Great Throughts Treasury
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Didache or The Didache, "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles" NULL
Brief Early Christian Treatise, Scholars knew of the Didache through references in other texts, but the text itself had been lost. It was rediscovered in 1873. The text, parts of which may have constituted the first written catechism, has three main sections dealing with Christian lessons, rituals such as baptism and eucharist, and Church organization.
"And every prophet that teaches the truth if he does not what he teaches is a false prophet… But whosoever shall say in the spirit: Give me money, or any other thing, ye shall not listen to him: but, if he bid you give for others that are in need, let no man judge him."
"Thou shalt not turn away from him that is in need, but shalt share with thy brother in all things, and shalt not say that things are thine own; for if ye are partners in what is immortal, how much more in what is mortal?"
"You will not hate any person, but some you will rebuke, some you will pray for, and some you will love as your own soul."
"If thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou wilt be perfect; but if thou art not able, what thou art able, that do."