The Didache: Text, Translation, Analysis, and Commentary

THE DIDACHE was a text discovered by a Greek Orthodox Archbisiop named Philotheous Bryennious (1833-.c. 1914 or 1918) in 1873 while examining a Greek convent. THE DIDACHE was a training manual and litergical guide for novices wishing to join early Christian communities. Aaron Milavec who edited this edition wrote the introduction and placed the Greek (Koine Greek)text along with English translation.The discovery of THE DIACHE is a new historical development of one of the oldest texts in Catholic/Christian History. Scholars date the anonymous publication between c. 50-c.90 AD before the Canonical gospels were adopted and at the time of some of the apostles such as St. John and St. Paul. Milavec wrote that at first some historians thought that THE DIDACHE was a fabrication, but they had to agree on the authenticity of the text which became published and circulated by 1884.Milhavec proved that THE DIADCHE was not based on any of the Gospels or writings of the early apostles. Yet, the text has both Old Testament and New Testament prescriptions and prohibitions such as bans on murder, illicit sex, etc. Passages also have reminders of patience, praying for one's enemies, calm resolute conversation, forgiveness, etc. Greed, hatred, hypocricy, and wrath are to be avoided at all costs. THE DIACHE has firm warnings against magic, false symbols, and false, huskster prophets (profits?). THE DIDACHE had comments about the Way of Life and the Way of Death which echoes Deuteronomy 30:15. Readers may conjecture that THE DIADACHE may have been based on St. Paul's recommendation of honoring traditions (2 Thesalonians2:15)which are also mentioned in other Pauline Epistles.What intrigued the undersigned is that the liturgy, while not exactly the same as that of the Holy Mass, is very similar to Holy Mass. Sacraments such as baptism, confession, espeically the Eucharist, Last Rites and other sacraments are metnioned along with recitation of The Lord's Prayer and biblical readings. THE DIDACHE cites The Golden Rule. Mentors including women mentors were to lead examplary lives and not deviaate from the tradition and format of THE DIADACHE. THE DIADACHE did not promise an easy live and warned of the wrath of close "friends" and family members. Yet, the novice was introduced into a new family.Milavec cites in his commentary warnings about the immediate Second Coming and to avoid false prophets who make such predictions to their own discredit. THE DIDACHE also warned against mistreatment of slaves and employees. Stress was placed on the Eucharist to the point that Confession/Reconcilation were necessary prior to participating in the Eucharist.The end of this book as useful flowcharts and a good bibliography. The English text is clear to those who do not know the Greek language. One can learn much about conditions of early Church History during the first two centuries of Christianity. What cannot be gleaned from the text can be understood from the commentary and flowcharts.This writer's only criticism of Milavec's edtion of THE DIDACHE is that it does not have an index. However, interested readers can refer to the book if they take careful notes and seriously read this text. It is of great interest to Church History scholars as well as those who are not so well read in this history.James E. EgolfOctober 2, 2012

talks about what the early church believed

The first Christian communities used the Didache (“Teaching” or “Training”) as their catechesis text. It clearly began as an oral tradition in the house churches. We don’t know when someone wrote it down, but it may be the very oldest Christian text we have. Though mentioned in many early Christian texts, the original was lost until the late 19th century.The Didache emphasizes ethical teaching, contrasting “the Way of Life” with “the Way of Death.” It also gives some attention to the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist, mentions communal confession, and hints at a liturgical structure in church meetings that would end with multiple homilies. It also spends a lot of time warning against false prophets and traveling preachers, all of which will remind the modern reader of televangelists, celebrity preachers, and mega-churches.For the general reader, Thomas O’Loughlin’s The Didache: A Window on the Earliest Christians offers a more accessible book than this one. O’Loughlin draws on his experience teaching the Didache to emphasize its lessons for Christians today. As an Irish professor who lives and works in England, O’Loughlin’s point of reference is the Catholic and Protestant traditions, and he sees most of their differences as misguided in terms of church history seen in the Didache. O’Loughlin’s book also presents a readable English translation of the Didache for you to study.In contrast, Milavec targets a more scholarly audience. His commentary features highlights from his own thousand-page study of the Didache, summarizing in a page or two each of his key findings from that work. For example, he argues that the text reflects an oral form that converts could memorize easily, that it reflects a one-on-one mentor relationship unlike the modern “teaching” relationship with a group of students, and that the text implies a situation in which men mentored men and women mentored women. I have not read his other book, but some of these claims convinced me immediately – saving me a very long read. The current book is quite short.Most important, Milavec argues that the Didache was composed as a unified text, not cobbled together from other sources. In contrast to some other scholars, he insists that it does not rely on Matthew. Its internal logic, theology, and pastoral practice do not reflect any gospel traditions. It also exhibits no evidence of Paul and no suggestions of Pauline theology. His claims here depend on his exhaustive study in the book, but I think that if you read the text—especially in Greek—you will find that argument immediately convincing.Milavec also includes a Greek text with an intentionally-awkward, hyper-literal translation on facing pages. His text adds line breaks to make clear the grammatical structure of the Greek, making it useful for the intermediate to advanced Greek student. The text differs very slightly in a couple of details from the one in Mounce’s Greek reader, for reasons I don’t know. This makes Milavec more useful for (say) a seminary setting in which readers can wrestle a bit with the Greek. For a lay audience that does not know Greek, I would recommend the more O’Loughlin’s book instead.

This is a translation of a guide from the time of Paul's letters, but used in churches that hadn't heard of Paul. After reading it, knowing my family, I ordered copies for both sisters.

Once I heard of this, I had to read it. I'm no where near smart enough to criticize the translation but the ideas & practices detailed in this fragment of writing from the early Church are fascinating.n

It more than met my expectations. Although marketed as a used book, it didn't seem to have been ever read before. Too bad. I will be using it in some research that I am doing.

The Didache translation by Milavec was recommended as the best. Information was concise and clear. Showed how the early Gentiles were brought into the community. I just finished a study on the factors that caused the split between the Jews and Gentiles around 50-60CE so the Didache was a timely addition. I think this particular book was an excerpt from Milavec's more detailed longer version. Excellent choice for anyone who is researching or studying early church history.

If you are interested in understanding Jesus better, and you've already studied the gospels in depth, I highly recommend reading the Didache. It re-words the teachings of Jesus in the language of another group of early Christinas. This gives those of us who have read the gospels a million times a fresh appreciation of Jesus' teachings and the variety of early Christian interpretations. As a result I felt a spiritual bond with these early followers who were trying to pass the teachings of Jesus on, just like I am.If you are looking for the best Didache translation, this is the one we used at Yale Divinity School so I am sure it is one of the best.

Highly recommended, It is of very good quality.

A pretty thorough read from such a slim book.I had no idea what the Didache was until a couple of years ago and I don't know why it isn't taught in Churches.Milavec does a pretty good work in a short space - although I have to admit, I did glean additional information from the web.I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again if I hadn't already read it - if that makes sense please translate for me :-)

A shortened overview version of Milovec's Didache in which nevertheless gives a clear understanding of how first century christians were Trained for entry into those early Judo- Christian communities before the availability of the gospels. It is an excellent introduction to the subject, at a price that one can afford to both buy and give to students and priests who have somehow never met the Didache before, or considered its implications.

This is a marvelous edition of a fascinating book that I never even knew existed. The editor was a detective who drew all sorts of information about very early Christianity from this book. Everyone interested in the very beginnings of Christian life in the mid first century should read it.

a good read. having been to two church schools i found this great to read as an adult. nice short text, easy to understand and great for the inquisitive Christian