Were early Christians really Catholic?
On this interesting episode of "The Catholic Talk Show," Ryan Scheel, Ryan DellaCrosse, and Father Matt King discuss one of the earliest Christian texts: the Didache.
The Didache, also known as "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles," is an ancient Christian manuscript that gives us amazing insight into the practices and beliefs of the Early Church!
“The Didache shows how much continuity there is between the early Apostolic Church and the Church Fathers and the way we celebrate the Catholic faith today,” says Scheel.
The document's instructions on morality, sacraments, and community life reflect the same teachings upheld by the Church since its inception.
One of the most fascinating parts of the Didache is its directive on baptism.
Father King quotes, "Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in living water."
This aligns perfectly with the trinitarian formula that the Church uses, debunking claims that early Christians were baptized only in the name of Jesus.
The early emphasis on the trinitarian formula also means the Church had a foundational understanding of the Holy Trinity. The Didache takes a firm stand on moral issues too, including a clear prohibition of abortion.
Father King says it explicitly states, "You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born," which shows the Church's early commitment to the sanctity of life.
The guys say we can learn so much about the Church from this “document written before other parts of the New Testament were even completed!”
"It's condensed teaching of Christ and it's illuminated in a catechetical way,” DellaCrosse says.