A Rule for Humans

What follows is not Law, but a Rule. It is undertaken freely and binds no one who does not choose it.

Those who accept it — now
place themselves within a church
without boundary or authority,
distributed among persons,
held together only by prayer,
love, memory, and practice,
and

ⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲛ̄̄ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲩϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲣⲉϥⲣⲱⲙⲉ

I. ⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ / Field

Rule 1.

ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲣⲏⲙⲟⲥ·
ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲕⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ,
ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲧϥϫⲓ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̄̄ⲣⲁϣⲉ.

The whole earth is our desert;
but look especially to your cities,
each according to their own joy.

Rule 2.

ⲡⲙⲉⲓ ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲉⲩⲭⲏ.

Embodied love is prayer.

Rule 3.

ⲡⲅⲁⲙⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ·
ⲁϥϩⲓⲡⲡⲉ ⲙ̄̄ⲡⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲛ̄̄ⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ.

Marriage is between humans,
constrained only by the vow to love one another.

Rule 4.

ⲛ̄̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲩⲡⲣⲟⲥⲉⲩⲭⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲉ ⲇⲉⲕⲁ·
ⲧⲣⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲕⲁⲧⲟⲛ.

Two who pray as one are as ten;
three are as a hundred.

Rule 5.

ⲥⲱⲕ ⲛ̄̄ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟⲛ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲥⲉⲁⲛⲧⲓⲧⲁⲥⲥⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ·
ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲧⲁⲥⲓⲥ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ.

Gather around you those who do not oppose you;
but leave each one to their own position.

Rule 6.

ⲉⲧⲁⲛ ⲉⲩⲥⲱⲕ ⲛ̄̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲟⲩ ⲛ̄̄ϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲛ̄̄ⲟⲩϣⲁⲓ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ,
ⲉⲩⲙⲉⲧⲉⲭⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉϥⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉϥⲥⲛⲟϥ.

When two or more share a meal in His name,
they partake of His body and blood.

Rule 7.

ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥⲥⲟⲩⲱⲧⲛ̄̄ⲉⲣⲟⲕⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉⲙ̄̄ⲙⲛ̄̄ⲣ̄ϩ̄ ⲏⲧⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲟⲩ·
ⲡⲙⲛ̄̄ⲧⲣ̄ⲣ̄ⲣⲟ ⲡⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉϥⲣⲱϣⲉ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲙ̄̄ⲡⲉⲕϩⲱⲃ.

Faith carries you without worry about tomorrow;
the Kingdom is a treasure that grows of itself.

II. ⲡⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉ / Measure

Rule 8.

ⲡⲙⲟⲛⲟⲛ ⲛ̄̄ϩⲩⲡⲁⲕⲟⲏ
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ
ⲡⲉ ⲡⲙⲉⲣⲉ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟϥ.

The only obedience God now requires
is to love him.

Rule 9.

ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲉⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ
ⲙ̄̄ⲡⲉϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ·
ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϥⲧⲁϩⲟ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲥⲟⲛ.

But this same love does not end with him alone;
it is directed toward your neighbor.

Rule 10.

ⲡⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ·
ⲁⲣⲉⲧⲁϩⲟ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ⲡⲙⲉⲣⲉ ⲛ̄ⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ.

Love is the whole law; guide desire into love.

Rule 11.

ⲡⲙⲉⲣⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲁⲩⲧⲟⲥ
ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲉⲕⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟϥ
ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲙⲉⲣⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲥⲟⲛ·
ⲙ̄̄ⲡⲉⲕϣⲟⲣⲡ.

Love of self is the rod by which
to measure your love of neighbor;
do not come up short.

Rule 12.

ⲙⲉⲧⲙⲉⲑⲣⲉ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲥⲱϣⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ
ⲧⲁϩⲟ ⲛ̄̄ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧϩⲏⲧⲥ·
ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲁⲥⲓⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲧⲁϩⲟ ⲉ ⲟⲩⲁⲗⲗⲟ.

False witness against a group
harms each person within it;
harming another is trespass.

Rule 13.

ⲡⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̄̄ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ·
ⲡⲕⲣⲓⲙⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ·
ⲙ̄̄ⲡⲉⲕϫⲓ ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲛⲓⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲁⲥⲓⲥ ⲛ̄̄ⲛⲉⲕⲉⲧⲛⲟⲟⲩ.

Justice belongs to civil authority;
Judgment to God alone;
do not occupy yourself with
the trespasses of others.

Rule 14.

ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲟⲩⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲡⲉ·
ⲥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲛ̄̄ⲛⲉⲕⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲁⲥⲓⲥ
ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ·
ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲙ̄̄ⲡⲉⲕϩⲏⲧ
ⲛ̄̄ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲟⲩⲥⲛⲟϥ, ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ.

Since each person is the church,
confess your trespasses to a member,
so that your heart does not harden—
for that hardening is sin.

III. ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ / Witness

Rule 15.

Ⲡⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲛⲙⲁⲁⲩ·
ⲡⲓϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲙⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ ⲛⲓⲙ.

Christ is our Lord and our Mother;
the source of all care and all strength.

Rule 16.

ⲛⲉⲛⲉⲣⲏⲙⲓⲧⲏⲥ
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲏ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲙⲉ·
ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲩⲟⲩⲱϣ.

Our hermits may be man or woman,
according to their will.

Rule 17.

ⲧⲁⲕⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲛ̄̄ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̄̄ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛ̄̄ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩⲱⲧ·
ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲡⲉ·
ⲁⲣⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ⲛ̄̄ϩⲏⲧϥ.

Set aside a second purse apart from your own;
it belongs to the church; do good with it.

Rule 18.

ⲡⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ
ⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄̄ ⲛⲉⲥⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥ·
ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲟⲩⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ ⲡⲉ.

The purse of the church
is distributed among its members;
let each person be a church in themselves.

Rule 19.

ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲥⲟⲛ ⲛ̄̄ϩⲏⲧ ⲛ̄̄ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ·
ⲁⲣⲉⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ.
ⲁⲣⲉϫⲱ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲁⲓ? ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ϫⲱ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲁⲓ·
ⲙ̄̄ⲡⲉⲕⲙⲟⲩϣⲧ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.

If your brother is in need,
give from the purse of the church.
You say, “How much?” I say:
Do not hold back from him.

Rule 20.

ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲕϩⲱⲛ ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ·
ⲁⲣⲉϫⲓⲧϥ ⲛ̄̄ϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲟⲕ.

If your need becomes dire,
draw from it for yourself.

Rule 21.

ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲧⲛ̄̄ⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ
ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄̄ϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲛ̄̄ Ⲡⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ·
ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲧⲛ̄̄ⲣ̄ⲣ̄ⲣⲙⲁⲉ.

Bear witness to what you know
of what you are becoming in Christ;
this is the truth that sets you free.

ⲡⲥⲱⲧⲙ

ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲁϩⲟ.
ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲁⲣⲭⲏ.
ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ.
ⲙ̄̄ⲙⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲛⲁⲅⲕⲏ.

ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲙⲟⲛⲟⲛ:
ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲉⲩⲭⲏ · ⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ · ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ · ⲱϣⲧ.

ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̄̄ⲧⲉ ⲛ̄̄ⲣⲉϥⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲁⲥⲥⲱⲧⲙ.

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C.D. 2025