The
Didache or “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles”
Introduction:
'Didache'
(pronounced, 'dih-dah-KAY') is a Greek word that
means 'teaching'. The Didache is, in all probability, the oldest
surviving piece of non-canonical literature. It is a handbook for new Gentile Christian
converts, purporting to consist of instructions derived directly from the
teachings of Jesus.
Another title of the work is "The
Teaching of the Apostles to the Gentiles”. Paul and Barnabus
were the Apostles to the Gentiles and the Didache may possibly be the full text
of the rules for Gentile converts that was formulated in
Organization:
The
book can be divided into three sections.
A.
1-6 Christian Basics: The first six chapters consist of lessons in the
basics of Christianity.
B.
7-10 Ceremonies: The next four give descriptions of the Christian ceremonies, including
baptism, fasting and communion.
C.
11-16 Ecclesiology: The last six outline the church organization.
Authorship:
The Didache claims to have been authored by the
twelve apostles. While this is unlikely, the work could be a direct result of
the first Apostolic Council, c.50 C.E. (Acts
Date:
Some scholars feel that the work, in its earliest
form, may have circulated as early as the middle of the first century. It bears
no date itself, nor does it make reference to any datable external event, yet
the picture of the Church which it presents could only be described as
primitive, reaching back to the very earliest stages of the Church's order and
practice in a way which largely agrees with the picture presented by the NT,
while at the same time posing questions for many traditional interpretations of
this first period of the Church's life.
The consensus among modern scholars, however, is that
it was written no later than 80-100 AD. This means that at the latest this work
would have been written and distributed throughout the church while some of the
apostles were still alive.
The work was never officially rejected by the Church,
but was eventually excluded from the canon by Athanasius. As the New Testament
canon was being formed in early church history one of the most powerful
arguments for the inclusion of a work was its apostolic origin. If an apostle
wrote it – it was included in the canon.
Ignatius of Antioch (50-98 to 117 AD) was the second
successor of St. Peter in the See of Antioch (Eusebius, Hist.
Eccl.,
Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155 AD) was "instructed
by Apostles" (Irenaeus, op. cit.,
Clement of
Clement of
Methodius of Olympus, an opponent of Origen, quotes
all the N.T writings as canonical but also the Revelation of Peter, Barnabas
and the Didache.
Origen (185-232 AD) had many opportunities to travel
and thus had a very good working knowledge of how Christians regarded various
literary works. He divided books with Biblical claims into three classes:
Origen personally accepted all of these as divinely
inspired, though viewing contrary opinions with toleration and his authority
seems to have given to Hebrews and the disputed Catholic Epistles a firm place
in the Alexandrian Canon.
A student of Origen named Eusebius (260-sometime
before 341 AD) became Bishop of Cæsarea in
So, up to this point the work was never officially
rejected by the Church. The earliest church fathers typically quoted from the
Didache in their sermons and thought it should at least be considered for
canonicity. It was finally excluded from the canon however by Athanasius for
its lack of literary value and clear apostolic authorship. It was an ancient
custom for the bishop of
“Since, however, we have spoken of the
heretics as dead but of ourselves as possessors of the divine writings unto
salvation, and since I am afraid that -- as Paul has written to the Corinthians
[2 Cor. 11:3] -- some guileless persons may be led
astray from their purity and holiness by the craftiness of certain men and
begin thereafter to pay attention to other books, the so-called apocryphal
writings, being deceived by their possession of the same names as the genuine
books, I therefore exhort you to patience when, out of regard to the Church's
need and benefit, I mention in my letter matters with which you are acquainted.
It being my intention to mention these matters, I shall, for the commendation
of my venture, follow the example of the evangelist Luke and say [cf. Luke
1:1-4]: Since some have taken in hand to set in order for themselves the
so-called apocrypha and to mingle them with the God-inspired scripture,
concerning which we have attained to a sure persuasion, according to what the
original eye-witness and ministers of the word have delivered unto our fathers,
I also, having been urged by true brethren and having investigated the matter
from the beginning, have decided to set forth in order the writings that have
been put in the canon, that have been handed down and confirmed as divine, in
order that every one who has been led astray may condemn his seducers, and that
every one who has remained stainless may rejoice, being again reminded of that.”
At
this point Athanasius first enumerates the scriptures of the Old Testament. He
then proceeds:
“Continuing, I must without hesitation
mention the scriptures of the New Testament; they are the following: the four Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, after them
the Acts of the Apostles and the seven so-called catholic epistles of the apostles -- namely, one of James,
two of Peter, then three of John and after these one of Jude. In addition there
are fourteen epistles of the apostle Paul written in the
following order: the first to the Romans, then two to the Corinthians and then
after these the one to the Galatians, following it the one to the Ephesians,
thereafter the one to the Philippians and the one to the Colossians and two to
the Thessalonians and the epistle to the Hebrews and then immediately two to Timothy , one to Titus and lastly the one to Philemon. Yet
further the Revelation of John
These are
the springs of salvation, in order that he who is thirsty may fully refresh
himself with the words contained in them. In them alone is the doctrine of
piety proclaimed. Let no one add anything to them or take anything away from
them...
But for the
sake of greater accuracy I add, being constrained to write, that there are also
other books besides these, which have not indeed been put in the canon, but
have been appointed by the Fathers as reading-matter for those who have just
come forward and which to be instructed in the doctrine of piety: the Wisdom of
Solomon, the Wisdom of Sirach, Esther, Judith,
Tobias, the so-called Teaching [Didache] of the Apostles,
and the Shepherd. And although, beloved, the
former are in the canon and the latter serve as reading matter, yet mention is
nowhere made of the apocrypha; rather they are a fabrication of the heretics,
who write them down when it pleases them and generously assign to them an early
date of composition in order that they may be able to draw upon them as
supposedly ancient writings and have in them occasion to deceive the guileless.”
Provenance:
It was originally composed in Greek,
probably within a small community. Most commentators now seem to opt for
CHAPTER 1 - THE
1) There are two ways: one of Life - one of Death, each having
great differences between them.
2) The way of life is this:
First, You must love the One who formed you;
Second, you must
love your neighbor in the same manner as yourself. Do not do to others, what
you yourself would not want done to you.
3) And these are our teachings: Bless the ones who curse you. Pray for your
enemies. Fast for your persecutors. Do you expect a great reward if you only
love those who love you? Do the Gentiles not conduct themselves accordingly?
But if you practice love to those who hate you, your enemies will vanish.
4) Refrain from the impulses of your selfish nature and the self-serving world.
If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the left to be likewise stricken.
This discipline will lead to your perfecting. If someone forces you to go one
mile in service, go with him a second. If someone robs you of your robe, freely
give him your coat. If someone takes anything from you, don't ask that it be
returned, for what good would that do?
5) Give to all who ask, and don't expect return; for your Parent in heaven
wills that everyone should be recipients of our free gifts. Great rewards await
anyone who gives according to the commandment; for that person is guiltless. A
negative return is given to the one who receives but has no need, for he will
pay the penalty for why he received for nothing but greed, and under
examination will be required to divulge everything concerning his choices, and
will not be freed from his obligations until everything owed is paid.
6) On the other hand, the one who is in need and receives is guiltless. Let
your gifts rest in sweaty hands, until you can discern to whom you should give.
CHAPTER 2 - THE SECOND COMMANDMENT: GROSS SIN
FORBIDDEN
1) This is
the second commandment of the Teaching;
2) You must not murder; nor given to adultery; nor molest children; nor
practice immorality; nor theft; nor a practitioner of black magic; nor a practitioner
of witchcraft; nor a terminator of unborn children; nor any sort of
infanticide; nor one who unlawfully seek to take ownership of your neighbor's
possessions,
3) You must not commit perjury nor be given over to false testimony, nor speak
evil, nor hold grudges.
4) You must not be deceitful nor fickle for fickleness is a
snare of death.
5) Your speech must never be false, nor meaningless,
but confirmed by action.
6) You must never be greedy, nor accumulate riches, nor a hypocrite, nor
malicious, nor arrogant; nor given over to plot evil against your neighbor.
7) You must not hate anyone; but some you must correct, and pray for others,
and some you must love even more than your own life.
CHAPTER 3 - OTHER SINS FORBIDDEN
1) My child, turn away from everything evil, even from anything
that resembles it.
2) Control your anger, for anger leads to murder. Control your jealousy, and do
not bicker, nor be hot-tempered, for all these things are the roots of murder.
3) My child, don't entertain lust in your heart; for lust leads to
immorality. Do not be foul-mouthed, nor allow your eyes to roam; for all these
are the roots of adultery.
4) My child, do not practice any part of omens, because this leads to idolatry.
Do not practice enchantment, nor self-centered
astrology, nor black magic, nor join with those who exhibit these
things; for these all lead to idolatry.
5) My child, do not lie because lying leads to theft. Do not accumulate selfish
wealth, nor build conceit because these all lead to theft.
6) My child, do not grumble because this leads to blasphemy. Do not be arrogant
nor evil-minded because all of these lead to
blasphemy.
7) Rather, be meek. For the meek will inherit the
8) Be humble, patient, merciful, gentle and good, always showing proper respect
and reverence for that which you have heard.
9) Never seek self-exaltation, nor be over-confident in your own self. You must
not be joined with the worldly upper class, but with the righteous and humble.
10) Whatsoever things that happen to you should be taken as good, after all we
know that nothing happens apart from God.
CHAPTER 4 - VARIOUS PRECEPTS
1) My child, every night and day remember those who teach you;
and you must honor him.
2) And you must daily seek the companionship of the saints, so that you may
find support in their words.
3) Never cause division, but be an arbiter to those who quarrel. Always judge
righteously, never showing partiality when mediating transgressions.
4) Always stand firm in your decisions.
5) Don't be a habitual receiver, ever reluctant in generosity.
6) If you've earned something through work, your giving will be weighed as a
ransom against your sins.
7) You must not hesitate to give, nor grumble afterwards, for one day you will
face the reward of the Paymaster.
8) Never turn away those in need, but always share all things with your
brother, and never say that your possessions exclusively your own, because if
you share in eternal things, how much more in things that are temporary!
9) Never neglect your responsibilities concerning your son and daughter, but
always teach them from their youth proper respect.
10) Never give orders in anger to your servant or maid, especially if their
hope is the same, lest they are provoked to lose respect for God who is
over you both. He doesn't come to people based on their appearance or
reputation, but to the ones whom the Spirit has prepared.
11) And you servants must be subject to your own masters in respect and fear.
12) You must hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not positive.
13) Never turn away from practicing the commandments and always guard what you
have received, being careful to never add to or take away from anything that
was received.
14) In the assembly you should confess your transgressions, and be careful to
never approach your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.
CHAPTER 5 - THE WAY OF DEATH
1) The way
of death is this: First of all, it is evil and cursed: full of murders,
adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, magical arts, witchcrafts,
robberies, false testimonies, hypocrisy, deceit, arrogance, depravity,
self-will, greed, filthy talk, jealous, over-confidence, false-pride, boastful;
2) Persecutors of all things good, hating truth, loving lies, ignorant of the
reward for righteousness, not clinging to good nor righteous judgment, being
drawn to evil rather than good; from whom gentleness and endurance are
distanced, loving vanities, chasing temporary reward, having no mercy for the
poor, not working for the afflicted, not knowing their Creator, murderers of
children, destroyers of creation, turning away from the needy, oppressing the
afflicted, prejudiced in favor of the rich and against the poor, utterly
sinful. Children may all of you be delivered from all these abominations.
CHAPTER 6 - AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS,
1) Be on your guard for many would like to lead you away from
the way of the Teaching, for their priorities have no regard.
2) If you are able to bear the yoke, you will be perfect; but if you can't, you
should make your best effort.
3) And concerning food, eat what is right but guard that you never eat that
which is sacrificed to idols, for that is recognized as worship of the dead.
CHAPTER 7 - CONCERNING BAPTISM
1) And concerning baptism, baptize this way: After reviewing
all of this teaching, baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
in living (running) water.
2) But if living water is not available, then baptize into other water; and
cold is preferred, but if not available in warm.
3) But if neither is available, pour water three times upon the head in the
Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
4) But before the baptism, let the overseer fast, and also the one being
baptized, and all others who are able. Be sure to instruct the one being baptized
to fast one or two days before.
CHAPTER 8 - CONCERNING FASTING
1) Be careful not to schedule your fasts at the times when the
hypocrites fast. They fast on the second (Monday) and fifth (Thursday) day of
the week, therefore make your fast on the fourth (Wednesday) day and the
Preparation day (Friday, the day of preparation for the Sabbath-Saturday).
2) Likewise, don't pray as the hypocrites, but as commanded in the Gospel in
this manner:
Our Father in heaven,
Sacred is Your Name.
Your kingdom comes.
Your will is accomplished,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debt
in the manner that we forgive our debtors.
And do not allow us to fall to temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for Yours is the power and the glory forever.
Amen!
3) Pray in this manner
three times per day.
CHAPTER 9 - THE THANKSGIVING SACRAMENT
1) Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Communion) meal, give
thanks in this manner.
2) First, concerning the cup:
We thank You, our Father,
For the Holy Vine of David Your servant,
Whom You made known to us through Your Servant;
May the glory be Yours forever.
3) Concerning the broken
bread:
We thank You, our Father,
For the life and knowledge
Which You made known to us through Your Servant;
May the glory be Yours forever.
As this broken bread was scattered over the mountains,
And was gathered together to become one,
So let Your Body of Faithful be gathered together
From the ends of the earth into Your kingdom;
for the glory and power are Yours forever.
5) But let no one eat or
drink of your Thanksgiving, unless they have been baptized; for concerning this
is taught, "Do not give what is holy to dogs."
CHAPTER 10 - PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
1) After
the meal, give thanks in this manner:
2) We offer thanks, Holy Father,
For Your Holy Name which fills our hearts,
And for the knowledge, faith and eternal life,
You made known to us through Your Servant;
Yours is the glory forever.
3) Almighty Master, You created all things for Your own purpose;
You gave men food and drink to enjoy,
That they might give You thanks;
But to us You freely give spiritual food and drink,
And eternal life through Your Servant.
4) Foremost, we thank You because You are mighty;
Yours is the glory forever.
5) Remember Your Body of Servants,
To deliver it from everything evil
And perfect it according to Your love,
And gather it from the four winds,
Sanctified for Your kingdom which You have prepared for it;
For the power and glory are Yours forever.
6) Let Your grace come,
And let this world pass away.
Hosanna to the God of David!
May all who are holy, come;
Let those who are not, repent.
Maranatha.
Amen.
7) But permit the prophets to make Thanksgiving as they wish.
CHAPTER 11 - CONCERNING TEACHERS, EMISSARIES,
TEACHERS:
1) Whoever comes to teach you in accordance with all these
things we've written here, receive him.
2) But if the teacher himself goes astray, teaching another doctrine which
would undermine this doctrine, do not hear him; but if
his teaching provokes you to greater righteousness and increases your
knowledge, welcome him.
EMISSARIES & PROPHETS
3) Concerning the emissaries and prophets, Deal with them
according to the decree of our Teaching.
EMISSARIES:
4) Let
every emissary that comes to you be received.
5) But he must not remain longer than one day, unless it is absolutely
necessary, in which case he may stay another. But if he stays three days,
suspect him as a false prophet.
6) When the emissary leaves, send him with only bread to sustain him to his
next destination. But if he asks for money, be assured that he is a false
prophet.
PROPHETS:
7) Do not test or judge any prophet who speaks according to the
Spirit.
8) But be warned; not everyone who speaks according to the Spirit is a prophet,
but only those who walk in the Spirit. Therefore, from their consistent
behaviors can you discern the false prophet.
9) And every prophet who commands food to be brought to him in the Spirit will
not eat from it, unless he is a false prophet;
10) Every prophet will teach the truth, but if he
doesn't practice his own words, he should be regarded as a false prophet.
11) And every prophet who has proven that they are in fact genuine, whose
illustrations occasionally appear too worldly when teaching about the Body of
Believers, yet he scrupulously does not teach others to copy his illustrations,
shall not be judged negatively among you, for God will judge righteously. For his example came from the ancient prophets.
12) Whoever says in the Spirit, "Give me money," or something similar
thing, do not listen to him. But if he solicits that
you give to the needy, none should judge him.
CHAPTER 12
RECEPTION OF BELIEVERS
1) Everyone who comes should be received, but then you should
watch him. Under scrutiny you will gain insight into his character.
2) If he is a traveler, help him according to your ability. But he should not
be allowed to stay with you more than two or possibly three days.
3) But if he decides to stay longer, and is a craftsman, put him to work.
4) But if he is not skilled, make a careful judgment as to his living
conditions as a fellow believer among you, making sure that he is not allowed
to be idle.
5) But if he doesn't cooperate, he is a user - even trading on Christ for
profit. Beware of such as this.
CHAPTER 13 - SUPPORT OF PROPHETS
1) Every true prophet who settles among you is deserving of his
food.
2) A true teacher is also worthy of his food.
3) For this reason, store all the first-fruits of your wine, grain, cattle, and
sheep. Give these to the prophets, for they are your high priests.
4) If a prophet does not reside among you, distribute it to the poor.
5) If you make bread, give the first-fruit according to the instruction.
6) In this manner, when you open a container of wine or oil, give the
first-fruit of it to the prophets.
7) And concerning your money, clothing, and all possessions, give the
appropriate first-fruit, according to godly discretion, and give according to
the instruction.
CHAPTER 14 - THE SABBATH ASSEMBLY
1) Every
day, gather together, eat a meal, and give thanks after having first confessed
your sins, that your sacrifice may be pure.
2) Discourage anyone who has a disputation with his brother to gather with you,
until they are reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled.
3) For this is the sacrifice that was spoken of in our teaching: "In every
place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, and My Name
is marvelous among the nations."
CHAPTER 15 - BISHOPS
1)
Therefore, appoint for yourselves, worthy bishops and deacons. Make sure that
they are men who are meek, not lovers of money, but truthful and proven. They
will provide among you the services of prophets and teachers.
2) Do not despise them, rather they should be honored,
together with the prophets and teachers.
3) Correct each other in peace, not in anger. But if one among you wrongs
another, do not befriend and console the offender, until he reconciles.
4) Concerning your prayers, giving, and works - perform them according to our
teachings.
CHAPTER 16 - WATCHFULNESS; THE COMING JUDGMENT
1) Guard
your lives. Keep your menorah's (lamps) burning, and ever prepared, for the
hour is not known.
2) Gather together frequently, pursuing that which will benefit your souls,
otherwise the entire time of your faith will be nearly worthless if you have
not persevered to the end.
3) For in the last days false prophets and corrupters will be multiplied, and
the sheep will become wolves, and love will be turned into hate.
4) As lawlessness increases, they will hate and persecute and betray one
another. And 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,
and he will do abominable things that will surpass all evil done since the
beginning.
5) Then all mankind will be tried by fire, causing many to fall away and
perish. But those with enduring faith will be saved from the One Who was cursed.
6) Then the signs of truth will appear: First, the sign of heaven opening. Then, the sign of the trumpet sounding. And third, the
resurrection of the dead,
7) yet not of all, but as it is said: "The Judge will come, and all His saints."
8) Then the world will see the judgment coming on the clouds of heaven.