Alms.

Matthew 6.1-4.

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Notes and quotes.

§ Thomas 6a:

ΑΥϪΝΟΥϤ Ν̅ϬΙ ΝΕϤΜΑΘΗΤΗC ΠΕϪΑΥ ΝΑϤ ϪΕ ΚΟΥΩϢ ΕΤΡΝ̅Ρ̅ΝΗCΤΕΥΕ ΑΥΩ ΕϢ ΤΕ ΘΕ ΕΝΑϢΛΗΛ ΕΝΑϮΕΛΕΗΜΟCΥΝΗ ΑΥΩ ΕΝΑΡ̅ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΕΙ ΕΟΥ Ν̅ϬΙΟΥΩΜ.

His disciples asked him and said to him: Do you want us to fast? And in what way shall we pray? Shall we do alms? And from what foods shall we abstain?

Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 654, lines 32-35:

[Εξ]εταζουσιν αυτον οι [μαθηται αυτου και λε]γουσιν· Πως νηστευ[σομεν και πως προσευξομ]εθα και πως [ελεημοσυνην ποιησομεν κα]ι τι παρατηρησομεν περι των βρωματω]ν;

[Ex]amine him the [disciples of his and s]ay: How shall we fa[st and how shall we pra]y and how [shall we do alms an]d what shall we obser[ve about foods?]

Thomas 14abc:

ΠΕϪΕ Ι̅C̅ ΝΑΥ ϪΕ ΕΤΕΤΝ̅ϢΑΝΡ̅ΝΗCΤΕΥΕ ΤΕΤΝΑϪΠΟ ΝΗΤΝ̅ Ν̅ΝΟΥΝΟΒΕ ΑΥΩ ΕΤΕΤΝ̅ϢΑΝ ϢΛΗΛ CΕΝΑΡ̅ΚΑΤΑΚΡΙΝΕ Μ̅ΜΩΤΝ̅ ΑΥΩ ΕΤΕΤΝ̅ϢΑΝϮΕΛΕΗΜΟCΥΝΗ ΕΤΕΤΝΑΕΙΡΕ Ν̅ΟΥΚΑΚΟΝ Ν̅ΝΕΤΜ̅Π̅Ν̅Α̅.

Jesus said to them: If you fast you will beget sin for yourselves, and if you pray they will condemn you, and if you give alms you will be doing evil to your spirits.

Thomas 62:

ΠΕϪΕ Ι̅C̅ ϪΕ ΕΙϪΩ Ν̅ΝΑΜΥCΤΗΡΙΟΝ Ν̅ΝΕ[ΤΜ̅ΠϢΑ] Ν̅[ΝΑ]ΜΥCΤΗΡΙΟΝ. ΠΕ[Τ]ΕΤΕΚΟΥΝΑΜ ΝΑΑϤ ΜΝ̅ΤΡΕΤΕΚϨΒΟΥΡ ΕΙΜΕ ϪΕ ΕCΡΟΥ.

Jesus said: I speak my mysteries to those worthy of my mysteries. Do not let your left know what your right will do.

§ Justin Martyr, Apology 1.15.17:

Και· Μη ποιητε ταυτα προς το θεαθηναι υπο των ανθρωπων· ει δε μη γε, μισθον ουκ εχετε παρα του πατρος υμων του εν τοις ουρανοις.

And [Christ also said]: Do not do these things to be seen by men; in that case you have no wage from your father who is in the heavens.

§ From Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus 3.14:

Το δε ευαγγελιον· Αγαπατε, φησιν, τους εχθρους υμων και προσευχεσθε υπερ των επηρεαζοντων υμας. εαν γαρ αγαπατε τους αγαπωντας υμας, ποιον μισθον εχετε; τουτο και οι λησται και οι τελωναι ποιουσιν. τους δε ποιουντας το αγαθον διδασκει μη καυχασθαι, ινα μη ανθρωπαρεσκοι ωσιν. Μη γνωτω, γαρ φησιν, η χειρ σου η αριστερα τι ποιει η χειρ σου η δεξια. ετι μην και περι του υποτασσεσθαι αρχαις και εξουσιαις, και ευχεσθαι υπερ αυτων, κελευει ημας ο θειος λογος, οπως ηρεμον και ησυχιον βιον διαγωμεν. και διδασκει αποδιδοναι πασιν τα παντα, τω την τιμην την τιμην, τω τον φοβον τον φοβον, τω τον φορον τον φορον, μηδενι μηδεν οφελειν η μονον το αγαπαν παντας.

And the gospel says: Love your enemies, and pray on behalf of those who revile you. For, if you love those who love you, what kind of reward do you have? Even the thieves and tax-collectors do this.¹ And it teaches those who do good not to boast, lest they become pleasers of men. For it says: Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Moreover, also concerning subjection to rulers and authorities, and prayer on their behalf, the divine word gives us orders, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life.² And it teaches to render all things to all, honor to whom honor, fear to whom fear, tax to whom tax, [and] to owe nothing to anyone except only to love all.³

¹ Refer to Matthew 5.44, 46 = Luke 6.28, 32.
² Refer to 1 Timothy 2.2.
³ Refer to Romans 13.7-8.