In contrast [to v. 6a], v. 6b is not a jubilant cry, but an invitation
and a warning. Εἴ
τις ἅγιός ἐστιν, ἐρχέσθω (“if anyone is holy, let him come”) concerns the conditions for
admission to the Lord’s Supper. The formula appears to be ancient liturgical
material, and to underlie 1 Cor 16:22 in a similar form:
|
1 Cor 16:22 |
Did. 10.6 |
|
|
εἴ τις ἅγιός ἐστιν, |
|
|
ἐρχέσθω· |
|
εἴ τις οὐ φιλεῖ τὸν κύριον
|
εἴ τις οὐκ ἔστιν, |
|
ἤτω ἀνάθεμα. |
μετανοείτω· |
|
μαραναθά. |
μαραναθά. |
The phraseology of the Didache
is reminiscent of the acclamation in the later liturgies: τὰ ἅγια τοῖς ἁγίοις (“holy things for holy people”) and
especially John Chrysostom Homily 17.5 in
Hebr. (PG 63.133): Ὅταν γὰρ εἴπῃ, Τὰ ἅγια τοῖς ἁγίοις, τοῦτο λέγει· Εἴ τις οὐκ ἔστιν ἅγιος, μὴ προσίτω (“For when he
says, ‘Holy things for holy people,’ he means, ‘If someone is not holy, let him
not approach’ ”). Here, as there, the cry has the tone of a warning. One
who is holy, and only such a one, may approach. One who is not should do
penance. In the Didache, ἅγιος describes either, in simple terms, the
baptized person (in which case μετανοείτω represents baptism)—this would make the content of this passage
identical with Did. 9.5—or else (and
this is more probable) this text appeals to those already baptized to come as ἅγιοι to the Lord’s Supper; this is not
something that the status of baptizatus
implies without further qualification. Thus I am unable to perceive any
contradiction between 9.5 and 10.6.
The subsequent μαραναθά
(“Come, Lord”) should probably be understood in terms of the immediate context.
That is, it does not refer directly back to v. 6a (ἐλθέτω χάρις κτλ.), but continues and deepens the warning
expressed in v. 6b (μετανοείτω).
Thus we cannot arrive at an understanding of the expression in this passage
directly by interpreting the Aramaic expression (although it is probable that
it implies an imperative sense in the present context as well); instead, the
meaning is ultimately determined by the immediate context. That context (v. 6b)
has the character of a call to repentance. Accordingly, μαραναθά probably calls for the Lord’s coming and
at the same time recalls that the eschatological advent of the Mar/Kyrios
will be the advent of the judge. Thus (similarly to 1 Cor 16:22) this cry has a
minatory character. It points to the eschatological judgment of the Kyrios, who will bring his law into
effect, and hence calls sinners to repentance: μετανοείτω—μαραναθά! The “amen” that follows is the response of the congregation. (Kurt
Niederwimmer, The Didache: A Commentary
[trans. Linda M. Maloney; Hermeneia—a Critical and Historical Commentary on the
Bible [Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 1998], 163-64, comment in square
brackets added for clarification)
