Scholars assign various dates to the
Didache. Some have suggested that the document itself is composed of material all
within the first century, while others have assigned it to the early second
century. Even with the later dating, it still constitutes early testimony
of Christian belief and practice. One interesting tidbit is the Didache’s
reference to the priesthood. In 1 Corinthians 12:28, St. Paul writes, “And God
hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers…” The Didache remarks,
pasan oun
aparchn gennhmatwn lhnou kai alwnov, bown te kai probatwn labwn dwseiv thn
aparchn toiv profhtaiv, autoi gar eisin oi arciereiv umwn.
Every
first-fruit, therefore, of the products of wine-press and threshing-floor, of
oxen and of sheep, you shall take and give to the prophets, for they are your
high priests.[1]
The
prophets (which is to say those who have the authority to speak for God) are called
Christian’s ἀρχιερεύς or ‘arch-hiereus’ (i.e., arch-priests).
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