Didache in Early Church History

Rediscovered in a dusty Constantinople library in 1873, the Didache—"Teaching of the Twelve Apostles"—is one of the earliest windows into Christian life after the apostles. Didache in Early Church History: Teaching and Relevance in the Post-Apostolic Age guides readers through that world with clarity and verve, from the dramatic tale of Codex Hierosolymitanus 54 and Philotheos Bryennios's find, to the text's practical wisdom for worship, ethics, and leadership. Inside you'll trace how the Didache shaped baptismal practice, weekly fasting, and eucharistic prayer; how traveling apostles and prophets were tested; and how ordinary believers learned the "Two Ways" of life and death. You'll also see why Athanasius listed the Didache as a book "to be read"—authoritative for formation even if not in the New Testament canon. Designed for pastors, students, and interested readers, this volume blends narrative history with accessible scholarship. Clear chapter pathways—"The Book That Changed Everything," "The Codex and the Scholarly Revolution," "The Book That Almost Made the Bible," and more—equip you to read the Didache in situ: alongside Scripture, early church orders, and the debates that formed Christian practice. Whether you're teaching a class, renewing congregational practices, or exploring the church's earliest catechesis, this book will help you recover ancient wisdom for contemporary faith: a living manual for prayer, table, leadership, and hope.