The Teaching of the Twelve

How did the first Christians practice their faith? The Didache, an early handbook of an anonymous Christian community, "is the most important book you've never heard of.” It spells out a way of life for Jesus-followers, including how to love one another, how to practice the Eucharist, and how to take in wandering prophets.

Likely written before many of the New Testament books, this little-known text can enlighten the way that Christians are church, today. Tony Jones unpacks the ancient document with insight and perspective, and traces the life of a small house church in Missouri that is trying to live according to its precepts. Includes a new, contemporary English translation of the complete text of the Didache.

Pub. Date: December 2009
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What did the original apostles have to say about the ways that Christians should worship, live, and care for each other? Explore the answers to these questions and more in Tony Jones' new book written for all Christians who desire to understand what it means to be Christian and worship and live in community with others. Tony introduces readers to the Didache, a first century Christian treatise written to give instructions to the fledging churches. This enigmatic text was considered canonical by some of the early Church Fathers (i.e. John of Damascus), but was believed to be unworthy of the canon although recommended reading by others (i.e. Athanasius). Tony takes it apart, section by section, and explains its meaning while making application to the ways and problems and solutions most relevant for Christian churches today.