The
Teaching (Didache) of the Twelve Apostles begins with a discussion on “The Two
Ways” (chs. 1-6): “The Way of Life” and “The Way of Death.” The next section is
made up of orders on “Ritual Sacraments” (chs. 7-10), including Baptism, Fasting,
and Communion. This is followed by instructions on “The Ministry” and “Traveling
Prophets” (chs. 11-15). The work ends with a “Brief Apocalypse” (ch. 16).
I
noticed there to be similarities towards the end of the Epistle of Barnabas
with the Didache, specifically in regard to “The Two Ways” mentioned in both works
– The Way of Righteousness and The Way
of Wickedness. The two works seem to be closely related to each other. Throughout
the Didache, we can also see the foundations of later church manuals forming,
even our own Manual in the Church of the Nazarene. There are similarities and
differences between what we see in the Didache (as well as similar works at the
time such as the aforementioned Epistle of Barnabas and The Shepherd of Hermas)
and other more modern church manuals, including our own in the Church of the
Nazarene.
On
Baptism, the Didache states that an explanation of baptism must first be presented
before the candidate is baptized. In a similar way, the Nazarene Manual
presents an outline and liturgy to be presented with the rite of Baptism. The Nazarene
Manual quotes Paul’s writing in Romans on the subject, explaining that “we were
therefore buried with him through baptism into death: in order that, just as
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may
live a new life.” The Nazarene Manual also quotes from the Apostles’ Creed and
the instruction is given for the candidate to publicly affirm belief in the
statements of the Creed.
The
Didache also says that one must be baptized in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Nazarene
Manual says the same thing, and both texts are referring back to the command of
Jesus to do so at the end of Matthew’s Gospel.
The Didache teaches that baptism must be done in flowing (not
stagnant) water, and that preferably the water should be cold, but warm water
will do if cold water is not available. However, the Nazarene Manual does not
specify on either the movement of the water nor the temperature. This is likely
because modern Nazarenes do not typically see the significance of “moving water”
in the same way that classical Jews would have.
The Didache also says that if there is not very much water
available (like in a river or stream), then the water that is available should
be poured onto the head of the candidate three times, and done so in the name
of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
The Nazarene Manual does not have a preferred form of
baptism, but only states that the preferred form of baptism should be used, and
it lists three different options: sprinkling, pouring,
or immersion. Whichever of these three options is chosen shall also be done in
the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The
Didache also states that both the baptizer and the baptized should fast for two
days before the ceremony, but the Nazarene Manual has no such command, and
fasting is only touched upon elsewhere and not considered to be a necessary
requirement of baptism.
