Weber, Theissen and "Wandering Charismatics" In The Didache

Despite telling critiques of both the theoretical and empirical basis of Theissen's theory of Christianity as a movement of wandering charismatics, it remains influential and has taken on new life in the theory of Jesus as a Cynic wisdom teacher. Theissen's theory has deep unseen roots in Adolf von Harnack's theory of the emergence of "early Catholicism," and in Max Weber's theory of charisma. Theissen applies Weber's model of charisma to the Didache, but Weber was dependent on Harnack, whose theory is dependent on his interpretation of the Didache. This essay critiques the circularity of Theissen's reasoning and examines the way Weber's model would work if applied consistently to the data in the Didache.