Didascalia Apostolorum

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48 DIDASCALIA. f. 32 b givings ; then were firstfruits and tithes and oblations and gifts, to-day are offerings that are presented by means of the Bishops to the Lord God, for those are your High Priests. Priests and Levites; now Elders and Ap. Con. Deacons, and Orphans and Widows. For the Levite and the High Priest is the Bishop. He is a servant of the Word of God and a Mediator, but to you a Teacher and your Father after God, who has begotten you by means of water. He is your Head and Governor, and he is a powerful king to you. He governs in the place of the Almighty, but let him be honoured by you as God, because the Bishop sits for you in the place of Almighty God ; but the Deacon stands in the place of the Christ ; and ye should love him, but let the Deaconesses be honoured by you in the likeness of the Holy Ghost. Moreover, let the Elders be to you in the likeness of the Apostles, but Orphans and Widows be considered by you in the likeness of an Altar. Ap. con. For as it was not allowed for the stranger, that is to say for him who was not a Levite, to approach the Altar, nor to offer anything apart from the High Priest, thus do ye naught apart from the Bishop. For if any one do aught apart from the Bishop, he doeth it in vain, for it will not be counted to him as a work, because it is not fitting that any one should do aught without the High Priest. Present, therefore, your offerings to the Bishop, either ye yourselves, or by means of the Deacons ; and what he receives let him deal to you justly, for the Bishop is well acquainted with those who are afflicted ; for he provides for every one and gives as it becomes him ; lest any one should receive many times in the day or in the week, and f. 33 a another should not receive even a little. For to him whom the priest and steward of God knows to be much afflicted, he does good, as is Ap. con. required of him. And those who ask widows to agapai, her whom he knows to be much afflicted, to her let him send oftenest. And again, if any one give gifts to widows, to her who is in want let him send most. Let the portion of a shepherd be defined and known, According as the law of old is defined1, and even if he be not present '2ye shall not cause to perish [any that belong] to2 God Almighty. As often then as is given to you or3 the widows, let double be given to each of the Deacons for the honour of the Christ ; twice double to the Governor for the honour of God Almighty. If any man wish also to honour the Elders, let him give also (S. + double) to them as to the Deacons. For it is required for them that they be honoured as Apostles, and as the counsellors of the Bishop, and also as the crown of the Church ; for they are the directors and counsellors of the 1 according to the law in agapai and gifts 2 to the honour of 3 S. + to each of