Didascalia Apostolorum 4

1[ii. 1] But concerning the bishopric, hear ye. The pastor who is appointed bishop and head among the presbytery in the Church in every congregation, it is required of him that he be blameless, in nothing reproachable [1Tim 3.2; Tit 1.7], one remote from all evil, a man not less than fifty years of age, who is now removed from the manners of youth [2Tim 2.22] and from the lusts of the Enemy, and from the slander and blasphemy of false brethren, which they bring against many because they understand not that word which is said in the Gospel: Every one that shall [] say an idle word, shall give an answer concerning it to the Lord in the day of judgement:? for from thy words thou shalt be justified, and from thy words thou shalt be condemned [Mt 12.36-37]. But if it be possible, let him be instructed and apt to teach; but if he know not letters, let him be versed and skilled in the word, and let him be advanced in years. But if the congregation be a small one, and there be not found a man advanced in years of whom they give testimony that he is wise and suitable to stand in the bishopric:? but there be found there one who is young, of whom they that are with him give testimony that he is worthy to stand in the bishopric, and who, though he is young, yet by meekness and quietness of conduct shows maturity:? let him be proved whether all give testimony concerning him, and so let him sit in peace.? For Solomon also at the age of twelve years reigned over Israel; and Josiah at the age of eight years reigned with righteousness; and Joash likewise reigned when seven years old. Wherefore, even though he be young, yet let him be meek and fearful and quiet; for the Lord God said in Isaiah: On whom shall I look and take pleasure (in him), but on the quiet and meek, that trembleth at my words? [Isa 66.2; cf. Did 3.8] And in the Gospel also He spoke thus: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth [Mt 5.5; cf. Did 3.7]. And let him be merciful; for He said again in the Gospel thus: Blessed are the merciful, for upon them there shall be mercy [Mt 5.7]. And again let him be a peacemaker; for He saith : Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God [Mt 5.9]. And let him be clear of all [] evil and wrong and iniquity; for He saith again: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God [Mt 5.8]. [ii. 2] And let him be watchful and chaste and staid and orderly; and let him not be turbulent, and let him not be one that exceeds in wine ; and let him not be a backbiter; but let him be quiet, and not be quarrelsome; and let him not (p. 11) be money-loving [1Tim 3.2-3]. And let him not be youthful in mind, lest he be lifted up and fall into the judgement of Satan [1Tim 3.6]:? for everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled [Lk 14.11; 18.14]. But it is required that the bishop be thus:? a man that hath taken one wife, that hath governed his house well [1Tim 3.2, 4]. And thus let him be proved when he receives the imposition of hands to sit in the office of the bishopric:? whether he be chaste, and whether his wife also be a believer and chaste; and whether he has brought up his children in the fear of God, and admonished and taught them; and whether his household fear and reverence him, and all of them obey him.? For if his household in the flesh withstand him and obey him not, how shall they that are without his house become his, and be subject to him? [1Tim 3.4-5] [ii. 3] And let him be proved whether he be without blemish in the things of the world, and likewise in his body; for it is written: See that there be no blemish in him that standeth up to be priest [cf. Lev 14.11]. But let him be also without anger; for the Lord saith:? Anger destroyeth even the wise [Prov 15.1]. And let him be merciful and gracious and full of love; for the Lord saith: Love covereth a multitude of sins [cf. 1Pt 4.8; Prov 10.12]. [ii.4] And let his hand be open to give; and let him love the orphans with the widows, and be a lover of the poor and of strangers. And let him be alert in his ministry, and constant in ministration; and let him be afflicting his soul, and not be one that is put to confusion. And let him know who is the more [] worthy to receive; for if there be a widow who has (some- what), or is able to nourish herself with that which she needs for her bodily sustenance; and there be another who, though she is not a widow, is in want, whether by reason of sickness, or of the rearing of children, or of bodily infirmity: to this (latter) rather let him stretch out his hand. But if there be any man who is dissolute, or drunken, or idle, and he be in straits for bodily nourishment, the same is not worthy of an alms, neither of the Church. [ii. 5] And let the bishop be also without respect of persons, and let him not defer to the rich nor favour them unduly; and let him not disregard or neglect the poor, nor be lifted up against them. And let him be scant and poor in his food and drink, that he may be able to be watchful in admonishing and correcting those who are undisciplined. And let him not be crafty and extravagant, nor luxurious, nor pleasure-loving, nor fond of dainty meats. And let him not be resentful, but let him be patient in his admonition; and let him be assiduous in his teaching, (p. 12) and constant in reading the divine Scriptures with diligence, that he may interpret and expound the Scriptures fittingly. And let him compare the Law and the Prophets with the Gospel, so that the sayings of the Law and the Prophets may be in accord with the Gospel. But before all let him be a good discriminator between the Law and the Second Legislation, that he may distinguish and show what is the Law of the faithful, and what are the bonds of them that believe not; lest anyone of those under thy authority take the bonds for the Law, and lay upon himself heavy burdens, and become a son of perdition. Be diligent [] therefore and attentive to the word, O bishop, so that, if thou canst, thou explain every saying: that with much doctrine thou mayest abundantly nourish and give drink to thy people; for it is written in Wisdom: Be careful of the herb of the field, that thou mayest shear thy flock: and gather the grass of summer, that thou mayest have sheep for thy clothing:? give attention and care to thy pasture, that thou mayest have lambs [Prov 27.25-26]. [ii. 6] Let not the bishop therefore be a lover of filthy lucre [1Tim 3.8], and especially from the heathen. Let him be suffering a wrong, and not doing a wrong; and let him not love riches.? And let him not think ill of any man, nor bear false witness; and let him not be wrathful, nor quarrelsome; and let him not love the presidency; and let him not be double-minded nor double-tongued [cf. Did 2.4], nor given to incline his ear to words of slander and murmuring; and let him be no respecter of persons. And let him not love the festivals of the heathen, nor occupy himself with vain error. And let him not be lustful, nor money-loving:? for all these things are of the agency or demons. Now all these things let the bishop command and enjoin upon all the people. And let him be wise and lowly; and let him be admonishing and teaching with the doctrine and discipline of God. And let him be of a noble mind, and aloof from all the evil artifices of this world, and from all the evil lust of the heathen. And let his mind be keen to discern, that he may know beforehand them that are evil:? and do you keep yourselves from them. But let him be the friend of all, being a righteous judge. And whatever of good [] there be that is found in men, let the same be in the bishop. For when the pastor shall be remote from all evil, he will be able to constrain his disciples also and encourage them by his good manners to be imitators of his good works; as (p. 13) the Lord has said in the Twelve Prophets: The people shall be even as the priest [Hos 4.9]. For it behoves you to be an example to the people, for you also have Christ for an example. Be you therefore also a good example to your people, for the Lord said in Ezekiel:? 1And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying:? 2Son of man, speak to the sons of thy people, and say unto them:? When I bring the sword upon a land, let the people of that land take one man from among them and make him their watchman:? 3and he shall see the sword coming upon the land, and shall blow the trumpet and warn the people, 4and everyone that heareth the sound of the trumpet shall give ear.? And if he take not warning, and the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his head.? 5Because he heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning, his blood shall be upon his head. But he that took warning hath delivered his soul.? 6But if the watchman see the sword coming, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned, and the sword come and take away a soul from them:? he hath been taken away in his sins, and his blood will I require at the hands of the watchman [Ezk 33.1-6].? Now the sword is the judgement, and the trumpet is the Gospel, but the watchman is the bishop who is set over the Church.