The Didache: A Commentary

by Shawn J. Wilhite, Michael A.G. Haykin, Clayton N. Jefford (Foreword)

The Apostolic Fathers Commentary Series aims to complement the study of early Christianity through historical, literary, and theological readings of the Apostolic Fathers. Writers of the AFCS volumes seek to be mindful of critical scholarship while commenting on a final-form text. Shawn J. Wilhite's commentary on the Didache includes a brief introduction to the Didache, the use of Scripture by the Didachist, and the theology of the Didache. The commentary proceeds section by section with a close ear to the text of the Didache, relevant early Christian literature, and current scholarship.


"Wilhite's introduction is thoughtfully balanced--elucidating the beliefs, practices, and authoritative texts of the Didachean community as seen synchronically through the window of the Jerusalem manuscript, while still acknowledging the questions concerning, and engaging the critical scholarship on, the 'journey' of the text and the communities along the way. Most refreshingly, he is not afraid to think outside the box, and I found myself forced to reconsider points I thought long settled."
--Nancy D. Pardee, University of Chicago

"In this introductory commentary Wilhite spills his extensive knowledge of primary and secondary sources, including the most reliable recent studies, in a volume of value to specialists and nonspecialists alike. This prized contribution imparts a freshness and urgency rarely encountered in works on the Apostolic Fathers. I recommend it without qualification."
--Clare K. Rothschild, Lewis University

"Though intended as an introductory commentary on the Didache, not only does Wilhite's book provide an entree into the backgrounds, contents, theology, and reception of the Didache, it also steers a reliable path through the critical thickets that currently surround its interpretation. All of this makes the book a valuable companion to the study of the Didache, and a worthy contribution to this exciting new series on the Apostolic Fathers."
--Charles E. Hill, Reformed Theological Seminary


Shawn J. Wilhite received a PhD in New Testament and a ThM in Patristics from Southern Seminary. He is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at California Baptist University and PhD candidate in Patristics at Durham University. He is director and research fellow for the Center for Ancient Christian Studies.

Genres: Theology, Christianity

409 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2019

Reviews

[Drake Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the lead commentary from Cascade's Apostolic Fathers Commentary Series. While there are other commentaries on the Didache, this one is a midrange commentary that is readable by pastor and layperson. Scholars will benefit from being up to date with the relevant literature in the field of study.

Wilhite produces his own translation of the Didache. He also examines the manuscript tradition, the use of the Didache in antiquity, the date and provenance of the Didache, and provides a structural overview. He also looks at reception history of Scripture in the document. He addresses the theology of the book which includes discussions about the Trinity, the Sacraments, salvation, corporate gatherings, structure, and the last days.

This is a great book for someone to use as they explore early Christianity. Highly recommended!

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cascade Books, part of Wipf and Stock Publishers, is really providing an excellent service to Christians with the Apostolic Fathers Commentary Series. There’s a wealth of literature coming from immediately after the period of the Apostles which can be highly illustrative for early Christianity; the texts themselves are easily accessible online. But having some scholarly commentary on the text and its context can prove very useful in better understanding what these texts are about. We understand the same premise in terms of books of the Bible, after all.

Shawn Wilhite’s entry in the series, The Didache: A Commentary, represents an excellent addition regarding one of the first, if not the first, post-apostolic text which has been preserved.

This work begins with a translation of the Didache, from the Greek word “teaching,” and short for either “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” or “The Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles.” The author then introduces the Didache to the reader: text traditions, use in antiquity, date and provenance, and an overview of its structure (it was written sometime between 70-125, likely from a Jewish Christian background, and was rediscovered in 1873). The author then considered how the Didache was received in antiquity and at the present, and various aspects of its theology: its understanding of the Godhead, its focus on baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the nature of the church, ethics and the use of Torah, and eschatology within the Didache. The final section features a thorough commentary on the text of the Didache.

Wilhite does well at bringing out the many connections between the Didache, the Gospel of Matthew in particular, and also other early Christian texts. His insights are valuable and his conclusions reasonable.

If you are looking to gain a better understanding of the Didache and how it spoke and resonated with at least some early Christians, this is a helpful resource for you.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I applaud Cascade for their new commentary series on the Apostolic Fathers, and was keen to get into this first volume on the Didache.

Whilst this is a 5-star as a reference work, I read the entire commentary - and my Greek is pretty poor, thus I found quite a few sections well over my head - and so the 4-star rating I’ve given this is more to do with how I found the readability.

I enjoyed how this Commentary starts with some articles on the Didache, which are informative and set the foundation for the Commentary. I hope these are not overlooked by people who just use this book as a reference. As noted above, the Author is well fluent in the original language, and in where current scholarship is at when it comes to this book. It is also very well cross-referenced and indexed - with an impressive Bibliography.

This is an excellent reference, and strongly recommended for the library of those interested in the writings of the Early Church.