Chapter 14

1(A wipow) ought to be # appointed at sixty years of age, in whom are good works, and (who is) elect and pure, and desireth not another husband. Younger widows are not worthy of the office. But if ye ® appoint a young widow, as she is® not able to have continency as the elder widows, but desireth to marry again, trust her not, for she will bring a shameful report, and dishonour, and reproach on the Church, and shall be condemned before God, for she hath married a second husband, and hath not kept the command of the Scriptures. Wherefore they ought not to appoint hastily, until they make enquiry as to their lives, and prove them (to see) if they have (the gift of) continence. But if they cannot have continency it is better not to appoint (?)®! them, for they keep not that which they have promised. But if there be a young widow, who hath lived for a little while 82 with her husband, and been separated from him by death, and then hath lived alone, and observeth the duties of the wigows, she who doeth thus is blessed: for she is like unto the widow "The word is unusual. I follow the meaning given by Dillmann, who refers (sth voce) to the present passage. who was in Sarepta of Sidon unto whom Elijah the holy prophet of God came, and she received him, and unto the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, who lived day and night in the house of God, ready continually for prayer and supplication, though her years were sO many. Scven_ years f she lived with her husband, and then ¢ % entered into the temple, and remained fifty-seven years as a virgin, hoping for the coming of Christ, and giving thanks to the Lord, and speaking of Him to all who were hoping for the coming of the salvation of Israel. The widow who doeth thus findeth honour and favour ™ and praise in this world, and also in the next before God in the Kingdom of heaven. And let not younger widows be appointed to the order (of widows) of the Church, for they cannot have continency while they are in the vigour of their youth; and they will marry a second husband. And as for such as these their youth is (given over) to Satan; but let them take heed for their own salvation that they marry not a second husband. And as for such as these 8 ye must needs understand this, that a first marriage is pure before God; but those that marry a second time are transgressors of the law; yet it is not on account of their union, but (because) they have proved false against God the Creator. And those that marry a third time shall not be reckoned with the flock of the Lord *® Christ; and those that marry a fourth time, their wantonness is still more abundantly manifested, and they shall find shame and dishonour. For in the first creation God gave one woman to one man, and for this cause they two are one flesh. Thus we command the younger women; if their first husbands die, let them marry a second husband,® if they cannot have continency, lest they fall again ® into the snare and devices of Satan, and into evil desires that destroy souls, and go down themselves into the eternal condemnation of Gehenna, where is no “ rest. But widows who are known for righteousness, women who have married one man, and concerning whom many bear witness that they have lived in purity, let such be reckoned with the faithful widows, and (those who) bring up their children without blame.*! Those that are such ye ought to help, and give them what they need, for their trust is in God. And now also ® stretch forth thy hand to give, and remember the poor,’ and give to each one according to his need, and visit the widows and the orphans and the afflicted. The bishop, then, ought to help and save and supply the need of all the destitute and troubled, and help them,*4 and feed in his good pasture all the people, who bring their offering of alms. From what they have brought to thee, give what they have given to thee,“ to each one, as is fitting, as a good and merciful steward, for this is well-pleasing before God. Everyone that giveth to the destitute shall find a good reward; and thou, who hast toiled for God, shalt obtain a recompense. And say thus unto those to whom thou hast given, (It is) such a one who hath offered (this), and I have given (it) to you, that ye 4 may pray for him,‘? and entreat on his behalf. Ye ‘8 ought to do good unto all men, and not say, To this man will I give, and the other I will refuse. Do thou make no distinction between any. For our.Lord saith, “Give to everyone that hath asked of thee,” * that is, either thy friend, or thine enemy, or thy kinsman, or a stranger, or one that is married, or one that hath no wife, or a widow, or an orphan—even to every one that is 5! destitute do thou good. For our Lord hath com- aes! his ear, lest he hear the cry of the poor, a he that covereth Res be Sn pee the oppressed, i hall the Lord be deal. ™ ; or ce ata aoe A tler idle words of vanity, let ing i ** P omits: and he that... : ce ae la iad the | oppressed gece SA iniguity 4, 24. A omits: thine P ads and he that covert 5! P omits: Solomon. s eye lest. ae a wb by ergy andy th Pe ant and shal oo *2 P omits: hear, ever. “PD give alms. them not answer him, but let them recei seek words of faith and deeds of soe an Mgr good hope before God. But let those (widows) that desire to learn that which is appointed,® go to those in authority to learn and © hear the word of admonition: and let them not hearken to slander, nor follow after other gods, but worship the One God who created all things. For the Lord hath likened the Kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed, which is smaller than all seeds, and when a man tastes it, it burneth him. And so the word of the doctrine of the faith burneth Satan. We ought not to transgress the words of the prophets, nor reveal mysteries to unbelievers but we (ought) to be firm in faith. For our Lord hath commanded us, saying, “Cast not your pearls before swine, nor give your holy things to the dogs,® lest they trample your pearls with their feet, and turn and rend you.’’ _ For when the ungodly know the word of the mysteries, they despise (it), and in their foll a (it) i dishonour and a shame. : i., 6.) But teach them rather ® the words of t Law, and the prophets who prophesied of the ae of Christ. For our Master 7 Jesus Christ sent us the Twelve to teach all nations; but He commanded not women to teach, nor to speak in the Church to the people. But let them rather receive admonition and (keep) from deeds of fornication, and be obedient in fasting and prayer and in hearing”! the words of the Scriptures. For there abode with us72 Mary Magdelene, and the sisters 73 of Lazarus, Mary and Martha and Salome, and others also with them”: since He commanded not them to teach along with us neither is it right for other women to teach. For 75 the man is the head of the woman, so it is not right *s Lit. learn the ordinance. P our Lord. “Mt 7, 6. P omits: and '* P sister. turn and rend you. ™ P omits: with them. that the member should be greater than the head.”6 Widows and virgins ought not to walk about in the streets, nor enter men’s houses 77, but they who do thus are not widows nor virgins, but rather become a stumbling-block to men. And if 78 they cleave not to the Church, they become slothful and insatiate, and covetous of the goods of others, and they lead men captive, and become seducers of others, and cause souls to fall; and they that follow them are far from the Lord. But as for those that enter the Church and understand not 7 that which is in ® the Scriptures, and hearken not to the word of the book 8! of admonition, concerning them that do thus Isaiah the prophet saith, “Hearing they shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing they shall see, and shall not perceive: for the heart of this people is darkened.” © [iii.,°7-] And to widows such as these show thou not the sacrifice of Christ. But let her that desireth to please Christ 8 dwell in her house in quietness, and glorify Him by day and by night with a mouth that keepeth not silence, and let her pray to God with a pure heart like wise Judith who prayed to God for Israel day and night. In like manner the merciful widow will pray to God, ceasing not to resort to the church every day,*! for all her thoughts are ready continually for (His) service, and she turneth not to® pleasure; but her eyes are pure, and her ears holy, and she stretcheth not out her hands to covetousness, and her feet run in the way of peace, and her mouth speaketh not lies, and her food is in moderation. As for her whose works are such, the Lord will hear her prayer and her supplication, for it ts said, ‘‘ When ® Pl enter into public assemblies. * P omits: every day. ™ P and those that. * P adds: the desire of. 1* A omits the negative here "© P In the day that. and with the next verb. "' Ps 101, 3widow be appointed, who loveth not money, in whom is no vanity, nor avarice, (who is) no lover of gain, but is elect ® and prudent, and abideth at home, giving praise, and singing, and reading the Scriptures, and observeth the times of the hours by day and by night, and fasteth and prayeth to God at all times, and yiveth to the poor from the labour of her hands, and seeketh no gain, remembering the widow who offered the two mites in the sanctuary of the Lord; of whom ®& Jesus Christ bare witness in the Gospel ™: “Verily I say unto you that this widow hath offered more than all they that offered to the treasury. For all they that offered," offered of their abundance,” but she of her want offered all that she had, even all her living.” 8 The widows, then, ought to be pure, and to be in subjection with fear and trembling, but above all to the bishop % and to the presbyters and to the deacons and to the deaconesses. And let them do nothing without the counsel of the deacons, nor go after pleasant meats or wantonness. But if they be found doing thus, let them be admonished by the deacon, and let him command them to fast. And in like manner let not the priests receive gifts® from robbers and moneychangers 7 and adulterers. Receive thou nothing from those that do thus, nor offer (it) as an offering to the Lord thy God. The widows ought, then, to be ready to hearken to the words of their elders, and to do all that they command them, and to observe the word of the bishop, and to honour him as God. But if there be anyone that receiveth alms from the evil-doers and the ungodly,% he shall fall into their error, and die in their iniquity. If he prayeth for them, he grieveth Christ. P of that which they had. — eyil-doers. But let him turn them to repentance; and those that convert not’ the evil-doers and liars! and sinners are partakers with them in the evil of their deeds.