Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Didache: The Teachings of the 12 Apostles

Over the next several weeks I want to spend some time talking about the Didache. What is the Didache you ask, well let me give you some background.

The Didache is considered to be the oldest surviving extant piece of non-canonical literature. It is really a handbook for new Christian converts, consisting of instructions derived directly from the teachings of Jesus. The book can be divided into three sections. The first six chapters consist of Christian lessons; the next four give descriptions of the Christian ceremonies, including baptism, fasting and communion; and the last six outline the church organization.

The Didache claims to have been authored by the twelve apostles. While this cannot be positively proven, the work is most likely a direct result of the first Apostolic Council circa 50 AD (Acts 15:28). Similarities to the Apostolic Decree are apparent, and the given structure of the church is quite primitive. Also, the description of the Eucharist (bread and wine) carefully avoids mention of the "body and blood of Christ," which in the early church was regarded as one of the secret mysteries of early Christianity. Most scholars agree that the work, in its earliest form, may have circulated as early as the 60's AD, though additions and modifications may have taken place well into the third century. The work was never officially rejected by the Church, but was excluded from the canon for its lack of literary value.

The complete text of the Didache was discovered in the Codex Hierosolymitanus, though a number of fragments exist, most notably in the Oxyrhynchus Papyri. It was originally composed in Greek, probably within a small community.

What I find fascinating about the Didache is that while it is not divinely inspired scripture, it does give us today a glimpse into how the early church functioned and how the Apostles taught. It is so interesting to see how the church started to develop early on in the first century.

My comments on the sections will follow over the next few weeks. The Didache is a very short manual, and if you'd like to read it for yourself here is a link:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html


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