The Didache

As I was doing some research recently, I reread the Didache, an early Church document of instruction. I have spent a lot of time studying the Hebraic roots of Christianity in the past few months and the Didache speaks very differently to me now. I wanted to spend a few posts on discussing the Didache.

For those who want, I recommend going to this link to read it for yourself. But for this first post, I want to outline the Didache.

The opening line of the Didache says, “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.” This statement certainly has its roots in Judaism of the 1st century. The texts found at Qumran (famous for the Dead Sea Scrolls) indicate that the two ways was a very traditional way for Jews to look at the world. And of course, the Tanakh itself talks a great deal of the “way of the LORD” or the “way of death”.

With that as an introduction, the rest of the document can be broken down into 4 distinct sections. Although there are others who have placed chapters and verses into the Didache as they have the Bible, I wish to transcend those markers for the time being.

The first section, comprised of the 1st 4 chapters talks about the Way of Life. This Way begins with the Greatest Commandment, ie Love the LORD God with all your heart, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. This was central it seems to the authors understanding of what it meant to be a follower of Christ. Then, there is essentially a commentary on what those commands mean, and the authors move into the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments aren’t placed down exactly as Exodus or Deuteronomy write them, but it is clear that the authors are specifically referencing these Divine commands. Finally, in this section there is a call to flee evil, listing various evils and then a call to seek good, with another list of those things we ought to seek.

The second section then moves into the way of death. This is quite short and really just rephrases the evil stated above that we were called to flee.

Then the authors move into miscellaneous teachings that have more to do with the rest of Torah commandments and various rituals and traditions and leadership of the Church. These all begin in chapter 6 and go through 15. Chapter 6 speaks of the full yoke of our Lord and eating kosher. Then chapter 7 talks about baptism, chapter 8 talks about fasting and the Lord’s prayer, and 9 and 10 speak of blessings for food before and after partaking. Then chapter 11 counsels the community as to false and true prophets or teachers. Chapter 12 speaks of receiving believers who are in passing through. And it addresses the need for all to work in order to be part of the community. Chapter 13 speaks of giving the first-fruits to the prophet/teacher of the community. Chapter 14 commands the gathering on the “Lord’s Day”. And chapter 15 teaches the various groups to appoint elders and deacons, as they function as prophets and teachers for the community.

The authors conclude in the last section, which is all of chapter 16, about the Lord’s return. It reminds all believers to “be ready” and that there will be a great deceiver, but to those who stand firm in faith, they will be saved. And finally it concludes with the Lord’s return in the sky.

This is a very basic outline, I know. But in order to preface the topics I wish to address, I wanted there to be a basic understanding of the full document for any reader.