Thomas O'Loughlin: The Didache and diversity of eucharistic practice in the churches: the value of Luke 22:17-20 as evidence

The sequence of blessings found in the Didache (cup followed by loaf) has long been seen as a significant deviation from what has been seen (based on later accepted practice) as the normative sequence of loaf followed by cup (as found in Paul [1 Cor 11:24-5], Mark, and Matthew). However, if we see 'the longer form' of Luke 22:17-20 (cup, loaf, cup) as a conflation of two text relating to two different practices - where the text of Luke was a 'living text' which varied with the practice of the church in which it was being used - then we have evidence (in the shorter variants of Luke) for a range of churches which at one time used the sequence found in the Didache of cup followed by loaf.From the original diversity as seen in the Didache and Paul (see 1 Cor 10:16-7 and 21-2) there came in time a uniformity. The Didache preserves a fossil of this earlier period, Paul's acquaintance with this diversity dropped out of sight in that I Cor 10 was read in terms of 1 Cor 11, while the Lukan text that became the standard form preserved both readings (reflecting both practices) by conflation 'lest anything be lost.' That this conflated text was seen as a problematic can be seen in the reaction of Eusebius of Caesarea, while we should concentrate attention afresh on the 'shorter texts' as these point to forgotten practices.