Understanding Didache: Teaching in the Early Church

What is a Didache?

The Didache is an early Christian document outlining moral and liturgical teachings, written during the late 1st to early 2nd century but excluded from the biblical canon.

Its structure contrasts the 'Two Ways' - a path of life emphasizing love, humility, and justice with a path of death involving idolatry, greed, and deceit - while also addressing baptismal practice, prayer, church leadership, and ethical conduct. Though not part of Scripture, it reflects formative Christian thought and communal practices. Scholars view it as a bridge between the New Testament and later church traditions.

This text remains important for understanding early Christianity’s diversity and development, offering a window into how communities interpreted Jesus’ teachings outside the canonical gospels. Its insights enrich modern readers’ grasp of the historical context shaping Christian doctrine.

What Does the Didache Teach?

The Didache outlines foundational Christian teachings through structured moral and liturgical guidance, emphasizing the Two Ways, baptism, Eucharist, and ethical living.

Central to its instruction is the contrast between the 'Two Ways' - a 'Way of Life' rooted in love for God and neighbor, humility, and justice (Didache 1:1-2), and a 'Way of Death' marked by idolatry, greed, and deceit (Didache 1:3). It prescribes baptism by immersion 'in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,' preferably in 'living water,' and provides a Eucharistic prayer structurally akin to the Lord's Prayer (Didache 7:1-3; 9:1-4). These practices reflect a communal commitment to orthodoxy and ritual consistency.

The text further mandates ethical rigor, urging adherence to the Ten Commandments, fasting on the third and fifth days of the week, and equitable almsgiving (Didache 3:1-7). It addresses church leadership, financial stewardship, and the expectation of Christ's imminent return, serving as a pastoral manual for early Christian communities navigating their identity amid Roman and Jewish contexts. By synthesizing scriptural principles with practical guidance, the Didache functioned as a bridge between apostolic teachings and emerging ecclesial traditions, offering insight into Christianity's formative diversity beyond the canonical gospels.

Who Wrote the Didache and Why?

The Didache’s anonymous authorship and debated origins remain central to scholarly discussions about its place in early Christian literature.

The text lacks a named author, leading to speculation about connections to early church leaders like Clement of Rome or Barnabas, though these attributions remain unproven. Its composition is generally dated to the late 1st or early 2nd century, but scholars debate whether it predates or follows other key Christian writings. The absence of clear historical markers and its eclectic content - blending Jewish traditions with emerging Christian practices - further complicate efforts to pinpoint its origins. These uncertainties reflect broader questions about the transmission of early Christian teachings outside the New Testament canon.

Its significance lies in illuminating post-apostolic Christian practices, particularly in liturgy and ethics. By examining the Didache, scholars gain insight into how early communities adapted Jesus’ teachings into structured rituals and communal expectations beyond the New Testament’s scope.

How to Read the Didache Correctly

To study the Didache effectively, approach it as a window into early Christian practice while discerning its relationship to Scripture.

Contextualize its teachings within the first- to second-century Christian milieu, noting parallels with Jesus’ call to choose the ‘narrow gate’ (Matthew 7:13-14) in its ‘Two Ways’ framework. Compare its baptismal formula (Didache 7:1-3) to Matthew 28:19’s Great Commission, recognizing both continuity and early liturgical development. Scholars caution against conflating its ethical mandates with canonical authority, as it reflects communal interpretation rather than apostolic doctrine.

Acknowledge its non-canonical status by distinguishing its value as a historical document from Scripture’s divine inspiration. While its Eucharistic prayer (Didache 9:1-4) echoes the Lord’s Prayer, its structured moral code aligns with the Sermon on the Mount’s ethos, offering insight into how early communities applied Jesus’ teachings to their lives.

Going Deeper

For further study, readers may explore the Didache’s full text or consult scholarly works on early Christian literature to contextualize its teachings.

Engaging directly with the Didache’s baptismal instructions (Didache 7:1-3) and ethical mandates (Didache 3:1-7) illuminates its role in shaping communal practice. Scholarly analyses help distinguish its historical value from canonical Scripture while highlighting its connections to New Testament themes like the Two Ways (Matthew 7:13-14).