Question 48 · Baptism and the Lord's Supper

What did a Sunday service look like in the second century?

What the sources show

Pliny the Younger (Roman governor) c. 112The pattern

A Roman governor about 112 reports Christians meeting before dawn on a fixed day to sing a hymn to Christ "as to a god", and meeting later for a meal. ³

Justin Martyr c. 155 · Didache c. 100The pattern

Justin, about 155, gives the order still used: readings from the apostles and prophets, a sermon, common prayer, bread and wine, the president's thanksgiving, the people's Amen, communion, and a collection for the needy. ²⁴

Tertullian c. 197The pattern

Tertullian adds prayer for the emperors and a monthly free collection that fed orphans, the old, and prisoners. ⁵

The answers given:

ApostolicBefore NicaeaNicaea and afterMiddle AgesReformation to today

Scroll through the centuries, or tap a dot. J K move between witnesses.

Apostolic Fathers

30–150

100c. AD

The pattern

Didache c. 100 ADDidache 9–10

Now about the Eucharist, give thanks in this way. First, over the cup: 'We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David your servant, which you made known to us through Jesus your servant: yours is the glory for ever.' Then over the broken bread: 'We thank you, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you made known to us through Jesus your servant: yours is the glory for ever.' ... And after you have eaten your fill, give thanks in this way: 'We thank you, holy Father, for your holy name, which you made to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you made known to us through Jesus your servant.'

The prayers said over the cup and the bread, and after the meal (about 100): thanksgiving for what God has made known through Jesus, and for the church's gathering, ending 'Maranatha. Amen' (10.6). Prophets were allowed to give thanks at greater length, as they wished (10.7).

Read in context →

100c. AD

The pattern

Didache c. 100 ADDidache 14.1–3

On the Lord's day of the Lord, gather together, break bread and give thanks, having first confessed your sins, so that your sacrifice may be pure. Let no one who has a quarrel with his companion join you until they are reconciled, so that your sacrifice may not be defiled. For this is what the Lord said: "In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations" (Malachi 1:11, 14).

Confession of sins and reconciliation came before the breaking of bread.

Read in context →

112c. AD

The pattern

Pliny the Younger (Roman governor) c. 61–c. 113 ADLetter 10.96, to the emperor Trajan 10.96.7

They affirmed that the whole of their fault or error was this: they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing a hymn among themselves to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by an oath, not to some crime, but not to commit theft, robbery or adultery, not to break faith, and not to refuse to return a deposit. After this it was their custom to part and meet again to take food, but ordinary and harmless food.

A pagan's report from Bithynia, from Christians he interrogated. "Harmless food" answers rumors of cannibalism.

Full English of this work is being translated · Source text

Before Nicaea

150–325

155c. AD

The pattern

Justin Martyr c. 100–c. 165 ADFirst Apology 67.3–6

On the day called the day of the Sun, all who live in towns or the country gather in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time allows. Then, when the reader has stopped, the president in a speech warns and urges us to imitate these good things. Then we all stand up together and send up prayers. And, as we said before, when we have finished praying, bread is brought, and wine and water, and the president likewise sends up prayers and thanksgivings as he is able, and the people assent, saying Amen. Then the distribution and sharing of the things over which thanks has been given is made to each, and to those not present it is sent through the deacons. Those who are well off and willing give what each thinks fit, and what is collected is left with the president, who helps orphans and widows.

The order is still the shape of most liturgies: readings, sermon, prayers, offering of bread and wine, thanksgiving, Amen, communion, collection.

Full English of this work is being translated

197c. AD

The pattern

Tertullian c. 155–c. 220 ADApology 39.2–6

We meet in an assembly and congregation, to besiege God with prayers as with an army. This force pleases God. We pray also for the emperors, for their ministers and authorities, for the state of the world, for peace, for the delay of the end. We meet to remember the divine writings ... Approved elders preside, who have won that honor not by money but by testimony. ... Each one puts in a small coin once a month, or when he wishes, if he wishes and can. For no one is compelled; he gives freely. This is a deposit of piety: it is spent not on feasts and drinking, but to feed and bury the poor, for boys and girls without means or parents, for the old confined at home, the shipwrecked, and those in the mines, on the islands or in prison for the cause of God.

Tertullian writes for Roman magistrates, so he describes the gathering, not the sacrament.

Full English of this work is being translated · Source text

Witnesses not in the library yet

These writers also matter for this question. Their texts will join the timeline above once they are translated.

215
Hippolytus (attributed), Apostolic Tradition 4
The earliest full eucharistic prayer.

How this page was made

Every early quote was read in its Greek or Latin and translated for this page by Claude (Opus 5.5) on 13 October 2026. Each line names the printed edition it was read from. A quote marked indirect does not state the answer outright; read its note. A writer's silence is never counted as an answer.