Before the Bible: The Didache's Influence on Early Church Policy

by Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min., explores the profound impact of the Didache, a late first-century Christian manual, on the formation and practices of the early church during the critical period before the Bible canon was established. This scholarly yet accessible work reveals how the Didache, meaning "Teaching," served as an essential guide for nascent Christian communities, providing practical instructions for baptism, the Eucharist, fasting, prayer, moral conduct, and church governance at a time when believers had no formalized scriptures to rely upon. Drawing from his transformative experience studying literary criticism under Professor Harry Thomas Frank at Oberlin College in 1972, Bishop Lewter illuminates how this ancient text shaped Christian identity, worship practices, and community organization for hundreds of years before gradually falling out of use as the New Testament canon took shape in the fourth century. The book offers bishops, church leaders, and theology students invaluable insights into the roots of Christian practice, demonstrating how early believers navigated their faith through practical manuals like the Didache while awaiting Christ's return, and revealing the foundational principles that continue to influence church life today.