How has this primary text (Didache) shaped, altered, or influenced your theology?
One of the writings of the early Church is called the Didache. The Didache was written sometime between 70 A.D. and 150 A.D., most likely in Syria or Palestine. It is divided into two main parts: The Two Ways and a church handbook. The Two Ways describes the Way of Life and the Way of Death. The Way of Life entails of commandments to keep and sins to avoid, such as turning the other cheek, being meek, and shunning sins such as murder and lust. The Didache sums up the Way of Life with this:
“You shall hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not in any way forsake the commandments of the Lord; but keep what you have received, neither adding thereto nor taking away therefrom. In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.” (Chapter 4.)
The Didache says the Way of Death is “evil and accursed,” and then it lists many sins that are on this road. It ends Chapter 5 with a warning: “Be delivered, children, from all these [sins].”
Then the Didache turns into a manual for the church. It talks about food sacrificed to idols, baptism, fasting, and the Eucharist, or communion. It also talks about prophets, false prophets, and leaders in the church. The Didache closes with a warning about Jesus’ Second Coming.
This is a very interesting piece of Early Christian literature. Much of it, if not all, is in line with the Bible, which explains why the early Jewish church followed it. For example, what Didache says about meat sacrificed to idols is similar to what Paul says to the Corinthians. It also teaches baptism correctly, meaning in the name and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not just in the name of the Son, as in early Acts.
Has Didache influenced, shaped, or altered my theology? I don’t know if I would go that far, mainly due to the fact that much of it seems to simply paraphrase the Bible. I know that some parts of it are different, but it seems very, very similar. One of the parts that stick out to me the most is in Chapter 16. “Watch [for the coming of Christ] for your life’s sake.” Those are very strong words. I noticed how much of the book used phrases from Scripture, such as “Turn the other cheek,” and “The meek shall inherit the earth.” Overall, I think the Didache is an excellent first century church writing that shows the early church strove to obey the teachings of the Scriptures.
Church History 