The Didache:
A Documentary Analysis
The Didache (The Teaching, or The Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles, or simply The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles), is a text from the very early years of the Christian church. It is mentioned in the writings of several early church fathers, where it is present in lists of texts that are to be considered edifying for the faith of the reader. There are possible quotations of The Didache in the works of writers such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria, Until 1873, this was the only evidence that such a text even existed.
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That year a Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Philotheos Bryennios, discovered what remains the only complete text of The Didache, bound in a codex with several texts of the Apostolic Fathers and other writings, in a convent in Istanbul. Its significance went unrecognised – the text of the Didache had evaded discovery on several earlier occasions, overlooked by several scholars perusing the contents of the convent’s library, and after its discovery it remained unpublished until 1883.
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On examination, The Didache appears to be a composite of older texts, and itself was later re-written or compiled into texts such as the Apostolic Church Order and the Apostolic Constitutions. These are in the genre of ‘church orders’. They contain ethical guidelines and rules for how the church community should be ordered, including some early liturgical material.
The precise nature of The Didache’s liturgical material is controversial and will be discussed. Due to its composite nature, The Didache is difficult to date. Scholars have proposed dates as early as 50 CE, and some as late as 150 CE. The question of dating will also be explored. It is unclear where the text originated; Syria and Egypt are likely candidates. Additionally, the relation of The Didache to biblical texts, particularly the Gospel of Matthew, warrants discussion, and will be covered below. The question of the liturgical content is particularly prescient, as there is some debate regarding whether the text describes the celebration of the eucharist, or some other church practice.