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About this book

Didache

About this book

Avoid Evil and Be Humble

Chapter 3

1 My child, avoid every evil person and all those like him. 2 Don't be proud, as pride can lead to murder. Don't be jealous, argumentative, or overly passionate, as these can lead to acts of murder. 3 My child, don't be driven by lust, as lust leads to fornication. Avoid using vulgar language or suggestive glances, as these actions can lead to adultery. 4 My child, don't believe in omens, as this can lead to idol worship. Don't be a spell caster, astrologer, or magician, and don't seek to witness these acts, as they can lead to idolatry. 5 My child, don't lie, as lying leads to theft.⁠ Don't be obsessed with money or seek empty glory, as these things can lead to stealing. 6 My child, don't complain, as this can lead to disrespecting what is sacred. Don't be stubborn or think evil thoughts, as these can lead to blasphemy. 7 But be humble,⁠ for the humble will inherit the earth.⁠ 8 Be patient, merciful, honest, calm, and good, always mindful of the teachings you have heard. 9 Don't be arrogant or let yourself become presumptuous. Don't associate with arrogant people, but walk with those who are righteous and humble. 10 Accept whatever happens to you as good, knowing that nothing happens without God's involvement.⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare Isaiah 66:2 and Didache 3:8

Hebrew Bible · Early Christian

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Summary

In Isaiah, God favors the humble and contrite who respect what he says. The Didache, an early church manual, echoes this in its call to humility and obedience to its teachings, regarding a teacher's message as God's own.

Passages

Isaiah 66:2

Hebrew Bible
1 This is what the Lord says: “The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest? 2 My hand made them; that is how they came to be,” says the Lord. “I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say. 3 The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.
740–450 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Isaiah

Didache 3:8

Early Christian
6 My child, don't complain, as this can lead to disrespecting what is sacred. Don't be stubborn or think evil thoughts, as these can lead to blasphemy. 7 But be humble, for the humble will inherit the earth. 8 Be patient, merciful, honest, calm, and good, always mindful of the teachings you have heard. 9 Don't be arrogant or let yourself become presumptuous. Don't associate with arrogant people, but walk with those who are righteous and humble. 10 Accept whatever happens to you as good, knowing that nothing happens without God's involvement.
90–120 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Didache

References

“... In fact submission to teaching is common to both clusters, since 3:8 valorizes an awe-filled posture towards οἱ λόγοι οὓς ἤκουσας. The allusion is to Isa 66:2b, \1, “but this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and quiet and trembles at my word,” which suggests that οἱ λόγοι are meant to be divine words, conveyed through the voice of a teacher. ...”
John S. Kloppenborg, “Poverty and Piety in Matthew, James, and the Didache,” in Matthew, James, and Didache: Three Related Documents in Their Jewish and Christian Settings, ed. Huub van de Sandt and Jürgen Zangenberg, SymS 45 (Atlanta: SBL, 2008), 220.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Isaiah 66:2 and Didache 3:8

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