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The Historic Practice of Abortion and How Ancient Christians Responded

.... — Didache, c. AD 50–70 You shall not kill the child by obtaining an abortion. Nor, again, shall you destroy him after he is born. — Epistle of Barnabas, c. AD 70 This attitude towards what was seen as a repulsive and murderous practice continued to be written about and condemned by church leaders for centuries after this too. [Christians] bear children, but they do no destroy their offspring. — Letter to Diognetus, c. AD 130 We say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder. And we also say they will have to give an account to God for the abortion. — Athenagoras, c. AD 175 Although keeping parrots and curle...

The Eighth Day

...be pure. Didache 14:1   As early as Acts, we can see the believers all began to gather and teach on a Sunday (the first day): Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.   Praise and worship was held on Sunday’s because of the resurrection – this day was to be a celebration of what Jesus accomplished and what that now means for the res...

Lent: Intro - 40 Day Reading Plan with the Fathers

...This year for Lent I'm following a reading plan which comprises of a collection of extracts from various early church fathers writings. Each day I'm going to write a short overview and any thoughts on the text and link back to the source material so you can also follow along with me too, if you'd like. The overview of each day will probably be posted on the day after. The reading should only take 10-15 minutes of your time, and by day 40, you will have read ten different Fathers: Didache, Diognetus, Polycarp, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Cyprian, Athanasius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Ambrose of Milan, and Leo the Great. I'll be reading from the “Church Fathers Lenten...

Fasting: A spiritual and physical discipline

...ch in the Didache 8:1 and the Apostolic Constitutions, VII:XXIII); and, because Wednesday was when Jesus was betrayed, and Friday because of the crucifixion and Passion. Traditional: basically a vegan-like diet; no meat, fish, dairy or oils/dressings. No alcohol either, just water. This is the same type which was done weekly on Wed and Fri too, and was based on Dan 10:3 – “I had eaten no rich food, no meat or wine had entered my mouth, and I had not anointed myself at all, for the full three weeks.” “Loose”: No food until sundown/next day, drink anything during fast hours (except soup still). This has typically been the teaching of ho...

Spiritual Disciplines of the Early Church: Ancient Practices for the 21st Century

...pray.” Didache (c. 50 – 70) Alongside fasting, praying the Lord’s Prayer three times a day (morning, noon, evening) was a common discipline. From around the third century, liturgy and prayers in a church service would start to face East as that was seen where God’s glory arose, and in baptism ritual turning East was a sign of turning away from the devil towards Christ (Jews similarly prayed facing Jerusalem). This is also why many old church buildings are cross-shaped and have the alter end pointing Eastward. For it is required that you pray toward the east, as knowing that which is written: ‘Give ye glory to God, who rideth upon the heaven of h...

Did the Early Church invent the Trinity?

...urch The Didache (c. 70) And concerning baptism, baptise this way: Having first said all these things, baptise into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living [running] water. … But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. — Didache 7:1, A.D. 70. Clement of Alexandria (c. 95-140) Do we not have one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace which was poured out upon us? And is there not one calling in Christ? — 1 Clement 46:6, ~A.D. 95 Brothers, we ought to think of Jesus Christ, as we do of God, as ‘Judge of the living and the dead’ ...