Texts in Conversation
The Didache instructs Christians to give generously and without reluctance, echoing Tobit where generosity delivers from death and protects from darkness. Both follow traditions where charity is more than a social duty, based on Jewish wisdom and ethics.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Tobit 4:10
Deuterocanon
5 My child, be mindful of the Lord all your days, and do not let your will be set to sin and to transgress his commandments: do acts of righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of unrighteousness. 6 For if you do the truth, success shall be in your works, and so it shall be to all that do righteousness. 7 Give alms of your substance: do not turn away your face from any poor man, and the face of God shall not be turned away from you, 8 As your substance is, give alms of it according to your abundance: if you have much, according to the abundance of it, give alms; if you have little bestow it, and do not be afraid to give alms according to that little: 9 for you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity: 10 because alms delivers from death, and does not allow one to come into darkness. 11 Alms is a good offering in the sight of the Most High for all that give it.
Date: 225–175 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Didache 4:5
Early Christian
3 Don't seek division but reconcile those in conflict. Make fair judgments; don't show favoritism when correcting wrongs. 4 Don't be double-minded about whether something should be or not. 5 Don't be someone who is eager to receive but reluctant to give. 6 Give a portion of what you've earned with your hands as a ransom for your sins. 7 Don't hesitate to give, and don't complain when you do, for you'll know who rewards you well. 8 Don't turn away those in need, but share everything with your family, and don't claim it as your own. If you share in what is eternal, how much more should you share in what is perishable? 9 Don't withhold correction from your son or daughter, but teach them to respect God from a young age.
Date: 90–120 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... [Didache 4:5-8] Parallels: Doctr. 4:6 and Barnabas 19:10 in the final section. In Barnabas, however, the material assistance to the poor in atonement for one’s sins is considered as one of the options (the other is the ‘ministry of the word’) to which the members of the community are called to practice ... The expiatory value of charity is constant in both Hebrew literature and spirituality of ancient, middle and Rabbinical Judaism. I refer the reader to some Biblical passages: Tobit 4:10; 12:9; Sirach 3:30; Daniel 4:27 (LXX). See also Billerbeck, cit., II, pp. 561f.; and IV/1, pp. 554f. As to Christian Judaism and Early Christianity, compare 1 Peter 4:8; 2 Clement 16:4, and Pol., Phil. 10:2 ..."
Marcello Del Verme, Didache and Judaism Jewish Roots of an Ancient Christian-Jewish Work (London: T&T Clark International, 2004), 104.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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