Testament of Our Lord

tr. Cooper and Maclean, 1902

13. Book II, Chapter 13

[The Agapé]

In the supper or feast, let those who have come together¹ receive [a portion?] thus from the shepherd, as for a blessing. But let not a catechumen receive.

If any one be of the household of, or related to, one who is a teacher of heathenism,² let him not accord with³ him and give praise with him, also let him not eat with him because of relationship or for concord, lest he deliver ineffable things to a wolf⁴ and he receive judgment.

Let those who are called with the bishop to the house of one who is faithful, eat with gravity and knowledge, not with drunkenness or to debauchery,⁵ and not so that he who is present may laugh, or so as to annoy the household⁶ of him that called him; but so let them enter that he who called [them] may pray that the saints may enter into his house. For ye are the salt of the earth,⁷ [as] ye have heard.

Because⁸ when they eat, let them eat abundantly, [but] so that there may be left over both for you [and] also for those to whom he that called you wisheth [to] send, so that he may have them⁹ as foods¹⁰ left over¹¹ by the saints, and that he may rejoice at that which remaineth over.

Let those who come to a feast, being called, not stretch out¹² a hand before them that are elder. But let the last eat¹³ when¹⁴ the first shall have done.

Let not those who eat strive in speech, but let them eat in silence; but if any one desire, or the bishop or presbyter ask [a question], let him return answer.

But when the bishop saith a word,¹⁵ let every one quietly, praising [him],¹⁶ choose silence for himself, until he also be asked [a question].

Notes

Lit.: come near together; or: are present together.
Lit.: other things.
Or: consent to; or: deliver [himself] to.
Cf. Acts xx. 29.
Allusion perhaps to 1 Cor. xi. 21.
Lit.: house.
St. Matt. v. 13.
Sic, text.
Masc. The text is ungrammatical.
Fem.
Masc.
Lit.: throw.
Or: let them eat last.
Lit.: and.
Or: speaketh the word.
Or: giving praise.