The Didache

The Didache, also known as the “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” represents one of the oldest Christian documents outside of the Bible, having likely been written some time in the first century, possibly as early as 50 AD. While short, this work is structured in three sections; a description of how Christians ought to act, regulations on Baptism and Communion, and general principles for Church organization. It is a beautiful text that provides insight into how the Early Church functioned and the traditions handed down by the Apostles that did not get codified in Scripture.

Additionally, the characterization of the Christian walk as choosing to follow the “way of life” over the “way of death” is an image that finds deep roots in the symbolism of the Bible, from the two trees in the Garden of Eden, the ways of Wisdom and Folly in Proverbs, and the fight between the spirit and the flesh that dominates Paul’s writings. While the description of what Christians ought to do in the Didache is fairly brief, it is a beautiful summary of one of the main themes of Scripture.

If you would like to read more of the writings of the Early Christian Fathers, please visit ccel.org to view the full collection.