Texts in Conversation
In the Community Rule from the Dead Sea Scrolls, new members vow never to stray from God's commands to the right or left. In the Didache, an early church manual, readers guard the commandments they received, with nothing added and nothing removed.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1QS 1:15
Community Rule
Dead Sea Scrolls, Sectarian and Community Texts
13 according to the perfection of his ways, and all their wealth according to his righteous counsel; and not to step aside from any one 14 of all the words of God in their ages, and not to advance their times or to fall behind 15 any of their appointed times; and not to turn from his true statutes to go to the right or to the left. 16 And all who come into the rule of the community shall pass over into the covenant before God, to do 17 according to all that he has commanded, and not to turn back from following him because of any fear or dread or testing
Didache 4:13
Early Christian
10 Don't treat your slaves harshly out of anger, especially if they believe in the same God, or they may stop fearing the God who oversees you both. God doesn't show favoritism, but calls those prepared by the Spirit. 11 If you are a slave, obey your master as you would God's representative, with respect and fear. 12 Hate all hypocrisy and everything displeasing to the Lord. 13 Don't abandon God's commandments, but keep what you've received, without adding to it or taking anything away. 14 Confess your sins in the congregation, and don't pray with a guilty conscience. This is the way of life.
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Notes and References
“... 1QS 1:13-18 has a very similar instruction: [...]. The emphasis on correct observation of time is peculiar to the sectarian teaching of QL, with its different calendar and Solar year. However, the injunction to fulfil the whole Law, without any deviation, adding or subtracting, comes from the Covenant terminology of Deut. 4:2; 13:1. ...”
Draper, Jonathan Alfred
A Commentary on the Didache in the Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Documents
(p. 111) St. John's College, 1983
* 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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