Chapter V. [2427] --The Way of Death.
1. And the way of death [2428] is this: First of all it is evil and full of curse: [2429] murders, [2430] adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rapines, false witnessings, hypocrisies, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; 2. persecutors of the good, [2431] hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving [2432] to good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities, pursuing requital, not pitying a poor man, not labouring for the afflicted, not knowing Him that made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork of God, turning away from him that is in want, afflicting him that is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. [2433] Be delivered, children, from all these. [2434]
[2427] This chapter finds nearly exact parallels in Barnabas, xx., and Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 18, but with curious variations.
[2428] Barnabas has "darkness," but afterwards "way of eternal death."
[2429] Not in Apostolic Constitutions, and no exact parallel in Barnabas.
[2430] Of the twenty-two sins named in this verse, Barnabas gives fourteen, in differing order, and in the singular; Apostolic Constitutions gives all but one (upsos, "loftiness" "haughtiness"), in the same order, and with the same change from plural to singular.
[2431] This verse appears almost word for word in Barnabas, with two additional clauses.
[2432] The Apostolic Constitutions give a parallel from this point; verbally exact from the phrase, "not for that which is good."
[2433] The word panthamartetoi occurs only here, and in the parallel passage in Barnabas (rendered in this edition "who are in every respect transgressors," vol. i. [262]p. 149), and in Apostolic Constitutions (rendered "full of sin"). A similar term occurs in the recently recovered portion of 2 Clement, xviii., where Bishop Lightfoot renders, as above, "an utter sinner."
[2434] Found verbatim in Apostolic Constitutions, not in Barnabas: with the latter there is no further parallel, except a few phrases in chap. xvi. 2, 3 (which see).
Chapter VI. [2435] --Against False Teachers, and Food Offered to Idols.
1. See that no one cause thee to err [2436] from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teacheth thee. 2. For if thou art able to bear all the yoke [2437] of the Lord, thou wilt be perfect; but if thou art not able, what thou art able that do. 3. And concerning food, [2438] bear what thou art able; but against that which is sacrificed to idols [2439] be exceedingly on thy guard; for it is the service of dead gods. [2440]
[2435] Of this chapter, two phrases and one entire clause are found in Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 19-21.
[2436] Comp. Matt. xxiv . 4 (Greek); Revised Version, "lead you astray:" Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 19.
[2437] Or, "the whole yoke." Those who accept the Jewish-Christian authorship refer this to the ceremonial law. It seems quite as likely to mean ascetic regulations. Of these there are many traces, even in the New-Testament churches.
[2438] Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 20, begins with a similar phrase, but is explicitly against asceticism in this respect. The precepts here do not indicate any such spirit as that opposed by Paul.
[2439] Comp. Acts xv. 20, 29; 1 Cor. viii. 4, etc., x. 18, etc. (Rom. xiv. 20 refers to ascetic abstinence.) This prohibition had a necessary permanence; comp. Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 21.
[2440] Comp. the same phrase in 2 Clement, iii. This chapter closes the first part of the Teaching, that supposed to be intended for catechumens. The absence of doctrinal statement does not necessarily prove the existence of a circle of Gentile Christians where the Pauline theology was unknown. If such a circle existed, emphasizing the ethical side of Christianity to the exclusion of its doctrinal basis, it disappeared very soon. From the nature of the case, that kind of Christianity is intellectually weak and necessarily short-lived.
Chapter VII.--Concerning Baptism.
1. And concerning baptism, [2441] thus baptize ye: [2442] Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, [2443] in living water. [2444] 2. But if thou have not living water, baptize into other water; and if thou canst not in cold, in warm. 3. But if thou have not either, pour out water thrice [2445] upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. 4. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whatever others can; but thou shalt order the baptized to fast one or two days before. [2446]
[2441] Verse 1 is found, well-nigh entire, in Apostolic Constitutions vii. 22, but besides this only a few words of verses 2 and 4. The chapter has naturally called out much discussion as to the mode of baptism.
[2442] [Elucidation I.]
[2443] Matt. xxviii. 19.
[2444] Probably running water.
[2445] The previous verses point to immersion; this permits pouring in certain cases, which indicates that this mode was not unknown. The trine application of the water, and its being poured on the head, are both significant.
[2446] The fasting of the baptized is enjoined in Apostolic Constitutions, but that of the baptizer (and others) is peculiar to this document.