Offices in the Communities of the Didache

The Didache mentions several different offices in the communities of the Didache: bishops, deacons, prophets, apostles and teachers. The Didachist deals with this topic extensively in the chapters 11-13 and 15. In research of the Didache it is often noted (following Harnack and Weber), that the communities of the Didache are experiencing a conflict between different types of offices. Charismatic offices (apostle, teachers, and prophets) are still hold in higher regard (cf. Did 15:2) over locally bound offices (bishops and deacons). But simultaneously bishops and deacons are starting to gain influence in the communities. My paper is using data provided by voluntary associations to challenge this idea. Voluntary associations show a great variety of types of offices. It is not unusual for an association to have several methods of appointing, electing and choosing officers. For example, the Herakliasts from (an eranos association) from Liopesi used four different methods of choosing and legitimizing their officers (election, appointing, lot and offices for life based on merit). Furthermore, I will show, that it is not unusual to have “charismatic offices” (e.g. priests, prophets, teachers) and “administrative offices” (e.g. epimeletes, tamias, grammateus) in voluntary associations. My goal is not to label the group(s) addressed by the Didache as voluntary associations and neglect their Jewish heritage, or specific circumstances in the Didache itself. But the documents of associations provide helpful data to understand how offices in the Didache might be understood.