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Epistle of
Barnabas
Translated by J.B. Lightfoot. Adapt. and mod. (c)
1990. ATHENA DATA PRODUCTS
Barnabas 1:1
I Bid you greeting, sons and daughters, in the name of the Lord that loved us,
in peace.
Barnabas 1:2
Seeing that the ordinances of God are great and rich unto you, I rejoice with
an exceeding great and overflowing joy at your blessed and glorious spirits; so
innate is the grace of the spiritual gift that ye have received.
Barnabas 1:3
Wherefore also I the more congratulate myself hoping to be saved, for that I
truly see the Spirit poured out among you from the riches of the fount of the
Lord. So greatly did the much-desired sight of you astonish me respecting you.
Barnabas 1:4
Being therefore persuaded of this, and being conscious with myself that having
said much among you I know that the Lord journeyed with me on the way of
righteousness, and am wholly constrained also myself to this, to love you more
than my own soul (for great faith and love dwelleth in you through the hope of
the life which is His)--considering this therefore, that,
Barnabas 1:5
if it shall be my care to communicate to you some portion of that which I
received, it shall turn to my reward for having ministered to such spirits, I
was eager to send you a trifle, that along with your faith ye might have your
knowledge also perfect.
Barnabas 1:6
Well then, there are three ordinances of the Lord; *the hope of life, which is
the beginning and end of our faith; and righteousness, which is the beginning
and end of judgment; love shown in gladness and exultation, the testimony of
works of righteousness.*
Barnabas 1:7
For the Lord made known to us by His prophets things past and present, giving
us likewise the firstfruits of the taste of things future. And seeing each of
these things severally coming to pass, according as He spake, we ought to offer
a richer and higher offering to the fear of Him. But I, not as though I were a
teacher, but as one of yourselves, will show forth a few things, whereby ye
shall be gladdened in the present circumstances.
Barnabas 2:1
Seeing then that the days are evil, and that the Active One himself has the
authority, we ought to give heed to ourselves and to seek out the ordinances of
the Lord.
Barnabas 2:2
The aids of our faith then are fear and patience, and our allies are
long-suffering and self-restraint.
Barnabas 2:3
While these abide in a pure spirit in matters relating to the Lord, wisdom,
understanding, science, knowledge rejoice with them.
Barnabas 2:4
For He hath made manifest to us by all the prophets that He wanteth neither
sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings nor oblations, saying at one time;
Barnabas 2:5
What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices, saith the Lord I am full of
whole burnt-offerings, and the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and of goats
desire not, not though ye should come to be seen of Me. or who required these
things at your hands? Ye shall continue no more to tread My court. If ye bring
fine flour, it is in vain; incense is an abomination to Me; your new moons and
your Sabbaths I cannot away with.
Barnabas 2:6
These things therefore He annulled, that the new law of our Lord Jesus Christ,
being free from the yoke of constraint, might have its oblation not made by
human hands.
Barnabas 2:7
And He saith again unto them; Did command your fathers when they went forth from
the land of Egypt to bring Me whole burnt offerings and sacrifices?
Barnabas 2:8
Nay, this was My command unto them, Let none of you bear a grudge of evil
against his neighbor in his heart, and love you not a false oath.
Barnabas 2:9
So we ought to perceive, unless we are without understanding, the mind of the
goodness of our Father; for He speaketh to us, desiring us not to go astray
like them but to seek how we may approach Him.
Barnabas 2:10 Thus then speaketh He to us; The sacrifice
unto God is a broken heart, the smell of a sweet savor unto the Lord is a heart
that glorifies its Maker. We ought therefore, brethren, to learn accurately
concerning our salvation, lest the Evil One having effected an entrance of
error in us should fling us away from our life.
Barnabas 3:1
He speaketh again therefore to them concerning these things; Wherefore fast ye
for Me, saith the Lord, so that your voice is heard this day crying aloud? This
is not the fast which have chosen, saith the Lord; not a man abasing his soul;
Barnabas 3:2
not though ye should bend your neck as a hoop, and put on sackcloth and make
your bed of ashes, not even so shall ye call a fast that is acceptable.
Barnabas 3:3
But unto us He saith; Behold, this is the fast which I have chosen, saith the
Lord; loosen every band of wickedness, untie the tightened cords of forcible
contracts, send away the broken ones released and tear in pieces every unjust
bond. Break thy bread to the hungry, and if thou seest one naked clothe him;
bring the shelterless into thy house, and if thou seest a humble man, thou
shalt not despise him, neither shall any one of thy household and of thine own
seed.
Barnabas 3:4
Then shall thy light break forth in the morning, and thy healing shall arise
quickly, and righteousness shall go forth before thy face, and the glory of God
shall environ thee.
Barnabas 3:5
Then shalt thou cry out and God shall hear thee; while thou art still speaking,
He shall say 'Lo, I am here'; if thou shalt take away from thee the yoke and
the stretching forth of the finger and the word of murmuring, and shalt give
thy bread to the hungry heartily, and shalt pity the abased soul.
Barnabas 3:6
To this end therefore, my brethren, He that is long-suffering, foreseeing that
the people whom He had prepared in His well-beloved would believe in
simplicity, manifested to us beforehand concerning all things, that we might
not as novices shipwreck ourselves upon their law.
Barnabas 4:1
It behooves us therefore to investigate deeply concerning the present, and to
search out the things which have power to save us. Let us therefore flee
altogether from all the works of lawlessness, lest the works of lawlessness
overpower us; and let us loathe the error of the present time, that we may be
loved for that which is to come.
Barnabas 4:2
Let us give no relaxation to our soul that it should have liberty to consort
with sinners and wicked men, lest haply we be made like unto them.
Barnabas 4:3
The last offence is at hand, concerning which the scripture speaketh, as Enoch
saith. For to this end the Master hath cut the seasons and the days short, that
His beloved might hasten and come to His inheritance.
Barnabas 4:4
And the prophet also speaketh on this wise; Ten reigns shall reign upon the
earth, and after them shall arise another king, who shall bring low three of
the kings under one.
Barnabas 4:5
In like manner Daniel speaketh concerning the same; And I saw the forth beast
to be wicked and strong and more intractable than all the beasts of the earth,
and how there arose from him ten horns, and from these a little horn and
excrescence, and how that it abased under one three of the great horns.
Barnabas 4:6
Ye ought therefore to understand. Moreover I ask you this one thing besides, as
being one of yourselves and loving you all in particular more than my own soul,
to give heed to yourselves now, and not to liken yourselves to certain persons
who pile up sin upon sin, saying that our covenant remains to them also.
Barnabas 4:7
Ours it is; but they lost it in this way for ever, when Moses had just received
it. For the scripture saith; And Moses was in the mountain fasting forty days
and forty nights, and he received the covenant from the Lord, even tablets of
stone written with the finger of the hand of the Lord.
Barnabas 4:8
But they lost it by turning unto idols. For thus saith the Lord; Moses, Moses,
come down quickly; for thy people whom thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt
hath done unlawfully. And Moses understood, and threw the two tables from his
hands; and their covenant was broken in pieces, that the covenant of the
beloved Jesus might be sealed unto our hearts in the hope which springeth from
faith in Him.
Barnabas 4:9
But though I would fain write many things, not as a teacher, but as becometh
one who loveth you not to fall short of that which we possess, I was anxious to
write to you, being your devoted slave. Wherefore let us take heed in these
last days. For the whole time of our faith shall profit us nothing, unless we
now, in the season of lawlessness and in the offenses that shall be, as
becometh sons of God, offer resistance, that the Black One may not effect an
entrance.
Barnabas 4:10 Let us flee from all vanity, let us entirely
hate the works of the evil way. Do not entering in privily stand apart by
yourselves, as if ye were already justified, but assemble yourselves together
and consult concerning the common welfare.
Barnabas 4:11 For the scripture saith; Woe unto them that
are wise for themselves, and understanding in their own sight. Let us become
spiritual, let us become a temple perfect unto God. As far as in us lies, let
us exercise ourselves in the fear of God, [and] let us strive to keep His
commandments, that we may rejoice in His ordinances.
Barnabas 4:12 The Lord judgeth the world without respect of
persons; each man shall receive according to his deeds. If he be good, his
righteousness shall go before him in the way; if he be evil, the recompense of
his evil-doing is before him; lest perchance,
Barnabas 4:13 if we relax as men that are called, we should
slumber over our sins, and the prince of evil receive power against us and
thrust us out from the kingdom of the Lord.
Barnabas 4:14 Moreover understand this also, my brothers.
When ye see that after so many signs and wonders wrought in Israel, even then
they were abandoned, let us give heed, lest haply we be found, as the scripture
saith, many are called but few are chosen.
Barnabas 5:1
For to this end the Lord endured to deliver His flesh unto corruption, that by
the remission of sins we might be cleansed, which cleansing is through the
blood of His sprinkling.
Barnabas 5:2
For the scripture concerning Him containeth some things relating to Israel, and
some things relating to us. And it speaketh thus; He was wounded for your
transgressions, and He hath been bruised for our sins; by His stripes we were
healed. As a sheep He was led to slaughter, as a lamb is dumb before his
shearer.
Barnabas 5:3
We ought therefore to be very thankful unto the Lord, for that He both revealed
unto us the past, and made us wise in the present, and as regards the future we
are not without understanding.
Barnabas 5:4
Now the scripture saith; Not unjustly is the net spread for the birds. He
meaneth this that a man shall justly perish, who having the knowledge of the
way of righteousness forceth himself into the way of darkness.
Barnabas 5:5
There is yet this also, my brethren; if the Lord endured to suffer for our
souls, though He was Lord of the whole world, unto whom God said from the
foundation of the world, Let us make man after our image and likeness, how then
did He endure to suffer at the hand of men?
Barnabas 5:6
Understand ye. The prophets, receiving grace from Him, prophesied concerning
Him. But He Himself endured that He might destroy death and show forth the
resurrection of the dead, for that He must needs be manifested in the flesh;
Barnabas 5:7
that at the same time He might redeem the promise made to the fathers, and by
preparing the new people for Himself might show, while He was on earth, that
having brought about the resurrection He will Himself exercise judgment.
Barnabas 5:8
Yea and further, He preached teaching Israel and performing so many wonders and
miracles, and He loved him exceedingly.
Barnabas 5:9
And when He chose His own apostles who were to proclaim His Gospel, who that He
might show that He came not to call the righteous but sinners were sinners
above every sin, then He manifested Himself to be the Son of God.
Barnabas 5:10 For if He had not come in the flesh neither
would men have looked upon Him and been saved, forasmuch as when they look upon
the sun that shall cease to be, which is the work of His own hands, they cannot
face its rays.
Barnabas 5:11 Therefore the Son of God came in the flesh to
this end, that He might sum up the complete tale of their sins against those
who persecuted and slew His prophets.
Barnabas 5:12 To this end therefore He endured. For God
saith of the wounds of His flesh that they came from them; When they shall
smite their own shepherd, then shall the sheep of the flock be lost.
Barnabas 5:13 But He Himself desired so to suffer; for it
was necessary for Him to suffer on a tree. For he that prophesied said
concerning Him, Spare My soul form the sword; and, Pierce My flesh with nails,
for the congregations of evil-doers have risen up against Me.
Barnabas 5:14 And again He saith; Behold I have given My
back to stripes, and My cheeks to smitings, and My face did I set as a hard
rock.
Barnabas 6:1
When then He gave the commandment, what saith He? Who is he that disputeth with
Me? Let him oppose Me. Or who is he that goeth to law with Me? Let him draw
nigh unto the servant of the Lord,
Barnabas 6:2
Woe unto you, for ye all shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall consume
you. And again the prophet saith, seeing that as a hard stone He was ordained
for crushing; Behold I will put into the fountains of Zion a stone very
precious, elect, a chief corner-stone, honorable.
Barnabas 6:3
Then again what saith He; And whosoever shall set his hope on Him, shall live
forever. Is our hope then set upon a stone? Far be it. But it is because the
Lord hath set His flesh in strength. For He saith; And He set Me as a hard
rock.
Barnabas 6:4
And the prophet saith again; The stone which the builders rejected, this became
the head and the corner. And again He saith; This is the great and wonderful
day, which the Lord made.
Barnabas 6:5
I write to you the more simply, that ye may understand, I who am the
offscouring of your love.
Barnabas 6:6
What then saith the prophet again? The assembly of evildoers gathered around
Me, they surrounded Me as bees surround a comb; and; For My garment they cast a
lot.
Barnabas 6:7
Forasmuch then as He was about to be manifested in the flesh and to suffer, His
suffering was manifested beforehand. For the prophet saith concerning Israel;
Woe unto their soul, for they have counseled evil counsel against themselves
saying, Let us bind the righteous one, for he is unprofitable for us.
Barnabas 6:8
What sayeth the other prophet Moses unto them? Behold, these things saith the
Lord God; enter into the good land which the Lord swear unto Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, and inherit it, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Barnabas 6:9
But what saith knowledge? Understand ye. Set your hope on Him who is about to
be manifested to you in the flesh, even Jesus. For man is earth suffering; for
from the face of the earth came the creation of Adam.
Barnabas 6:10 What then saith He? Into the good land, a land
flowing with milk and honey. Blessed is our Lord, brethren, who established
among us wisdom and understanding of His secret things. For the prophet
speaketh a parable concerning the Lord. Who shall comprehend, save he that is
wise and prudent and that loveth his Lord?
Barnabas 6:11 Forasmuch then as He renewed us in the
remission of sins, He made us to be a new type, so that we should have the soul
of children, as if He were recreating us.
Barnabas 6:12 For the scripture saith concerning us, how He
saith to the Son; Let us make man after our image and after our likeness, and
let them rule over the beasts of the earth and the fowls of the heaven and the
fishes of the sea. And the Lord said when He saw the fair creation of us men;
Increase and multiply and fill the earth. These words refer to the Son.
Barnabas 6:13 Again I will shew thee how the Lord speaketh
concerning us. He made a second creation at the last; and the Lord saith;
Behold I make the last things as the first. In reference to this then the
prophet preached; Enter into a land flowing with milk and honey, and be lords
over it.
Barnabas 6:14 Behold then we have been created anew, as He
saith again in another prophet; Behold, saith the Lord, I will take out from these,
that is to say, from those whom the Spirit of the Lord foresaw, their stony
hearts, and will put into them hearts of flesh; for He Himself was to be
manifested in the flesh and to dwell in us.
Barnabas 6:15 For a holy temple unto the Lord, my brethren,
is the abode of our heart.
Barnabas 6:16 For the Lord saith again; For wherein shall I
appear unto the Lord my God and be glorified? I will make confession unto Thee
in the assembly of my brethren, and I will sing unto Thee in the midst of the
assembly of the saints. We therefore are they whom He brought into the good
land.
Barnabas 6:17 What then is the milk and the honey Because
the child is first kept alive by honey, and then by milk. So in like manner we
also, being kept alive by our faith in the promise and by the word, shall live
and be lords of the earth.
Barnabas 6:18 Now we have already said above; And let them
increase and multiply and rule over the fishes. But who is he that is able
[now] to rule over beasts and fishes and fowls of the heaven; for we ought to
perceive that to rule implieth power, so that one should give orders and have
dominion.
Barnabas 6:19 If then this cometh not to pass now, assuredly
He spake to us for the hereafter, when we ourselves shall be made perfect so
that we may become heirs of the covenant of the Lord.
Barnabas 7:1
Understand therefore, children of gladness, that the good Lord manifested all
things to us beforehand, that we might know to whom we ought in all things to
render thanksgiving and praise.
Barnabas 7:2
If then the Son of God, being Lord and future Judge of quick and dead, suffered
that His wound might give us life, let us believe that the Son of God could not
suffer except for our sakes.
Barnabas 7:3
But moreover when crucified He had vinegar and gall given Him to drink. Hear
how on this matter the priests of the temple have revealed. Seeing that there
is a commandment in scripture, Whatsoever shall not observe the fast shall
surely die, the Lord commanded, because He was in His own person about to offer
the vessel of His Spirit a sacrifice for our sins, that the type also which was
given in Isaac who was offered upon the alter should be fulfilled.
Barnabas 7:4
What then saith He in the prophet? And let them eat of the goat that is offered
at the fast for all their sins. Attend carefully; And let all the priests alone
eat the entrails unwashed with vinegar.
Barnabas 7:5
Wherefore? Since ye are to give Me, who am to offer My flesh for the sins of My
new people, gall with vinegar to drink, eat ye alone, while the people fasteth
and waileth in sackcloth and ashes; that He might shew that He must suffer at
their hands.
Barnabas 7:6
Attend ye to the commandments which He gave. Take two goats, fair and alike,
and offer them, and let the priest take the one for a whole burnt offering for
sins.
Barnabas 7:7
But the other one--what must they do with it? Accursed, saith He, is the one.
Give heed how the type of Jesus is revealed.
Barnabas 7:8
And do ye all spit upon it and goad it, and place scarlet wool about its head,
and so let it be cast into the wilderness. And when it is so done, he that
taketh the goat into the wilderness leadeth it, and taketh off the wool, and
putteth it upon the branch which is called Rachia, the same whereof we are wont
to eat the shoots when we find them in the country. Of this briar alone is the
fruit thus sweet.
Barnabas 7:9
What then meaneth this? Give heed. The one at the alter, and the other
accursed. And moreover the accursed one crowned. For they shall see Him in that
day wearing the long scarlet robe about His flesh, and shall say, Is not this
He, Whom once we crucified and set at nought and spat upon; verily this was He,
Who then said that He was the Son of God.
Barnabas 7:10 For how is He like the goat? For this reason it
says the goats shall be fair and alike, that, when they shall see Him coming
then, they may be astonished at the likeness of the goat. Therefore behold the
type of Jesus that was to suffer.
Barnabas 7:11 But what meaneth it, that they place the wool
in the midst of the thorns? It is a type of Jesus set forth for the Church,
since whosoever should desire to take away the scarlet wool it behoved him to
suffer many things owing to the terrible nature of the thorn, and through
affliction to win the mastery over it. Thus, He saith, they that desire to see
Me, and to attain unto My kingdom, must lay hold on Me through tribulation and
affliction.
Barnabas 8:1
But what think ye meaneth the type, where the commandment is given to Israel
that those men, whose sins are full grown, offer an heifer and slaughter and
burn it, and then that the children take up the ashes, and cast them into
vessels, and twist the scarlet wool on a tree (see here again is the type of
the cross and the scarlet wool), and the hyssop, and that this done the
children should sprinkle the people one by one, that they may be purified from
their sins?
Barnabas 8:2
Understand ye how in all plainness it is spoken unto you; the calf is Jesus,
the men that offer it, being sinners, are they that offered Him for the
slaughter. After this it is no more men (who offer); the glory is no more for
sinners.
Barnabas 8:3
The children who sprinkle are they that preached unto us the forgiveness of
sins and the purification of our heart, they to whom, being twelve in number
for a testimony unto the tribes (for there are twelve tribes of Israel), He
gave authority over the Gospel, that they should preach it.
Barnabas 8:4
But wherefore are the children that sprinkle three in number? For a testimony
unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because these are mighty before God.
Barnabas 8:5
Then there is the placing the wool on the tree. This means that the kingdom of
Jesus is on the cross, and that they who set their hope on Him shall live for
ever.
Barnabas 8:6
And why is there the wool and the hyssop at the same time? Because in His
kingdom there shall be evil and foul days, in which we shall be saved; for he
who suffers pain in the flesh is healed through the foulness of the hyssop.
Barnabas 8:7
Now to us indeed it is manifest that these things so befell for this reason,
but to them they were dark, because they heard not the voice of the Lord.
Barnabas 9:1
Furthermore He saith concerning the ears, how that it is our heart which He
circumcised. The Lord saith in the prophet; With the hearing of the ears they
listened to Me. And again He saith; They that are afar off shall hear with
their ears, and shall perceive what I have done. And; Be ye circumcised in your
hearts, saith the Lord.
Barnabas 9:2
And again He saith; Hear, O Israel, for thus saith the Lord thy God. Who is he
that desireth to live forever, let him hear with his ears the voice of My
servant. ~y 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;
Hear the words of the Lord, ye rulers of this people. And again He saith; Hear,
O my children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Therefore He
circumcised our ears, that hearing the word we might believe.
Barnabas 9:3
But moreover the circumcision, in which they have confidence, is abolished; for
He hath said that a circumcision not of the flesh should be practiced. But they
transgressed, for an evil angel taught them cleverness.
Barnabas 9:4
He saith unto them; Thus saith the Lord your God (so I find the commandment);
sow not upon thorns, be ye circumcised in to your Lord. And what saith He? Be
ye circumcised in the hardness of your heart; and then ye will not harden your
neck. Take this again; Behold, sayith the Lord, all the Gentiles are
uncircumcised in their foreskin, but this people is uncircumcised in
their hearts.
Barnabas 9:5
But thou wilt say; In truth the people hath been circumcised for a seal. Nay,
but so likewise is every Syrian and Arabian and all the priests of the idols.
Do all those then too belong to their covenant? Moreover the Egyptians also are
included among the circumcised.
Barnabas 9:6
Learn therefore, children of love, concerning all things abundantly, that Abraham,
who first appointed circumcision, looked forward in the spirit unto Jesus, when
he circumcised having received the ordinances of three letters.
Barnabas 9:7
For the scripture saith; And Abraham circumcised of his household eighteen
males and three hundred. What then was the knowledge given unto him? Understand
ye that He saith the eighteen first, and then after an interval three hundred
In the eighteen 'I' stands for ten, 'H' for eight. Here thou hast JESUS
(IHSOYS). And because the cross in the 'T' was to have grace, He saith also
three hundred. So He revealeth Jesus in the two letters, and in the remaining
one the cross.
Barnabas 9:8
He who placed within us the innate gift of His covenant knoweth; no man hath
ever learnt from me a more genuine word; but I know that ye are worthy.
Barnabas 10:1
But forasmuch as Moses said; Ye shall not eat seine nor eagle nor falcon nor
crow nor any fish which hath no scale upon it, he received in his understanding
three ordinances.
Barnabas 10:2
Yea and further He saith unto them in Deuteronomy; And I will lay as a covenant
upon this people My ordinances. So then it is not a commandment of God that
they should not bite with their teeth, but Moses spake it in spirit.
Barnabas 10:3
Accordingly he mentioned the swine with this intent. Thou shalt not cleave,
saith he, to such men who are like unto swine; that is, when they are in luxury
they forget the Lord, but when they are in want they recognize the Lord, just
as the swine when it eateth knoweth not his lord, but when it is hungry it
crieth out, and when it has received food again it is silent.
Barnabas 10:4
Neither shalt thou eat eagle nor falcon nor kite nor crow. Thou shalt not, He
saith, cleave unto, or be likened to, such men who now not how to provide food for
themselves by toil and sweat, but in their lawlessness seize what belongeth to
others, and as if they were walking in guilelessness watch and search about for
some one to rob in their rapacity, just as these birds alone do not provide
food for themselves, but sit idle and seek how they may eat the meat that
belongeth to others, being pestilent in their evil-doings.
Barnabas 10:5
And thou shalt not eat, saith He, lamprey nor polypus nor cuttle fish . Thou
shalt not, He meaneth, become like unto such men, who are desperately wicked,
and are already condemned to death, just as these fishes alone are accursed and
swim in the depths, not swimming on the surface like the rest, but dwell on the
ground beneath the deep sea.
Barnabas 10:6
Moreover thou shalt not eat the hare. Why so? Thou shalt not be found a
corrupter of boys, nor shalt thou become like such persons; for the hare
gaineth one passage in the body every year; for according to the number of
years it lives it has just so many orifices.
Barnabas 10:7
Again, neither shalt thou eat the hyena; thou shalt not, saith He, become an
adulterer or a fornicator, neither shalt thou resemble such persons. Why so?
Because this animal changeth its nature year by year, and becometh at one time
male and at another female.
Barnabas 10:8
Moreover He hath hated the weasel also and with good reason. Thou shalt not,
saith He, become such as those men of whom we hear as working iniquity with
their mouth for uncleanness, neither shalt thou cleave unto impure women who
work iniquity with their mouth. For this animal conceiveth with its mouth.
Barnabas 10:9
Concerning meats then Moses received three decrees to this effect and uttered
them in a spiritual sense; but they accepted them according to the lust of the
flesh, as though they referred to eating.
Barnabas 10:10 And David also receiveth knowledge of the
same three decrees, and saith; Blessed is the man who hath not gone in the
council of the ungodly--even as the fishes go in darkness into the depths; and hath
not stood in the path of sinners--just as they who pretend to fear the Lord sin
like swine; and hath not sat on the seat of the destroyers--as the birds that
are seated for prey. Ye have now the complete lesson concerning eating.
Barnabas 10:11 Again Moses saith; Ye shall everything that
divideth the hoof and cheweth the cud. What meaneth he? He that receiveth the
food knoweth Him that giveth him the food, and being refreshed appeareth to
rejoice in him. Well said he, having regard to the commandment. What then
meaneth he? Cleave unto those that fear the Lord, with those who meditate in
their heart on the distinction of the word which they have received, with those
who tell of the ordinances of the Lord and keep them, with those who know that
meditation is a work of gladness and who chew the cud of the word of the Lord.
But why that which divideth the hoof? Because the righteous man both walketh in
this world, and at the same time looketh for the holy world to come. Ye see how
wise a lawgiver Moses was.
Barnabas 10:12 But whence should they perceive or understand
these things? Howbeit we having justly perceived the commandments tell them as
the Lord willed. To this end He circumcised our ears and hearts, that we might
understand these things.
Barnabas 11:1
But let us enquire whether the Lord took care to signify before hand concerning
the water and the cross. Now concerning the water it is written in reference to
Israel, how that they would not receive the baptism which bringeth remission of
sins, but would build for themselves.
Barnabas 11:2
For the prophet saith; Be astonished, O heaven, and let the earth shudder the
more at this, for this people hath done two evil things; they abandoned Me the
fountain of life, and they digged for themselves a pit of death.
Barnabas 11:3
Is My holy mountain of Sinai a desert rock? for ye shall be as the fledglings
of a bird, which flutter aloft when deprived of their nest.
Barnabas 11:4
And again the prophet saith; I will go before thee, and level mountains and
crush gates of brass and break in pieces bolts of iron, and I will give thee
treasures dark, concealed, unseen, that they may know that I am the Lord God.
Barnabas 11:5
And; Thou shalt dwell in a lofty cave of a strong rock. And; His water shall be
sure; ye shall see the King in glory, and your soul shall meditate on the fear
of the Lord.
Barnabas 11:6
And again He saith in another prophet; And He that doeth these things shall be
as the tree that is planted by the parting streams of waters, which shall yield
his fruit at his proper season, and his leaf shall not fall off, and all things
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Barnabas 11:7
Not so are the ungodly, not so, but are as the dust which the wind scattereth
from the face of the earth. Therefore ungodly men shall not stand in judgment,
neither sinners in the council of the righteous; for the Lord knoweth the way
of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Barnabas 11:8
Ye perceive how He pointed out the water and the cross at the same time. For
this is the meaning; Blessed are they that set their hope on the cross, and go
down into the water; for He speaketh of the reward at his proper season; then,
saith He, I will repay. But now what saith He? His leaves shall not fall off;
He meaneth by this that every word, which shall come forth from you through
your mouth in faith and love, shall be for the conversion and hope of many.
Barnabas 11:9
And again another prophet saith; And the land of Jacob was praised above the
whole earth. He meaneth this; He glorifieth the vessel of His Spirit.
Barnabas 11:10 Next what saith He? And there was a river
streaming from the right hand, and beautiful trees rose up from it; and
whosoever shall eat of them shall live forever.
Barnabas 11:11 This He saith, because we go down into the
water laden with sins and filth, and rise up from it bearing fruit in the
heart, resting our fear and hope on Jesus in the spirit. And whosoever shall
eat of these shall live forever; He meaneth this; whosoever, saith He, shall
hear these things spoken and shall believe, shall live forever.
Barnabas 12:1
In like manner again He defineth concerning the cross in another prophet, who
saith; And when shall these things be accomplished? saith the Lord. Whenever a
tree shall be bended and stand upright, and whensoever blood shall drop from a
tree. Again thou art taught concerning the cross, and Him that was to be
crucified.
Barnabas 12:2
And He saith again in Moses, when war was waged against Israel by men of
another nation, and that He might remind them when the war was waged against
them that for their sins they were delivered unto death; the Spirit saith to
the heart of Moses, that he should make a type of the cross and of Him that was
to suffer, that unless, saith He, they shall set their hope on Him, war shall
be waged against them for ever. Moses therefore pileth arms one upon another in
the midst of the encounter, and standing on higher ground than any he stretched
out his hands, and so Israel was again victorious. Then, whenever he lowered
them, they were slain with the sword.
Barnabas 12:3
Wherefore was this? That they might learn that they cannot be saved, unless
they should set their hope on Him.
Barnabas 12:4
And again in another prophet He saith; The whole day long have I stretched out
My hands to a disobedient people that did gainsay My righteous way.
Barnabas 12:5
Again Moses maketh a type of Jesus, how that He must suffer, and that He
Himself whom they shall think to have destroyed shall make alive in an emblem
when Israel was falling. For the Lord caused all manner of serpents to bite
them, and they died (forasmuch as the transgression was wrought in Eve through
the serpent), that He might convince them that by reason of their transgression
they should be delivered over to the affliction of death.
Barnabas 12:6
Yea and further though Moses gave the commandment; Ye shall not have a molten
or a carved image for your God, yet he himself made one that he might show them
a type of Jesus. So Moses maketh a brazen serpent, and setteth it up
conspicuously, and summoneth the people by proclamation.
Barnabas 12:7
When therefore they were assembled together they entreated Moses that he should
offer up intercession for them that they might be healed. And Moses said unto
them; Whensoever, said he, one of you shall be bitten, let him come to the
serpent which is placed on the tree, and let him believe and hope that the
serpent being himself dead can make alive; and forthwith he shall be saved. And
so they did. Here again thou hast in these things also the glory of Jesus, how
that in Him and unto Him are all things.
Barnabas 12:8
What again saith Moses unto Jesus (Joshua) the son of Nun, when he giveth him
this name, as being a prophet, that all the people might give ear to him alone,
because the Father revealeth all things concerning His Son Jesus?
Barnabas 12:9
Moses therefore saith to Jesus the son of Nun, giving him this name, when he
sent him as a spy on the land; Take a book in thy hands, and write what the
Lord saith, how the Son of God shall cut up by the roots all the house of
Amalek in the last days.
Barnabas 12:10 Behold again it is Jesus, not a son of man,
but the Son of God, and He was revealed in the flesh in a figure. Since then
men will say that Christ is the son of David, David himself prophesieth being
afraid and understanding the error of sinners; The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit
thou on My right hand until I set thine enemies for a footstool under Thy feet.
Barnabas 12:11 And again thus sayith Isaiah; The Lord said
unto my Christ the Lord, of whose right hand I laid hold, that the nations
should give ear before Him, and I will break down the strength of kings. See
how David calleth Him Lord, and calleth Him not Son.
Barnabas 13:1
Now let us see whether this people or the first people hath the inheritance,
and whether the covenant had reference to us or to them.
Barnabas 13:2
Hear then what the scripture saith concerning the people; And Isaac prayed concerning
Rebecca his wife, for she was barren. And she conceived. Then Rebecca went out
to enquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her; Two nations are in thy
womb, and two peoples in thy belly, and one people shall vanquish another
people, and the greater shall serve the less.
Barnabas 13:3
Ye ought to understand who Isaac is, and who Rebecca is, and in whose case He
hath shown that the one people is greater than the other.
Barnabas 13:4
And in another prophecy Jacob speaketh more plainly to Joseph his son, saying;
Behold, the Lord hath not bereft me of thy face; bring me thy sons, that I may
bless them.
Barnabas 13:5
And he brought Ephraim and Manasseh, desiring that Manasseh should be blessed,
because he was the elder; for Joseph led him by the right hand of his father
Jacob. But Jacob saw in the spirit a type of the people that should come
afterwards. And what saith He? And Jacob crossed his hands, and placed his
right hand on the head of Ephraim, the second and younger, and blessed him. And
Joseph said unto Jacob, Transfer thy right hand to the head of Manasseh, for he
is my first born son. And Jacob said to Joseph, I know it, my son, I know it;
but the greater shall serve the less. Yet this one also shall be blessed.
Barnabas 13:6
Mark in whose cases He ordained that this people should be first and heir of
the covenant.
Barnabas 13:7
If then besides this He also recorded it through Abraham, we attain the
completion of our knowledge. What then saith he to Abraham when he alone
believed, and was ascribed for righteousness? Behold I have made thee, Abraham,
a father of nations that believe in God in uncircumcision.
Barnabas 14:1
Yea verily, but as regards the covenant which He swear to the fathers to give
it to the people let us see whether He hath actually given it. He hath given
it, but they themselves were not found worthy to receive it by reason of their
sins.
Barnabas 14:2
For the prophet saith; And Moses was fasting in Mount Sinai forty days and
forty nights, that he might receive the covenant of the Lord to give to the
people. And [Moses] received from the Lord the two tables which were written by
the finger of the hand of the Lord in the spirit. And Moses took them, and
brought them down to give them to the people.
Barnabas 14:3
And the Lord said unto Moses; Moses, Moses, come down quickly; for thy people,
whom thou leddest forth from the land of Egypt, hath done wickedly. And Moses
perceived that they had made for themselves again molten images, and he cast
them out of his hands and the tables of the covenant of the Lord were broken in
pieces.
Barnabas 14:4
Moses received them, but they themselves were not found worthy. But how did we
receive them? Mark this. Moses received them being a servant, but the Lord
himself gave them to us to be the people of His inheritance, having endured
patiently for our sakes.
Barnabas 14:5
But He was made manifest, in order that at the same time they might be
perfected in their sins, and we might receive the covenant through Him who
inherited it, even the Lord Jesus, who was prepared beforehand hereunto, that
appearing in person He might redeem out of darkness our hearts which had
already been paid over unto death and delivered up to the iniquity of error,
and thus establish the covenant in us through the word.
Barnabas 14:6
For it is written how the Father chargeth Him to deliver us from darkness, and
to prepare a holy people for Himself.
Barnabas 14:7
Therefore saith the prophet; I the Lord thy God called thee in righteousness,
and I will lay hold of thy hand and will strengthen thee, and I have given thee
to be a covenant of the race, a light to the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the
blind, and to bring forth them that are bound from their fetters, and them that
sit in darkness from their prison house. We perceive then whence we were
ransomed.
Barnabas 14:8
Again the prophet saith; Behold I have set Thee to be a light unto the
Gentiles, that Thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth; thus
saith the Lord that ransomed thee, even God.
Barnabas 14:9
Again the prophet saith; The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, wherefore He
anointed Me to preach good tidings to the humble; He hath sent Me to heal them
that are broken-hearted, to preach release to the captives and recovery of
sight to the blind, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of
recompense, to comfort all that mourn.
Barnabas 15:1
Moreover concerning the Sabbath likewise it is written in the Ten Words, in
which He spake to Moses face to face on Mount Sinai; And ye shall hallow the
Sabbath of the Lord with pure hands and with a pure heart.
Barnabas 15:2
And in another place He saith; If my sons observe the Sabbath then I will
bestow My mercy upon them.
Barnabas 15:3
Of the Sabbath He speaketh in the beginning of the creation; And God made the
works of His hands in six days, and He ended on the seventh day, and rested on
it, and He hallowed it.
Barnabas 15:4
Give heed, children, what this meaneth; He ended in six days. He meaneth this,
that in six thousand years the Lord shall bring all things to an end; for the
day with Him signifyeth a thousand years; and this He himself beareth me
witness, saying; Behold, the day of the Lord shall be as a thousand years.
Therefore, children, in si x days, that is in six thousand years, everything
shall come to an end.
Barnabas 15:5
And He rested on the seventh day. this He meaneth; when His Son shall come, and
shall abolish the time of the Lawless One, and shall judge the ungodly, and
shall change the sun and the moon and the stars, then shall he truly rest on
the seventh day.
Barnabas 15:6
Yea and furthermore He saith; Thou shalt hallow it with pure hands and with a
pure heart. If therefore a man is able now to hallow the day which God hallowed,
though he be pure in heart, we have gone utterly astray.
Barnabas 15:7
But if after all then and not till then shall we truly rest and hallow it, when
we shall ourselves be able to do so after being justified and receiving the
promise, when iniquity is no more and all things have been made new by the
Lord, we shall be able to hallow it then, because we ourselves shall have been
hallowed first.
Barnabas 15:8
Finally He saith to them; Your new moons and your Sabbaths I cannot away with.
Ye see what is His meaning ; it is not your present Sabbaths that are
acceptable [unto Me], but the Sabbath which I have made, in the which, when I
have set all things at rest, I will make the beginning of the eighth day which
is the beginning of another world.
Barnabas 15:9
Wherefore also we keep the eighth day for rejoicing, in the which also Jesus
rose from the dead, and having been manifested ascended into the heavens.
Barnabas 16:1
Moreover I will tell you likewise concerning the temple, how these wretched men
being led astray set their hope on the building, and not on their God that made
them, as being a house of God.
Barnabas 16:2
For like the Gentiles almost they consecrated Him in the temple. But what saith
the Lord abolishing the temple? Learn ye. Who hath measured the heaven with a
span, or hath measured the earth with his hand? Have not I, saith the Lord? The
heaven is My throne and the earth the footstool of My feet. What manner of
house will ye build for Me? Or what shall be my resting place? Ye perceive that
their hope is vain.
Barnabas 16:3
Furthermore He saith again; Behold they that pulled down this temple themselves
shall build it.
Barnabas 16:4
So it cometh to pass; for because they went to war it was pulled down by their
enemies. Now also the very servants of their enemies shall build it up.
Barnabas 16:5
Again, it was revealed how the city and the temple and the people of Israel
should be betrayed. For the scripture saith; And it shall be in the last days,
that the Lord shall deliver up the sheep of the pasture and the fold and the
tower thereof to destruction. And it came to pass as the Lord spake.
Barnabas 16:6
But let us enquire whether there be any temple of God. There is; in the place
where he himself undertakes to make and finish it. For it is written And it
shall come to pass, when the week is being accomplished, the temple of God
shall be built gloriously in the name of the Lord.
Barnabas 16:7
I find then that there is a temple, How then shall it be built in the name of
the Lord? Understand ye. Before we believed on God, the abode of our heart was
corrupt and weak, a temple truly built by hands; for it was full of idolatry
and was a house of demons, because we did whatsoever was contrary to God.
Barnabas 16:8
But it shall be built in the name of the Lord. Give heed then that the temple
of the Lord may be built gloriously.
Barnabas 16:9
How? Understand ye. By receiving the remission of our sins and hoping on the
Name we became new, created afresh from the beginning. Wherefore God dwelleth
truly in our habitation within us. How? The word of his faith, the calling of
his promise, the wisdom of the ordinances, the commandments of the teaching, He
Himself prophesying in us, He Himself dwelling in us, opening for us who had
been in bondage unto death the door of the temple, which is the mouth, and
giving us repentance leadeth us to the incorruptible temple.
Barnabas 16:10 For he that desireth to be saved looketh not
to the man, but to Him that dwelleth and speaketh in him, being amazed at this
that he has never at any time heard these words from the mouth of the speaker,
nor himself ever desired to hear them. This is the spiritual temple built up to
the Lord.
Barnabas 17:1
So far as it was possible with all simplicity to declare it unto you, my soul
hopeth that I have not omitted anything [of the matters pertaining unto
salvation and so failed in my desire].
Barnabas 17:2
For if I should write to you concerning things immediate or future, ye would
not understand them, because they are put in parables. So much then for this.
Barnabas 18:1
But let us pass on to another lesson and teaching. There are two ways of
teaching and of power, the one of light and the other of darkness; and there is
a great difference between the two ways. For on the one are stationed the light
giving angels of God, on the other the angels of Satan.
Barnabas 18:2
And the one is the Lord from all eternity and unto all eternity, whereas the
other is Lord of the season of iniquity that now is.
Barnabas 19:1
This then is the way of light, if anyone desiring to travel on the way to his
appointed place would be zealous in his works. The knowledge then which is
given to us whereby we may walk therein is as follows.
Barnabas 19:2
Thou shalt love Him that made thee, thou shalt fear Him that created thee, thou
shalt glorify Him that redeemed thee from death; thou shalt be simple in heart
and rich in spirit; thou shalt not cleave to those who walk the way of death;
thou shalt hate everything that is not pleasing to God; thou shalt hate all
hypocrisy; thou shalt never forsake the commandments of the Lord.
Barnabas 19:3
Thou shalt not exalt thyself, but shalt be lowly minded in all things. Thou
shalt not assume glory to thyself. Thou shalt not entertain a wicked design
against thy neighbor; thou shalt not admit boldness into thy soul.
Barnabas 19:4
Thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou
shalt not corrupt boys. The word of God shall not come forth from thee where
any are unclean. Thou shalt not make a difference in a person to reprove him
for a transgression. Thou shalt be meek, thou shalt be quiet, thou shalt be
fearing the words which thou hast heard. Thou shalt not bear a grudge against
thy brother.
Barnabas 19:5
Thou shalt not doubt whether a thing shall be or not be. Thou shalt not take
the name of the Lord in vain. Thou shalt love thy neighbor more than thine own
soul. Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion, nor again shalt thou kill it
when it is born. Thou shalt not withhold thy hand from thy son or daughter, but
from their youth thou shalt teach them the fear of God.
Barnabas 19:6
Thou shalt not be found coveting thy neighbors goods; thou shalt not be found
greedy of gain. Neither shalt thou cleave with thy soul to the lofty, but shalt
walk with the humble and righteous. The accidents that befall thee thou shalt
receive as good, knowing that nothing is done without God. Thou shalt not be
double minded nor double tongued.
Barnabas 19:7
Thou shalt be subject unto thy masters as to a type of God in shame and fear.
Thou shalt not command in bitterness thy bondservant or thine handmaid who set
their hope on the same God, lest haply, they should cease to fear the God who
is over both of you; for He came not to call with respect of persons, but to call
those whom the Spirit hath prepared.
Barnabas 19:8
Thou shalt make thy neighbor partake in all things, and shalt not say that
anything is thine own. For if ye are fellow partakers in that which is
imperishable, how much rather shall ye be in the things which are perishable.
Thou shalt not be hasty with thine own tongue, for the mouth is the snare of
death. So far as thou art able, thou shalt be pure for thy soul's sake.
Barnabas 19:9
Be not thou found holding out thy hands to receive, and drawing them in to
give. Thou shalt love as the apple of thine eye every one that speaketh unto
thee the word of the Lord.
Barnabas 19:10 Thou shalt remember the day of judgment night
and day, and thou shalt seek out day by day the persons of the saints, either
laboring by word and going to exhort them and meditating how thou mayest save
souls by thy word, or thou shalt work with thy hands for a ransom for thy sins.
Barnabas 19:11 Thou shall not hesitate to give, neither
shalt thou murmur when giving, but thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of
thy reward. Thou shalt keep those things which thou hast received, neither
adding to them nor taking away from them. Thou shalt utterly hate the Evil One.
Thou shalt judge righteously.
Barnabas 19:12 Thou shalt not make a schism, but thou shalt
pacify them that contend by bringing them together. Thou shalt confess thy
sins. Thou shalt not betake thyself to prayer with an evil conscience. This is
the way of light.
Barnabas 20:1
But the way of the Black One is crooked and full of a curse. For it is a way of
eternal death with punishment wherein are the things that destroy men's
souls--idolatry, boldness, exhalation of power, hypocrisy, doubleness of heart,
adultery, murder, plundering, pride, transgression, treachery, malice,
stubbornness, witchcraft, magic, covetousness, absence of the fear of God;
Barnabas 20:2
persecutors of good men, hating the truth, loving lies, not perceiving the
reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to the righteous
judgment, paying no heed to the widow and the orphan, wakeful not for the fear
of God but for that which is evil; men from whom gentleness and forbearance
stand aloof and far off; loving vain things, pursuing a recompense, not pitying
the poor man, not toiling for him that is oppressed with toil, ready to
slander, not recognizing Him that made them murderers of children, corrupters
of the creatures of God, turning away from him that is in want, oppressing him
that is afflicted, advocates of the wealthy, unjust judges of the poor, sinful
in all things.
Barnabas 21:1
It is good therefore to learn the ordinances of the Lord, as many as have been
written above, and to walk in them. For he that doeth these things shall be
glorified in the kingdom of God; whereas he that chooseth their opposites shall
perish together with his works. For this cause is the resurrection, for this
the recompense.
Barnabas 21:2
I entreat those of you who are in a higher station, if ye will receive any
counsel of good advice from me, keep amongst you those to whom ye may do good.
Fail not.
Barnabas 21:3
The day is at hand, in which everything shall be destroyed together with the
Evil One. The Lord is at hand and his reward.
Barnabas 21:4
Again and again I entreat you; be good lawgivers one to another; continue
faithful councilors to yourselves; take away from you all hypocrisy.
Barnabas 21:5
And may God, who is Lord of the whole world, give you wisdom, judgment,
learning, knowledge of His ordinances, patience.
Barnabas 21:6
And be ye taught of God, seeking diligently what the Lord requireth of you, and
act that ye may be found in the day of judgment.
Barnabas 21:7
But if you have any remembrance of good, call me to mind when ye practice these
things these things, that both my desire and my watchfulness may lead to some
good result. I entreat you asking it as a favor.
Barnabas 21:8
So long as the good vessel (of the body) is with you, be lacking in none of
these things, but search them out constantly, and fulfill every commandment;
for they deserve it.
Barnabas 21:9
For this reason I was the more eager to write to you so far as I was able, that
I might give you joy. Fare ye well, children of love and peace. The Lord of
glory and of every grace be with your spirit.
.
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