Contents Didache

1 contents

1.1 title
1.2 description
1.3 2 ways
1.4 rituals

1.4.1 baptism
1.4.2 fasting
1.4.3 daily prayer
1.4.4 eucharist


1.5 church organization

contents

the contents may divided 4 parts, scholars agree combined separate sources later redactor: first 2 ways, way of life , way of death (chapters 1–6); second part ritual dealing baptism, fasting, , communion (chapters 7–10); third speaks of ministry , how treat apostles, prophets, bishops, , deacons (chapters 11–15); , final section (chapter 16) prophecy of antichrist , second coming.

title

the manuscript commonly referred didache. short header found on document , title used church fathers, lord s teaching of twelve apostles jerome said same gospel according hebrews. fuller title or subtitle found next in manuscript, teaching of lord gentiles twelve apostles .

description

willy rordorf considered first 5 chapters jewish, christian community able use adding evangelical section . lord in didache reserved lord god , while jesus called servant of father (9:2f.; 10:2f.). baptism practiced in name of father , of son , of holy spirit. scholars agree 9:5, speaks of baptism in name of lord, represents earlier tradition gradually replaced trinity of names. similarity acts 3 noted aaron milavec: both see jesus servant (pais) of god . community presented awaiting kingdom father entirely future event .

the 2 ways

the first section (chapters 1–6) begins: there 2 ways, 1 of life , 1 of death, , there great difference between these 2 ways.

apostolic fathers, 2nd ed., lightfoot-harmer-holmes, 1992, notes:

the 2 ways material appears have been intended, in light of 7.1, summary of basic instruction christian life taught preparing baptism , church membership. in present form represents christianization of common jewish form of moral instruction. similar material found in number of other christian writings first through fifth centuries, including epistle of barnabas, didascalia, apostolic church ordinances, summary of doctrine, apostolic constitutions, life of schnudi, , on teaching of apostles (or doctrina), of dependent on didache. interrelationships between these various documents, however, quite complex , remains worked out.

the closest parallels in use of 2 ways doctrine found among essene jews @ dead sea scrolls community. qumran community included 2 ways teaching in founding charter, community rule.

throughout 2 ways, there many old testament quotes shared gospels , many theological similarities, jesus never mentioned name. first chapter opens shema ( shall love god ), great commandment ( neighbor ), , golden rule in negative form. comes short extracts in common sermon on mount, curious passage on giving , receiving, cited variations in shepherd of hermas (mand., ii, 4–6). latin omits 1:3–6 , 2:1, , these sections have no parallel in epistle of barnabas; therefore, may later addition, suggesting hermas , present text of didache may have used common source, or 1 may have relied on other. chapter 2 contains commandments against murder, adultery, corrupting boys, sexual promiscuity, theft, magic, sorcery, abortion, infanticide, coveting, perjury, false testimony, speaking evil, holding grudges, being double-minded, not acting speak, greed, avarice, hypocrisy, maliciousness, arrogance, plotting evil against neighbors, hate, narcissism , expansions on these generally, references words of jesus. chapter 3 attempts explain how 1 vice leads another: anger murder, concupiscence adultery, , forth. whole chapter excluded in barnabas. number of precepts added in chapter 4, ends: way of life. verse 13 states must not forsake lord s commandments, neither adding nor subtracting (see deut 4:2,12:32). way of death (chapter 5) list of vices avoided. chapter 6 exhorts keeping in way of teaching:

see no 1 causes err way of teaching, since apart god teaches you. if able bear entire yoke of lord, perfect; if not able this, able. , concerning food, bear able; against sacrificed idols exceedingly careful; service of dead gods. (roberts)

the didache, 1 corinthians 10:21, not give absolute prohibition on eating meat has been offered idols, merely advises careful. comparable didache let him eat herbs of paul of tarsus hyperbolical expression 1 cor 8:13: never eat flesh, lest should scandalize brother , giving no support notion of vegetarianism in church. john chapman in catholic encyclopedia (1908) states didache referring jewish meats. latin version substitutes chapter 6 similar close, omitting reference meats , idolothyta, , concluding per domini nostri jesu christi ... in saecula saeculorum, amen, our lord jesus christ ... ever , ever, amen . end of translation. suggests translator lived @ day when idolatry had disappeared, , when remainder of didache out of date. had no such reason omitting chapter 1, 3–6, presumably not in copy.

rituals
baptism

the second part (chapters 7 10) begins instruction on baptism, sacramental rite admits christian church. baptism conferred in name of father, , of son , of holy spirit triple immersion in “living water” (that is, flowing water, in stream). if not practical, in cold or warm water acceptable. if water insufficient immersion, may poured 3 times on head (affusion). baptized , baptizer, and, if possible, else attending ritual should fast 1 or 2 days beforehand.

the new testament rich in metaphors baptism offers few details practice itself, not whether candidates professed faith in formula. didache oldest extra-biblical source information baptism, it, lacks these details. 2 ways section of didache presumably sort of ethical instruction catechumens (students) received in preparation baptism.

fasting

chapter 8 suggests fasts not on monday , thursday hypocrites — presumably non-christian jews, such pharisees — on wednesday , friday. fasting wednesday , friday plus worshiping on sunday constituted christian week. nor must christians pray judaic brethren, instead shall lord s prayer 3 times day. text of prayer not identical version in gospel of matthew, , given doxology thine power , glory ever. doxology derives 1 chronicles 29:11–13; bruce m. metzger held church added lord s prayer, creating current matthew reading.

daily prayer

the didache provides 1 of few clues historians have in reconstructing daily prayer practice among christians before 300s. instructs christians pray our father 3 times day not specify times pray. other sources speak of two-fold, three-fold, , five-fold daily prayers.

eucharist

the didache includes 2 primitive , unusual prayers eucharist ( thanksgiving ), central act of christian worship. earliest text refer rite eucharist.

chapter 9 begins:

now concerning eucharist, give way. first, concerning cup:
we thank thee, our father, holy vine of david thy servant, thou madest known through jesus thy servant; thee glory ever..

and concerning broken bread:

we thank thee, our father, life , knowledge thou madest known through jesus thy servant; thee glory ever. broken bread scattered on hills, , gathered , became one, let thy church gathered ends of earth thy kingdom; thine glory , power through jesus christ ever.
but let no 1 eat or drink of eucharist, unless have been baptized name of lord; concerning lord has said, give not holy dogs. (roberts)

the didache describes same ritual 1 took place in corinth. paul s first letter corinthians, didache confirms lord s supper literally meal, taking place in house church. order of cup , bread differs both present-day christian practice , in new testament accounts of last supper, of which, again unlike present-day eucharistic celebrations, didache makes no mention. scholars once traced eucharistic prayers jesus words @ last supper, contemporary scholars emphasize jewish , gentile sources instead.

revelation 22:17 (kjv), prayer in didache 10 bears similarity.

chapter 10 gives thanksgiving after meal. contents of meal not indicated: chapter 9 not exclude other elements cup , bread, ones mentions, , chapter 10, whether separate document or continues account in chapter 9, mentions no particular elements, not wine , bread. instead speaks of spiritual food , drink , life eternal through thy servant distinguishes food , drink (given) men enjoyment might give (god) . after doxology, before, come apocalyptic exclamations: let grace come, , let world pass away. hosanna god (son) of david! if 1 holy, let him come; if 1 not so, let him repent. maranatha. amen . prayer reminiscent of revelation 22:17–20 , 1corinthians 16:22.

these prayers make no reference redemptive death of christ, or remembrance, formulated paul apostle in 1corinthians 11:23–34, see atonement in christianity. didache 10 doesn t use word christ, appears 1 other time in whole tract.

john dominic crossan endorses john w. riggs 1984 second century article proposition there 2 quite separate eucharistic celebrations given in didache 9–10, earlier 1 put in second place. section beginning @ 10.1 reworking of jewish birkat ha-mazon, three-strophe prayer @ conclusion of meal, includes blessing of god sustaining universe, blessing of god gives gifts of food, earth, , covenant, , prayer restoration of jerusalem; content christianized , form remains jewish. similar syrian church eucharist rite of holy qurbana of addai , mari, belonging primordial era when euchology of church had not yet inserted institution narrative in text of eucharistic prayer.

church organization

the church organization reflected in didache seems underdeveloped. itinerant apostles , prophets of great importance, serving chief priests , possibly celebrating eucharist. text offers guidelines on how differentiate genuine prophet deserves support false prophet seeks exploit community s generosity. example, prophet fails act preaches false prophet (11:10). local leadership consists of bishops , deacons, , seem taking place of itinerant ministry.

christians enjoined gather on sunday break bread, confess sins first reconcile others if have grievances (chapter 14).

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