Apostolic Constitutions 8.46.1–8.48.3

Anonymous · Apostolic Constitutions · ca. 380 · Antioch (probably) · 12 passages

Pseudonymous: Presented as the teaching of the apostles, handed down by Clement of Rome; the compiler is anonymous (often linked with the interpolator of the long recension of Ignatius).

Greek text: Funk 1905.English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).

Apostolic 8, chapter 46

8.46.1Funk 1:556

Ἐκεῖνο δὲ κοινῇ πάντες παραγγέλλομεν, ἕκαστον ἐμμένειν τῇ τάξει τῇ δοθείσῃ αὐτῷ καὶ μὴ ὑπερβαίνειν τοὺς ὅρους· οὐ γάρ εἰσιν ἡμέτεροι, ἀλλὰ τοῦ θεοῦ. Ὁ ὑμῶν γάρ, φησὶν ὃ κύριος, ἀκούων ἐμοῦ ἀκούει, καὶ ὃ ἐμοῦ ἀκούων ἀκούει τοῦ ἀποστείλαντός με· καὶ ὃ ὑμᾶς ἀθετῶν ἐμὲ ἀθετεῖ, ὁ δὲ ἐμὲ ἀθετῶν ἀθετεῖ τὸν ἀποστείλαντά με.

Ekeino de koinę̄ pantes parangellomen, hekaston emmenein tę̄ taxei tę̄ dotheisę̄ autǭ kai mē hyperbainein tous horous; ou gar eisin hēmeteroi, alla tou theou. Ho hymōn gar, phēsin ho kyrios, akouōn emou akouei, kai ho emou akouōn akouei tou aposteilantos me; kai ho hymas athetōn eme athetei, ho de eme athetōn athetei ton aposteilanta me.

And this we all together charge, that each remain in the rank given to him and not overstep the limits; for they are not ours but God's. “For he who hears you,” says the Lord, “hears me, and he who hears me hears him who sent me; and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Luke 10:16 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 10:40 (allusion, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Each must keep to the rank given him, for the orders are God's.

Luke 10:16; Matt 10:40.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): Ἐχεῖνο → Ἐκεῖνο; ς" → ς· ; εἶσιν → εἰσιν; ,Ὁ → Ὁ; ν“ → ν ; ut' → με·; 0 δὲ ἐμὲ → ὁ δὲ ἐμὲ; us'. → με..

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.1 (Funk 1:556; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek of Funk, Didascalia et Constitutiones Apostolorum (1905; OCR made for this site, slips corrected as logged corrections) and compared afterwards with ANF 7.

8.46.2Funk 1:556

εἰ γὰρ τὰ ἄψυχα γενόμενα τὴν εὐταξίαν ἀποσῴζει, οἷον νύξ, ἡμέρα, ἥλιος, σελήνη, ἄστρα, στοιχεῖα, τροπαί, μῆνες, ἑβδομάδες, ἡμέραι, ὧραι, καὶ δουλεύει τῇ διατυπωθείσῃ χρείᾳ κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον· Ὅριον ἔθου, ὃ οὐ παρελεύσεται, καὶ πάλιν περὶ τῆς θαλάσσης· Ἐθέμην αὐτῇ ὅρια περιθεὶς κλεῖθρα καὶ πύλας, εἶπα δὲ αὐτῇ μέχρι τούτου ἐλεύσῃ καὶ οὐχ ὑπερβήσῃ πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμεῖς οὐδὲν ὀφείλετε τολμᾶν παρακινεῖν τῶν ὑμῖν κατὰ γνώμην θεοῦ παρ᾽ ἡμῶν ὁρισθέντων;

ei gar ta apsycha genomena tēn eutaxian aposǭzei, hoion nyx, hēmera, hēlios, selēnē, astra, stoicheia, tropai, mēnes, hebdomades, hēmerai, hōrai, kai douleuei tę̄ diatypōtheisę̄ chreią kata to eirēmenon; Horion ethou, ho ou pareleusetai, kai palin peri tēs thalassēs; Ethemēn autę̄ horia peritheis kleithra kai pylas, eipa de autę̄ mechri toutou eleusę̄ kai ouch hyperbēsę̄ posǭ mallon hymeis ouden opheilete tolman parakinein tōn hymin kata gnōmēn theou par᾽ hēmōn horisthentōn?

For if lifeless created things keep good order (night, day, sun, moon, stars, elements, seasons, months, weeks, days, hours) and serve the purpose appointed for them, according to what is said, “You set a limit, which it shall not pass,” and again concerning the sea, “I set bounds for it, placing bars and gates around it, and I said to it, Thus far you shall come and not pass beyond”: how much more ought you not to dare to disturb any of the things determined for you by us according to the mind of God?

Ps 104:9 (103:9 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Job 38:10–11 (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: As creation keeps its bounds, the clergy must keep the order set for them.

Ps 104:9 (103:9 LXX); Job 38:10–11.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR slip; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): el γὰρ → εἰ γὰρ; ἀποσόζει → ἀποσῴζει; " (Ὅριον → · Ὅριον; ι“, → ι,; " ,, → · ; ῃ“ → ῃ .

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.2 (Funk 1:556; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.46.3Funk 1:556–558

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπειδὴ πάρεργον οἱ πολλοὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἡγήσαντο εἶναι, συγχέειν δὲ τὰς τάξεις καὶ τὴν ἐφ᾽ ἑκάστου χειροτονίαν παρακινεῖν τολμῶσιν, ὑφαρπάζοντες ἑαυτοῖς ἀξιώματα τὰ μὴ δεδομένα καὶ ἐπιτρέποντες ἑαυτοῖς τυραννικῶς, ἃ μὴ ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν διδόναι, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο παροργίζουσι μὲν θεόν, ὥσπερ οἱ Κορεῖται καὶ ὃ βασιλεὺς Ὀζίας, παρ᾽ ἀξίαν ἐπιθέμενοι ἄνευ θεοῦ τῇ ἀρχιερωσύνῃ καὶ γενόμενοι οἱ μὲν πυρίφλεκτοι, ὃ δὲ κατὰ τοῦ μετώπου λεπρός, παροξύνουσι δὲ καὶ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν διαταξάμενον, λυποῦσι δὲ καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἀκυροῦντες αὐτοῦ τὴν μαρτυρίαν·

all᾽ epeidē parergon hoi polloi kai touto hēgēsanto einai, syncheein de tas taxeis kai tēn eph᾽ hekastou cheirotonian parakinein tolmōsin, hypharpazontes heautois axiōmata ta mē dedomena kai epitrepontes heautois tyrannikōs, ha mē echousin exousian didonai, kai dia touto parorgizousi men theon, hōsper hoi Koreitai kai ho basileus Ozias, par᾽ axian epithemenoi aneu theou tę̄ archierōsynę̄ kai genomenoi hoi men pyriphlektoi, ho de kata tou metōpou lepros, paroxynousi de kai Christon Iēsoun ton diataxamenon, lypousi de kai to pneuma to hagion akyrountes autou tēn martyrian;

But since most people have thought this too a trifle, and dare to confuse the orders and disturb the ordination proper to each, seizing for themselves ranks not given them, and tyrannically permitting themselves what they have no authority to give, and by this they provoke God, like the Korahites and King Uzziah, who laid hands on the high priesthood beyond their rank and without God and became, the former burned with fire, the latter leprous on the forehead; and they provoke Christ Jesus also, who ordained it, and “grieve the Holy Spirit” too, annulling his testimony:

Num 16:35 (allusion, high confidence) · 2 Chr 26:19 (allusion, high confidence) · Eph 4:30 (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Usurping clerical functions provokes God, as Korah and Uzziah found.

Num 16:35; 2 Chr 26:19; Eph 4:30.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): xol τὴ» ἐφ᾽ → καὶ τὴν ἐφ᾽; Ὀξίας → Ὀζίας; παραξύνουσι → παροξύνουσι; ,λ → λ; ν“ → ν ; αν" → αν·.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.3 (Funk 1:556–558; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.46.4Funk 1:558

εἰκότως τὸν ἐπηρτημένον κίνδυνον τοῖς τὰ τοιαῦτα πράττουσι προϊδόμενοι καὶ τὴν εἰς τὰς θυσίας καὶ εὐχαριστίας ἀμέλειαν ἐκ τοῦ ὑφ᾽ ὧν μὴ χρὴ προσαγομένας ἀσεβῶς, παιδιὰν ἡγουμένων τὴν ἀρχιερατικὴν τιμήν, ἥτις μίμησιν περιέχει τοῦ μεγάλου ἀρχιερέως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ βασιλέως ἡμῶν, ἀνάγκην ἔσχομεν καὶ τοῦτο παραινέσαι, ἤδη γάρ τινες ἐξετράπησαν ὀπίσω τῆς ἑαυτῶν ματαιότητος.

eikotōs ton epērtēmenon kindynon tois ta toiauta prattousi proïdomenoi kai tēn eis tas thysias kai eucharistias ameleian ek tou hyph᾽ hōn mē chrē prosagomenas asebōs, paidian hēgoumenōn tēn archieratikēn timēn, hētis mimēsin periechei tou megalou archiereōs Iēsou Christou tou basileōs hēmōn, anankēn eschomen kai touto parainesai, ēdē gar tines exetrapēsan opisō tēs heautōn mataiotētos.

we, rightly foreseeing the danger that hangs over those who do such things, and the neglect of the sacrifices and eucharists, which are offered impiously by those who should not offer them, men who think the high-priestly honor a game, though it contains an imitation of the great High Priest Jesus Christ our King, have found it necessary to give this exhortation also; for already some “have turned aside after” their own vanity.

1 Tim 5:15 (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The apostles warn against those who offer sacrifice without authority.

1 Tim 5:15.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed): Og ὧν → ὑφ᾽ ὧν; βασιλέω: → βασιλέως; ι", → ι,; ω“ → ω .

Topics: Church office, Eucharist

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.4 (Funk 1:558; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.46.5Funk 1:558

λέγομεν δὲ ὡς, Μωσῆς ὃ τοῦ θεοῦ θεράπων, ᾧ ὁ θεὸς ἐνώπιος ἐνωπίῳ ὡμίλει, ὡς εἴ τις λαλήσει πρὸς ἑαυτοῦ φίλον, ᾧ εἶπεν· Οἷδά σε παρὰ πάντας· ᾧ κατὰ πρόσωπον ὡμίλει καὶ οὐ δι᾽ ἀδήλων ἢ ἐνυπνίων ἢ ἀγγέλων ἢ αἰνιγμάτων· οὗτος, ἡνίκα τὴν θείαν νομοθεσίαν διετάσσετο, διεῖλεν, τίνα μὲν χρὴ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀρχιερέων ἐπιτελεῖσθαι, τίνα δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν ἱερέων, τίνα δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν λευιτῶν, ἑκάστῳ τὴν οἰκείαν καὶ ἀνήκουσαν τῇ λειτουργίᾳ θρησκείαν ἀπονείμας.

legomen de hōs, Mōsēs ho tou theou therapōn, hǭ ho theos enōpios enōpiǭ hōmilei, hōs ei tis lalēsei pros heautou philon, hǭ eipen; Hoida se para pantas; hǭ kata prosōpon hōmilei kai ou di᾽ adēlōn ē enypniōn ē angelōn ē ainigmatōn; houtos, hēnika tēn theian nomothesian dietasseto, dieilen, tina men chrē hypo tōn archiereōn epiteleisthai, tina de hypo tōn hiereōn, tina de hypo tōn leuitōn, hekastǭ tēn oikeian kai anēkousan tę̄ leitourgią thrēskeian aponeimas.

And we say that Moses, “the servant of God,” with whom God “spoke face to face, as a man would speak to his own friend,” to whom he said, “I know you above all,” with whom he spoke face to face and not through obscure things or dreams or angels or riddles: he, when he was ordaining the divine legislation, distinguished what must be performed by the high priests, what by the priests, and what by the Levites, assigning to each the service proper to his ministry and belonging to it.

Num 12:7–8 (allusion, high confidence) · Exod 33:11 (quotation, high confidence) · Exod 33:17 (quotation, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Moses distinguished the duties of high priests, priests and Levites.

Num 12:7–8; Exod 33:11, 17.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR slip; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): “, o ὃ θεὸς,, ἐνώπιος → , ᾧ ὁ θεὸς ἐνώπιος; ον“, → ον, ; " » → · ; πάντας“ ; d κατὰ πρόσωπον → πάντας· ᾧ κατὰ πρόσωπον; évonνίων → ἐνυπνίων; ων" ο → ων· ο.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.5 (Funk 1:558; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.46.6Funk 1:558

καὶ ἅπερ μὲν τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν προσετέτακτο ἐπιτελεῖν, τούτοις τοὺς ἱερέας οὐ θεμιτὸν ἦν προσιέναι, ἅπερ δὲ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ὥριστο, τούτοις οἱ λευῖται οὐ προσῄεσαν, ἀλλ᾽ ἕκαστοι ἅσπερ παρειλήφεισαν ὑπηρεσίας περιγεγραμμένας ἐφύλαττον· εἰ δὲ τις πέρα τῆς παραδόσεως προσιέναι ἐβούλετο, θάνατος ἦν τὸ ἐπιτίμιον.

kai haper men tois archiereusin prosetetakto epitelein, toutois tous hiereas ou themiton ēn prosienai, haper de tois hiereusin hōristo, toutois hoi leuitai ou prosę̄esan, all᾽ hekastoi hasper pareilēpheisan hypēresias perigegrammenas ephylatton; ei de tis pera tēs paradoseōs prosienai ebouleto, thanatos ēn to epitimion.

And what the high priests had been commanded to perform, it was not lawful for the priests to approach; and what had been appointed to the priests, the Levites did not approach; but each kept the ministries they had received, as they were defined; and if anyone wished to go beyond the tradition, death was the penalty.

Num 18:1–7 (allusion, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Under Moses each order kept to its own functions on pain of death.

Num 18:1–7.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): θεμιτὸν "v → θεμιτὸν ἦν; προσηεσαν → προσῄεσαν; ν" → ν· .

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.6 (Funk 1:558; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.46.7Funk 1:558

τοῦτο δὲ μάλιστα διέδειξεν καὶ ἡ κατὰ τὸν Σαοὺλ πεῖρα, ὃς θῦσαι νενομικὼς δίχα τοῦ προφήτου καὶ ἀρχιερέως Σαμουὴλ ἔσπασεν εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ κατάραν ἀναπόβλητον, καὶ οὐδὲ τὸ κεχρῖσθαι ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἰς βασιλέα ἐδυσώπησε τὸν προφήτην.

touto de malista diedeixen kai hē kata ton Saoul peira, hos thysai nenomikōs dicha tou prophētou kai archiereōs Samouēl espasen eis heauton hamartian kai kataran anapoblēton, kai oude to kechristhai hyp᾽ autou eis basilea edysōpēse ton prophētēn.

And this the case of Saul showed above all, who, having thought fit to sacrifice without the prophet and high priest Samuel, drew upon himself sin and a curse that could not be cast off, and not even his having been anointed king by Samuel moved the prophet.

1 Sam 13:8–14 (allusion, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Saul was condemned for sacrificing without Samuel.

1 Sam 13:8–14.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip): ἣ κατὰ → ἡ κατὰ.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.7 (Funk 1:558; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.46.8Funk 1:558–560

ἐνεργεστέρᾳ δὲ τῇ πράξει διέδειξεν ὃ θεὸς ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν Ὀζίαν οὐκ ἐν μελλησμῷ τὰς ἐπὶ τῇ παρανομίᾳ εἰσπραξάμενος δίκας· καὶ ὁ τῆς ἀρχιερωσύνης καταμανεὶς καὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἀλλότριος κατέστη.

energesterą de tę̄ praxei diedeixen ho theos en tois kata ton Ozian ouk en mellēsmǭ tas epi tę̄ paranomią eispraxamenos dikas; kai ho tēs archierōsynēs katamaneis kai tēs basileias allotrios katestē.

And God showed it by a more effective deed in the case of Uzziah, exacting the penalty for his lawlessness without delay; and he who raged after the high priesthood became a stranger to the kingship as well.

2 Chr 26:16–21 (allusion, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Uzziah lost his kingship for usurping the priesthood.

2 Chr 26:16–21.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): iv toic → ἐν τοῖς; ς" → ς· ; κατέδτη → κατέστη.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.8 (Funk 1:558–560; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.46.9Funk 1:560–564

τὰ δὲ ἐφ᾽ ἡμῶν ἴσως οὐκ ἀγνοεῖτε. ἴστε γὰρ πάντως ἐπισκόπους παρ᾽ ἡμῶν ὀνομασθέντας καὶ πρεσβυτέρους καὶ διακόνους εὐχῇ καὶ χειρῶν ἐπιθέσει, τῇ διαφορᾷ τῶν ὀνομάτων καὶ τὴν διαφορὰν τῶν πραγμάτων δεικνύοντας· οὐ γὰρ ὁ βουλόμενος παρ᾽ ἡμῖν ἐπλήρου τὴν χεῖρα, ὥσπερ ἐπὶ τῆς κιβδήλου τῶν δαμάλεων ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱεροβοὰμ παρακεκομμένης ἱερωσύνης, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ. εἰ μὲν γὰρ μὴ θεσμός τις ἦν καὶ τάξεων διαφορά, ἤρκει ἂν δι᾽ ἑνὸς ὀνόματος τὰ ὅλα τελεῖσθαι᾽ ἀλλ ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου διδαχθέντες ἀκολουθίαν πραγμάτων, τοῖς μὲν ἐπισκόποις τὰ τῆς ἀρχιερωσύνης ἐνείμαμεν, τοῖς δὲ πρεσβυτέροις τὰ τῆς ἱερωσύνης, τοῖς δὲ διακόνοις τὰ τῆς πρὸς ἀμφοτέρους διακονίας, ἵν᾽ ᾖ καθαρῶς τὰ τῆς θρησκείας ἐπιτελούμενα. οὔτε γὰρ διακόνῳ προσφέρειν θυσίαν θεμιτὸν ἢ βαπτίζειν ἢ εὐλογίαν μικρὰν ἢ μεγάλην ποιεῖσθαι, οὔτε πρεσβύτερον χειροτονίας ἐπιτελεῖν· οὐ γὰρ ὅσιον ἀνεστράφθαι τὴν τάξιν. Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ὃ θεὸς ἀκαταστασίας, ἵνα οἱ ὑποβεβηκότες τὰ τῶν κρειττόνων τυραννικῶς σφετερίζωνται, νομοθεσίαν καινὴν ἀναπλάττοντες ἐπὶ κακῷ τῷ ἑαυτῶν, ἀγνοοῦντες, ὅτι σκληρὸν αὐτοῖς τὸ πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν. οὐ γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἢ τοὺς ἐπισκόπους πολεμοῦσιν οἱ τοιοῦτοι, ἀλλὰ τὸν τῶν πάντων ἐπίσκοπον καὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀρχιερέα, Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν. ὑπὸ Μωσέως μὲν γὰρ τοῦ θεοφιλεστάτου ἀρχιερεῖς κατεστάθησαν καὶ ἱερεῖς καὶ λευῖται, ὑπὸ δὲ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἡμεῖς οἱ δεκατρεῖς ἀπόστολοι, ὑπὸ δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγὼ Ἰάκωβος καὶ ἐγὼ Κλήμης καὶ σὺν ἡμῖν ἕτεροι, ἵνα μὴ πάντας πάλιν καταλέγωμεν, κοινῇ δὲ ὑπὸ πάντων ἡμῶν πρεσβύτεροι καὶ διάκονοι καὶ ὑποδιάκονοι καὶ ἀναγνῶσται. πρῶτος τοίνυν τῇ φύσει ἀρχιερεὺς ὃ μονογενὴς Χριστός, οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τὴν τιμὴν ἁρπάσας, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς κατασταθείς᾽ ὃς γενόμενος ἄνθρωπος διʼ ἡμᾶς καὶ τὴν πνευματικὴν θυσίαν προσφέρων τῷ θεῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ πατρὶ πρὸ τοῦ πάθους, ἡμῖν διετάξατο μόνοις τοῦτο ποιεῖν, καίτοι ὄντων σὺν ἡμῖν καὶ ἑτέρων τῶν εἰς αὐτὸν πεπιστευκότων· ἀλλ οὐ πάντως πᾶς ὃ πιστεύσας ἤδη καὶ ἱερεὺς κατέστη ἢ ἀρχιερατικῆς ἀξίας ἔτυχεν. μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἀνάληψιν αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς προσενεγκόντες κατὰ τὴν διάταξιν αὐτοῦ θυσίαν καθαρὰν καὶ ἀναίμακτον, προεχειρισάμεθα ἐπισκόπους καὶ πρεσβυτέρους καὶ διακόνους ἑπτὰ τὸν ἀριθμόν. ὧν εἷς ἦν Στέφανος ὃ μακάριος μάρτυς, οὐκ ἀπολειπόμενος ἡμῶν κατὰ τὴν πρὸς θεὸν εὔνοιαν, ὃς τοσοῦτον τὴν θεοσέβειαν τῇ πίστει ἐνεδείξατο καὶ τὴν εἰς τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἀγάπην, ὡς ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ δοῦναι καὶ τὴν ψυχήν, πρὸς τῶν κυριοκτόνων Ἰουδαίων λίθοις βληθείς. ἀλλ΄ ὅμως ὃ τοιοῦτος καὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀνήρ, ὁ τῷ πνεύματι ζέων, ὃ τὸν Χριστὸν ὁρῶν ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὰς οὐρανίας πύλας ἀνεῳγμένας, οὐδαμοῦ φαίνεται τοῖς μὴ ἀνήκουσιν τῇ διακονίᾳ χρησάμενος, ἢ θυσίαν ἀνενεγκὼν ἢ χεῖρας ἐπιθείς τινι, ἀλλὰ τὸ τῆς διακονίας τάγμα φυλάξας μέχρι τέλους· οὕτω γὰρ ἔπρεπεν τῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μάρτυρι τὴν εὐταξίαν ἀποσώζειν. εἰ δὲ Φίλιππον τὸν διάκονον ἡμῶν καὶ Ἀνανίαν τὸν πιστὸν ἀδελφὸν αἰτιῶνταί τινες, ὅτι ὃ μὲν τὸν εὐνοῦχον ἐβάπτισεν, ὁ δὲ ἐμὲ Παῦλον, ἀγνοοῦσιν αὐτοί, ὃ λέγομεν ἡμεῖς. εἴπομεν γάρ, ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις ἁρπάζει τὸ ἱερατικὸν ἀξίωμα, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ λαμβάνει ὡς Μελχισεδὲκ καὶ Ἰώβ, ἢ παρὰ ἀρχιερέως ὡς Ἀαρὼν παρὰ Μωσέως· οὐκοῦν καὶ Φίλιππος καὶ Ἀνανίας οὐχ ἑαυτοὺς προείλοντο, ἀλλ ὑπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ προεχειρίσθησαν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως τοῦ ἀσυγκρίτου.

ta de eph᾽ hēmōn isōs ouk agnoeite. iste gar pantōs episkopous par᾽ hēmōn onomasthentas kai presbyterous kai diakonous euchę̄ kai cheirōn epithesei, tę̄ diaphorą tōn onomatōn kai tēn diaphoran tōn pragmatōn deiknyontas; ou gar ho boulomenos par᾽ hēmin eplērou tēn cheira, hōsper epi tēs kibdēlou tōn damaleōn epi tou Hieroboam parakekommenēs hierōsynēs, all᾽ ho kaloumenos hypo tou theou. ei men gar mē thesmos tis ēn kai taxeōn diaphora, ērkei an di᾽ henos onomatos ta hola teleisthai᾽ all hypo tou kyriou didachthentes akolouthian pragmatōn, tois men episkopois ta tēs archierōsynēs eneimamen, tois de presbyterois ta tēs hierōsynēs, tois de diakonois ta tēs pros amphoterous diakonias, hin᾽ ę̄ katharōs ta tēs thrēskeias epiteloumena. oute gar diakonǭ prospherein thysian themiton ē baptizein ē eulogian mikran ē megalēn poieisthai, oute presbyteron cheirotonias epitelein; ou gar hosion anestraphthai tēn taxin. Ou gar estin ho theos akatastasias, hina hoi hypobebēkotes ta tōn kreittonōn tyrannikōs spheterizōntai, nomothesian kainēn anaplattontes epi kakǭ tǭ heautōn, agnoountes, hoti sklēron autois to pros kentra laktizein. ou gar hēmas ē tous episkopous polemousin hoi toioutoi, alla ton tōn pantōn episkopon kai tou patros archierea, Christon Iēsoun ton kyrion hēmōn. hypo Mōseōs men gar tou theophilestatou archiereis katestathēsan kai hiereis kai leuitai, hypo de tou sōtēros hēmōn hēmeis hoi dekatreis apostoloi, hypo de tōn apostolōn egō Iakōbos kai egō Klēmēs kai syn hēmin heteroi, hina mē pantas palin katalegōmen, koinę̄ de hypo pantōn hēmōn presbyteroi kai diakonoi kai hypodiakonoi kai anagnōstai. prōtos toinyn tę̄ physei archiereus ho monogenēs Christos, ouch heautǭ tēn timēn harpasas, alla para tou patros katastatheis᾽ hos genomenos anthrōpos diʼ hēmas kai tēn pneumatikēn thysian prospherōn tǭ theǭ autou kai patri pro tou pathous, hēmin dietaxato monois touto poiein, kaitoi ontōn syn hēmin kai heterōn tōn eis auton pepisteukotōn; all ou pantōs pas ho pisteusas ēdē kai hiereus katestē ē archieratikēs axias etychen. meta de tēn analēpsin autou hēmeis prosenenkontes kata tēn diataxin autou thysian katharan kai anaimakton, proecheirisametha episkopous kai presbyterous kai diakonous hepta ton arithmon. hōn heis ēn Stephanos ho makarios martys, ouk apoleipomenos hēmōn kata tēn pros theon eunoian, hos tosouton tēn theosebeian tę̄ pistei enedeixato kai tēn eis ton kyrion hēmōn Iēsoun Christon agapēn, hōs hyper autou dounai kai tēn psychēn, pros tōn kyrioktonōn Ioudaiōn lithois blētheis. all΄ homōs ho toioutos kai tēlikoutos anēr, ho tǭ pneumati zeōn, ho ton Christon horōn ek dexiōn tou theou kai tas ouranias pylas aneǭgmenas, oudamou phainetai tois mē anēkousin tę̄ diakonią chrēsamenos, ē thysian anenenkōn ē cheiras epitheis tini, alla to tēs diakonias tagma phylaxas mechri telous; houtō gar eprepen tǭ tou Christou martyri tēn eutaxian aposōzein. ei de Philippon ton diakonon hēmōn kai Ananian ton piston adelphon aitiōntai tines, hoti ho men ton eunouchon ebaptisen, ho de eme Paulon, agnoousin autoi, ho legomen hēmeis. eipomen gar, hoti ouch heautǭ tis harpazei to hieratikon axiōma, all᾽ ē para tou theou lambanei hōs Melchisedek kai Iōb, ē para archiereōs hōs Aarōn para Mōseōs; oukoun kai Philippos kai Ananias ouch heautous proeilonto, all hypo tou Christou proecheiristhēsan tou archiereōs tou asynkritou.

And what has happened among us you perhaps do not ignore. For you know well that bishops and presbyters and deacons have been named by us with prayer and the laying on of hands, showing by the difference of the names the difference of the functions; for among us it is not “whoever wished” who “filled his hand,” as with the counterfeit priesthood of the heifers under Jeroboam, “but he who is called by God.” [10] For if there were no institution and distinction of orders, it would have sufficed for all things to be performed under one name; but having been taught by the Lord the sequence of things, we assigned to the bishops the functions of the high priesthood, to the presbyters those of the priesthood, and to the deacons the ministry to both, so that the things of worship may be performed in purity. [11] For neither is it lawful for a deacon to offer the sacrifice or to baptize or to give a blessing small or great, nor for a presbyter to perform ordinations; for it is not holy for the order to be inverted. [12] “For God is not a God of disorder,” that inferiors should tyrannically appropriate the functions of their superiors, fabricating a new legislation to their own harm, not knowing that “it is hard for them to kick against the goads.” For such men make war not on us or on the bishops, but on the Bishop of all and the High Priest of the Father, Christ Jesus our Lord. [13] For by Moses, most beloved of God, high priests and priests and Levites were appointed; by our Savior, we the thirteen apostles; by the apostles, I James and I Clement and others with us, so that we need not list them all again; and by all of us together, presbyters and deacons and subdeacons and readers. [14] The first High Priest by nature, then, is the only-begotten Christ, “who did not seize the honor for himself,” but was appointed by the Father; who, having become man for our sake and offering the spiritual sacrifice to his God and Father before his passion, commanded us alone to do this, although there were with us others also who had believed in him; but not every one who has believed has thereby been made a priest or obtained high-priestly rank. [15] And after his ascension we, having offered the pure and bloodless sacrifice according to his ordinance, appointed bishops and presbyters, and deacons seven in number. [16] One of them was Stephen, the blessed martyr, not behind us in good will toward God, who showed such piety in his faith and such love for our Lord Jesus Christ that he gave even his life for him, being stoned by the Jews who killed the Lord. Yet such and so great a man, “fervent in spirit,” who saw Christ at the right hand of God and the heavenly gates opened, is nowhere seen to have done what did not belong to the diaconate, either offering a sacrifice or laying hands on anyone, but kept the order of the diaconate to the end; for so it was fitting for the martyr of Christ to keep good order. [17] And if some blame Philip our deacon and Ananias the faithful brother, because the one baptized the eunuch and the other me, Paul, they themselves do not know what we are saying. For we said that “no one takes” the priestly rank “for himself, but” receives it “either from God,” like Melchizedek and Job, or from a high priest, “as Aaron” from Moses; so Philip and Ananias did not appoint themselves, but were appointed by Christ, the incomparable High Priest.

1 Kgs 13:33 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Kgs 12:28–31 (allusion, high confidence) · Exod 28:41 (allusion, medium confidence) · Heb 5:4 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Cor 14:33 (quotation, high confidence) · Acts 26:14 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Pet 2:25 (allusion, medium confidence) · Heb 5:5 (quotation, high confidence) · Acts 6:5 (allusion, high confidence) · Acts 7:55–56 (allusion, high confidence) · Acts 7:59 (allusion, high confidence) · Rom 12:11 (quotation, medium confidence) · Acts 8:38 (allusion, high confidence) · Acts 9:17–18 (allusion, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The apostles ordained bishops, presbyters and deacons for distinct functions; no one may usurp a higher office, and even Stephen kept to his diaconate.

The section numbers 10–17 were lost in the OCR; “[10]” etc. mark where each begins. “The thirteen apostles” counts Paul. The charge against the Jews is the work's own.
Exod 28:41; 1 Kgs 12:28–31; 13:33; Heb 5:4–5; 1 Cor 14:33; Acts 26:14; 1 Pet 2:25; Acts 6:5; 7:55–60; Rom 12:11; Acts 18:25; 8:38; 9:17–18.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR slip; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR slip; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: section number (10) removed; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark; OCR: section number (11) removed; OCR: section number (15) removed; OCR: section number (16) removed; OCR: section number removed; OCR: section number removed; Οὐ; OCR: section number removed; μὲν; OCR: stray marks; οὐχ; OCR: κ; stray letters): ἐπισχόπους παρ ἡμῶν → ἐπισκόπους παρ᾽ ἡμῶν; ας" ο → ας· ο; ,,θ͵ βουλόμενος“ → ὁ βουλόμενος; » ἐ → ἐ; α“, → α,; ,,ἀλλ΄᾿ ὃ → ἀλλ᾽ ὁ; “. το. εἰ μὲν → . εἰ μὲν; ÓU ἑνὸς → δι᾽ ἑνὸς; fv ἢ καθαρῶς → ἵν᾽ ᾖ καθαρῶς; τι. οὔτε → οὔτε; ῖν" ο → ῖν· ο; 12. ,00 γάρ → Οὐ γάρ; ίας“, ἵ → ίας, ἵ; τυρανγνικῶς → τυραννικῶς; ὅτι, σκληρὸν → ὅτι σκληρὸν; ν“. → ν.; ἐπισχόπους πολεμοῦσιν → ἐπισκόπους πολεμοῦσιν; ἐπίσχοπον → ἐπίσκοπον; 13. ὑπὸ Μωσέως μὲ» → ὑπὸ Μωσέως μὲν; 14. πρῶτος → πρῶτος; 1ὅ ,00y ἑαυτῷ → οὐχ ἑαυτῷ; σας“, ἀ → σας, ἀ; πεπιστευχότων" → πεπιστευκότων·; I$. μετὰ → μετὰ; xai ἀναίμακτον → καὶ ἀναίμακτον; I6. ὧν → ὧν; κυριοχτόνων → κυριοκτόνων; ,0 τῷ πνεύματι ξέων → ὁ τῷ πνεύματι ζέων; “, οὐδαμοῖ → , οὐδαμοῦ; υς" ο → υς· ο; 17. εἰ δὲ → εἰ δὲ; ó δὲ ἐμὲ → ὁ δὲ ἐμὲ; ,,ο → ο; ι““ → ι ; ,GAX ἢ → ἀλλ᾽ ἢ; ῦ“ → ῦ ; ,, → ; ν“ → ν ; ως" ο → ως· ο; ᾿ἀνανίας → Ἀνανίας; ἀσυγκχρίτου oU. → ἀσυγκρίτου..

Topics: Church office, Eucharist, Baptism

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.46.9 (Funk 1:560–564; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-46-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Apostolic 8, chapter 48

8.48.1Funk 1:592

Ταῦτα καὶ περὶ κανόνων ὑμῖν διατετάχθω παρ᾽ ἡμῶν, ὦ ἐπίσκοποι.

Tauta kai peri kanonōn hymin diatetachthō par᾽ hēmōn, ō episkopoi.

These things too concerning canons have been ordained for you by us, O bishops.

Notes and citation

Summary: The apostles close their ordinances on canons.

Chapter 47 (the Apostolic Canons) is a separate work on this site.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip): xoi περὶ → καὶ περὶ; ὦ: ἐπίσκοποι → ὦ ἐπίσκοποι.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.48.1 (Funk 1:592; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-48-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.48.2Funk 1:592

ὑμεῖς δὲ ἐμμένοντες μὲν αὐτοῖς σωθήσεσθε καὶ εἰρήνην ἕξετε· ἀπειθοῦντες δὲ κολασθήσεσθε καὶ πόλεμον μετ᾽ ἀλλήλων ἀΐδιον ἕξετε, δίκην τῆς ἀνηκοΐας τὴν προσήκουσαν τιννῦντες.

hymeis de emmenontes men autois sōthēsesthe kai eirēnēn hexete; apeithountes de kolasthēsesthe kai polemon met᾽ allēlōn aïdion hexete, dikēn tēs anēkoïas tēn prosēkousan tinnyntes.

And if you abide by them, you will be saved and have peace; but if you disobey, you will be punished and will have everlasting war with one another, paying the fitting penalty for disobedience.

Notes and citation

Summary: Obedience brings salvation and peace; disobedience, punishment and strife.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): ε" → ε· ; tijv προσήκουσαν → τὴν προσήκουσαν.

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.48.2 (Funk 1:592; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-48-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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8.48.3Funk 1:592–594

θεὸς δὲ ὃ μόνος ἀγέννητος καὶ τῶν ὅλων διὰ Χριστοῦ ποιητὴς πάντας ὑμᾶς διὰ τῆς εἰρήνης ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ ἑνώσει, καταρτίσει εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἀτρέπτους, ἀμέμπτους, ἀνεγκλήτους, καταξιώσει τε τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς σὺν ἡμῖν διὰ τῆς μεσιτείας τοῦ ἠγαπημένου παιδὸς αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν, μεθʼ οὗ ἡ δόξα αὐτῷ τῷ ἐπὶ πάντων θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ ἐν ἁγίῳ πνεύματι τῷ παρακλήτῳ νῦν τε καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν.

theos de ho monos agennētos kai tōn holōn dia Christou poiētēs pantas hymas dia tēs eirēnēs en pneumati hagiǭ henōsei, katartisei eis pan ergon agathon atreptous, amemptous, anenklētous, kataxiōsei te tēs aiōniou zōēs syn hēmin dia tēs mesiteias tou ēgapēmenou paidos autou Iēsou Christou, tou theou kai sōtēros hēmōn, methʼ hou hē doxa autǭ tǭ epi pantōn theǭ kai patri en hagiǭ pneumati tǭ paraklētǭ nyn te kai aei kai eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn; amēn.

And may God, the only unbegotten and Maker of all things through Christ, unite you all through peace in the Holy Spirit, “perfect you for every good work,” steadfast, blameless, irreproachable, and count you worthy of eternal life with us, through the mediation of his beloved Servant Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, with whom be glory to him, the God and Father over all, in the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, both now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Heb 13:21 (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The work ends with a blessing and doxology.

Heb 13:21.

Notes on the original text

Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR: Funk's quotation marks removed; OCR: ano teleia read as a quotation mark): ἕλων → ὅλων; ,κ → κ; ν““ → ν ; dveyxAntovc → ἀνεγκλήτους; ἢ δόξα → ἡ δόξα; νῦν vt καὶ → νῦν τε καὶ; ν" → ν· .

Topics: Trinity, Prayer

Cite (SBL): Const. ap. 8.48.3 (Funk 1:592–594; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/constitutiones-apostolorum/8-46-1/#p-8-48-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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