CODEX
SINAITICUS: The New Testament translated from the Sinaitic Manuscript
Discovered by Constantine
Tischendorf at
Copyright ©2004 Jackson H.
Snyder II
EPISTLE
OF BARNABAS
Translated by Charles Hoole, 1885
A NEW, TRUE NAMES GREEK TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF BARNABAS, (C) 2010, IS NOW AVAILABLE AT WWW.APOSTOLIA.US.
Barnabas 1
1 Hail, my sons and
daughters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath loved us in peace.
2 I rejoice
exceedingly and beyond measure at your happy and glorious spirit, since the
ordinances of God are great and rich towards you, who have received the
engrafted grace of the spiritual gift.
3 Wherefore, I
congratulate myself the more, hoping to be saved, because I see of a truth the
Spirit poured out upon you from the rich Lord of love. So greatly hath your
longed-for appearance stricken me with amazement.
4 Being persuaded,
therefore, of this, and knowing in myself that since I spake among you the Lord
hath helped me in many things in the way of righteousness, I am altogether
compelled to love you even beyond my own soul, because great faith and love
dwelleth in you in the hope of his life.
5 Considering also
this, that if I take care to communicate to you a part of that which I have
received, it shall turn to my reward to have assisted such spirits as ye
are, I gave diligence to write unto you in few words, in order that together
with your faith, ye might have your knowledge perfect also.
6 For there are
three doctrines ordained of the Lord: the hope of life, the beginning, and the
end.
7 For the Master
hath made known unto us by the prophets the things which are past, and the
things which are at hand, and hath given us the firstfruits of the knowledge of
the things that are to come. Since,
therefore, we see all these things severally working as he has spoken, we ought
the more fully and loftily to approach to his altar;
8 but I, not as a
master, but as one of yourselves, will show to you a few things, by means of
which ye may even in this present rejoice.
Barnabas 2
1 Since,
therefore, the days are evil, and the adversary hath the authority, we ought to
take heed to ourselves and seek out the ordinances of the Lord.
2 For the helpers
of our faith are fear and patience, and they that fight on our side are
long-suffering and continence.
3 While these,
therefore, remain pure in things relating to the Lord, wisdom and
understanding, science and knowledge, rejoice together with them.
4 For God hath
made known unto us through all the prophets, that he desireth neither
sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings, nor oblations; for he saith in a certain
place,
5 To what purpose
is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith the Lord. I am full of the whole
burnt offerings of rams; I desire not the fat of lambs, nor the blood of bulls
and goats, nor need ye come to be seen of me. For who hath required these
things at your hands? Ye shall not add thereto to tread my court. If ye bring
the fine flour, it is vain; incense is an abomination unto me; your new moons
and sabbaths I cannot endure; your fastings and holidays and feasts my soul
hateth.
6 These things,
therefore, he hath made of none effect, that the new law of our Lord Jesus
Christ, being free from the yoke of necessity, might have an offering not made
with hands.
7 Again, he saith
unto them, Did I command your fathers, when ye came out of the
8 did I not rather
command them this? – Let each of you bear no malice against his neighbour in
his heart, and love not a false oath.
9 We ought to
perceive, since we are not void of understanding the meaning of the goodness of
God our Father, because he telleth us, wishing to seek us who are wandering
even as sheep, how we ought to approach him.
10 He therefore
speaketh unto us in this wise: The sacrifice unto God is a broken heart; a
smell of sweet savour unto the Lord is a heart that glorifieth him that made
it. We ought, therefore, brethren, to examine accurately concerning our
salvation, lest the evil one, making an entrance among us, should draw us away
from our life.
Barnabas 3
1 Therefore, he
saith again, concerning these things, unto them, Why fast ye unto me, saith the
Lord, so that your voice is heard to-day in its crying? This is not the fast
that I have chosen, saith the Lord, for a man to humiliate his soul;
2 nor if ye bend
your neck as a ring, and put under you sackcloth and ashes – not even then will
ye call it an acceptable fast.
3 But unto us he
saith, Behold the fast which I have chosen, saith the Lord, not that a man
should humiliate his soul, but that he should loose every bond of
unrighteousness, and untie the knots of the compacts of violence; set at
liberty them that are bruised, and cancel every agreement of unrighteousness;
break thy bread with the hungry, and if thou seest the naked, clothe him; bring
them that are houseless into thy dwelling, and if thou seest a man that is
lowly, despise him not, and turn not away from those of thy family;
4 then shall thy
light break forth early, and thy garments shall spring up quickly, and justice
shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lord shall surround thee;
5 then shalt thou
cry, and the Lord shall hearken unto thee; while thou art yet speaking he shall
say, Lo, I am here: if thou put away from thee the league and the conspiracy,
and the word of murmuring, and givest thy bread unto the hungry with all thine
heart, and hast compassion upon the soul that is lowly.
6 The
long-suffering God therefore having seen beforehand that the people whom he had
prepared for his beloved would believe in simplicity, showed to us beforehand
concerning all these things, that we should not come as strangers to their law.
Barnabas 4
1 It behoveth,
therefore, that we, searching much concerning the things that are at hand,
should seek out the things that are able to save us. Let us fly, therefore,
utterly from all the work of unrighteousness, and let us hate the error of the
time that now is, that we may be loved in that which is to come.
2 Let us not give
liberty unto our soul that it should have leave to run with sinners and evil
men, neither let us be made like unto them.
3 The tribulation
being made perfect is at hand, concerning which it is written, as Enoch saith,
For to this purpose the Lord hath cut short the times and the days, that his
beloved might make haste and come into his inheritance.
4 The prophet also
speaketh in this wise: Ten kingdoms shall reign upon the earth; and there shall
rise up after them a little king who shall humble three of the kings under one.
5 And in like
manner Daniel speaketh concerning him: And I saw the fourth beast, evil and
strong and harder than all the beasts of the earth; and I saw how there grew up
from him ten horns, and from among them a little horn, growing up beside, and
how it humbled under one three of the great horns.
6 Ye ought,
therefore, to understand. And moreover I ask this of you, as being one among
you, loving you especially and altogether, even above my own soul, that ye
should take heed unto yourselves, and not be like unto certain men, by adding
to your sins and saying that their covenant is also ours. Ours, indeed,
it is; but they have lost it for ever, in this wise, after that Moses had
already received it.
7 For the
scripture saith, And Moses was in the mount fasting forty days and nights, and
he received the covenant from the Lord; even tables of stone written with the
finger of the hand of the Lord. But when they turned unto idols they lost it.
8 For the Lord
saith thus unto Moses, Moses, get thee down quickly, for thy people, whom thou
broughtest out of the
9 Now, though I
wished to write many things unto you, not as a master, but even as suiteth one
that loveth you, not to fall short of the things that we have, I have been
zealous to write unto you as though I were the offscouring of you. Let us,
therefore, give heed unto the last days; for the whole time of our faith will
profit us nothing unless now, in the season of iniquity and among the
stumbling-blocks that are coming, we resist as becometh the sons of God,
10 that the evil
one may not have entrance unawares. Let us fly all vanity and hate perfectly
the deeds of the evil way. Do not, entering into your own houses, dwell alone,
as though ye were already justified, but coming together, inquire one with
another concerning the common advantage.
11 For the
scripture saith, Woe unto them that are wise in their own conceit and learned
in their own eyes. Let us be spiritual: let us be a perfect temple unto God. So
far as in you lieth, let us practise the fear of God, and strive to keep his
commandments, that we may be glad in his ordinances.
12 The Lord shall
judge the world without respect of persons; each shall receive according as he
hath done; if he be good, righteousness shall go before him, but if he be evil,
the reward of wickedness shall be before him.
13 Let us give
heed that we do not, as being already elect, take rest, and sleep in our sins,
lest the ruler of wickedness, getting the mastery over us, thrust us from
the kingdom of the Lord.
14 And, moreover,
my brethren, consider this. When ye see that after so many signs and wonders
that have happened in
Barnabas 5
1 For on this
account the Lord endured to give his flesh unto corruption, that we might be
sanctified by the remission of sins, which is by the sprinkling of his blood.
2 For there are
written concerning him certain things that pertain unto
3 We ought,
therefore, to give especial thanks unto the Lord because he hath made known
unto us the things that are past, and hath made us wise with regard to those
that are at hand, neither are we without understanding as regards the future.
4 For the
scripture saith, Not unjustly is the net stretched for the birds. Now this
meaneth that a man will perish justly who, having a knowledge of the path of
righteousness, shutteth himself up into the way of darkness.
5 Consider this
too, my brethren; if the Lord endured to suffer for our souls, though he were
the Lord of the whole world, to whom God said from the foundation of the world,
Let us make man according to our image and according to our likeness, how then
did he endure to suffer at the hands of men? Learn ye!
6 The prophets
having received the grace from him prophesied with regard to him. But he, that
he might make death of none effect and bring to light the resurrection from the
dead, because it behoved him to be made manifest in the flesh,
7 endured it, that
he might give unto our fathers the promise, and by preparing for himself a new
people, might show, while upon earth, that he will raise the dead and himself
execute judgment.
8 Yea, further;
though he taught
9 But when he
chose out his own Apostles, who were about to preach his gospel, they were
men unrighteous beyond all sin, that he might show that he came not to
call the righteous but sinners to repentance; then made he himself
manifest that he was the Son of God.
10 For if he had
not come in the flesh how could men have looked upon him and have been saved,
since they cannot endure to look at the rays of the sun which must one day
perish, and which is the work of his hands?
11 For this
purpose did the Son of God come in the flesh, that he might sum up and finish
the sin of them who persecuted his prophets unto death;
12 therefore he
endured even unto this. For God saith that the smiting of his flesh it was from
them. When they shall smite their shepherd, then shall the sheep of the flock
be scattered.
13 But he himself
wished thus to suffer, for it was necessary that he should suffer upon the
cross; for he who prophesieth about him saith, Spare my soul from the sword,
and again, Drive nails into my flesh, for the synagogues of evil men have risen
against me.
14 And again he
saith, Behold, I have given my back unto the scourging and my cheeks unto
buffetings; my face also have I set as a hard rock.
Barnabas 6
1 When, therefore,
he made the commandment what sayeth he? Who is he that disputeth with me? let him
resist me; or who is he that contendeth with me? let him draw nigh unto the Son
of the Lord.
2 Woe unto you,
for you shall all wax old as a garment, and the moth shall devour you. And
again the prophet saith, Since he hath been placed, as a strong stone, for
crushing; behold I will place on the foundation of Zion a stone precious,
elect, a chief corner stone of great price.
3 And then what
saith he? And he that believeth in him shall live for ever. Is then our hope in
a stone? God forbid. But it is thus said because the Lord hath made strong his
flesh, for he saith, And he made me as it were a hard rock.
4 And again, The
stone which the builders rejected hath become the head of the corner. And again
he saith, This is the day, great and wonderful, which the Lord hath made.
5 I write unto you
the more simply that ye may understand. I am the offscouring of your love.
6 What then saith
the prophet again? The synagogue of the wicked came around me; they
surrounded me as bees do an honey-comb, and, over my garment they cast
lots.
7 Since,
therefore, he was about to be made manifest and to suffer in the flesh, his
suffering was showed beforehand. For the prophet saith unto
8 And what saith
the other prophet, even Moses, unto them? Behold, thus saith the Lord God:
Enter into the good land which the Lord sware unto Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,
and inherit it, even a land flowing with milk and honey.
9 What saith the
knowledge? Learn ye. Hope, it saith, upon Jesus, who is about to be manifested
unto you in the flesh. For man is but earth which suffers; for, from the face
of the ground was made the moulding of Adam.
10 What then
meaneth he when he saith, Into the good land which floweth with milk and honey?
Blessed be the Lord, brethren, who hath put into you wisdom and knowledge of
his secret things. For the prophet speaketh a parable from the Lord. Who shall
understand, except he that is wise and skilful and that loveth his Lord?
11 Since,
therefore, having renewed us by the remission of our sins, he hath made us of a
new character, he willeth that we should have the souls of children, inasmuch
as it is indeed he who hath formed us anew.
12 For the
scripture saith concerning us, that he saith unto the Son, Let us make man
after our own image and according to our likeness; and let them rule over the
beasts of the earth, and the fowls of heaven, and the fishes of the sea. And
the Lord said, when he saw how excellent our form was, Increase and multiply
and replenish the earth. These things he saith unto the Son.
13 Again I will
show unto thee how the Lord speaketh unto us, since he hath made a second fashioning
in these last days; the Lord saith, Behold I make the last even as the first.
For to this purpose did the prophet preach. Enter ye into the land flowing with
milk and honey, and have dominion over it.
14 Behold now we
have been formed again, even as he saith again in another prophet: Behold,
saith the Lord, I will take out from these, that is out of those whom the
Spirit of the Lord foresaw, the hearts of stone, and will put into them hearts
of flesh, because he himself was about to be manifested in the flesh and to
dwell among us.
15 For the
habitation of our heart is a temple holy unto the Lord.
16 For the Lord
saith again, Whereby shall I appear before the Lord my God and be glorified? He
saith too, I will give thanks unto thee in the assembly, in the midst of my
brethren; I will sing unto thee in the midst of the assembly of the saints. We
are, therefore, those whom he brought into the good land.
17 What, then,
meaneth the milk and honey? It is because a child is kept alive, first with
honey, afterwards with milk. So we, too, being quickened by faith in his
promise and by his word, shall live and rule over the earth.
18 And we said
previously, And let them increase and multiply and rule over the fish. Who then
is he who is able to rule over the beasts, the fish, and fowls of heaven? For
we ought to perceive that to rule belongeth to authority, so that a man by
giving commands may exercise lordship.
19 If, therefore,
this doth not take place now, he hath told us when it will; even when we ourselves
have been made perfect, so that we become heirs of the covenant of the Lord.
Barnabas 7
1 Ye perceive,
therefore, beloved children, that our good Lord hath manifested unto us all
things beforehand, to the end that we should know whom we ought to praise,
returning thanks for all things.
2 If, therefore,
the Son of God, being he who is the Lord and who is about to judge the quick
and the dead, suffered, to the end that his stripes might make us live, let us
believe that the Son of God could not suffer except on our account.
3 But being
crucified, he was given to drink of vinegar and gall. How, then, did the
priests of the temple signify concerning this? Now, the commandment is written
in this wise: Whosoever shall not fast on the fast, he shall die the death, the
Lord hath commanded it. Since he also was about to offer the vessel that
contained his spirit as a sacrifice, in order that the type might be fulfilled
which was given by the offering of Isaac at the altar,
4 what saith he in
the book of the prophet? And let them eat of the goat which is offered on the
fast for the sins of all. Attend ye diligently thereto. And let the priests
alone eat of the unwashed entrails with vinegar.
5 With what
signification? Because ye will one day give me to drink of vinegar and gall,
when I am about to offer up my flesh for my new people, eat ye it alone,
while the people fast and lament in sackcloth and ashes. He commanded this in
order that he might show that he must needs suffer at their hands.
6 How, then, did
he give his commands? Attend ye. Take ye two goats, fair and like each other,
and offer them up. And let the priest take one of them as a whole burnt
offering for sin.
7 But what shall
they do with the other? Let the other, he saith, be accursed. Now attend ye,
how the type of Jesus is made manifest.
8 And do ye all
spit upon it and pierce it, and put scarlet wool around its head, and so let it
be cast out into the wilderness. And when this hath been done, he who beareth
the goat leadeth it out into the wilderness, and taketh away the wool and
placeth it upon a bush, which is called rachel, the shoots of which we are
accustomed to eat when we find them in the fields. Thus the fruit of the rachel
only is sweet.
9 What, therefore,
meaneth this? Attend ye. One is brought to the altar, the other is accursed,
and the accursed one is crowned, because they shall see him in that day, who
had the scarlet robe about his flesh, and they shall say, Is not this he whom
once we set at naught and crucified, and spat upon and pierced? Truly this was
he who at that time said that he was the Son of God.
10 How then was
the one like to the other? In this respect were the goats like him: they were
fair and equal, so that when they saw him coming they were astonished at the
likeness to the goat. Therefore, behold here the type of Jesus, who was about
to suffer.
11 And what
meaneth the wool placed in the midst of thorns? It is a type of Jesus, which
hath been placed in the church. For he who wisheth to take the scarlet wool
must suffer many things, because the thorn is terrible, and must after
tribulation gain possession of it. So he saith, They who wish to see me and to
take hold of my kingdom must through trouble and suffering receive me.
Barnabas 8
1 And what type,
think ye, was the commandment unto Israel, that the men in whom sin had been
accomplished should offer a heifer, and after they had slaughtered it should
burn it, and that children should then take the ashes and cast them into vessels,
and place scarlet wool and hyssop around a stick – behold, again, the type of
the cross and the scarlet wool – and so the children should sprinkle the people
one by one, that they might be purged from their sins?
2 Behold,
therefore, in what way he speaketh unto you with simplicity. The heifer
signifieth Jesus; the sinful men who offer it are the men who brought him unto
the slaughter. But now the men are no longer before us, no longer doth the
glory belong to sinners.
3 The children who
sprinkled are they who brought us the good news of the forgiveness of sins and
purification of heart, to whom he hath given the authority of the gospel for
the purpose of preaching, being twelve in number, for a testimony unto the
tribes, for twelve were the tribes of
4 And why, then,
were the children who sprinkled three in number? For a testimony unto Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, because these are great before God.
5 And what
signifieth the wool upon the stick? Because the
6 And why are
there at the same time the wool and the hyssop? Because in his kingdom the days
in which we shall be saved shall be evil and filthy, because also he that
grieveth his flesh is healed through the purifying of the hyssop.
7 And these things
having happened on this account are manifest unto us, but obscure unto
them, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
Barnabas 9
1 He saith also
again concerning our ears how he hath circumcised our heart. The Lord saith in
the prophet, They have hearkened unto me with the hearing of their ears; and
again, he saith, They that are far off shall hear with their ears; they
shall know what I have done; and be ye circumcised, saith the Lord, in your
heart;
2 and again, Hear,
O Israel, for thus saith the Lord thy God; and again the Spirit of the Lord
prophesied, Who is he that wisheth to live for ever? let him hearken unto
the voice of my Son.
3 And again he
saith, Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken these
things for a testimony. And again he saith, Hearken unto the voice of the Lord,
ye rulers of this people. And again he saith, Hearken ye children unto the
voice of one crying in the wilderness.
4 To this end,
therefore, hath he circumcised our hearing, that when we hear his word, we
should believe; for the circumcision in which they trust is done away with. For
he hath said that circumcision is not that which was made in the flesh; but
they have transgressed, for an evil angel hath deluded them.
5 He saith unto
them, These things saith the Lord your God – here I find a new commandment –
Sow not among thorns, but be ye circumcised unto your Lord. And what saith he?
Circumcise the hardness of your hearts, and harden not your neck. And again,
Behold, saith the Lord, all the Gentiles are uncircumcised in their foreskin,
but this people is uncircumcised in their hearts.
6 But he will say,
Of a truth the people have been circumcised for a seal unto them; but so, also,
hath every Syrian and Arabian, and all the priests of idols. Do they also
belong to the covenant? But the Egyptians also are in circumcision.
7 Learn,
therefore, children of love, richly concerning all things, that Abraham, who
first gave circumcision, circumcised, looking forward in the spirit unto Jesus,
having received the doctrines of the three letters.
8 For he saith,
And Abraham circumcised out of his household eighteen and three hundred. What,
then, as the knowledge that was given by this? Learn ye, that he mentioneth the
eighteen first, and then, having made an interval, he mentioneth the three
hundred. In the eighteen, IH*, you have Jesus; and because the cross in the
letter T was about to convey the grace of redemption, he mentioneth also the
three hundred. Therefore, he showeth Jesus in the two letters, IH, and the
cross in the one, T.
*That is, Iota (I) and Eta (H)
9 He knoweth this
who hath placed the engrafted gift of his teaching in us. No one hath had from
me a more true account than this; but I know that ye are worthy.
Barnabas 10
1 But in that
Moses said, Thou shalt not eat the swine, nor the eagle, nor the hawk, nor the
crow, nor any fish that hath not scales in itself, he had in his mind three
doctrines.
2 For in the end
he saith unto them in Deuteronomy, And I will arrange before this people my
ordinances. The commandment of God is not, therefore, that they should not eat;
but Moses spake in a spiritual sense.
3 He spake of the
swine with this meaning: Thou shalt not cleave, he meaneth, unto men of this
sort, who are like unto swine, for when they become wanton they forget their
Lord, but when they are in want they think upon the Lord; even as the swine
when it eateth knoweth not its lord, but when it is hungry it crieth, and when
it hath received it is again silent.
4 Nor shalt thou
eat of the eagle, nor of the hawk, nor of the kite, nor of the crow. Thou shalt
not, he meaneth, cleave to, nor be like to men of this sort, who know not how to
provide sustenance for themselves by labour and sweat, but in their iniquity
seize the property of others, and, as though they walked in innocence, watch
and observe whom they shall plunder, through their covetousness; even as these
birds alone provide not sustenance for themselves by means of toil, but,
sitting idle, seek out how they may eat the flesh of others, being destructive
by reason of their wickedness.
5 And thou shalt
not eat, he saith, of the lamprey, or the polypus, or the cuttle-fish. Thou
shalt not, he meaneth, cleave to or become like unto men of this sort, who are
impious unto the end, and have been already condemned to death, even as these
accursed fish alone swim in the depth, not floating as the others do, but
dwelling in the earth below the depth of the sea.
6 Thus, he saith,
Thou shalt not eat the hare, meaning thou shalt not indulge in unnatural lusts;
7 nor shalt thou
eat the hyaena, meaning thou shalt not be an adulterer;
8 nor shalt thou
eat the weazel, meaning thou shalt not do uncleanness with thy mouth concerning
food;
9 therefore Moses
spake in the spirit these three doctrines. But they, according to the lusts of
their flesh, received them as being about meat.
10 And David
receiveth knowledge concerning the same three doctrines, and saith in like
manner, Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,
even as the fish walk in darkness into the depths of the sea, and hath not
stood in the way of sinners, even as they who pretend to fear the Lord sin as
doth the swine, and hath not sat in the seat of the destroyers, even as the
birds that sit for prey. Ye have also in the end a commandment concerning
food;
11 but Moses said,
Eat ye everything that is cloven-footed and that cheweth the cud. What meaneth
he? He that taketh food knoweth him that feedeth him, and, resting upon him,
seemeth to be glad. He therefore saith well, having regard to the commandment.
What then meaneth he? Cleave ye unto them that fear the Lord, who walk in his
commandments, which they have received in their hearts; unto them that speak of
the ordinances of the Lord, and observe them, unto them who know that the
practice of them is a work of gladness, and who meditate on the word of the
Lord. But what meaneth that which cleaveth the hoof? It meaneth that the just
walketh even in this world, and expecteth the holy life. Behold how well
Moses hath made these laws;
12 but how was it
possible for them to perceive or understand these things? But we, having
rightly understood the commandments, speak them even as the Lord hath willed.
On this account hath he circumcised our ears and hearts, that we should
understand these things.
Barnabas 11
1 Let us inquire,
therefore, if the Lord cared to show us beforehand concerning the water
and concerning the cross. Concerning the water it is written, with
respect to
2 The prophet
therefore speaketh in this wise, Be astonished, O heaven! and let the earth be
afraid still more at this, because this people hath done two great and evil
things: they have abandoned me who am the fountain of life, and have dug for
themselves broken cisterns.
3 Is my holy
4 And again the
prophet saith, I will go before thee and will lay low the mountains. And I will
break the doors of brass and burst the bars of iron; and I will give unto thee
the treasures of darkness hidden and unseen, that they may know that I am the
Lord God; and, He shall dwell in the lofty cave of the strong rock.
5 Then what saith
he of the Son? His water is faithful. Ye shall behold the king in his glory,
and your soul shall practise the fear of the Lord.
6 And again, in
another prophet, he saith, He that doeth these things shall be as a tree that
groweth beside the watercourses, which giveth his fruit in his season; and his
leaf shall not fall off, and whatever he doeth shall prosper.
7 Not so are the
ungodly, not so; they are like the dust which the wind carrieth away from the
face of the earth, wherefore the ungodly shall not rise up in judgment, nor
sinners in the congregation of the just: for the Lord knoweth the way of the
just, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
8 Ye perceive how
he hath put together the water and the cross. For what he meaneth is this,
Blessed are they who having hoped on the cross have gone down into the water.
For he speaketh of a reward to be given at the due season; then, saith he, I
will render what is due unto you. But now in that he saith, Their leaves shall
not fall off, he meaneth this, That every word that goeth out from your mouth
in faith and love shall be for a refuge and a hope unto many.
9 And again
another prophet saith, And the
10 And what sayeth
he afterwards? There was a river flowing on the right, and there grew up on its
banks fair trees, and whosoever eateth of them shall live for ever.
11 By this he
meaneth that we go down into the water full of sin and pollution, and go up
bearing fruit in the heart, having in the spirit fear and hope toward Jesus.
And whoever shall eat of them shall live for ever. He meaneth this, Whoever, he
saith, shall hear these words spoken and believe them shall live for ever.
Barnabas 12
1 In like manner
again he signifieth concerning the cross in another prophet, who saith, And
when shall these things be fulfilled? The Lord saith, When the tree hath been
bent and shall rise up again, and when blood shall flow from the tree. You have
again a prophecy concerning the cross and about him who is about to be
crucified.
2 And he saith
again in Moses, when Israel was being made war upon by aliens, even that he
might remind them while they were being made war upon, that for their sins they
were being delivered over unto death, the Spirit saith unto the heart of Moses,
that he should make the form of a cross, and of him who was about to suffer,
for if, he says, they shall not hope upon him, they will be made war upon for
ever. Moses, therefore, arranges weapon against weapon in the midst of the battle,
and standing higher than all, stretched out his hands, and so again
3 Wherefore? that
they might know that they are not to be saved except they hope upon him.
4 And again, in
another prophet, he saith, All day long have I stretched out my hands unto a
people who are disobedient, and who speak against my righteous way.
5 Again, Moses
maketh another type of Jesus, that it behoveth that he should suffer, and cause
others to live, whom they thought that they had destroyed in figure when Israel
was falling: For the Lord made every kind of serpent to bite them, and they
died, since the transgression happened to Eve by means of the serpent, to the
end that he might convince them that through their transgression they should be
given over to the pangs of death.
6 For in the end
Moses himself, after that he had given commandment, There shall not be among
you a molten image or a graven image for a god, maketh one himself, that he might
show a type of Jesus. Moses, therefore, maketh a brazen serpent, and setteth it
aloft, and calleth the people by a proclamation.
7 When, therefore,
they had come together they besought Moses, that he should offer supplication
for them concerning their healing. Moses therefore said unto them, When any of
you is bitten let him come unto the dead serpent, that is placed upon the
tree, and let him believe and hope that, though it is dead, it is able to make
him live, and immediately he shall be saved; and so did they. You have,
therefore, again in these things also, the glory of Jesus, that in him
and to him are all things.
8 What again saith
Moses unto Jesus the son of Nun, after he had given this name to him, being a
prophet, to this end alone, that all the people might hear that the Father
revealeth all things concerning the Son, Jesus?
9 Moses therefore
saith unto Jesus the son of Nun, having given him this name, when he sent him
to spy out the land, Take the book into thy hands and write what the Lord
saith, even that the Son of God, in the last days, will cut off the whole house
of Amalek from the roots.
10 Behold,
therefore, again Jesus, not the son of man but the Son of God, and by a type
made manifest in the flesh. Since, therefore, they should one day say that
Christ is the son of David, David himself prophesieth, being in fear and
understanding the deceitfulness of sinners, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on
my right hand until I make thy enemies thy footstool.
11 And again
Esaias speaketh in this wise, The Lord said unto Christ, my Lord, whose right
hand I have held, that the Gentiles should hearken before him, and I will break
the strength of kings. Behold how David calleth him Lord, and doth not
call him son.
Barnabas 13
1 Let us inquire,
therefore, whether this people or the first people inheriteth, and whether the
covenant is unto us or unto them.
2 Hear, now, what
the scripture saith concerning the people. But Isaac prayed for Rebecca his
wife because she was barren, and she conceived. Then went forth Rebecca to
inquire of the Lord, and the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb,
and two peoples are in thy bowels, and the one people shall surpass the other,
and the elder shall serve the younger.
3 We ought to
understand who was Isaac and who was Rebecca, and concerning whom he declared
that the one people was greater than the other.
4 And in another
prophecy Jacob speaketh yet more clearly to Joseph his son, saying, Behold the
Lord hath not deprived me of thy face; bring unto me thy sons, that I may bless
them.
5 And he brought
unto him Ephraim and Manasseh, wishing that he should bless Manasseh, because
he was the elder. Joseph, therefore, brought him to the right hand of his
father Jacob. But Jacob saw in spirit a figure of the people that should be
hereafter. And what saith the Scriptures? And Jacob crossed his hands, and
placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the second and youngest, and
blessed him. And Joseph said unto Jacob, Change thy right hand unto the head of
Manasseh, because he is my firstborn son. And Jacob said unto Joseph, I know,
my child, I know; but the elder shall serve the younger; but this one also
shall be blessed.
6 Behold in what
way he appointed that this people should be the first and heir of the covenant.
7 If, therefore,
it were moreover mentioned through Abraham also, we have the perfecting of our
knowledge. What, therefore, saith he unto Abraham, when he alone believed, and
it was counted unto him for righteousness? Behold I have made thee,
Abraham, a father of the nations who in uncircumcision believe in the Lord.
Barnabas 14
1 Yea; but let us
inquire whether he hath given the covenant that he swear unto the fathers that
he would give unto the people. Verily he hath given it; but they were not
worthy to receive it on account of their sins.
2 For the prophet
saith, And Moses was fasting in
3 And the Lord
said unto Moses, Moses, Moses, get thee down quickly, for thy people, whom thou
broughtest out of the
4 Moses indeed
received them, but the people were not worthy. Hearken ye, therefore, how we
have received them. Moses received them being a servant, but the Lord himself
gave unto us to be a people of inheritance, having suffered for our sake.
5 And he was made
manifest, that both they might be made perfect in their sins, and that we,
through him that inherited, might receive the covenant of the Lord Jesus, who,
for this purpose was prepared, that by appearing himself and redeeming from
darkness our hearts, which were already lavished on death, and given over to
the iniquity of deceit, he might place in us the covenant of his people.
6 For it is
written how the Father giveth commandment unto him, that having redeemed us
from darkness, he should prepare for himself a holy people.
7 Therefore the
prophet saith, I, the Lord thy God, have called thee in righteousness, and I
will hold thy hand and make thee strong; and I have given thee for a covenant
to the nation, for a light unto the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind,
and to bring out of chains them that are bound, and from the house of prison
them that sit in darkness. We know from whence we were redeemed.
8 And again, the
prophet saith, Behold, I have placed thee for a light unto the Gentiles, that
thou shouldst be for a salvation even unto the end of the earth; thus saith the
Lord God who hath redeemed thee.
9 And again, the
prophet saith, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me
to preach the gospel unto the poor, he hath sent me to heal those that are
broken in heart, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovery of
sight to the blind, to tell of the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of
recompense, to comfort all that mourn.
Barnabas 15
1 And, moreover,
concerning the sabbath it is written in the ten commandments, in which he spake
on
2 And in another place
he saith, If my sons shall keep my sabbath, then will I place my mercy
upon them.
3 He speaketh,
too, of the sabbath in the beginning of the creation: And God made in six days
the works of his hands, and finished them on the seventh day, and rested in it
and sanctified it.
4 Consider, my
children, what signify the words, He finished them in six days. They mean this:
that in six thousand years the Lord will make an end of all things, for a day
is with him as a thousand years. And he himself beareth witness unto me,
saying: Behold this day a day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, my
children, in six days, that is in six thousand years, shall all things be
brought to an end.
5 And the words,
He rested on the seventh day, signify this: After that his Son hath come, and
hath caused to cease the time of the wicked one, and hath judged the ungodly,
and changed the sun and the moon and the stars, then shall he rest well on the
seventh day.
6 And further he
saith, Thou shalt sanctify it with pure hands and a pure heart. Who, therefore,
can sanctify the day which the Lord hath sanctified, unless he be pure of
heart? in all things have we been deceived.
7 Behold, that
then indeed we shall be able to rest well and sanctify; even when we ourselves,
having been justified, and having received the promise, when iniquity exists no
longer, but all things have been made new by the Lord, we shall then be able to
sanctify it, having been first sanctified ourselves.
8 And, further, he
saith unto them, Your new moons and your sabbaths I cannot endure. See, now,
what he meaneth. The sabbaths, that now are, are not acceptable unto me, but
that which I have made is, even that in which, after that I have brought all
things to an end, I shall make a beginning of the eighth day, which thing is
the beginning of another world.
9 Wherefore we
keep the eighth day as a day of gladness, on which also Jesus rose from the
dead, and after he had appeared ascended unto heaven.
Barnabas 16
1 And I will,
moreover, tell you concerning the temple, how these wretched men, being
deceived, placed their hopes in the building as if it were the habitation of
God, and not on the God who hath made them.
2 For almost after
the manner of the Gentiles did they consecrate him in the temple. But what
saith the Lord, making it of none effect? Hearken ye: Who hath measured out the
heaven with his palm, or the earth with the flat of his hand, is it not I?
saith the Lord. Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool of my feet. What
house will ye build for me, or what shall be the place of my rest? Ye have
known that their hope was vain.
3 And, yet
further, he saith again, Behold they that have destroyed this temple shall
rebuild it.
4 And so doth it
happen, for through their war it has been destroyed by the enemy, and now both
they themselves and the servants of their enemies shall rebuild it.
5 And again it was
made manifest how the temple and the people of
6 Let us inquire,
therefore, whether there be any
7 I find,
therefore, that there is a temple; how then shall it be built in the name of
the Lord? Learn ye. Before that we believed in God the habitation of our heart
was corrupt and feeble, as being of a truth a temple built by hands. For it was
full of idolatry, and was a habitation of devils, because we did such things as
were contrary to God;
8 but it shall be
built in the name of the Lord. Attend ye: that the temple of the Lord may be
built gloriously. But in what manner? Learn ye: having received the remission
of our sins, and having hoped upon the name of the Lord, we have become new,
having been again created entirely. Wherefore God of a truth dwelleth in us as
in an habitation.
9 How? The word of
his faith, the calling of his promise, the wisdom of his ordinances, the commandments
of his doctrine, he himself prophesying in us, he himself dwelling in us. To
us, who were enslaved by death, he openeth the gate of the temple, which is his
mouth, and, giving us repentance, leadeth us into the temple incorruptible.
10 For he who
desireth to be saved looketh not unto the man, but unto him that dwelleth in
him and speaketh in him, wondering that he had never before heard him speaking
such words out of his mouth, or even desired to hear. This is the spiritual
temple built by the Lord.
Barnabas 17
1 So far as it is
possible for me to show you these things with simplicity, my mind and soul
hopeth that I have not omitted any of the things that pertain unto salvation;
2 for if I write
unto you concerning the things that are at hand, or the things that will be
hereafter, ye would not be able to understand them, because they are couched in
parables. These things, therefore, are thus.
Barnabas 18
1 Let us pass on
now to another kind of knowledge and instruction. There are two paths of
instruction and authority – the one that of light, and the other that of
darkness. But there is a great difference between the two paths. For over the
one are appointed as illuminators the angels of God, over the other the angels
of Satan;
2 on the one side
is he who is Lord from everlasting to everlasting, on the other is the ruler of
the world that now lieth in wickedness.
Barnabas 19
1 Now, the path of
life is this: If any one wishes to travel to the appointed place, let him hasten
by means of his works. Now, the knowledge of walking in it that is given unto
us is of this kind:
2 Thou shalt love
him that made thee, thou shalt fear him that formed thee, thou shalt glorify
him that redeemed thee from death. Thou shalt be simple in heart, and rich in
spirit; thou shalt not cleave unto them that go in the path of death. Thou
shalt hate whatever is not pleasing unto God; thou shalt hate all hypocrisy;
thou shalt not abandon the commandments of the Lord;
3 thou shalt not
exalt thyself; thou shalt be humble in all things; thou shalt not take glory
unto thyself; thou shalt not take evil counsel against thy neighbour; thou
shalt not take audacity into thy soul.
4 Thou shalt not
commit fornication, thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not pollute
thyself with mankind: let not the word of God go forth from thee in corruption.
Thou shalt not accept the person of any to reprove any man for transgression.
Thou shalt be gentle, thou shalt be quiet; thou shalt tremble at the words that
thou hast heard; thou shalt not bear malice against thy brother;
5 thou shalt not
doubt whether a thing shall be or not; thou shalt not take the name of the Lord
in vain. Thou shalt love thy neighbour beyond thine own soul; thou shalt not
kill a child by abortion, neither shalt thou destroy it after it is born. Thou
shalt not remove thy hand from thy son or thy daughter, but shalt teach them
from their youth the fear of the Lord.
6 Thou shalt not
covet thy neighbour's goods; thou shalt not be an extortioner; thou shalt not
cleave with thy soul unto the proud, but thou shalt have thy conversation with
the lowly and the just. Receive as blessings the troubles that come unto thee,
knowing that without God nothing happens.
7 Thou shalt not
be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is the snare of
death. Thou shalt submit thyself to thy masters as to the image of God, with
shame and fear. Thou shalt not give commands with bitterness to thy servant and
thy handmaid, who hope in the same God as thou dost, lest, perchance, thou
cease to fear God, who is over both. For he came not to call men with respect
of persons, but to call those whom the Spirit had prepared.
8 Thou shalt
communicate in all things with thy neighbour, and shalt not say that things are
thine own. For if ye be partners in that which is incorruptible, how much more
in the things that are corruptible? Thou shalt not be hasty of speech, for the
mouth is a snare of death. As far as thou art able, thou shalt be pure
concerning thy soul.
9 Be not a
stretcher forth of thy hand in receiving, and a drawer back of it in giving.
Thou shalt love, as the apple of thine eye, every one that speaketh unto thee
the word of the Lord.
10 Thou shalt
remember the day of judgment by night and by day; and thou shalt seek out every
day the persons of the saints.
11 Thou shalt not
doubt to give, nor shalt thou murmur in giving. Give to every one that asketh
thee, and thou shalt know who is the good recompenser of the reward. Thou shalt
take care of that which thou hast received, neither adding thereto, nor taking
therefrom. Thou shalt hate the evil man unto the end, and shalt judge justly.
12 Thou shalt not
make a schism, but shalt make peace by bringing adversaries together. Thou
shalt make confession of thy sins. Thou shalt not go unto prayer with an evil
conscience. This is the way of life, either labouring by means of the word and
proceeding to exhort, and practising to save the soul by the word, or thou
shalt work by thy hands for the redemption of thy sins.
Barnabas 20
1 But the path of
darkness is crooked and full of cursing, for it is the path of eternal death
and punishment, in which way are the things that destroy the soul. Idolatry,
boldness, the pride of power, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, adultery, murder,
rape, haughtiness, transgression, deceit, malice, self-will, witchcraft,
sorcery, covetousness, want of the fear of God.
2 Here are they
who are persecutors of the good, haters of truth, lovers of lies; they who know
not the reward of righteousness, who cleave not to what is good nor unto just
judgment; who attend not to the widow and the orphan; who are awake not unto
the fear of God, but unto evil; from whom meekness and patience are afar off;
who love the things that are vain, who follow after recompense, who pity not
the poor, who labour not for him who is in trouble; who are prompt to
evil-speaking, who know not him that made them; murderers of children,
corruptors of the image of God; who turn away from the poor man and oppress the
afflicted; advocates of the rich, unjust judges of the poor, sinners in all
things.
Barnabas 21
1 It is therefore
right that he who has learned the ordinances of the Lord, even as many as have
been written beforehand, should walk in them. For he who doeth these things
shall be glorified in the kingdom of God, but he who chooseth the contrary
things shall perish together with his works. On this account is the
resurrection; on this account is the retribution.
2 I ask those who
are of high estate among you, if ye will receive any friendly advice from me,
keep those with you toward whom ye may do what is honourable. Fail not in so
doing.
3 The day is at
hand in which everything shall perish together with the evil one; the Lord is
nigh at hand, and his reward also.
4 Again and again
do I ask you, be ye good lawgivers over yourselves, be ye good advisers of
yourselves. Abide faithful counsellors of one another; take out of the midst of
you all hypocrisy,
5 and may God, who
ruleth the whole world, give you wisdom, understanding, science, knowledge of
his ordinances, and patience.
6 And be ye taught
of God, inquiring what the Lord seeketh of you, and so work that ye may be
found saved in the day of judgment.
7 But if there is
any memory of that which is good, remember me while ye practise these things,
that both your desire and your watching may turn unto some good.
8 I beseech you
this, asking it as a favour. So long as the good vessel is with you, fail not
in any of these things, but seek them out without ceasing, and fulfil all the
commandments, for these things are worthy.
9 Therefore I have
been the more anxious to write unto you, so far as I was able, to the end that
I might make you glad. Farewell, children of love and peace; the God of glory and
of all grace be with your spirit. Amen.