The Second Commandment: Gross Sin Forbidden.
1. And the second commandment of the Teaching; 2. Thou shalt not commit murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, [2390] thou shalt not commit pæderasty, [2391] thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, [2392] thou shalt not practice magic, thou shalt not practice witchcraft, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten. [2393] Thou shalt not covet the things of thy neighbour, [2394] 3. thou shalt not forswear thyself, [2395] thou shalt not bear false witness, [2396] thou shalt not speak evil, thou shalt bear no grudge. [2397] 4. Thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued; for to be double-tongued is a snare of death. [2398] 5. Thy speech shall not be false, nor empty, but fulfilled by deed. [2399] 6. Thou shalt not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor evil disposed, nor haughty. Thou shalt not take evil counsel against thy neighbour. [2400] 7. Thou shalt not hate any man; but some thou shalt reprove, [2401] and concerning some thou shalt pray, and some thou shalt love more than thy own life. [2402]

Footnotes:

[2389] The chapter, except this opening sentence and part of verse 7, is found in Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 2-5; but the precepts are separated and enlarged upon.

[2390] Exodus 20:13, 14.

[2391] Or, "corrupt boys," as in the version of Apostolic Constitutions.

[2392] Exodus 20:15.

[2393] Comp. Exodus 21:22, 23. The Codex reads gennethenta, which Schaff renders "the new-born child." Bryennios substitutes gennethen, which is accepted by most editors, and rendered as above.

[2394] Exodus 20:17.

[2395] Matthew 5:34.

[2396] Exodus 20:16.

[2397] Rendered "nor shalt thou be mindful of injuries" in version of Apostolic Constitutions.

[2398] So Barnabas, xix.

[2399] Verse 5, except the first clause, occurs only here.

[2400] Latter half of verse 6 in Barnabas, xix.

[2401] Leviticus 19:17; Apostolic Constitutions.

[2402] Or, "soul." The last part of the clause is found in Barnabas; but "and concerning some...pray, and some" has no parallel. An interesting verse in its literary history.

chapter i the two ways the
Top of Page
Top of Page