The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles

Footnotes

Introductory Notice To The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.

^[2462] “After the participation” (Apostolic Constitutions) points to a distinct Eucharistic service. Here the Lord’s Supper is evidently connected with the Agape [a noteworthy suggestion]; comp. 1 Cor. xi. 20-22, 33. This is an evidence of early date; comp. Justin Martyr, Apol. i. chaps. 64–66, where the Lord’s Supper is shown to be distinct (Ante-Nicene Fathers, i. pp. 185, 186).

^[2463] This last clause has no parallel in Apostolic Constitutions, and points to an earlier and more spiritual conception of the Eucharist. Verse 4 also is peculiar to this passage.

^[2464] The above rendering follows Bryennios; that of Harnack (formerly accepted by Hall and Napier) is: “Gather it, sanctified, from the four winds, into Thy kingdom,” etc. The phrase “from the four winds” recalls Matt. xxiv. 31.

^[2465] This is peculiar; but comp. 1 Cor. vii. 31 for the last clause.

^[2466] The Codex reads τῷ ὺεῷ, which Bryennios alters to τῷ ὺιῷ. The former is the more difficult reading, and is defended by Harnack.

^[2467] This exhortation indicates a mixed assembly; comp. Apostolic Constitutions. [If so, it belongs to the Agape.]

^[2468] Cor. xvi. 22, Revised Version, margin: “That is, our Lord cometh.” Comp. Rev. xxii. 20.

^[2469] A limitation as compared with 1 Cor. Xiv. 29, 31, and yet indicating a combination of extemporaneous devotion with the liturgical form. The verse prepares the way for the next chapter.

Chapter XI.—Concerning Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets.

^[2470] The Apostolic Constitutions (vii. 27) present scarcely any parallel to this chapter, which points to an earlier period, when ecclesiastical polity was less developed, and the travelling “Apostles” and “Prophets” here spoken of were numerous. [Elucidation II.]

^[2471] This refers to all teachers, more fully described afterwards.

^[2472] Lit. “being turned:” i.e. turned from the truth, perverted.

^[2473] Matt. x. 40. The mention of apostles here has caused much discussion, but there are many indications that travelling evangelists were thus termed for some time after the apostolic age. Bishop Lightfoot has shown, that, even in the New Testament, a looser use of the term applied it to others than the Twelve. Comp. Rom. xvi. 7; 1 Cor. xv. 5, 7 (?); Gal. i. 19; 1 Thess. ii. 6: also, as applied to Barnabas, Acts xiv. 4, 14.

^[2474] Reach a place where he can lodge.

^[2475] Under the influence of the charismatic gift spoken of in 1 Cor. xii. 3, xiv. 2. Another indication of an early date.

^[2476] Probably a reference to the sin against the Holy Spirit. Matt. xii. 31, 32; Mark iii. 29, 30.

^[2477] Probably a love-feast, commanded by the prophet in his peculiar utterance.

^[2478] ἀληθινός, “genuine.”

^[2479] ποιῶν εἰς μυστήριον κοσμικὸν ἐκκλησίας, “working unto a worldly mystery of (the) Church,” or “making assemblies for a worldly mystery.” Either rendering is grammatical: neither is very intelligible. The paraphrase in the above version presents one leading view of this difficult passage: the mystery is the Church, and a worldly one, because the Church is in the world. The other leading view joins ἐκκλησίας (as accusative) with ποιῶν, “making assemblies for a worldly mystery.” So Bryennios, who regards the worldly mystery as a symbolical act of the prophet. Others suggest, as the mystery for which the assemblies are called, revelation of future events, celibacy, the Eucharist, the ceremonial law. It seems, at all events, to point to incipient fanaticism on the part of the prophets of those days. [Elucidation III.] This was likely to take the form either of asceticism or of extravagant predictions and mystical fancies about the Church in the world. Did we know the place and the time more accurately, we might decide which was meant. This caution was evidently needed: Let God judge such extravagances.

Chapter XII.—Reception of Christians.

^[2480] Verse 1 is almost identical with the beginning of Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 28; the remaining verses have no parallel.

^[2481] All professed Christians are meant.

^[2482] Comp. 2 Thess. iii. 10.

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