the tree,’® and at the sixth hour they crucified Him, and gave Him vinegar and myrrh to drink, mingled with gall. They took His garments and divided them amongst themselves, and they crucified with Him two malefactors, one on His right hand, and one on His left, that it might be fulfilled which is written, saying, ‘And they cast gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” '* And again it is said, ‘‘On my vesture they did cast lots.” 7° And somewhere it is said, ‘He was reckoned with the transgressors.” 71 And then there came a darkness for three hours, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour: and then the darkness departed, and the light appeared, even as it is written, saying, “It was not day, nor night: and in the evening the light appeared.” 7? And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘Elohe, ‘elohe, lama sab&qtani, which, being interpreted, meaneth, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And then He cried and said, Father, forgive them, for they do what they know not. And again He said, Father, into Thy hand I commend my soul; and then He bowed His head, and His spirit departed. And they took Him down from the Cross, and buried Him in a new tomb, f and it was evening. And late on the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week tHe rose from the dead, fulfilling all that He had said unto us, before He suffered, that the Son of Man should be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. And after He rose from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and to Mary (the mother) of James, and to the son of 4 Cleopas in the way. And after this He appeared to us, His disciples, while we were hidden for fear of the Jews. For this is written in the Gospel. And again He commanded us to keep the holy fast of the Passover for six days because of the transgression of the ungodly and the wickedness of the Jews, who were transgressors of the law. And again He com- manded us to fast on the fourth and the sixth days of the weekon the fourth because (on it) the Jews com- pleted their evil design against Him; and on the sixth, because of the sufferings of the Saviour.2> We ought not to fast on the Sabbath, except on the one day (the Sabbath) of the Passion; but the other Sabbaths let us honour because our Lord rested from all His work on the Sabbath day. For our Lord came, but they believed not on Him, and received not His teaching; and therefore they have missed their salvation. {v., 15.] But ye are blessed and a holy race, for ye are not as the people of old, but ye have been saved from ungodliness and idolatry.. And ye are a people of God, and to you have been opened the gates of life, though formerly ye were hateful and despised. But now beingHis elect and beloved (ye are) a holy people unto God, who are worthy to proclaim the wonderful works of our Saviour. For it is said, “ They have found me, who sought not after me; and 1 was manifested to those who thought not of me.” ?’ And He said to the people that did not know ¢ His name,t 7* Behold | have sought you, and ye have not sought me; but ye have believed in me, and hearkened unto my Church, and have been saved from error (even from false) gods, and have followed the One God, the Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ. And ye are reckoned with those who believed on me, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands; and ye were not as Israel who believed not on me. And concerning them it is said, “All the day long I lift up my hands to a disobedient people, who neither hear, nor obey; but walk in an evil way, that is not good; for” (they are) a people who follow after sin, and provoke me to anger continually.” °° {v., 16.] Behold, then, ye have seen that they have transgressed against the Lord, and believed not on Him. Wherefore it is said, “These did provoke the Holy Spirit to anger,” (and) their heart was blinded, and punishment was increased upon them for the wickedness of their imagination. For they said, We believe in Christ, but they believed not that He was the Lord God, who was begotten of the Fatherbefore the Creation, the only-begotten Son, the Word of the Father. But they being lacking in faith knew Him not, and understood not the prophecies of the %* E reads: But now ye are His elect and beloved a holy, etc. 37 Isa 65, 1. , 3° Eth. “my name,’”’ which is unintelligible. The whole phrase is a corruption of the latter part of verse just quoted from Isaiah. For intelligibility either the suffix must be altered as above, or ‘‘I said '’ must be read. 2° Eth. but. ** Isa 65, 2f. *! Eth. (A) omits : the Father. The word is found in E. prophets that were written concerning Him, that Christ should be borne of a virgin, though they read and heard what He saith, ‘‘ Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. for unto us a child was born: unto us a son was given, and the government *? was upon his shoulder, and his name is called Great in counsel, and the Angel of peace; for I will bring peace to the rulers, and life is his, and great is his beginning and of his peace there is no end.” ** And because of the wicked- ness of their doings which was without end (they believed not). Wherefore, it is said, ‘“‘Lord, who believed our word? and to whom hath thine arm been revealed?’ ** And again it is said, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not know, for the heart of this people is darkened.” ** Wherefore wisdom was hidden from them, because, when they saw, they knew not; and when they heard, they understood not.. But ye are Gentiles, and to you hath been given the kingdom, thouyrh formerly ye knew not God, but now ye know Him by a right faith and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Giver of life to all who hope in, Him. Behold ye have abandoned the worship of idols that have no life, and have despised unclean sacrifices, and turned away from the rulers of dark- ness. Wherefore ye have entered into the true light through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Him ** ye have known the One true God, the Father, and have been made inheritors of His kingdom, for ye have been baptized into His death and His resurrection. Ye must needs, then, be as new-born babes that have no evil in their hearts. Put away sin from you, for He hath redeemed you with His precious blood, that ye should worship the living God. In those days the Lord spake concerning Israel in the case of °’ those that believed not: ‘The kingdom of heaven shall be taken from them, and given to a nation that doeth righteous- ness.” *8 But be ye zealous to bring forth the fruit of soundwisdom, for you He sent of old to His vine- yard. And they hearkened not unto you, but hardened their hearts, and rose up against the keepers of the Lords vineyard, and laid hold on them. One they killed, and one they stoned with stones, and one they slew with the sword, and one they sawed asunder, and one they killed in the temple. And the Heir also they killed and rejected Him, and stoned Him [with the stone which the builders rejected].‘° And concerning you it is said, “‘A people whom I knew not, hath served me, and at the hearing of the ear have they obeyed me.’? #!