Carolyn Tytler

The Didache: the First Christian Catechism



Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009

by Carolyn Tytler

"The way of life is indeed this: First you will love the God who made you; secondly, you will love your neighbor as yourself." The Didache ( Chapter I ) Most educated people have at least a nodding acquaintance with the Bible but there is a little booklet which possibly predates it and gives fascinating glimpses into the lives and times of the first Christians. The words above are taken from the first Christian instruction booklet, the Didache. ( Greek: pronounced did-a-chay ) It was known in ancient times as "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles". Most scholars agree it was written sometime between 50 C.E. and 100 C. E. It was to serve as a study guide for those preparing to enter Christian communities through Baptism. It is a brief pamphlet, shorter than the Sermon on the Mount, and it claims to have been written by the Apostles themselves, but this seems unlikely. Most of their teaching was done orally. However it could have been prepared by scribes as a direct result of the First Apostolic Council ( c. 50 C.E.) held in Jerusalem. ( Acts 15 ). As the Apostles spread out across the known world and new Christian communities sprang up, there would have been a need to ensure that the doctrine and rituals in the new churches remained in conformity with the teachings of Jesus. This was the likely purpose for compiling and circulating the Didache. The little catechism for those preparing for Baptism may be divided into three parts, each of which is summarized below. FIRST PART Chapters one to six outline the kind of lives Christians ought to live. It reminds readers that there are two ways: a way of life and a way of death. The passage on the way of life includes excerpts from the Sermon on the Mount, the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, plus admonitions which were applicable to that time in history: slaves were to obey their masters and the community was to refrain from eating meat which had been offered to idols. The way of death was a list of vices to be avoided: murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, coveting, and others. Chapter VI advises:" If thou canst bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou wilt be perfect; but if thou can not, do what thou canst."

SECOND PART Chapters VI to X begin with an instruction on a simple rite of Baptism. It was to be conferred "...in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost", in running water, if that were available. Since the climate in the Middle East was often hot and dry, any water poured thrice on the head was permissible. The community was not to fast on Mondays and Thursdays like the Jews but on Wednesdays and Fridays instead. They were not to say Jewish prayers, but to repeat "The Our Father" three times a day. Prayers for the Eucharistic Celebration were outlined, but no mention was made of the bread and wine becoming Christ's body and blood. It is probable that this information was kept secret until the new convert's full initiation into the community. Since the main opposition to the Christians appears to come from the Jews, Roman persecution does not seem to have yet begun. This is another argument for the early appearance of the Dichache. THIRD PART The third part of the Didache , Chapters XI to XVI, outlines of the hierarchy of an early church. The local ministers were bishops and deacons, who were to be chosen and ordained by the people. Wandering teachers and preachers were to be welcomed as the Lord, as long as they taught approved doctrine. If they asked for money, or if they stayed longer than two days, they were false prophets. Ordinary travellers were to be welcomed but if they wished to remain, they had to work for a living. No one was to be idle. The breaking of bread and thanksgiving ( Eucharist ) was to take place on Sunday, as opposed to Saturday, the Jewish holy day. The final section reviews the signs which will herald the end of the world and exhorts the readers to keep watch. "The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven. " Didache (Chapter XVI) In the last 2,000 years, there have been many developments in the doctrine and rituals of the various branches of the Christian church. Yet, even taking the changes into consideration, it is truly amazing how much has remained the same.
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