SYNTHESIS OF THE DIDACHE

AUTHOR: Unknown, but said to be based on the Apostle’s direct teachings.

DATE: Traditionally, between 50 and 120 CE.

RECIPIENT:  General

MAIN POINTS

1 – Free will to choose good or evil – 1:1

2 – Love towards God and our neighbours summarises righteousness – 1:3-5

3 – Bless and pray for our enemies – 1:7-8

4 – Reject Lust – 1:9

5 – Return good for bad, and be generous with material possessions -1:10-17; 4;7-11

6 – Sinful to accept material offerings if we are not in need – 1:18-20

7 – Someone guilty of receiving without need, will be judged and be imprisoned until he has paid back in full and then be freed – Possible early belief in Purgatorial interim state – 1:20-21

8 – Think who you give material things to before you do, don’t make someone sin by giving him when he does not need it – 1:23

9 – Different sins condemned: Murder, adultery, corrupting the young, fornication, robbery, magic, sorcery, abortion, infanticide, craving of other’s possessions, perjury, calumny,  speaking evil, hold onto resentment for others, double minded and double tongued, avarice, hypocrisy, bad temper, pride, to plan evil against another, hatred, not living accordingly to the faith we say to profess, anger, jealousy. – 2:1-7; 3:2-10; 5:2-5    

10 – Even when we should not hate a man, we should reprove his sinful actions and pray for them in love – 2:7

11 – Flee from evil and all appearance of evil – 3:1

12 - Be humble, long suffering, merciful, kind, God fearing – 3:12-15

13 – Accept misfortunes, knowing that nothing happens without

God’s approval – 3:16

14 – Honour those who teach you the Word of God and look for the company

Of the saints of God and listen to their words – 4:1-3

15 – Don’t be the cause of schisms but try to solve all differences – 4:4

16 – Discipline your children from young age but teach them

to fear God – 4:12

17 – Don’t treat badly those under your command in case they renegade

From God because of you – 4:13-14

18 – Keep the Lord’s commandments, without adding or subtracting

Anything from them – 4:17-18

19 – Confess your transgressions to the Church (Public Confession?), in order to have a clean conscience before praying – 4:19

20 – Try to keep all of God’s commandments and you will be perfect, but if you cannot, do what you can, but above all avoid food sacrificed to idols – 6:2-6

21 – Baptism in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – 7:1-2

22 – Baptism should be done by immersion in running water, but if unable, baptize by pouring water on the head three times, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – 7:2-5

23 – Fasting of two days prior for the Baptizer as well as the one to be baptized. (Credo Adult Baptism) – 7:6-7

24 – Weekly Christian fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, not Mondays and Thursdays like the hypocrites (Jews) – 8:1-2

25 – Friday called the “Day of Preparation” (To Saturday), possible reference to Sabbath keeping – 8:2

26 – Liturgical prayer of Our Father, three times a day – 8:3-11

27 – Lord’s Supper called “Eucharist”, Cup consecrated before the Bread by Thanksgiving to God without “Words of Jesus” – 9:1-9

28 – Eucharist only for those who have been baptized – 9:10-12

29 – Eucharist celebrated apparently within the Agape meal – 10:1-5

30 – Ministry of Prophets still existent – 10:15; 11:4, 10

31 - Second generation Apostles still existent – 11:5-9

32 – Don’t judge prophecies as we may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit – 11:10-11, 18

33 - Judge the prophets by their actions 11:12-16, 20-21

34 – Assists the traveller no more than three days with food and accommodation, but no money – 11:9; 12:4

35 – Travellers who want to stay longer than three days should work – 12:5-8

36 – Prophets and Teachers should be supported by the community – 13:1-8

37 – On the Lord’s Day (Sunday), meet together to celebrate the Eucharist prior Public Confession – 14:1

38 – Presbyters and Deacons appointed by the Community – 15:1-4

39 – Don’t speak to the cast out until they repent – 15:5-6

40 – Await alert the Second Coming of Jesus – 16:1-3

41 – Help each other to be perfected spiritually before the Return of Christ – 16:4-5

42 – In the last days, false teachers and lawlessness will prevail – 16:6-7

43 – The Antichrist will appear before the Second Coming, but those who persevere in Christ will be saved – 16:8-12

44 – Jesus will return in Glory and the First Resurrection of the Just will happen, and all those will come with Christ in Glory – 16:13-17

Omar Flores