Watch for your life's
sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed, but be ye ready,
for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. (Didache 16:1)
In this text, the "day" is
clearly eschatological (cf. "For in the last days" [εν γαρ ταις
εσχαταις ημεραις] in v. 3), and the "life" spoken of in this text
pertains to the type of life in the age to come one will enjoy (whether it is
eschatological salvation or damnation). The author of this text clearly assumes
that one can lose their salvation. The language of having one's lamp (λυχνος)
quenched was common in early Christianity to denote the removal of one's
salvation. Note the following from Rev 2:1-5:
Unto the angel of the
church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in
his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks
(λυχνος); I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou
canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. And hast borne, and hast
patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless
I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or
else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick (λυχνος) out
of his place, except thou repent.
The Didache clearly teaches that a true
believer can forfeit their salvation.
