Didache Ping!
The Didache, an early handbook of an anonymous Christian community, "is the most important book you've never heard of." It spells out a way of life for Jesus-followers, including how to show one another the love of God, how to practice the Eucharist, and how to take in wandering prophets.
Likely written before many of the New Testament books, this little-known text can enlighten the way that Christian are church, today.
Tony Jones's new book, The Teaching of the Twelve, unpacks this ancient document with insight and perspective, and traces the life of a small house church in Missouri that is trying to live according to its precepts.
Thanks be to God for the Didache!! It was written as early as the New Testament itself, and could ahve been used as a missal for mass. Thanks for posting Salvation! Happy Easter Tide.
The Didache is like the notes a writer uses before a book is written.
JOSEY WALES: You be Ten Bears?
TEN BEARS: I am Ten Bears.
JOSEY: (Spits tobacco) I'm Josey Wales.
TEN BEARS: I have heard. You're the Gray Rider. You would not make peace with the Blue Coats. You may go in peace.
JOSEY: I reckon not. Got nowhere to go.
TEN BEARS: Then you will die.
JOSEY: I came here to die with you. Or live with you. Dying ain't so hard for men like you and me, it's living that's hard; when all you ever cared about has been butchered or raped. Governments don't live together, people live together. With governments you don't always get a fair word or a fair fight. Well I've come here to give you either one, or get either one from you. I came here like this so you'll know my word of death is true. And that my word of life is then true. The bear lives here, the wolf, the antelope, the Comanche. And so will we. Now, we'll only hunt what we need to live on, same as the Comanche does. And every spring when the grass turns green and the Comanche moves north, he can rest here in peace, butcher some of our cattle and jerk beef for the journey. The sign of the Comanche, that will be on our lodge. That's my word of life.
TEN BEARS: And your word of death?
JOSEY: It's here in my pistols, there in your rifles. I'm here for either one.
TEN BEARS: These things you say we will have, we already have.
JOSEY: That's true. I ain't promising you nothing extra. I'm just giving you life and you're giving me life. And I'm saying that men can live together without butchering one another.
TEN BEARS: It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double-tongues. There is iron in your word of death for all Comanche to see. And so there is iron in your words of life. No signed paper can hold the iron, it must come from men. The words of Ten Bears carries the same iron of life and death. It is good that warriors such as we meet in the struggle of life... or death. It shall be life.
5:1 The way of death...is evil and accursed—murders, adulteries, lust, illicit sex, thefts, idolatries, magical arts, sorceries, robberies, false testimonies, hypocrisy,double-heartedness,deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness—those who do not fear God.
5:2 The way of death is the way of those who persecute the good, hate the truth, love lies, and do not understand the reward for righteousness. They do not cleave to good or righteous judgment; they do not watch for what is good, but for what is evil. They are strangers to meekness and patience, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, without pity for the needy and oppressed. They do not know their Creator; they are murderers of children, destroyers of God's image. They turn away from those who are in need, making matters worse for those who are distressed. They are advocates for the rich, unjust judges of the poor. In a word, the way of death is full of those who are steeped in sin. Be delivered, children, from all of this!
Many believe it to be an interpreted copy of what "we wrote" following the confrontation between Paul and Peter with regard to the place of Mosaic Law in the former's mission to the Gentiles.
Considering the language, the original informal Koine Greek that Paul wrote, and the very few oldest fragments of what is certain to have already been an Book choice and order corresponding to what we have received already in existence by the middle of the 3rd century, the earliest fragments of The Didache may be 150 years older, dating from the early persecutions.
While I personally don't believe it was essential to include it in the eventual Canon, it might have been well placed immediately after Acts, or at least in the original form (since I maintain this is an interpretation, though contemporary, if it is, indeed, a product of Peter and Paul's "conference).
Wikipedia has an entry, of sorts, if one doesn't mind taking the secular discussion there with the usual grain of salt.
Having dealt with early Christian history and literature to a certain extent, I want to add a few thoughts:
Although some date the Didache to the mid first century A.D., the reality is probably somewhat more complicated. The actual date is unknown, with suggested dates ranging from the late 40’s A.D. to ca. 190 A.D. Most date it in the early second century. But none of this perhaps gives the complete picture.
The Didache is the earliest example of what might be called “church order literature”. A modern example would be something like the Methodist Discipline. The Methodist Discipline has been periodically updated, so referring to the “Methodist Discipline” is not sufficient to ascertain the time period. It could be from as early as 1784 or as late as 2012. Likewise, the Didache probably also underwent revisions. The fourth century A.D. Apostolic Constitutions appears to be based upon the Didache and be a revision and expansion of it.
Even a second century date does not rule out the possibility of later interpolations, which were not uncommon, especially with regard to elements that do not fit the time period. The best example is probably the reference to pouring, which is a unique reference in this time period. The Apostolic Constitutions, which otherwise seems to rely on the Didache, does not include this section.
Although the Didache in its present form is likely not a first century document, the nature of church order literature along with certain elements within the text makes it highly likely that significant portions do date back to the first century. The references to “prophets” echoes the first century presence of people with supernatual gifts of the Holy Spirit given by the laying on of the apostles’ hands. The reference to “bishops and deacons” also echoes the first century form of church government, which would gradually change into a threefold hierarchy: bishop, elders, and deacons.
The Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas are sometimes dated in the first century A.D. Of these three, the Didache is the only one that has even a halfway decent chance. At this point the only first century Christian document outside of the New Testament that can be definitely dated is the First Letter of Clement of Rome, dated A.D. 96.
not a fore-runner
Bkmk
Thanks much.
Ping!
Thank-you for this excellent article and God Bless.
That's funny...The bible copied the didache, eh???
Appears this has an origin in the 3rd century...Notice the 'Catholic' reference to paying for indulgances...
4:6 If you have anything, by your hands you should give ransom for your sins.
In the commandments section there is no reference to false idols or graven images...And then we see in 5:2...
5:2 The way of death is the way of those who persecute the good, hate the truth, love lies, and do not understand the reward for righteousness. They do not cleave to good or righteous judgment; they do not watch for what is good, but for what is evil. They are strangers to meekness and patience, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, without pity for the needy and oppressed. They do not know their Creator; they are murderers of children, destroyers of God's image. They turn away from those who are in need, making matters worse for those who are distressed. They are advocates for the rich, unjust judges of the poor. In a word, the way of death is full of those who are steeped in sin. Be delivered, children, from all of this!
Whether that's a psychological image or a graven image, we don't know...
6:2 For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able, then at least do what you can.
There are two concepts in the New Testament concerning spiritual life and death...You are either under the law or under grace...
If 6:2 is a teaching under the law, it is false...For whoever fails in one point of the law fail all laws...
And if this rule pertains to grace, we have already become perfected in the eyes of God thru the full atonement of His Son...So the author is wrong in either case...
7:3 If you have very little, pour water three times on the head in the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
The writers of scripture seem to have forgotten that important fact...
7:4 Before the baptism, both the baptizer and the candidate for baptism, plus any others who can, should fast. The candidate should fast for one or two days beforehand.
8:1 Your fasts should not be with the hypocrites, for they fast on Mondays and Thursdays. You should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.
All these important laws and details that the inspired authors of the N.T. forgot to add to the scriptures???
8:2 And do not pray like the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in the gospel: Our Father in heaven, holy be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us enough bread day-by-day. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
Apparently God quoted to the other apostles something a little different to these apostles???
8:3 Pray this three times each day.
No...We were never instructed to pray that prayer...
The EUCHARIST
10:1 After the Eucharist when you are filled, give thanks this way:
So tell us; how did the apostles in A.D. 50 use the term Eucharist when it is absent from the scriptures???
Something tells me there is something rotten in Denmark, and Rome...
10:3 You, Master Almighty, have created all things for your name's sake. You gave food and drink to all people for enjoyment, that they might give thanks to you; but to us you freely give spiritual food and drink and life eternal through Jesus, your servant.
OOPS, NO Eucharist...
Jesus says to call no man 'Master'...Just sayin'...
10:6 Let grace come, and let this world pass away!
Hosanna to the Son of David! If anyone is holy, let him come; if anyone is not holy, let him repent. Maranatha! Amen.
HuH??? Who do these guys know that don't need repentance??? Besides Francis...
11:2 But if he turns and trains you in another tradition to the destruction of this teaching, do not listen. If he teaches so as to increase righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.
That's what the apostle Paul taught about THIS group...
11:6 And when the apostle goes away, let him take nothing but bread to last him until his next night of lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet.
1Ti_5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
This may have been written before the bible but they would have had to trash it since it contradicts the scriptures...
11:7 In addition, if any prophet speaks in the Spirit, you shall not try or judge him; for every sin will be forgiven, but this sin cannot be forgiven.
1Jn_4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
These 'apostles' are just full of deception and lies...
11:8 But not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet; only he is a prophet who has the ways of the Lord about him. By their ways will the false prophet and the prophet be known.
If the prophet looks religious...Long robes, crown, people bowing to him; I get it...
11:9 Any prophet who orders a meal in the Spirit does not eat it; if he does, he is indeed a false prophet.
Why does he order it then if he's not going to eat it??? Is this supposed to mean that a prophet who is in the Spirit will not order a meal???
11:12 But whoever says in the Spirit, "Give me money,"or something else like this, you must not listen to him. But if he tells you to give for the sake of others who are in need, let no one judge him.
If a prophet tell you to give your money to the Church, don't question him, just DO IT...
13:3 Every first fruit, therefore, of the products of vintage and harvest, of cattle and of sheep, should be given as first fruits to the prophets, for they are your high priests.
There are no high priests but Jesus...
13:5 If you bake bread, take the first loaf and give it according to the commandment.
Sorry but we are not under the law...Another false teaching...
15:1 Appoint bishops for yourselves, as well as deacons, worthy of the Lord, of meek disposition, unattached to money, truthful and proven; for they also render to you the service of prophets and teachers.
OOPS...There goes the 'holy orders' of the Catholic religion...Can load that sacrament into the clay bird launcher...
Why anyone would look to the didache when we have the written words of God in scripture is beyond me...
Impressive early Christian teaching that is still applicable, today.