The Didache: A Window on the Earliest Christians - Paperback

by Thomas O'Loughlin (Author)

The Didache (or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) is one of the earliest Christian writings, compiled between 50 and 70 CE. Thus, it probably predates the four Gospels. It offers a unique glimpse into how some of the earliest Christian communities lived and worshiped.

This accessible volume offers an introductory guide to this important text, including a new translation and a commentary highlighting areas of interest to Christians today. It is an essential resource for readers interested in history, Scripture, and liturgy in Christianity's earliest period.

Back Jacket

The Didache is one of the earliest Christian documents, earlier than most of the writings that make up the New Testament. It provides practical instructions on how a Christian community should function, and offers unique insights into the way the earliest Christians lived and worshipped. In this highly readable introduction, Thomas O'Loughlin tells the intriguing story of the Didache, from its discovery in the late nineteenth century to the present. He then provides an illuminating commentary on the entire text, highlighting areas of special interest to Christians today, and ends with a fresh translation of the text itself.

"A valuable and thorough introduction to an important though little-studied work that provides a unique window on a corner of the early Christian world."--Sean Freyne, emeritus professor of theology, Trinity College Dublin

"A truly accessible commentary on this ancient text and on the early Christian communities that lie behind it, and yet one that incorporates up-to-date academic scholarship."--Paul Bradshaw, professor of liturgy, University of Notre Dame

"I highly recommend this informed, engaging, and pastorally sensitive exploration of the Didache. Reading the text within its Jewish roots and in harmony with its New Testament parallels, Thomas O'Loughlin shows how the Didache admirably shaped the faith and practice of second-generation Christians in ways that have relevance for us today."--Aaron Milavec, author of The Didache: Faith, Hope, and Life of the Earliest Christian Communities, 50-70 CE

Author Biography

Thomas O'Loughlin (PhD, National University of Ireland; DD, Bangor University) is professor of historical theology at the University of Nottingham in England. His books include Discovering Saint Patrick; Celtic Theology: Humanity, World, and God in Early lrish Writings; and Saint Patrick: The Man and His Works.