has anyone else read this little book? I read it ages ago, and whilst noticing it quotes Yeshua endlessly (not a bad thing), I find it a very useful insight into the functioning and practise of the early church before it went off the rails (so to speak).

Steve

i particularly like its explanations of baptism as it explains the concept of 'living' water quite easily without big words or too much theology.

Unknown to most Christians, 'Baptism' the Greek word for immersion is a Jewish concept, not only that but it is a commandment from Torah. We call it Tevellah and it is done in a mikvah, a body of gathered waters which are 'living' as their source must be from a spring, or river or sea. That is why Yochanan ( John) was down by the Jordan river, they were immersing because they were making Teshuvah, one of the reasons for using a Mikvah, but there are several more reasons.

Teshuvah means to turn from sin, to make repentance, and the immersing in water symbolizes that you are washed clean from this.

A Roman way of doing this is exemplified in what Pilate did at Yeshuas' trial, he called for a bowl of water and washed his hands, thus claiming to not have the blood of Yeshua marring his soul, thus he was 'washed clean' of the guilt of this sin.

Some of the didache do show very good examples of how it was with the new 'church' but I have read examples where it can be seen they are already allowing pagan influences into the beliefs and it just gains speed and goes downhill from there.

Here are some sources for those who like to read for themselves, although I am not too sure how the Herbert Armstrong one is. :roll:


http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/didache.html

# Roberts-Donaldson English Translation
# English Translation by J.B. Lightfoot
# English Translation by Charles H. Hoole
# English Translation by Kirsopp Lake
# English Translation by Ivan Lewis
# English Translation by Herbert W. Armstrong
# Translation with comments by Ben H. Swett

There's more at the link above

This post has been removed