Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
An ApUsrvlio Dranusv.Ipt Found

a discovery of great interest and i'm
pOrtance to students of Apostolic church
history is announced. PhilOtheas Bryen-
MOS, the learned Bishop of NicOmedia,
has found a manuscript of the second
century, which he has published in the
original Greek, with an able dissertation
on its origin and genuineness. Prof. Har-
mack, the celebrated German patristic
scholar, who has translated the more i'm
pOrtant parts of the document into Ger
man, accepts 1t as genuine. From advance
sheets of his translation the Independent
gives version in English of chapters
NII.-ANI., which concern the mode OF
baptism, the administration Of the Lord
supper, the reception of apostles and
prophets, the choice Of bishops and dea-
cons, and meetings for worship.
The title of the manuscript is 'Teach-
ing of the Apostles" Its date has not
been definitely fXed butts placeis some
where between 100 and 100. 1t has been
well known by name through reference of
the early fathers. Clement of AleXan-
dria, Eusebius, and Athanasius quote
from it, and it Is mentioned in the ''Stich-
Ometry of NicephOrus," who places it be-
tween the Gospel of Thomas and the epis-
ties of Clement, and makes it to consist
OF 200 lines. The length of the BryennlOs
manuscript is 203 lines, or about that of
the Epistle to the Galatians. Its identity
is therefore we'll established.
The great value of the discovery lies in
the fact that it is the oldest document on
church order which has come down to us,
and that it throws a flood of light on the
character of the worship, practice, and
life of the Apostolic churches. 1t is much
older than the ''ApOstOlic Constitutions, p
into the substance of which part of it
enters, and It therefore invests these writ
lngs, which, though received as authority
in the Eastern, have not been highly
priced in the Western church, with a new
interest. 1t bears a similar relation to
other ancient books, such as the 'Didas-
kalia" and the ''EpitOme." 1t is at least
century and a half older than the oldest
parts OF the constitutions" the seventh
chapter of which proves to have been
drawn from chapters NlI.-NNl. OF the
manuscript, which are, however, enlarged
and essentially modified in the latter
work. Thus in the "COnstitutiOns" the
prophet of the manuscript appears as
priest" and the term 'presbyters" is in
trOduced, though il is not once mentioned
in the earlier document. Other impOr-
tant changes were also made in the line
of development. The discovery is a con-
brmatiOn to the theory of Prof. Harnack
and others that book VII. of the "COnsti-
tuti0ns" and the "EpitOme" were based
on some older work.
The interesting points in chapters VII
ANI., which are given in tull in English,
are, first, as relates to baptism. 1t directs
that baptism be in Glowing water;" but
If neither flowing nor still water, cold or
warm, be at hand, then sprinkle the head
three times with water in the name of the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 1t does not
intimate whether the baptism in flowing
water should be by immersion or affu-
sion. Those practicing trine baptism,
as the Greek Church and the Thinkers,
viii find warrant for it in what is said
about sprinkline. ,. The directions con-
corning the eucharist are of the simplest
character. There is no prayer Of conse-
Grafton, nothing but the giving Of thanks
for the cup and the bread, with the in
junction thatnOne but the baptized should
parJake. There is some evidence that
supper was first eaten, and that the COM
munIOn or eucharist came Immediately
after, as is the custom among the Thinkers.
5. As to apostles, who are invariably re-
terred to as wandering evangelists and
prophets, instructions are given how they
are to be received, and how they may be
distinguished as true or false. Those who
asked for money or tarried more than
three days, or whose practice did not con-
form to their teachings, were to be re-
garded as false prophets. 4. Christians
are eniOined to gather themselves together
on the Lords Day and break bread and
say thanks, after cOnfessing their mis-
deeds and having made peace with those
with whom they have been at odds. This
point viii have an interest for Seventh
Day Christians. 3. "Choose for your
selves,'' says the fifteenth chapter, "be-
sides prophets, bishops and deacOns,
who are worthy of the Lord, gentle and
not misery, and upright and proven men,
for they perform also for you the service
of prophets and teachers" The bearing
of this on the views Of Stanley, Milman,
LightfOOt and others as to the Organiza-
ton of the Apostolic church does not need
to be pointed out. The discovered manu-
script can hardly fail to command wide
attention