Chapter II.—The Second Commandment: Gross Sin Forbidden

Chapter II.[2389]—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,²³⁹⁰Ex. xx. 13, 14. thou shalt not commit pæderasty,²³⁹¹Or, “corrupt boys,” as in the version of Apostolic Constitutions. thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal,²³⁹²Ex. xx. 15. thou shalt not practice magic, thou shalt not practice witchcraft, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten.²³⁹³Comp. Ex. xxi. 22, 23. The Codex reads γεννηθέντα, which Schaff renders “the new-born child.” Bryennios substitutes γεννηθέν, which is accepted by most editors, and rendered as above. Thou shalt not covet the things of thy neighbour,²³⁹⁴Ex. xx. 17. 3. thou shalt not forswear thyself,²³⁹⁵Matt. v. 34. thou shalt not bear false witness,²³⁹⁶Ex. xx. 16. thou shalt not speak evil, thou shalt bear no grudge.²³⁹⁷Rendered “nor shalt thou be mindful of injuries” in version of Apostolic Constitutions. 4. Thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued; for to be double-tongued is a snare of death.²³⁹⁸So Barnabas, xix. 5. Thy speech shall not be false, nor empty, but fulfilled by deed.²³⁹⁹Verse 5, except the first clause, occurs only here. 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.²⁴⁰⁰Latter half of verse 6 in Barnabas, xix. 7. Thou shalt not hate any man; but some thou shalt reprove,²⁴⁰¹Lev. xix. 17; Apostolic Constitutions. and concerning some thou shalt pray, and some thou shalt love more than thy own life.²⁴⁰²Or, “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.