The Admonition to Assemble Together in Didache 16.2 Reappraised

This contribution focuses on the analysis of a largely neglected passage of the Didache 16.2. After a short overview of some approaches to its interpretation, it attempts to shed some more light on the understanding of this section, adapting Milavec's recent theory about the unity of the Didache and progression of thought within it, while modifying his interpretation of this specific passage. Based on the analysis of the passage and its context, this study concludes that Did. 16.2 gives an admonition to the local community to assemble together in unity. This interpretation is further supported by the analysis of the implied military imagery of Did. 16 and correspondences between the passage in question and references to the eucharist in Did. 9-10 and 14. At the same time, this paper points out that Did. 16.2 is distinct from the other eucharistic passages of the Didache as it contains a reminder of community's responsibility in view of the coming end and presents the local liturgical congregation as an image of the final gathering of the Church in the eschaton.