Isabella Carter
The Apostolic Constitutions, written in Antioch in the 4th century AD, is an early Christian instruction manual for worship, doctrine, and practice. It is divided into eight books, with the first six books being based on the Didascalia of the Apostles, a lost treatise of the 3rd century. The seventh book consists of two distinct parts – the first being moral instruction and the second liturgical. The eighth book contains the controversial Apostolic Canons, which lay down specific rules for Christian conduct and church organization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Written | Likely in the fourth century AD, between 350 and 400 |
| Place of Origin | Antioch |
| Number of Books | Eight |
| Authorship | Traditionally attributed to Clement of Rome, but likely written by an anonymous Syrian cleric |
| Genre | Early Christian literature, specifically a manual of guidance for the clergy and laity |
| Sources | Didascalia Apostolorum, Didache, Apostolic Tradition, and possibly works by Hippolytus |
| Contents | Worship, doctrine, practice, moral and religious conditions, and liturgical observances |
| Reception | Rejected as heretical by the Decretum Gelasianum and the Quinisext Council (also known as the Council of Trullo) in 692; accepted by Eastern Christianity |
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The Apostolic Constitutions were written in the 4th century
The Apostolic Constitutions, a collection of eight books, are an early Christian instruction manual for worship, doctrine, and practice. They are a highly significant historical document, providing insight into the moral and religious conditions, as well as the liturgical observances of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
The Constitutions were written in the 4th century, likely by an anonymous author or authors of Syrian origin. They are pseudepigraphal, claiming to be the work of all twelve apostles, James, and Paul, and compiled and edited by Clement of Rome. However, they are not considered canonical or authoritative. The true editor likely borrowed heavily from previous Christian writings, as large portions of the Constitutions appear to be drawn from earlier sources.
The first six books of the Constitutions are based on the "Didascalia of the Apostles", a lost treatise of the 3rd century of Greek origin. The compiler adapted and modified the older treatise to suit the needs of their time, including changes in disciplinary practice and liturgical evolution. The seventh book consists of two parts: the first offering moral instruction and the second providing liturgical guidance, with prayers similar to Jewish prayers used in synagogues.
The eighth book of the Apostolic Constitutions is the most complex. It is divided into three parts: the first two chapters contain an extract of a lost treatise on the charismata, possibly by Hippolytus; chapters 3-46 are based on the Apostolic Tradition; and chapter 47, known as the Canons of the Apostles, had the widest circulation. This last chapter contains the eighty-five Canons of the Apostles, which present themselves as being from an apostolic council at Antioch and were later approved by the Eastern Council in Trullo in 692.
The Apostolic Constitutions were rejected as apocryphal by the Decretum Gelasianum, and most of the work was deemed heretical by the Quinisext Council in 692. However, Eastern Christianity accepted part of Book 8, and they were held in "'high esteem' in antiquity, serving as the basis for significant amounts of canon law.
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The work is divided into eight books
The Apostolic Constitutions is a significant historical document revealing the moral, religious, and liturgical observances of the 3rd and 4th centuries. The work is divided into eight books, with the first six books (Books 1-6) being a free re-wording of the Didascalia Apostolorum, an earlier work of the same genre. These initial books provide guidance on a range of moral and ecclesiastical issues, drawing from the "Didascalia of the Apostles", a lost treatise of the 3rd century. The compiler adapted and modified the content to suit the needs of the time, including amplifying the formulæ of worship and softening some older laws.
Book 7 of the Apostolic Constitutions is partially based on the Didache, with chapters 33-45 containing prayers resembling Jewish prayers used in synagogues. This book consists of two parts: the first offering moral instruction and the second focusing on liturgy. The first part of Book 7 provides spiritual and moral guidance, while the second part is based on Jewish prayer and liturgy, including a baptismal rite.
Book 8, the final book, is the most complex and diverse in terms of content and sources. It can be divided into three parts. The first part, comprising chapters 1-2, contains an extract from a lost treatise on the charismata, possibly by Hippolytus. Chapters 3-46 are based on the Apostolic Tradition and other material, including the well-known "Clementine" liturgy. The last chapter, Chapter 47, is known as the Canons of the Apostles, which had a wider circulation than the rest of the book. This section includes the eighty-five Canons, which present themselves as being from an apostolic council at Antioch.
The structure and content of the eight books of the Apostolic Constitutions reflect the compiler's attempt to fuse various sources into a cohesive whole. The work, though pseudepigraphal, provides valuable insights into early Christian literature and thought, influencing liturgical practices in the centuries that followed.
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The first six books are based on the Didascalia of the Apostles
The Apostolic Constitutions, also known as the Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, is a Christian collection of eight books, classified among the Church Orders. The work is dated from 375 to 380 AD and is of Syrian provenance, likely from Antioch. The author is unknown, but it has been speculated that it was written by the same author as the letters of Pseudo-Ignatius, perhaps the 4th-century Eunomian bishop Julian of Cilicia.
The first six books of the Apostolic Constitutions are based on the Didascalia Apostolorum, commonly referred to as the Didascalia of the Apostles. The Didascalia is an early Christian legal treatise, presenting itself as written by the Twelve Apostles but likely composed by a single author, a bishop, in the 3rd or 4th century in Northern Syria. The original text was written in Greek but is now lost, and the earliest mention of it is by Epiphanius of Salamis, who found it in use among the Audiani, Syrian heretics. The Didascalia underwent several translations, including into Latin and Syriac, with the Syriac version dating between the 4th and 6th centuries.
The Didascalia served as a manual on Christian practice, addressing a range of moral and ecclesiastical issues. It focused on liturgical practice and church organization, with an emphasis on the authority of bishops. The Apostolic Constitutions adapted and expanded upon the Didascalia, modifying certain aspects to align with the needs and beliefs of the time. For example, while the Didascalia portrayed Jewish Law as burdensome and a curse, the Apostolic Constitutions took a more nuanced approach, suggesting that some Jewish Law could be beneficial for the Christian community.
The Didascalia played a significant role in shaping the legal culture of the time and influenced various texts, including the Quran. The Apostolic Constitutions built upon this foundation, providing a comprehensive guide to Christian discipline, worship, and doctrine. It is considered a highly significant historical document, revealing the moral, religious, and liturgical practices of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
The seventh book of the Apostolic Constitutions is partially based on the Didache, with chapters 33-45 containing prayers similar to those used in Jewish synagogues. The eighth book is the most complex, with chapters 1-2 based on a lost treatise, chapters 3-46 based on the Apostolic Tradition, and chapter 47, known as the Canons of the Apostles, having the widest circulation.
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The seventh book is based on the Didache
The Apostolic Constitutions is a Christian collection divided into eight books, classified among the Church Orders, a genre of early Christian literature. The work can be dated from 375 to 380 AD, and its provenance is usually regarded as Syria, probably Antioch. The author is unknown, but it has been considered to be the work of the same author as that of the letters of Pseudo-Ignatius, perhaps the 4th-century Eunomian bishop Julian of Cilicia.
The first six books of the Apostolic Constitutions are based on the "Didascalia of the Apostles", a lost treatise of the third century of Greek origin, known through Syriac versions. The compiler of the Apostolic Constitutions adapted the Didascalia to the needs of his day by making some modifications and extensive interpolations.
The rediscovery of the Didache in 1873 revealed how faithfully the compiler of the Apostolic Constitutions embodied it, almost word for word, in his expansion of its precepts, save for such omissions and changes as were made necessary by the lapse of time. The Didache was considered by some Church Fathers to be a part of the New Testament, while being rejected by others as spurious or non-canonical. In the end, it was not accepted into the New Testament canon. However, it was accepted by the Apostolic Constitutions, Canon 85, John of Damascus, and in Orthodox Tewahedo churches.
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The eighth book contains the controversial Apostolic Canons
The Apostolic Constitutions is an early Christian text that serves as an instruction manual for worship, doctrine, and practice. It is divided into eight books, with the eighth book containing the controversial Apostolic Canons.
The eighth book of the Apostolic Constitutions is a complex section that contains a variety of elements. Chapters 1-2 are based on a lost treatise on the charismata, possibly written by Hippolytus. Chapters 3-46 are derived from the Apostolic Tradition and other material, including works by Hippolytus or works ascribed to him. The exact sources of some chapters in this section remain uncertain.
The last chapter of the eighth book, Chapter 47, is known as the Canons of the Apostles. This chapter had wider circulation than the rest of the book and contains 85 canons, or rules, for Christian conduct and church organization. These canons claim to be from an apostolic council at Antioch and present themselves as synodal decisions.
The Apostolic Canons have been the subject of controversy and debate. While they were approved by the Eastern Council in Trullo in 692, they were rejected by Pope Constantine. The Western Church accepted 50 of these canons, but even those were not regarded as having certain apostolic origins. The canons were considered independent works that may have been integrated by the editor of the Apostolic Constitutions.
The Apostolic Constitutions as a whole were rejected as apocryphal by the Decretum Gelasianum, and the Quinisext Council of 692 invalidated most of the work as heretical. However, they were held in high esteem in antiquity and served as the basis for significant amounts of canon law. Today, they are considered a highly significant historical document, providing valuable insights into the moral, religious, and liturgical conditions of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
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Frequently asked questions
The Apostolic Constitutions were likely written in the 4th century AD.
The Apostolic Constitutions is an early Christian instruction manual for worship, doctrine, and practice.
The Apostolic Constitutions is divided into eight books.
The Apostolic Constitutions is pseudepigraphal and was written by an anonymous author or authors.
The Apostolic Constitutions are regarded as a highly significant historical document, as they reveal the moral and religious conditions, as well as the liturgical observances of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
