[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

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[Coleus]

The Lord's Teaching to the Heathen by the Twelve Apostles:

1 There are two ways, one of life and one of death; and between the two ways there is a great difference.

2 Now, this is the way of life:…

The second commandment of the Teaching: "Do not murder; do not commit adultery"; do not corrupt boys; do not fornicate; "do not steal"; do not practice magic; do not go in for sorcery; do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant. "Do not covet your neighbor's property; do not commit perjury; do not bear false witness"; do not slander; do not bear grudges. Do not be double-minded or double-tongued, for a double tongue is "a deadly snare." Your words shall not be dishonest or hollow, but substantiated by action. Do not be greedy or extortionate or hypocritical or malicious or arrogant. Do not plot against your neighbor. Do not hate anybody; but reprove some, pray for others, and still others love more than your own life.

[narses]

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[trad_anglican]

This really is a fascinating document. Thanks for posting this.

The discourse on the two ways from the Didache can be found in similar form in the Epistle of Barnabas, so it's quite possible that it was a common way of preaching the good news in the first century. I've been working on and off on a way to incorporate the discourse into a RCIA unit.

There is a hymn that is based on the eucharistic prayer from another part of the Didache (some people who study these things say the Didache is actually describing an Agape meal and not a Eucharist). I've been working up this hymn on the guitar lately.

Father we thank Thee who has planted
Thy holy name within our hearts.
Knowledge and faith and life immortal
Jesus Thy son to us imparts.
Thou who didst make all for Thy pleasure
Didst give man food for all his days.
Giving in Christ the bread eternal
Thine is the power be Thine the praise.

Watch o'er Thy Church O Lord in mercy,
Save it from evil guard it still.
Perfect it in Thy love, unite it,
Cleansed and conformed unto Thy will.
As grain, once scattered on the hillsides
Was in this broken bread made one,
So from all lands Thy Church be gathered
Into Thy kingdom by Thy Son.

[Titanites]

Thanks, Salvation. Holy Tradition is the true teaching of Christ’s Church and the Didache is a part of Holy Tradition.

[AnalogReigns]

I love what the Didache says on baptism....incredibly irenic:

Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism. And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.

It proves pretty much that the method, means and amount (the kind of water, "living" (presumably a river), cold, warm, pouring...), to the Apostles, was adiaphora, what was important was the name of the holy Trinity, and preparation and meaning behind it.

Christians of all kinds could benefit from this common-sense approach.