Category:Didache (text)

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The Didache is an early Christian document included in collections of Apostolic Fathers.

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Overview

In 1873 a copy of the long lost Didache was rediscovered in a library in Constantinople and published a decade later. Ever since, this little book has attracted a large amount of scholarly attention due to the light it sheds on the beliefs and practices of the early Christians

The book presents itself as "The teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles" and is very close to the theology of the Gospel of Matthew, although addressing problems that are more typical of the end of the first century.

Soma major themes in the document

The Two Ways

There are two paths, one of life and one of death… This is the path of life: Love the God who made you and your neighbor as yourself. And whatever you do not want to happen to you, do not do to another… Bless those who curse you, pray for your enemies… Give to everyone who asks and do not ask for anything back…

Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not engage in pederasty, do not engage in porneia (prostitution, sexual immorality). Do not steal, do not practice magic, do not use enchanted potions, do not abort a fetus or kill a child that is born. Do not desire what belongs to your neighbor, do not commit perjury, do not give false testimony, do not speak insults, do not bear grudges. Do not be of two minds or speak from both sides of your mouth… Do not be fond of money”

“If you can bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you cannot, do as much as you can” (Didache); cf. Matthew 5:48: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Against the “Hypocrites” (=the Pharisees)

Do not let your fasts coincide with those of the hypocrites. They fast on Monday and Thursday, so you must fast on Wednesday and Friday.

You should not pray like the hypocrites. Instead, pray like this, just as the Lord commanded in his Gospel: “Our Father in Heaven…” Pray like this three times a day.

Let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for the Lord has also spoken concerning this: “Do not give what is holy to dogs.” [[See Canaanite Woman: the distinction between baptized and not-baptized is replacing the distinction between Jews and Gentiles]]

Yard of the ancient church of St. Ambrose, Milan, Italy

True and false prophets

“Welcome anyone who comes and teaches… but only if his teaching brings the knowledge of the Lord…If he stays three days, he is a false prophet… If he asks for money, he is a false prophet… If he orders a meal in the Spirit and eats on it, he is a false prophet… If he wants to remain with you, and he is a tradesman, let him work and eat… If anyone says in the Spirit. Give me money… do not listen to him. But if he tells you to give on behalf of others who are in need, let no judge him.” (Didache)

The authority in the Church

Appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons… you must not despise them, for they are your honored men, along with the prophets and teachers Prophets and teachers are still more important than bishops and deacons.

Warnings against false expectations about the return of Jesus

All the time you have believed will be of no use to you if you are not found perfect in the last time… Then the deceiver of the world will appear as a son of God and will perform signs and wonders and the earth will be delivered into his hands… Many will fall away but those who endure in their faith will be saved… And then there will appear the signs of the truth: first the sign of an opening in heaven, then the sign of the sound of a trumpet, and third, the resurrection of the dead… Then the world will see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven. The Didache claims that Jesus will return only AFTER the end of times

External links

• Wikipedia -- Early Christian Writings