The Didache: The Teaching of the Twelve

Status
Not open for further replies.

Philip

Orthodoxy: Old School, Hard Core Christianity
Jun 23, 2003
5,619
241
51
Orlando, FL
Visit site
✟7,106.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
The purpose of this thread is to have an Orthodox (non-Orthodox are welcome too, keeping in mind the rules of this forum) discussion of the Didache, an ancient Christian document written as early as AD 50. The Didache is also known as The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Apostles unto the Nations.

If you do not have a copy of the Didache, you can find it at many different websites. Early Christian Writings is one such site. It also includes some commentary in addition to the text.
 

TWells

Well-Known Member
Mar 1, 2003
510
15
TN
✟737.00
Faith
Other Religion
Hey :wave:

Early Christian Writings is a good resource but be sure to toss their commentary.

I remember being pretty suprised when I found out the Didache existed and especially its early date. Ive been meaning for a long time to do some studying on it.

BTW, does any know how its properly prounounced?
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
I've heard Didache pronounced various ways. Maybe that is a good reason to have an online course?

The first pronunciation given is from Websters. The others were given by priests. Bold = accented.

Didache = did - a - key' (a = schwa as in ma)
Didache = did - a - kay
Didache = did - ae - key (ae as in bat)

It's really hard to indicate the correct phonetics without the IPA alphabet.

Hope this helps.
 
Upvote 0

JeffreyLloyd

Ave Maria, Gratia plena!
Supporter
Mar 5, 2003
19,896
1,066
Michigan
Visit site
✟53,491.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
One of my favorites from the Didache:

"Assemble on the Lord's Day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take part with you until they have been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanation of your sacrifice. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said, Everywhere and always bring me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is the wonder of the nations."
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Dear Philip and other readers of this forum:

I found the Roberts-Donaldson English Translation as you recommended this one. Since it's always good to start at the beginning, I will paste it here.

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

The Didache

The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.

Chapter 1. The Two Ways and the First Commandment. There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.

The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you.

And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same?

But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy.

Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts.

If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If someone impresses you for one mile, go with him two. If someone takes your cloak, give him also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed you are not able.

Give to every one who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that to all should be given of our own blessings (free gifts).

Happy is he who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless.

Woe to him who receives; for if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives not having need shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what. And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny. And also concerning this, it has been said, Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give.
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Didache said:
Chapter 1. The Two Ways and the First Commandment. There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.

Notice that there is a great difference between the two ways. How often in this world do we hear that it doesn't matter what religion you belong to? People say that it's better that you believe in something rather than nothing at all. Yet look at all the killing that goes on in the name of religion. Is this true religion?

Didache Ch.1 continued said:
The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you.

The path that leads to life sounds a lot like the golden rule except that it goes even further. We are to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. Who is our neighbor?
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
The Didache said:
And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same?

But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy.

Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts.

When my priest was leading a class, he paused here and said that if we truly loved, like St. Seraphim of Sarov, we would have no enemies.

St. Seraphim lived this teaching to the full. He treated everyone with love, even the Jews and Muslims who visited him.

We are to avoid cravings for rich foods, worldly riches and desires of the flesh. In other words, we are to try to achieve dispassion. All our attention should be focused on loving and serving God.
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
The Didache said:
Woe to him who receives; for if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives not having need shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what. And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny. And also concerning this, it has been said, Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give.

On this passage, the priest commented that we had better be careful when we give gifts. If we give a gift to a rich person, when he doesn't need it, we are contributing to his damnation. That is why the didache talks about letting our alms sweat in our hands.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Chapter 1 of the Didache (continued)

Love your enemy, pray and fast for those who persecute you

My priest made the comment: Notice how the Didache asks you to pray and fast for your enemies. As children, we were never taught that we should fast for the people who committed the horrible genocide in Turkey against the Greeks and Armenians, or for the Communists who killed millions of Christians in Russia, yet the Didache clearly instructed the early catechumens to pray and fast for those who were persecuting them. Wow!

Remember this was written during times of severe persecution of the Christians. Christians were being stoned to death, crucified, beheaded, or thrown to the wild lions for their faith. And we are called to love, pray and fast for all those people who did those unspeakable crimes against humanity.

That puts the September 11 terrorist attack into an entirely new light!
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
The Didache said:
And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same?

But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy.

My dearest friends in Christ:

I forgot to mention something else our priest told us:

Christ warned us that some demons can only be cast out by prayer and fasting. If human beings are being afflicted by the devil, then in charity we should pray and fast that they would be set free.

Members of various cults need our prayers to get out of those dangerous cults. We should pray daily for these lost souls that they may find the Truth.

If we fail to love our neighbors and our enemies, then our salvation is at risk.

Something to think about.

St. Seraphim of Sarov teach us to truly love our neighbor.

Your sister in Christ,

Elizabeth
 
Upvote 0

Papist

Hannah and Rowan's Dad
Jul 13, 2003
1,722
44
54
Hamilton, Waikato
✟17,114.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
Oblio said:
Notice also that the Early Christian faith is one of praxis, and not faith alone. A practice of love, of almsgiving, of fasting, of ascetisim, of prayer.

Yes -- absolutely!

Luther wanted to toss out the Book of James, remember!
 
Upvote 0

Papist

Hannah and Rowan's Dad
Jul 13, 2003
1,722
44
54
Hamilton, Waikato
✟17,114.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
chanterhanson said:
When my priest was leading a class, he paused here and said that if we truly loved, like St. Seraphim of Sarov, we would have no enemies.

St. Seraphim lived this teaching to the full. He treated everyone with love, even the Jews and Muslims who visited him.

We are to avoid cravings for rich foods, worldly riches and desires of the flesh. In other words, we are to try to achieve dispassion. All our attention should be focused on loving and serving God.

Yes, and that comes as you grow in faith.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
The Didache

Chapter 1 continued

If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If someone impresses you for one mile, go with him two. If someone takes your cloak, give him also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed you are not able.

Give to every one who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that to all should be given of our own blessings (free gifts).

This famous passage "turn the other cheek" is straight from the Bible, yet the New Testament as we know it didn't exist then.

Scholars think that the Didache was written just before 70 AD as the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem wasn't mentioned and the text itself is very easy to understand; therefore, the Didache was apparently written for the catechumens who were being prepared for baptism.

We are instructed to give our possessions away if asked and not to demand them back. How many of you would ask a robber to give your purse back anyway? Is that what the following sentence means? "Ask it not back, for indeed you are not able."

Notice the last sentence quoted here, "For the Father wills that to all should be given of our own blessings." Everything we have is a gift from God, a blessing. God the Father wants us to share our blessings.

When we share our blessings we are doing good works.

Thank you, Erwin, for allowing us to share our blessings on this board.

Any thoughts here?

Lovingly in Christ,
Elizabeth
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
The Didache

The Didache said:
Happy is he who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless.


Again, the Didache encourages us to give alms. When we give alms with repentance of our sins, our sins are forgiven; therefore, we are freed of our sins.

This is confirmed by the words of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ in Luke 11:41:

St. Luke said:
But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

The Orthodox Study Bible says, "Deeds of love toward people, such as giving alms, purify the inward man. External things like food and clothing cannot defile one who is inwardly pure." (p. 170)

This does not mean that we can freely commit sin whenever we want. Nevertheless, scriptures say that the just man falls seven times a day, because only one is perfect, Christ our God. St. John the Theologian confirms this in his epistle:

St. John said:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8)

Conclusion: When we do good works with repentant hearts, then God will forgive our sins.
 
Upvote 0

Philip

Orthodoxy: Old School, Hard Core Christianity
Jun 23, 2003
5,619
241
51
Orlando, FL
Visit site
✟7,106.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Oblio said:
Notice also that the Early Christian faith is one of praxis, and not faith alone. A practice of love, of almsgiving, of fasting, of ascetisim, of prayer.

This was quite striking to me as a former Protestant. The Didache is, perhaps, the oldest non-canonical Christian writing. In it, we see nothing of the modern concept of Sola Fida. The Path of Life requires acts of love and charity. This is in agreement with our Lord's instruction to give alms (Luke 11:41) so that our insides may be clean as well.
 
Upvote 0

Philip

Orthodoxy: Old School, Hard Core Christianity
Jun 23, 2003
5,619
241
51
Orlando, FL
Visit site
✟7,106.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married

And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny.​

What do you make of this passage? Is "confinement" hell? That seems unlikely since it implies that escaping from hell would be possible? Is it some intermediate state?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
Status
Not open for further replies.