Texts in Conversation
In the Didache, an early church manual, readers are urged to gather often and seek what benefits their souls. In the Letter of Barnabas, believers are told to gather and seek the common good, and Ignatius, an early bishop, urges frequent gatherings.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Didache 16:2
Early Christian
1 Protect your life, keep your lamps burning, and always be ready. You do not know when the Lord will come. 2 Frequently gather together and seek what benefits your souls. The entirety of your faith won't be of value unless you're found perfect at the end. 3 In the last days, false prophets and corruptors will increase, the faithful will be led astray, and love will turn into hate.
Barnabas 4:10
Epistle of Barnabas
Early Christian
9 But although I would gladly write many things, not as a teacher but as one who loves you so that you may not fail in what we possess, I was eager to write to you, being your devoted servant. Therefore, let us be cautious in these last days. For the entire duration of our faith will profit us nothing, unless now, in the time of lawlessness and impending offenses, we, as God’s children, stand firm so the Black One may not force his way in. 10 Let us flee from all vanity; let us altogether hate the works of the evil way. Do not stand apart secretly, as though you were already justified, but gather yourselves together and deliberate about the common good.
Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians 13.1
Early Christian
13 Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth is brought to an end.
Date: 160-180 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
“... [...] ("assemble frequently") urges frequent gatherings of the community (should we understand this to mean that they should take place during the week and not only on the Lord's day?), or else that the assemblies should be large. Ignatius Eph. 13.1 sounds very similar: [...] ("Hasten then to come together more frequently for thanksgiving and praise of God. For when you come together frequently ... "). The gathering is for the good of souls: [...] means "what your souls need." The reference to the usefulness of coming together is traditional: compare Barn. 4.10: [...] ("But when you come together seek for the common good") ...”
* 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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