Early Christian Writings: The Didache, Apostolic Constitutions and More
Quick answer
Early Christian writings outside the Bible, such as the Didache and the letters of St. Clement and St. Ignatius of Antioch, show how the first Christians prayed, worshiped and organized their communities. They are not Scripture, but they are precious witnesses to the faith of the early Church.
Key takeaways
- The Didache is one of the oldest Christian texts outside the New Testament, and it was rediscovered in 1873.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch, writing around 107, is the first known writer to use the phrase "the Catholic Church."
- St. Justin Martyr described the Sunday Eucharist around the year 155 (CCC 1345).
- The Apostolic Constitutions is a compilation from the late fourth century and must be read with care.
What did the first Christians believe, and how did they worship? We can read their own words. A handful of texts from the earliest centuries give us a direct window on the young Church.
The Didache
The Didache, or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, is a short guide to Christian life. It was lost for centuries until a Greek manuscript was found in 1873 and published ten years later.
It opens with “two ways,” the way of life and the way of death. It then gives directions for baptism, fasting, praying the Our Father three times a day, and the Eucharist. It clearly forbids abortion and infanticide.
St. Clement of Rome
Around the year 96, Clement, the bishop of Rome, wrote to the church at Corinth to help resolve a dispute over its leaders. It is an early witness of concern from Rome for another church.
St. Ignatius of Antioch
On his way to martyrdom in Rome, around 107, Ignatius wrote seven letters to Christian communities. He urged unity around the bishop, spoke clearly of the Eucharist as the flesh of Christ, and is the first known writer to use the phrase “the Catholic Church” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8).
St. Justin Martyr
Around 155, Justin explained Christian worship to the Roman emperor. His description of readings, a homily, prayers and the offering of bread and wine on Sunday is so familiar that the Catechism quotes it at length (CCC 1345). Any Catholic at Mass will recognize it.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
Around 180, Irenaeus, a disciple of a disciple of St. John, wrote Against Heresies. He stressed that the true faith was handed down through the successors of the apostles.
The Apostolic Constitutions
This is a large collection of eight books on Church order and worship, compiled around 380, probably in Syria. It claims to come from the apostles, which it does not, and it draws on earlier works such as the Didache. It is useful to historians of the liturgy, but a Church council of 692 warned that it had been corrupted. It should be read as a historical document.
Why These Writings Matter
The Catechism teaches that the sayings of the holy Fathers bear witness to the presence of the living Tradition (CCC 78). The early writings show that the Eucharist, the bishops and baptism were at the center of Christian life from the beginning.
A Prayer in Union with the Early Church (Original Prayer)
Lord, as this bread was scattered on the hills and gathered into one, so gather Your Church from the ends of the earth. Keep us faithful to the Apostles’ teaching. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read about the popes and the Desert Fathers, or see our 10 classic Catholic books.
Frequently asked questions
Are the early Christian writings part of the Bible?
No. They are valued as witnesses of Tradition, but they are not part of the canon of Scripture.
What is the Didache?
It is a short manual of Christian life, also called the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, covering morals, baptism, fasting, prayer and the Eucharist. Scholars generally date it to the first or early second century.
Who wrote the Apostolic Constitutions?
It presents itself as the work of the apostles through St. Clement, but scholars date it to about 380, probably in Syria. A council in 692 warned that it had been tampered with.
Sources
- The Didache
- St. Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians
- St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8
- St. Justin Martyr, First Apology 65-67
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 78, 1345, 2178
_-_June.jpg){kind=link}