Scattered Upon Mountains: Coherence and Communion in the Eucharistic Prayers of Didache 9–10

This study examines the relationship between the eucharistic prayers in Didache 9 and 10, which are often interpreted as reflecting either contradiction or multiple liturgical traditions. The central question is whether the differences between these chapters imply discontinuity or can be understood as coherence within a single ritual framework.The analysis employs a three-loci methodology, focusing on textual transmission, historical context and theological interpretation. First, the limited manuscript tradition is assessed to determine the stability of the text. Second, the prayers are situated within a Jewish-Christian ritual context, particularly in relation to Jewish meal blessings. Third, their theological themes - especially unity, revelation and eschatology - are examined.The study argues that the differences between Didache 9 and 10 do not indicate contradiction but reflect complementary elements within a unified ritual sequence. The perceived tension arises primarily from methodological assumptions in modern scholarship rather than from the text itself. This reading supports a coherent understanding of the Didachean meal as a structured communal practice shaped by a Jewish-Christian context. Read more