The Didache, chapter 4, instructs us in living together as the Body of Christ, the Church, at a given place. If the Didache were written today, some of the categories of this chapter would be different. Nonetheless, the principles of this chapter remain the same.
This chapter is separated into different areas.
- 4:1: Life with your pastor.
- 4:2-4: Life within the Christian community (congregation).
- 4:5-8: Life with the poor.
- 4:9: Life with your children.
- 4:10-11: Life with your slaves (obviously, not directly applicable today).
Life with your pastor
4:1 My child, the one who preaches to you the Word of God,
- you will remember day and night,
- and you will honor him as the Lord.
- For where the substance of the Lord is preached, there is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 2:2: “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Hebrews 13:7: “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s Word to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
Matthew 7:15: “[Jesus said,] ‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.’”
John 20:22-23: “[Jesus said to His Apostles,] ‘“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you retain them, they are retained.”
The Small Catechism puts this understanding in perspective, referring to John 20:22-23: “I believe that when the called minister of Christ deals with us by His divine command … this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.”
– What is the substance of what a pastor is to preach? Who or what is the Word?
– If the pastor is faithful, how is the flock (congregation) to treat their shepherd (pastor)?
– Why?
Life within the Christian community (congregation)
4:2 Each day, seek out the presence of the saints that you may be find rest in their words.
1 Peter 2:9: “But you [Christians in the congregations to whom Peter was writing] are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy [sainted] nation, a people who are God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Sirach 6:28: “For at last you will find the rest wisdom gives, and wisdom will be changed into joy for you.”
– Who is a saint?
– What is the purpose of having fellow Christians as part of your daily life?
4:3 Do not initiate division; instead,
- make peace with those who quarrel,
- judge righteously,
- and be impartial when correcting others of transgressions.
Romans 16:17-18: “Now I implore you, brothers, watch out for those who cause divisions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattering words, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”
– According to the Apostle Paul, what is the root cause of division within Christ’s Church?
– How then can you “judge righteously”?
Matthew 7:1: “[Jesus said,] ‘Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.’”
– How do we make sense of Jesus’ words and the words of Paul and the Didache?
4:4 Do not be of two minds whether it [the judgment] will be or not.
Sirach 1:28: “Do not disobey the fear of the Lord; do not approach him with a divided heart.”
– Why does the Didache say not to be divided in such judgment?
– If so, what must someone be sure of before judging righteously and correcting impartially?
Life with the poor
4:5 Do not be someone
- who extends his hand to receive
- but withdraws it when it comes to giving.
Sirach 4:31: “Let not your hand be extended to receive, but withdrawn when it comes time to repay.”
– Why is this important in the context of a community?
4:6 But what you have through the work of your hands, give it as a ransom for your sins.
Luke 11:41: “[Jesus said,] ‘But give as alms that which is within you, and then everything is clean for you.’”
1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, show fervent love for one another, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Tobit 12:9: “Almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin.”
Excursus on Didache 4:6
To make sense of this verse in the Didache, remember back to lesson 3. If we separate justification and sanctification into two separate spheres, we have to reject the above passages, for they teach “works righteousness.” But we may not reject them—they’re in the Bible!
Yet, when we see justification and sanctification as expressions of righteousness, then no problem exists. For God not only works faith in our hearts (justification), He also works sanctification (the fruits of faith). (And although it’s true that we participate in our sanctification, this participation does not bring about the justifying aspect of being righteous [dikaioo]).
As Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who lives in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” So then, giving what you have as a ransom for your sins is simply living the divine life of Christ within you toward your neighbor. Jesus is our Ransom. His ransoming of us even turns what we do into a ransom for our sins, for it is simply what Christ is doing through us. That’s why Hebrews says that Jesus is, “the founder [source] and finisher [completer] of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He “righteouses” us, that is, He justifies and sanctifies us.
From outside of us, Jesus brings to us, through the Holy Spirit, His justifying righteousness (Christ for us). That justifying righteousness now lives within us, which also becomes a sanctifying righteousness within us, for Christ’s declaration of righteousness does what is says–making us righteous (Christ in us). That sanctifying righteousness is lived out toward others (Christ through us). Yet, these outward actions of sanctification do not being about our justification, for these righteous acts are a result of Christ for us and Christ in us.
Perhaps this diagram will help explain this more fully.
With the proper understanding of dikaioo, there is no problem with the giving of that which is within you to make everything clean for you. With the proper understanding of dikaioo, it’s all right for almsgiving to deliver from death and purge away every sin. With the proper understanding of dikaioo, it’s all right to “see that a man is justified [“righteoused”] by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).
To go to lesson 7, click here.
You guys ok??? Heard K. City got hammered as well as Branson.
Mary,
Last night, a tornado destroyed part of Kimberling City, including the Kimberling Inn. I don’t know how extensive the damage is or who may have been injured. The Church and property are all fine, as far as I know.
Pr Rich