Texts in Conversation
In Isaiah, God favors the humble and contrite who respect what he says. The Didache, an early church manual, echoes this in its call to humility and steady regard for the teachings its readers have heard, treating a teacher's message as God's own.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Isaiah 66:2
Hebrew Bible
1 This is what the Lord says: “The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest? 2 My hand made them; that is how they came to be,” says the Lord. “I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say.
Didache 3:8
Early Christian
6 My child, don't complain, as this can lead to disrespecting what is sacred. Don't be stubborn or think evil thoughts, as these can lead to blasphemy. 7 But be humble, for the humble will inherit the earth. 8 Be patient, merciful, honest, calm, and good, always mindful of the teachings you have heard. 9 Don't be arrogant or let yourself become presumptuous. Don't associate with arrogant people, but walk with those who are righteous and humble. 10 Accept whatever happens to you as good, knowing that nothing happens without God's involvement.
Notes and References
“... In fact submission to teaching is common to both clusters, since 3:8 valorizes an awe-filled posture towards οἱ λόγοι οὓς ἤκουσας. The allusion is to Isa 66:2b, \1, “but this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and quiet and trembles at my word,” which suggests that οἱ λόγοι are meant to be divine words, conveyed through the voice of a teacher. ...”
Kloppenborg, John S.
"Poverty and Piety in Matthew, James, and the Didache" in van de Sandt, Huub; Zangenberg, Jürgen K. (ed.) Matthew, James, and Didache: Three Related Documents in Their Jewish and Christian Settings
(p. 220) Society of Biblical Literature, 2008
* 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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