Opening the library…
Home Bible Corpus Discover You
Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
Anonymous Syrian compiler
Book 6 · Section 3 About this work A large church-order compilation presented in apostolic voices, combining earlier sources with instruction on ethics, worship, ministry, discipline, liturgy, widows, ordination, and ecclesial administration across eight books.
Author Anonymous Syrian compiler
Traditional attribution The Apostles, transmitted through Clement of Rome
Date Late 4th century, incorporating earlier material
Origin Syria (often proposed)
Genre Church Order The compilation incorporates earlier documents and should not be dated or attributed as a single uniform composition.
Sec. III.—The Heresies Attacked by the Apostles. An Exposition of the Preaching of the Apostles. Section 11 XI . But we , who are
‹ Book 6 · Section 2 Book 6 · Section 4 ›the
children
of
God
and
the
sons
of
peace
,
do
preach
the
holy
and
right
word
of
piety
,
and
declare
one
only
God
,
the
Lord
of
the
law
and
of
the
prophets
,
the
Maker
of
the
world
,
the
Father
of
Christ
;
not
a
being
that
caused
Himself
,
or
begat
Himself
,
as
they
suppose
,
but
eternal
,
and
without
original
,
and
inhabiting
light
inaccessible
;
not
two
or
three
,
or
manifold
,
but
eternally
one
only
;
not
a
being
that
cannot
be
known
or
spoken
of
,
but
who
was
preached
by
the
law
and
the
prophets
;
the
Almighty
,
the
Supreme
Governor
of
all
things
,
the
All
-
powerful
Being
;
the
God
and
Father
of
the
Only
-
begotten
,
and
of
the
First
-
born
of
the
whole
creation
;
one
God
,
the
Father
of
one
Son
,
not
of
many
;
the
Maker
of
one
Comforter
by
Christ
,
the
Maker
of
the
other
orders
,
the
one
Creator
of
the
several
creatures
by
Christ
,
the
same
their
Preserver
and
Legislator
by
Him
;
the
cause
of
the
resurrection
,
and
of
the
judgment
,
and
of
the
retribution
which
shall
be
made
by
Him
:
that
this
same
Christ
was
pleased
to
become
man
,
and
went
through
life
without
sin
,
and
suffered
,
and
rose
from
the
dead
,
and
returned
to
Him
that
sent
Him
.
We
also
say
that
every
creature
of
God
is
good
,
and
nothing
abominable
;
that
everything
for
the
support
of
life
,
when
it
is
partaken
of
righteously
,
is
very
good
:
for
,
according
to
the
Scripture
,
“
all
things
were
very
good
.
”
We
believe
that
lawful
marriage
,
and
the
begetting
of
children
,
is
honourable
and
undefiled
;
for
difference
of
sexes
was
formed
in
Adam
and
Eve
for
the
increase
of
mankind
.
We
acknowledge
with
us
a
soul
that
is
incorporeal
and
immortal
,
—
not
corruptible
as
bodies
are
,
but
immortal
,
as
being
rational
and
free
.
We
abhor
all
unlawful
mixtures
,
and
that
which
is
practised
by
some
against
nature
as
wicked
and
impious
.
We
profess
there
will
be
a
resurrection
both
of
the
just
and
unjust
,
and
a
retribution
.
We
profess
that
Christ
is
not
a
mere
man
,
but
God
the
Word
,
and
man
the
Mediator
between
God
and
men
,
the
High
Priest
of
the
Father
;
nor
are
we
circumcised
with
the
Jews
,
as
knowing
that
He
is
come
“
to
whom
the
inheritance
was
reserved
,
”
and
on
whose
account
the
families
were
kept
distinct
—
“
the
expectation
of
the
Gentiles
,
”
Jesus
Christ
,
who
sprang
out
of
Judah
,
the
Son
from
the
branch
,
the
flower
from
Jesse
,
whose
government
is
upon
His
shoulder
.
For Those that Confess Christ, But are Desirous to Judaize.
Section 12 XII . But because this heresy did then seem the more powerful to seduce men , and the whole Church was in danger , we the twelve assembled together at Jerusalem ( for Matthias was chosen to be an apostle in the room of the betrayer , and took the lot of Judas ; as it is said , “ His bishopric let another take ” ) . We deliberated , together with James the Lord’s brother , what was to be done ; and it seemed good to him and to the elders to speak to the people words of doctrine . For certain men likewise went down from Judea to Antioch , and taught the brethren who were there , saying : “ Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses , and walk according to the other customs which he ordained , ye cannot be saved . ” When , therefore , there had been no small dissension and disputation , the brethren which were at Antioch , when they knew that we were all met together about this question , sent out unto us men who were faithful and understanding in the Scriptures to learn concerning this question . And they , when they were come to Jerusalem , declared to us what questions were arisen in the church of Antioch , — namely , that some said men ought to be circumcised , and to observe the other purifications . And when some said one thing , and some another , I Peter stood up , and said unto them : “ Men and brethren , ye know how that from ancient days God made choice among you that the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel by my mouth , and believe ; and God , which knoweth the hearts , bare them witness . For an angel of the Lord appeared on a certain time to Cornelius , who was a centurion of the Roman government , and spake to him concerning me , that he should send for me , and hear the word of life from my mouth . He therefore sent for me from Joppa to Cæsarea Stratonis ; and when I was ready to go to him , I would have eaten . And while they made ready I was in the upper room praying ; and I saw heaven opened , and a vessel , knit at the four corners like a splendid sheet , let down to the earth , wherein were all manner of four - footed beasts , and creeping things of the earth , and fowls of the heaven . And there came a voice out of heaven to me , saying , Arise , Peter ; kill , and eat . And I said , By no means , Lord : for I have never eaten anything common or unclean . And there came a voice a second time , saying , What God hath cleansed , that call not thou common . And this was done thrice , and the vessel was received up again into heaven . But as I doubted what this vision should mean , the Spirit said to me , Behold , men seek thee ; but rise up , and go thy way with them , nothing doubting , for I have sent them . These men were those which came from the centurion , and so by reasoning I understood the word of the Lord which is written : ‘ Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved . ’ And again : ‘ All the ends of the earth shall remember , and turn unto the Lord , and all the families of the heathen shall worship before Him : for the kingdom is in the Lord’s , and He is the governor of the nations . ’ And observing that there were expressions everywhere concerning the calling of the Gentiles , I rose up , and went with them , and entered into the man’s house . And while I was preaching the word , the Holy Spirit fell upon him , and upon those that were with him , as it did upon us at the beginning ; and He put no difference between us and them , purifying their hearts by faith . And I perceived that God is no respecter of persons ; but that in every nation he that feareth Him , and worketh righteousness , will be accepted with Him . But even the believers which were of the circumcision were astonished at this . Now therefore why tempt ye God , to lay an heavy yoke upon the neck of the disciples , which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear ? But by the grace of the Lord , we believe we shall be saved , even as they . For the Lord has loosed us from our bonds , and has made our burden light , and has loosed the heavy yoke from us by His clemency . ” While I spake these things , the whole multitude kept silence . But James the Lord’s brother answered and said : “ Men and brethren , hearken unto me ; Simeon hath declared how God at first visited to take out a people from the Gentiles for His name . And to this agree the words of the prophets ; as it is written : ‘ Afterwards I will return , and will raise again and rebuild the tabernacle of David , which is fallen down ; and I will rebuild its ruins , and will again set it up , that the residue of men may seek after the Lord , and all the nations upon whom my name is called , saith the Lord , who doth these things . ’ Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world . Wherefore my sentence is , that we do not trouble those who from among the Gentiles turn unto God : but to charge them that they abstain from the pollutions of the Gentiles , and from what is sacrificed to idols , and from blood , and from things strangled , and from fornication ; which laws were given to the ancients who lived before the law , under the law of nature , Enos , Enoch , Noah , Melchizedek , Job , and if there be any other of the same sort . ” Then it seemed good to us the apostles , and to James the bishop , and to the elders , with the whole Church , to send men chosen from among our own selves , with Barnabas , and Paul of Tarsus , the apostle of the Gentiles , and Judas who was called Barsabbas , and Silas , chief men among the brethren , and wrote by their hand , as follows : “ The apostles , and elders , and brethren , to the brethren of Antioch , Syria , and Cilicia of the Gentiles , send greeting : Since we have heard that some from us have troubled you with words , subverting your souls , to whom we gave no such commandment , it has seemed good to us , when we were met together with one accord , to send chosen men to you , with our beloved Barnabas and Paul , men that have hazarded their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ , by whom ye sent unto us . We have sent also with them Judas and Silas , who shall themselves declare the same things by mouth . For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost , and to us , to lay no other burden upon you than these necessary things ; that ye abstain from things offered to idols , and from blood , and from things strangled , and from fornication : from which things if ye keep yourselves , ye shall do well . Fare ye well . ” We accordingly sent this epistle ; but we ourselves remained in Jerusalem many days , consulting together for the public benefit , for the well ordering of all things .
That We Must Separate from Heretics.
Section 13 XIII . But after a long time we visited the brethren , and confirmed them with the word of piety , and charged them to avoid those who , under the name of Christ and Moses , war against Christ and Moses , and in the clothing of sheep hide the wolf . For these are false Christs , and false prophets , and false apostles , deceivers and corrupters , portions of foxes , the destroyers of the herbs of the vineyards : “ for whose sake the love of many will wax cold . But he that endureth stedfast to the end , the same shall be saved . ” Concerning whom , that He might secure us , the Lord declared , saying : “ There will come to you men in sheep’s clothing , but inwardly they are ravening wolves . Ye shall know them by their fruits ; take care of them . For false Christs and false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many . ”
Who Were the Preachers of the Catholic Doctrine, and Which are the Commandments Given by Them.
Section 14 XIV . On whose account also we , who are now assembled in one place , — Peter and Andrew ; James and John , sons of Zebedee ; Philip and Bartholomew ; Thomas and Matthew ; James the son of Alphæus , and Lebbæus who is surnamed Thaddæus ; and Simon the Canaanite , and Matthias , who instead of Judas was numbered with us ; and James the brother of the Lord and bishop of Jerusalem , and Paul the teacher of the Gentiles , the chosen vessel , having all met together , have written to you this Catholic doctrine for the confirmation of you , to whom the oversight of the universal Church is committed : wherein we declare unto you , that there is only one God Almighty , besides whom there is no other , and that you must worship and adore Him alone , through Jesus Christ our Lord , in the most holy Spirit ; that you are to make use of the sacred Scriptures , the law , and the prophets ; to honour your parents ; to avoid all unlawful actions ; to believe the resurrection and the judgment , and to expect the retribution ; and to use all His creatures with thankfulness , as the works of God , and having no evil in them ; to marry after a lawful manner , for such marriage is unblameable . For “ the woman is suited to the man by the Lord ; ” and the Lord says : “ He that made them from the beginning , made them male and female ; and said , For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother , and shall cleave unto his wife : and they two shall be one flesh . ” Nor let it be esteemed lawful after marriage to put her away who is without blame . For says He : “ Thou shalt take care to thy spirit , and shalt not forsake the wife of thy youth ; for she is the partner of thy life , and the remains of thy spirit . I and no other have made her . ” For the Lord says : “ What God has joined together , let no man put asunder . ” For the wife is the partner of life , united by God unto one body from two . But he that divides that again into two which is become one , is the enemy of the creation of God , and the adversary of His providence . In like manner , he that retains her that is corrupted is a transgressor of the law of nature ; since “ he that retains an adulteress is foolish and impious . ” For says He , “ Cut her off from thy flesh ; ” for she is not an help , but a snare , bending her mind from thee to another . Nor be ye circumcised in your flesh , but let the circumcision which is of the heart by the Spirit suffice for the faithful ; for He says , “ Be ye circumcised to your God , and be circumcised in the foreskin of your heart . ”
That We Ought Not to Rebaptize, Nor to Receive that Baptism Which is Given by the Ungodly, Which is Not Baptism, But a Pollution.
Section 15 XV . Be ye likewise contented with one baptism alone , that which is into the death of the Lord ; not that which is conferred by wicked heretics , but that which is conferred by unblameable priests , “ in the name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost : ” and let not that which comes from the ungodly be received by you , nor let that which is done by the godly be disannulled by a second . For as there is one God , one Christ , and one Comforter , and one death of the Lord in the body , so let that baptism which is unto Him be but one . But those that receive polluted baptism from the ungodly will become partners in their opinions . For they are not priests . For God says to them : “ Because thou hast rejected knowledge , I will also reject thee from the office of a priest to me . ” Nor indeed are those that are baptized by them initiated , but are polluted , not receiving the remission of sins , but the bond of impiety . And , besides , they that attempt to baptize those already initiated crucify the Lord afresh , slay Him a second time , laugh at divine and ridicule holy things , affront the Spirit , dishonour the sacred blood of Christ as common blood , are impious against Him that sent , Him that suffered , and Him that witnessed . Nay , he that , out of contempt , will not be baptized , shall be condemned as an unbeliever , and shall be reproached as ungrateful and foolish . For the Lord says : “ Except a man be baptized of water and of the Spirit , he shall by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven . ” And again : “ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned . ” But he that says , When I am dying I will be baptized , lest I should sin and defile my baptism , is ignorant of God , and forgetful of his own nature . For “ do not thou delay to turn unto the Lord , for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth . ” Do you also baptize your infants , and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of God . For says He : “ Suffer the little children to come unto me , and forbid them not . ”
Concerning Books with False Inscriptions.
Section 16 XVI . We have sent all these things to you , that ye may know our opinion , what it is ; and that ye may not receive those books which obtain in our name , but are written by the ungodly . For you are not to attend to the names of the apostles , but to the nature of the things , and their settled opinions . For we know that Simon and Cleobius , and their followers , have compiled poisonous books under the name of Christ and of His disciples , and do carry them about in order to deceive you who love Christ , and us His servants . And among the ancients also some have written apocryphal books of Moses , and Enoch , and Adam , and Isaiah , and David , and Elijah , and of the three patriarchs , pernicious and repugnant to the truth . The same things even now have the wicked heretics done , reproaching the creation , marriage , providence , the begetting of children , the law , and the prophets ; inscribing certain barbarous names , and , as they think , of angels , but , to speak the truth , of demons , which suggest things to them : whose doctrine eschew , that ye may not be partakers of the punishment due to those that write such things for the seduction and perdition of the faithful and unblameable disciples of the Lord Jesus .
Matrimonial Precepts Concerning Clergymen.
Section 17 XVII . We have already said , that a bishop , a presbyter , and a deacon , when they are constituted , must be but once married , whether their wives be alive or whether they be dead ; and that it is not lawful for them , if they are unmarried when they are ordained , to be married afterwards ; or if they be then married , to marry a second time , but to be content with that wife which they had when they came to ordination . We also appoint that the ministers , and singers , and readers , and porters , shall be only once married . But if they entered into the clergy before they were married , we permit them to marry , if they have an inclination thereto , lest they sin and incur punishment . But we do not permit any one of the clergy to take to wife either a courtesan , or a servant , or a widow , or one that is divorced , as also the law says . Let the deaconess be a pure virgin ; or , at the least , a widow who has been but once married , faithful , and well esteemed .
An Exhortation Commanding to Avoid the Communion of the Impious Heretics.
Section 18 XVIII . Receive ye the penitent , for this is the will of God in Christ . Instruct the catechumens in the elements of religion , and then baptize them . Eschew the antheistical heretics , who are past repentance , and separate them from the faithful , and excommunicate them from the Church of God , and charge the faithful to abstain entirely from them , and not to partake with them either in sermons or prayers : for these are those that are enemies to the Church , and lay snares for it ; who corrupt the flock , and defile the heritage of Christ , pretenders only to wisdom , and the vilest of men ; concerning whom Solomon the wise said : “ The wicked doers pretend to act piously . ” For , says he , “ there is a way which seemeth right to some , but the ends thereof look to the bottom of hell . ” These are they concerning whom the Lord declared His mind with bitterness and severity , saying that “ they are false Christs and false teachers ; ” who have blasphemed the Spirit of grace , and done despite to the gift they had from Him after the grace of baptism , “ to whom forgiveness shall not be granted , neither in this world nor in that which is to come ; ” who are both more wicked than the Jews and more atheistical than the Gentiles ; who blaspheme the God over all , and tread under foot His Son , and do despite to the doctrine of the Spirit ; who deny the words of God , or pretend hypocritically to receive them , to the affronting of God , and the deceiving of those that come among them ; who abuse the Holy Scriptures , and as for righteousness , they do not so much as know what it is ; who spoil the Church of God , as the “ little foxes do the vineyard ; ” whom we exhort you to avoid , lest you lay traps for your own souls . “ For he that walketh with wise men shall be wise , but he that walketh with the foolish shall be known . ” For we ought neither to run along with a thief , nor put in our lot with an adulterer ; since holy David says : “ O Lord , I have hated them that hate Thee , and I am withered away on account of Thy enemies . I hated them with a perfect hatred : they were to me as enemies . ” And God reproaches Jehoshaphat with his friendship towards Ahab , and his league with him and with Ahaziah , by Jonah the prophet : “ Art thou in friendship with a sinner ? Or dost thou aid him that is hated by the Lord ? ” “ For this cause the wrath of the Lord would be upon thee suddenly , but that thy heart is found perfect with the Lord . For this cause the Lord hath spared thee ; yet are thy works shattered , and thy ships broken to pieces . ” Eschew therefore their fellowship , and estrange yourselves from their friendship . For concerning them did the prophet declare , and say : “ It is not lawful to rejoice with the ungodly , ” says the Lord . For these are hidden wolves , dumb dogs , that cannot bark , who at present are but few , but in process of time , when the end of the world draws nigh , will be more in number and more troublesome , of whom said the Lord , “ Will the Son of man , when He comes , find faith on the earth ? ” and , “ Because iniquity shall abound , the love of many shall wax cold ; ” and , “ There shall come false Christs and false prophets , and shall show signs in the heaven , so as , if it were possible , to deceive the elect : ” from whose deceit God , through Jesus Christ , who is our hope , will deliver us . For we ourselves , as we passed through the nations , and confirmed the churches , curing some with much exhortation and healing words , restored them again when they were in the certain way to death . But those that were incurable we cast out from the flock , that they might not infect the lambs , which were found with their scabby disease , but might continue before the Lord God pure and undefiled , sound and unspotted . And this we did in every city , everywhere through the whole world , and have left to you the bishops and to the rest of the priests this very Catholic doctrine worthily and righteously , as a memorial or confirmation to those who have believed in God ; and we have sent it by our fellow - minister Clement , our most faithful and intimate son in the Lord , together with Barnabas , and Timothy our most dearly beloved son , and the genuine Mark , together with whom we recommend to you also Titus and Luke , and Jason and Lucius , and Sosipater .
Notes 1 Gen. i. 31.
2 Gen xlix. 10.
3 Gen. xlix. 9
4 Isa. xi. 1, ix. 6
5 Acts xv
6 Ps. cix. 8; Acts i. 20. [The name common to apostles and elders.]
7 Acts xv. 1.
8 Acts. xv. 7, 8.
9 Acts x.
10 Acts x. 13, etc.
11 Joel ii. 32
12 Ps. xxii. 27, 28
13 Acts xi. 15, x. 34, 35, 45, xv. 9, 10
14 16 [Compare Elucidation III. vol. v. p. 411, this series.]
19 Matt. vii. 15, xxiv. 24.
21 One V. ms. reads as follows: “And our Lord Jesus Christ, and the most holy Spirit.”
24 The words from “for she is the partner” to “made her” are omitted in one V. ms.
31 Hos. iv. 6. [Compare vol. v. p. 565, this series.]
34 Ecclus. v. 7; Prov. xxvii. 1, iii. 28.
36 1 Tim. iii. 2, 12; Tit. i. 6.
37 [See Elucidation XIII. vol. v. p. 160, this series.]
38 Lev. xxi. 7, 14; 1 Tim. v. 9.
