The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-18
IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
An Apostolic Manuscript Found--ProfesseT
psaruaek Preuonuces it Genuine.


Harnack Prenoances it Genuine.
A discovery Of great interest and I'M
portance TO students Of apostolic church
history Is announced. Philotheas Bryen-
MOS. the learned bishop OF Nicomedin, mas
found manuscript OF the second century,
which he has published In the original
Greek. with an able dissertation on It's
origin and genuineness. Professor har-
mack. the celebrated German patristlc
scholar. who has translated the more Inn
nortant parts OF the document into Ger
man. accepts II as genuine. From advance
sheets OF his translation the Independent
gives A version in English OF chapters
VU-XVI., which concern the mode
NJ bant;sm. the administration OF the LORDS
sumner. the reception OF apostles and pro-
nhets. the choice OF bishops and deacons,
and meetings for worship.
THE title of the Manuscript is "Teach-
ing Of the Apostles" Its date has not
been definitely fixed, but its place is some
where between 100 and 100. 1t has been
well known by name through references OF
the carly fathers. Clement OF Alexandra,
Eusebirs. and Athanasius quote from II,
and II Is mentioned in the Z" Stichomefry OF
Njcepborus.v who places it between the
Gospel OF Thomas and the Epistles OF Gle
mept. and makes II TO consist OF 200 lines.
The length of the Bryenn0is manuscript Is
203 lines, or about that Of the Epistle to
the Galatians. Its identity Is therefore well
established.
The great value OF the discovery lies In
the fact that il is the Oldest document on
church order which has come down TO u.s.
and that II throws food Of light on the
character Of the worship. practice, and lie
of the apostolic churches. II Is much
older than the "Apostolic Constitutions,
| into the substance Of which part OF 1t en-
| ters. and it therefore invests these wrl-
tinps, which. though received as authority
in the eastern, have not been highly priced
in the western Church, with q new inter-
est. IL bears a similar relation to other
ancient books, such as the "Didaskalia ]"
and the " Epitome." 1t Is at least GEN.
fury and half older than the Oldest parts
of the Constitutions, the seventh chap
ter of which proves to have been drawn
from chapters VII.-XVI. OF the manu-
script, which are, however, enlarged and
essentially modified in the latter work.
Thus in the Constitutions " the "proph-
ct" of the manuscript appears as "priest.'
and the term "presbyters" is introduced,
though it is not once mentioned in the
earlier document. Other important changes
were also made in the line OF development.
The discovery is confirmation to the
theory OF Professor Harnack and others
that Book VII. Of the Constitutions "
and the "Epitome" were based on some
older work.
The interesting points in chapters VII
XVI, which are given in full in English,
are, first, as relates to baptism. 1t directs
that baptisms be In :" flowing water y; 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, will
find warrant for it in what is said about
sprinkling. 2. The directions concern
ing the eucharist are of the simplest
character. There is no prayer of conse-
cration-nothing but the giving OF thanks
for the cup and the bread. with the in
junction that none but the baptized
should partake. There is some evidence
that supper was first eaten, and that the
communion or eucharist came Immediately
after, as is the custom among the Thinkers.
8. AS to apostles, who are invariably re.
ferred 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
conform to their teachings, were to
be regarded as false prophets. 4. Chris
tians are enjoined to gather themselves
together on the Lords Day and break
bread and say thanks, after confess
ing their misdeeds and having made
peace with those with whom they have
been at odds. This point will have an in
terest for Seventh-Day Christians. s..
"Choose for yourselves" says the fifteenth
chapter, "besides [prophetsl, bishops and
deacons, who are worthy Of the Lord, gen.
tie and not misery. and upright and
proven men, for they perform also for
you the service Of prophets and teachers"
Tie bearing of this on the views Of STAN
ley, Milman, Lightfoot, and others as to
the organization OF the Apostolic church
does not need to be pointed out. The dis
covered manuscript can hardly fail to COM
mand wide attention.