A Book That Almost Made the Bible

In 1873, Bryennios, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Nicomedia, made one of the greatest scriptural finds of his day. In a church library in Constantinople, he rediscovered the Greek text of the Didache (pronounced did-a-kay).

For about 1700 years scholars knew that the Didache had once existed, but most thought of it as a document lost to the world. Its title means in Greek "Teaching." Some of the early Fathers considered it a part of inspired Scripture. The Epistle of Barnabas, another early Christian document, has in its last chapters much of what is in the first part of the Didache, sometimes even word for word. And before the New Testament canon was officially closed, the Epistle of Barnabas was included among the new Testament books, immediately following the Apocalypse.

When Bryennios published his finding in 1883, the scholarly world had in its hands the oldest Christian document outside the New Testament.

What is this important document? The Didache itself is only 2,000 words long, a small work by any standard, but it sums up the teachings which the early Church received from the Apostles. It is relevant to us today because it shows that the teaching of the Church has not changed since the days of the Apostles.

The first part of the Didache speaks of the Way of Life, which is summed up by the commandment of Jesus: love God and love your neighbor. The Didache reminds us that without love for our neighbor there can be no love of God. "Love those who hate you, and you will have no enemy….Give to everyone who asks you, and do not refuse, for the Father's will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received." Yet we should make sure that the person to whom we give is really in need: "Let your alms sweat in your hands until you know to whom you are giving."

Then comes a list of deeds that are sinful and must be avoided: murder, adultery, sodomy, fornication, stealing. Traffic in the occult is another taboo. Abortion and infanticide are forbidden, as well as lying, hyprocisy, and hate for anyone at all. "Some you shall reprove, and for some you should pray, and still others you shall love more than your own life."

The Didache tells the Christian not to be "a speaker of base words, nor a lifter up of the eyes, for from all these is adultery engendered." We must accept whatever happens to us as good, cause nothing happens without God. We must honor those who speak the word of God to us, and daily seek the company of good men and women "that you may find rest in their words."

If we find a man deserving of reproof because of his sins, we should not consider his position in the world, whether it be great or small. All alike should be reproved if they are guilty of sin.

This ancient work tells us not to be always on the receiving end of gift-giving and "not to shut down our hands when it comes to giving." We should neither hesitate to give nor grumble about it, "for you know who is the good Paymaster of the reward." We should share everything with our brothers and sisters, and not insist it is our own, "for if you are sharers in the imperishable, how much more in the things that perish?" With many more, admonitions to a sinless life, this first part ends with the brief sentence: "This is the Way of Life."

The Way of Death is summed up in one paragraph, listing all the heinous sins which snatch us from the Way of Life. There is one final bit of advice in this part of the Didache: "See that no one makes you err from this Way of the Teaching, for he teaches you without God."

The next part of the Didache deals with the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. Like the common Catholic practice today, this ancient document mentions the pouring of water on the head of the person being baptized. It also considers immersion as a proper form for Baptism, if there is "running water." Both the person being baptized, if adult, as well as the one performing the baptism and any others who are able, should fast one or two days before.

Concerning the Eucharist the Didache says, "But let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist with you except those baptized in the name of the Lord." And later this: "If any man be holy, let him come. If any man be not, let him repent."

The next section gives this warning: If a teacher comes to you, teaching you all that is in the Way of Life, do not be afraid to receive him, for he is from God. But if another teacher comes who teaches you a perverted doctrine, contrary to the Way of Life, reject him at once and do not listen to him. If a teacher accepts only his bare livelihood, he is a true prophet; but if he asks for money, he is false.

The whole work ends with advice that we be ready for the final coming of the Lord, and for all the human disturbances that will take place. There will be a multiplication of false prophets, as well as lawlessness and hate and persecution and betrayal of one man by another. And then "shall appear the signs of the truth," then the sound of the trumpet and the resurrection of the dead. And then finally, the world will see "the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven."

So ends the Didache, an ancient Christian work that proves the teaching of the Church is the same today as it was in the Apostolic age.