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About this book

Didache

About this book

Welcoming Traveling Apostles and Prophets

Chapter 11

1 If anyone comes and teaches you everything mentioned above, accept him.⁠ 2 But if the teacher himself is corrupt and teaches a different doctrine that undermines these truths, do not listen to him. However, if his teaching promotes righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as you would the Lord. 3 Regarding the Apostles and Prophets, act in accordance with the guidelines of the Gospel. 4 Receive every Apostle who comes to you as if he were the Lord.⁠ 5 But do not let him stay more than one day, or two if necessary.⁠ If he stays three days, he is a false prophet. 6 When an Apostle departs, let him take only bread until he reaches his lodging for the night. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet. 7 Do not test or judge any prophet who is speaking under inspiration, for every sin may be forgiven, but this sin will not.⁠ 8 Not everyone who speaks under inspiration is a prophet, but only one who has the ways of the Lord. You can distinguish a false prophet from a true one by his actions.⁠ 9 No prophet who orders a meal while in a state of inspiration should eat from it; if he does, he is a false prophet. 10 Any prophet who teaches the truth but does not practice what he preaches is a false prophet. 11 But do not judge a tested and genuine prophet who may enact a symbolic ritual of the Church but doesn't teach others to do the same. He will be judged by God, just like the ancient prophets. 12 If anyone requests money or something else while claiming to be inspired, do not listen to him. But if he asks you to give to others in need, do not judge him.

Texts in conversation

Compare Didache 11:2 and 2 John 1:10

Early Christian · New Testament

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Summary

2 John and the Didache share an early Christian rule of testing traveling teachers by their doctrine. Both texts require examining what they teach and refusing hospitality to anyone who does not follow the requirements.

Passages

Didache 11:2

Early Christian
1 If anyone comes and teaches you everything mentioned above, accept him. 2 But if the teacher himself is corrupt and teaches a different doctrine that undermines these truths, do not listen to him. However, if his teaching promotes righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as you would the Lord. 3 Regarding the Apostles and Prophets, act in accordance with the guidelines of the Gospel.
90–120 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Didache

2 John 1:10

New Testament
9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting 11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.
90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 John

References

“... The Elder knows that whereas it is important not to entertain traveling teachers who are both deceptive and divisive (2 John 7-11), simply refusing hospitality to all teachers without first testing them is not an option. This is perhaps why the Elder never recommends this much simpler course of action in 2 John. Instead, he urges that the ‘elect lady’ measure visiting teachers by the standard of the traditional ‘teaching about Christ’ (2 John 9-10). Similarly, the Didache could easily have advocated keeping away those who ‘carry on a cheap trade in the teachings of Christ’ by refusing to show hospitality to any visiting teachers. Instead, it recommends examining visitors to see whether their teachings are right or wrong (Didache 12.1). The virtue of showing hospitality to strangers was widely and highly valued in early Christianity, and church leaders in particular were expected to be hospitable ...”
Frank Thielman, Theology of the New Testament A Canonical and Synthetic Approach (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005), 3524.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Didache 11:2 and 2 John 1:10

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