The Didache is a record of the early days of the Christian church in the first century A.D. Some scholars put it as early as 50 A.D. It refers to false apostles and prophets, and how to determine who is authentic. Concerns basic morality, the sacraments, and a bit about end times.
"Lost for centuries, the Didache was discovered in a Greek manuscript at Constantinople in 1873, and published by Bryennius ten years later. Two small Greek fragents have since been published from two leaves of a parchment manuscript found at Oxyrhynchus, and a longer Coptic frangment in the British Museum was published in 1924. Two extracts in Ethiopic also have come to light, and a Georgian version. "The early church knew these prohibitions which the 21st century church has forgotten. . .
The Apostolic Fathers, an American Translation, Edgar J. Goodspeed, Harper, 1950. p. 10. I own this book--bought it about 30 years ago at a book sale.
Chapter 2, 1-7: The second command of the Teaching is: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not corrupt boys (pederasty), you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not use enchantments, you shall not murder a child by abortion, or kill one when born. You shall not desire your neighbor's goods, you shall not commit perjury, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not speak evil, you shall not hold a grudge. You shall not be double-minded, nor double-tongued, for the double tongue is a deadly snare. Your speech shall not be false or vain, but fulfilled in action. You shall not be covetous or rapacious, or a hypocrite or malicious or proud. You shall not entertain an evil design against your neighbor. You shall not hate any man, but some you shall reprove, and for some you shall pray, and some you shall love more than your life."
In Chapter 15 "bishops and deacons" in this translation are "overseers and assistants"--obviously a Protestant translation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb7cNdUMpfA Biblical Literacy Class recorded 01-18-2015, Mark Lanier, a Houston lawyer who "teaches regular classes at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas on Biblical Literacy that are also posted on the Internet in video, audio, and written formats. Lanier and his family built the Lanier Theological Library, one of the world's largest private religious studies library open for public usage." (Wikipedia) I just came across this video today looking for material on the Didache and will look at this archive more carefully. He recommends Aaron Milovec translation.
This is one of my favorite series, St. Mary's, 2014 lectures on the early church fathers, by Charles Craigmile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56_oKrRAtZw and the Didache section starts about 32 minutes. 2015 series is on Catholic Social Teaching. 2016 is on Christian Apologetics: Overcoming Secular Barriers to Faith.
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