Apostolic Constitutions, Book VII 1

Presented as the teaching of the twelve apostles, arranged and sent out by Clement of Rome; actual compiler unknown. The Apostolic Constitutions are a Syrian church order of about AD 375-380, in eight books, reworking and expanding older material (the Didascalia, the Didache, and the Apostolic Tradition) in Book VII from the Didache. Book VII: the Two Ways of life and death, the formation of believers, the thanksgivings at the Eucharist and over the ointment, baptism and the instruction of catechumens, fasting, the list of bishops the apostles ordained, and daily prayers. A church-order text, not scripture in kind.

1The lawgiver Moses said to the Israelites, Behold, I have set before your face the way of life and the way of death; and added, Choose life, that you may live. Elijah the prophet also said to the people: How long will you halt with both your legs? If the Lord be God, follow Him. The Lord Jesus also said justly: No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. We also, following our teacher Christ, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe, are obliged to say that there are two ways — the one of life, the other of death; which have no comparison one with another, for they are very different, or rather entirely separate; and the way of life is that of nature, but that of death was afterwards introduced — it not being according to the mind of God, but from the snares of the adversary.