Apostolic Fathers: Didache
Chapter 3
1 My child, flee from every evil and from every likeness of it. 2 Do not become quick-tempered, for wrath leads to murder. Be neither jealous nor contentious nor wrathful, for murder is begotten out of these things. 3 My child, do not become covetous, for these desires lead to sexual immorality. Speak neither obscenely nor haughtily, for adultery is begotten out of these things. 4 My child, do not be a soothsayer since it leads to idolatry. Neither be an enchanter nor a mathematician nor a magician, nor be willing to look at them, for idolatry is begotten out of these things. 5 My child, do not be false since falsehood leads to theft. Love neither money nor vainglory, for thefts are begotten out of these things. 6 My child, do not grumble since it leads to blasphemy. Neither be stubborn nor think evil, for blasphemies are begotten out of these things. 7 But be meek, because the meek will inherit the earth. 8 Be patient and merciful and not evil. Be well at rest and keep the words which you have heard through everything. 9 Do not exalt yourself nor give your soul confidence. Do not let your soul be united with the lofty. Be united with the righteous and the lowly that you may raise them up. 10 Those who stand with you are doing good as well. They will receive favor, knowing that nothing exists without God.
The Teaching brings these together to a point in verses 7-8: “But be meek, because the meek will inherit the earth. Be patient and merciful and not evil. Be well at rest and keep the words which you have heard through everything.” The opposite of these evils is not goodness but meekness. Meekness is often defined as “softness of temper; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.” This definition helps us to understand Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). David takes this point a bit further in Psalm 37:11: “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
This inheritance comes through Christ's sacrifice because God's gift of meekness allows the Christian to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). The mind of Christ is described by the Teaching in verses 8-9 with emphasis on patience, mercy, and rest. Jesus came in the flesh in humility and self-abasement. The Christian, following Jesus' example, does not exalt himself but unites his soul with the righteous. With this humble self-abasement, God will raise the Christian up as He exalted Jesus and gave Him the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9).