First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 6: The Church

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love of money, and every kind of evil, knowing that they are the altar of God. He clearly perceives all things and nothing is hidden from Him, neither reasonings, nor reflections, nor any of the secret things of the heart. Other Relationships P olycarp to the P hilippians 5 b : In like manner, let the young men also be blameless in all things. They should be especially careful to preserve purity and keep themselves away from every kind of evil as with a bridle. For it is well that they should be cut off from the lusts that are in the world, since “every lust battles against the spirit” ( 1 Pet 2:11 ). And “neither the sexually immoral . . . nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality . . . will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor 6:9–10), nor those who do things inconsistent and unbecoming. For this reason, it is needful to abstain from all these things, being subject to the elders and deacons, as unto God and Christ. The virgins also must walk in a blameless and pure conscience.

S acraments

Baptism and Eucharist 2 D idache 7: And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first taught all these things, baptize into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in running water. But if you have no running water, baptize into some other water. If you cannot do so in cold water,

2 Eucharist – The word “Eucharist” comes from the biblical Greek word that means “thanksgiving.” Other words for Eucharist include “Lord’s Supper” or “Communion.”