SBL23-66 Early Jewish-Christian Relations Section

SBL 2008 Annual Meeting

A Short Communication by Taras Khomych (K.U.Leuven) on Sunday November 23, 2008

The Gathering of the Church (Didache 9.4; 10.5) and the Parting of the Ways with Judaism:

The Self-Understanding of the Didachean Community Revisited 

Didache 9-10 Birkath-Ha-Mazon

9.1 (And) concerning the eucharist, eucharistize thus:
9.2 First, concerning the cup: We give you thanks, our Father, for the holy vine of your servant David which you revealed to us through your servant Jesus. To you [is] the glory forever.
9.3 And concerning the broken [loaf]: we give you thanks, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you revealed to us through your servant Jesus. To you [is] the glory forever.
9.4 Just as this broken [loaf] was scattered over the hills [as grain], and, having been gathered together (sunacqeVn), became one; in like fashion, may your church be gathered together (ou@tw sunacqhvtw sou hJ e*kklhsiva) from the ends of the earth into your kingdom. Because yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.
9.5 (And) let no one eat or drink from your eucharist except those baptized in the name of [the] Lord, for the Lord has likewise said concerning this: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs.”
10.1 And after being filled, eucharistize thus:
10.2 We give you thanks, holy Father, for your holy name, which you tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you revealed to us through your servant Jesus. To you [is] the glory forever.
10.3 You, almighty Master, created all things for the sake of your name, both food and drink you have given to people for enjoyment in order that they might give thanks; to us, on the other hand, you have graciously bestowed Spirit-sent food and drink for life forever through your servant.
10.4 Above all, we give you thanks because you are powerful. To you [is] the glory forever.
10.5 Remember, Lord, your church (th~ e*kklhsiva sou), to save [her] from every evil and to perfect [her] in your love and to gather [her] together (suvnaxon) from the four winds [as] the sanctified into your kingdom which you have prepared for her, because yours is the power and the glory forever.
10.6 Come grace! And pass away, this world!
Hosanna to the God of David!
If anyone is holy, come/advance!
If anyone is not, convert!
Maranatha! Amen!
10.7 [And] turn towards the prophets [allowing them] to eucharistize as much as they wish. / Blessed are you, O Lord, King of the Universe, who nourishes the whole world with goodness, with grace and with mercy.
We thank you, O Lord, our God, that you have caused us to inherit a goodly and pleasant land, the covenant, the Torah, life and food. For these things we thank you and praise your name forever and ever.
Have mercy, O Lord, our God, on Israel, your people, and on Jerusalem, your city, and on Zion, the resting place of your glory, and on your altar and on your temple. Blessed are you, O Lord, who builds Jerusalem.

 The text and the English translation of the Didache are quoted according to A. Milavec, The Didache. Faith, Hope, and Life of the Earliest Christian Communities, 50-70 C.E., New York – Mahwah, NJ, 2003, pp. 12-45, with some slight alterations.