Epistle of Barnabas
The Epistle of Barnabas
Barnabas Chapter 1
1 Hail, my sons and daughters, in the name of our Master Yahshua HaMoshiach, who has loved us in peace.
2 I rejoice exceedingly and beyond measure at your blest and wonderful spirit, since the ordinances of Elohim 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 truly see the Spirit poured out upon you from the rich Master of love. Your longed-for appearance has so greatly stricken me with amazement.
4 So being persuaded of this, and knowing in myself that since I spoke among you Yahweh has helped me much in the way of righteousness, I am completely compelled to love you beyond even my own spirit, because great faith and love dwells 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 you are, I gave diligence to write unto you in few words, in order that together with your faith, you might have your knowledge perfect also.
6 For there are three doctrines ordained of Yahweh: the hope of life, the beginning, and the end.
7 For the Master has made known unto us by the prophets the things which are past, and the things which are at hand, and has given us the first-fruits 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 you may even in this present rejoice.
Barnabas Chapter 2
1 Since the days are evil and the adversary has the authority, we ought to take heed to ourselves and seek out the ordinances of Yahweh.
2 For the helpers of our faith are fear and patience, and those who fight on our side are long-suffering and continence.
3 While these, therefore, remain pure in things relating to Yahweh, wisdom and understanding, science and knowledge, rejoice together with them.
4 For Elohim has made known unto us through all the prophets, that he desires neither sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings, nor oblations; for he says in a certain place,
5 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices? says Yahweh. 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 you come to be seen of me. For who has required these things at your hands? You shall not add thereto to tread my court. If you bring the fine flour, it is vain; incense is an abomination unto me; your new moons and Shabbatot I cannot endure; your fastings and holidays and feasts my spirit hates.
6 So these things he has made of no effect, that the new ordinance of our Master Yahshua HaMoshiach, being free from the yoke of necessity, might proffer an offering not made with hands.
7 Again, he says unto them, Did I command your fathers, when you came out of the land of Egypt, to offer unto me whole burnt offerings and sacrifices?
8 Did I not rather command them this? – Let each of you bear no malice against his neighbor 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 Abba Yahweh, because he tells us, wishing to seek us who are wandering even as sheep, how we ought to approach him.
10 So he speaks unto us this way: The sacrifice to Elohim is a broken heart; a smell of sweet savor to Yahweh is a heart that glorifies him that made it. Brethren, we ought to examine our salvation accurately, lest the evil one, making an entrance among us, should draw us away from our life.
Barnabas Chapter 3
1 So concerning these things, he says again unto them, Why do you fast for me, says Yahweh, so that your voice is heard today in its crying? This is not the fast that I have chosen, for a man to humiliate his spirit, says Yahweh;
2 Nor even if you bend your neck as a ring, and put under you sackcloth and ashes – not even then will you call it an acceptable fast.
3 But to us he says, See the fast which I have chosen, says Yahweh, not that a man should humiliate his spirit, but that he should loose every bond of unrighteousness and untie the knots of the compacts of violence; set at liberty those who are bruised and cancel every agreement of unrighteousness; break your bread with the hungry and if you see the naked, clothe him; bring those who are houseless into your dwelling - and if you see a man that is lowly, despise him not, and turn not away from those of your family.
4 Then will your light break forth early and your garments spring up quickly and justice will go before you - and the glory of Yahweh shall surround you.
5 Then shall you cry and Yahweh shall hearken unto you; while you are yet speaking he shall say, Lo, I am here: if you put away from you the league and the conspiracy and the word of murmuring, and give your bread unto the hungry with all your heart, and have compassion upon the spirit that is lowly.
6 The long-suffering Elohim therefore having seen beforehand that the people whom he had prepared for his Beloved would believe in simplicity, showed to us beforehand about all these things, that we might not come as strangers to their law.
Barnabas Chapter 4
1 It behooves us, 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 spirit 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 says, For to this purpose Yahweh has cut short the times and the days, that His beloved might make haste and come into his inheritance.
4 The prophet also speaks 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 speaks 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 You 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 spirit, that you 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 Moshe had already received it.
7 For the scripture says, And Moshe was in the mount fasting forty days and nights, and he received the covenant from Yahweh; even tables of stone written with the finger of the hand of Yahweh. But when they turned unto idols they lost it.
8 For Yahweh says thus unto Moshe, Moshe, get you down quickly, for your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, have disobeyed Torah. And Moshe understood, and cast the two tables from his hands, and the covenant that was on them was broken; to the end that that of the beloved Yahshua might be sealed in our hearts in the hope of his faith.
9 Now, though I wished to write many things unto you, not as a master, but even as suits one that loves 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 becomes the sons of Elohim,
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 you were already justified, but coming together, inquire one with another concerning the common advantage.
11 For the scripture says, Woe unto those who are wise in their own conceit and learned in their own eyes. Let us be spiritual: let us be a perfect temple unto Elohim. So far as in you lies, let us practise the fear of Elohim, and strive to keep his commandments, that we may be glad in his ordinances.
12 Yahweh shall judge the world without respect of persons; each shall receive according as he has 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 Yahweh.
14 And, moreover, my brethren, consider this. When you see that after so many signs and wonders that have been done in Israel, even then they have been abandoned, let us take heed lest, as it is written, many of us be called but few chosen.
Barnabas Chapter 5
1 For on this account Yahweh 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 Israel, and certain other that pertain unto us. For he speaks thus, He was wounded for our iniquities, and vexed for our sins; by his stripes we are healed. He was led as a sheep unto the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before him that shears it.
3 We ought, therefore, to give especial thanks unto Yahweh because he has made known unto us the things that are past, and has made us wise with regard to those that are at hand, neither are we without understanding as regards the future.
4 For the scripture says, Not unjustly is the net stretched for the birds. Now this means that a man will perish justly who, having knowledge of the path of righteousness, shuts himself up into the way of darkness.
5 Consider this too, my brethren; if Yahweh endured to suffer for our spirits, though he were Yahweh of the whole world, to whom Elohim 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 you!
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 Israel and did so many signs and wonders among them, yet they loved him not.
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 Elohim.
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 Elohim 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 Elohim says 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 stake; for he who prophesies about him says, Spare My spirit from the sword, and again, Drive nails into My flesh, for the synagogues of evil men have risen against Me.
14 And again he says, 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 Chapter 6
1 When, therefore, he made the commandment what says He? Who is he that disputes with Me? Let him resist Me; or who is he that contends with Me? Let him draw nigh unto the Son of Yahweh.
2 Woe unto you, for you shall all wax old as a garment, and the moth shall devour you. And again the prophet says, Since He has 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 says He? And he that believes in Him shall live for ever. Is then our hope in a stone? Elohim forbid. But it is thus said because Yahweh has made strong his flesh, for He says, and He made me as it were a hard rock.
4 And again, The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. And again He says, This is the day, great and wonderful, which Yahweh has made.
5 I write unto you the more simply that you may understand. I am the offscouring of your love.
6 What then says the prophet again? The synagogue of the wicked came around Me; they surrounded Me as bees do a 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 says unto Israel, Woe unto their spirit, for they have counselled an evil counsel among themselves, saying, Let us bind the righteous because He is an encumbrance unto us.
8 And what says the other prophet, even Moshe, unto them? Behold, thus says Yahweh Elohim: Enter into the good land which Yahweh swore unto Abraham and Yitzchak and Yaakov, and inherit it, even a land flowing with milk and honey.
9 What says the knowledge? Learn you. Hope, it says, upon Yahshua, 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 means He when He says, Into the good land which flows with milk and honey? Blessed be Yahweh, brethren, who has put into you wisdom and knowledge of his secret things. For the prophet speaks a parable from Yahweh. Who shall understand, except he that is wise and skilful and that loves his Master?
11 Since, therefore, having renewed us by the remission of our sins, He has made us of a new character, He wills that we should have the spirits of children, inasmuch as it is indeed He who has formed us anew.
12 For the scripture says concerning us, that He says 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 Yahweh said, when He saw how excellent our form was, Increase and multiply and replenish the earth. These things he says unto the Son.
13 Again I will show unto you how Yahweh speaks unto us, since he has made a second fashioning in these last days; Yahweh says, Behold I make the last even as the first. For to this purpose did the prophet preach. Enter you into the land flowing with milk and honey, and have dominion over it.
14 Behold now we have been formed again, even as he says again in another prophet: Behold, says Yahweh, I will take out from these, that is out of those whom the Spirit of Yahweh 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 Yahweh.
16 For Yahweh says again, Whereby shall I appear before Yahweh my Elohim and be glorified? He says too, I will give thanks unto you in the assembly, in the midst of my brethren; I will sing unto you in the midst of the assembly of the saints. We are, therefore, those whom he brought into the good land.
17 What, then, means 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 belongs to authority, so that a man by giving commands may exercise mastery.
19 If, therefore, this does not take place now, he has told us when it will; even when we ourselves have been made perfect, so that we become heirs of the covenant of Yahweh.
Barnabas Chapter 7
1 You perceive, therefore, beloved children, that our good Master has 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 Elohim, being He who is Yahweh and who is about to judge the quick and the dead, suffered, to the end that his stripes might make us live, let us know for certain that the Son of Elohim could not suffer except on our account.
3 But being impaled, 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; Yahweh has 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 Yitzchak at the altar,
4 What says 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 you diligently thereto. And let the priests alone eat of the unwashed entrails with vinegar.
5 With what signification? Because you will one day give Me to drink of vinegar and gall, when I am about to offer up My flesh for My new people, you eat it alone, while the people fast and lament in sackcloth and ashes. He commanded this in order that He might show that He had to suffer at their hands.
6 How, then, did he give His commands? Attend you. Take you 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 says, be accursed. Now attend you, how the type of Yahshua is made manifest.
8 And do you 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 has been done, he who bears the goat leads it out into the wilderness, and takes away the wool and places 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, means this? Attend you. 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 impaled, and spat upon and pierced? Truly this was He who at that time said that He was the Son of Yahweh.
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 Yahshua, who was about to suffer.
11 And what means the wool placed in the midst of thorns? It is a type of Yahshua, which has been placed in the congregation. For he who wishes to take the scarlet wool must suffer many things, because the thorn is terrible, and must after tribulation gain possession of it. So he says, Those who would see me and to take hold of my kingdom must through trouble and suffering receive Me.
Barnabas Chapter 8
1 And what type, do you think 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 stake 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 speaks unto you with simplicity. The heifer signifies Yahshua; 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 does the glory belong to sinners.
3 The children who sprinkled are those who brought us the good news of the forgiveness of sins and purification of heart, to whom He has 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 Israel.
4 And why, then, were the children who sprinkled three in number? For a testimony unto Abraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, because these are great before Elohim.
5 And what signifies the wool upon the stick? Because the kingdom of Yahshua is upon the stake, and because those who hope upon him shall live for ever.
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 grieves His flesh is healed through the purifying of the hyssop.
7 And these things having been done on this account are manifest unto us, but obscure unto them, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Yahweh.
Barnabas Chapter 9
1 He says also again concerning our ears how he has circumcised our heart. Yahweh says in the prophet, They have hearkened unto Me with the hearing of their ears; and again, He says, those who are far off shall hear with their ears; they shall know what I have done; and be you circumcised, says Yahweh, in your heart;
2 And again, Hear, O Israel, for thus says Yahweh your Elohim; and again the Spirit of Yahweh prophesied, Who is he that wishes to live for ever? Let him hearken unto the voice of My Son.
3 And again He says, Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for Yahweh has spoken these things for a testimony. And again He says, Hearken unto the voice of Yahweh, you rulers of this people. And again He says, Hearken you children unto the voice of one crying in the wilderness.
4 To this end, therefore, has 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 has said that circumcision is not that which was made in the flesh; but they have transgressed, for an evil angel has deluded them.
5 He says unto them, These things says Yahweh your Elohim – here I find a new commandment – Sow not among thorns, but be you circumcised unto your Master. And what says he? Circumcise the hardness of your hearts, and harden not your neck. And again, Behold, says Yahweh, 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, has 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 Yahshua, having received the doctrines of the three letters.
8 For he says, And Abraham circumcised out of his household eighteen and three hundred. What, then, as the knowledge that was given by this? Learn you that he mentions the eighteen first, and then, having made an interval, he mentions the three hundred. In the eighteen, IH*, you have Yahshua; and because the stake in the letter T was about to convey the grace of redemption, he mentions also the three hundred. Therefore, he shows Yahshua in the two letters, IH, and the stake in the one, T.
*That is, Iota (I) and Eta (H)
9 He knows this who has placed the engrafted gift of his teaching in us. No one has had from me a more true account than this; but I know that you are worthy.
Barnabas Chapter 10
1 But in that Moshe said, You shall not eat the swine, nor the eagle, nor the hawk, nor the crow, nor any fish that has not scales in itself, he had in his mind three doctrines.
2 For in the end he says unto them in Deuteronomy, And I will arrange before this people my ordinances. The commandment of Elohim is not, therefore, that they should not eat; but Moshe spoke in a spiritual sense.
3 He spoke of the swine with this meaning: You shall not cleave, he means, unto men of this sort, who are like unto swine, for when they become wanton they forget their Master, but when they are in want they think upon Yahweh; even as the swine when it eats knows not its master, but when it is hungry it cries, and when it has received it is again silent.
4 Nor shall you eat of the eagle, nor of the hawk, nor of the kite, nor of the crow. You shall not, he means, 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 you shall not eat, he says, of the lamprey, or the polypus, or the cuttle-fish. You shall not, he means, 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 says, you shall not eat the hare, meaning you shall not indulge in unnatural lusts;
7 Nor shall you eat the hyena, meaning you shall not be an adulterer;
8 Nor shall you eat the weasel, meaning you shall not do uncleanness with your mouth concerning food;
9 Therefore Moshe spoke in the spirit these three doctrines. But they, according to the lusts of their flesh, received them as being about meat.
10 And David receives knowledge concerning the same three doctrines, and says in like manner, Blessed is the man who has not walked in The counsel of the unrighteous, even as the fish walk in darkness into the depths of the sea, and has not stood in the way of sinners, even as those who pretend to fear Yahweh sin as does the swine, and has not sat in the seat of the destroyers, even as the birds that sit for prey. You have also in the end a commandment concerning food;
11 But Moshe said, Eat you everything that is cloven-footed and that chews the cud. What means he? He that takes food knows him that feeds him, and, resting upon him, seems to be glad. He therefore says well, having regard to the commandment. What then means he? Cleave you unto those who fear Yahweh, who walk in his commandments, which they have received in their hearts; unto those who speak of the ordinances of Yahweh, and observe them, unto them who know that the practice of them is a work of gladness, and who meditate on the word of Yahweh. But what means that which cleaves the hoof? It means that the just walks even in this world, and expects the holy life. Behold how well Moshe has made this Torah!
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 Yahweh has willed. On this account has He circumcised our ears and hearts, that we should understand these things.
Barnabas Chapter 11
1 Let us inquire, therefore, if Yahweh cared to show us beforehand concerning the water and concerning the stake. Concerning the water it is written, with respect to Israel, how that they will not receive the immersion that brings remission of sins, but will establish one for themselves.
2 The prophet therefore speaks in this wise, Be astonished, O heaven! And let the earth be afraid still more at this, because this people has 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 mountain of Zion a deserted rock? You shall be as the young of a bird which have flown when the nest has been taken away.
4 And again the prophet says, I will go before you 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 you the treasures of darkness hidden and unseen, that they may know that I am Yahweh Elohim; and, He shall dwell in the lofty cave of the strong rock.
5 Then what says he of the Son? His water is faithful. You shall behold the king in his glory, and your spirit shall practice the fear of Yahweh.
6 And again, in another prophet, he says, He that does these things shall be as a tree that grows beside the watercourses, which gives his fruit in his season; and his leaf shall not fall off, and whatever he does shall prosper.
7 Not so are the unrighteous, not so; they are like the dust which the wind carries away from the face of the earth, wherefore the unrighteous shall not rise up in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the just: for Yahweh knows the way of the just, but the way of the unrighteous shall perish.
8 you perceive how he has put together the water and the stake. For what he means is this, Blessed are those who having hoped on the stake have gone down into the water. For he speaks of a reward to be given at the due season; then, says he, I will render what is due unto you. But now in that he says, Their leaves shall not fall off, he means this, That every word that goes out from your mouth in faith and love shall be for a refuge and a hope unto many.
9 And again another prophet says, And the land of Yaakov was praised beyond the whole earth. By so saying He means this, He shall glorify the vessel that contains his Spirit.
10 And what says he afterwards? There was a river flowing on the right, and there grew up on its banks fair trees, and whosoever eats of them shall live for ever.
11 By this he means 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 Yahshua. And whoever shall eat of them shall live for ever. He means this, Whoever, He says, shall hear these words spoken and believe them shall live for ever.
Barnabas Chapter 12
1 In like manner again He signifies concerning the stake in another prophet, who says, And when shall these things be fulfilled? Yahweh says, When the tree has been bent and shall rise up again, and when blood shall flow from the tree. You have again a prophecy concerning the stake and about him who is about to be impaled.
2 And he says again in Moshe, 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 says unto the heart of Moshe, that he should make the form of a stake, 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. Moshe, therefore, arranges weapon against weapon in the midst of the battle, and standing higher than all, stretched out his hands, and so again Israel conquered; then, when he let them down, they were again slaughtered.
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 says, All day long have I stretched out my hands unto a people who are disobedient, and who speak against My righteous way.
5 Again, Moshe makes another type of Yahshua, that it behoves Him that he should suffer, and cause others to live, whom they thought that they had destroyed in figure when Israel was falling: For Yahweh made every kind of serpent to bite them, and they died, since Eve committed the transgression by means of the serpent, to the end that he might convince those who through their transgression they should be given over to the pangs of death.
6 For in the end Moshe himself, after that he had given commandment, There shall not be among you a molten image or a graven image for an elohim, makes one himself, that he might show a type of Yahshua. Moshe, therefore, makes a brazen serpent, and sets it aloft, and calls the people by a proclamation.
7 When, therefore, they had come together they besought Moshe, that he should offer supplication for them concerning their healing. Moshe 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 Yahshua, that in him and to him are all things.
8 What again says Moshe unto Yahoshua 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 reveals all things concerning the Son, Yahshua?
9 Moshe therefore says unto Yahoshua the son of Nun, having given him this name, when he sent him to spy out the land, Take the book into your hands and write what Yahweh says, even that the Son of Yahweh, in the last days, will cut off the whole house of Amalek from the roots.
10 Behold, therefore, again Yahshua, not the son of man but the Son of Elohim, and by a type made manifest in the flesh. Since, therefore, they should one day say that Moshiach is the son of David, David himself prophesies, being in fear and understanding the deceitfulness of sinners, Yahweh said unto my Yahweh, Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.
11 And again Isaiah speaks in this wise, Yahweh said unto Moshiach, my Master, whose right hand I have held, that the Gentiles should hearken before him, and I will break the strength of kings. Behold how David calls Him Yahweh, and does not call him son.
Barnabas Chapter 13
1 Let us inquire, therefore, whether this people or the first people inherits, and whether the covenant is unto us or unto them.
2 Hear, now, what the scripture says concerning the people. But Yitzchak prayed for Rebecca his wife because she was barren, and she conceived. Then Rebecca went forth to inquire of Yahweh, and Yahweh said unto her, Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples are in your bowels, and the one people shall surpass the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.
3 We ought to understand who Yitzchak was and who Rebecca was, and concerning whom he declared that the one people was greater than the other.
4 And in another prophecy Yaakov speaks yet more clearly to Yosef his son, saying, Behold Yahweh has not deprived me of your face; bring unto me your sons, that I may bless them.
5 And he brought unto him Ephrayim and Manasheh, wishing that he should bless Manasheh, because he was the elder. Yosef, therefore, brought him to the right hand of his father Yaakov. But Yaakov saw in spirit a figure of the people that should be hereafter. And what says the Scriptures? And Yaakov crossed his hands, and placed his right hand on the head of Ephrayim, the second and youngest, and blessed him. And Yosef said unto Yaakov, Change your right hand unto the head of Manasheh, because he is my firstborn son. And Yaakov said unto Yosef, 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, says he unto Abraham, when he alone believed, and it was counted unto him for righteousness? Behold I have made you, Abraham, a father of the nations who in uncircumcision believe in Yahweh.
Barnabas Chapter 14
1 Yes; but let us inquire whether he has given the covenant that he swore unto the fathers that he would give unto the people. Truly he has given it; but they were not worthy to receive it on account of their sins.
2 For the prophet says, And Moshe was fasting in Mount Sinai forty days and forty nights, that he might receive the covenant which Yahweh has made with his people. And he received from Yahweh the two tables that were written in the spirit with the finger of the hand of Yahweh. And Moshe, when he had received them, was bringing them down to the people for to give them.
3 And Yahweh said unto Moshe, Moshe, Moshe, get you down quickly, for your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, have disobeyed Torah. And Moshe perceived that they had again made molten images, and he cast the tables from his hands, and the tables of the covenant of Yahweh were broken.
4 Moshe indeed received them, but the people were not worthy. Hearken you, therefore, how we have received them. Moshe received them being a servant, but Yahweh 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 Master Yahshua, 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 gives commandment unto him, that having redeemed us from darkness, he should prepare for himself a holy people.
7 Therefore the prophet says, I, Yahweh your Elohim, have called you in righteousness, and I will hold your hand and make you strong; and I have given you 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 those who are bound, and from the house of prison those who sit in darkness. We know from whence we were redeemed.
8 And again, the prophet says, Behold, I have placed you for a light unto the Gentiles, that you should be for a salvation even unto the end of the earth; thus says Yahweh Elohim who has redeemed you.
9 And again, the prophet says, The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel unto the poor, he has 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 Yahweh, and the day of recompense, to comfort all that mourn.
Barnabas Chapter 15
1 And, moreover, concerning the Shabbat it is written in the Ten Commandments, in which he spoke on Mount Sinai unto Moshe face to face: Sanctify you the Shabbat of Yahweh with pure hands and a pure heart.
2 And in another place he says, If My sons shall keep My Shabbat, then will I place My mercy upon them.
3 He speaks, too, of the Shabbat in the beginning of the creation: And Elohim 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 Yahweh will make an end of all things, for a day is with him as a thousand years. And he himself bears 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 has come, and has caused to cease the time of the wicked one, and has judged the unrighteous, and changed the sun and the moon and the stars, then shall he rest well on the seventh day.
6 And further he says, you shall sanctify it with pure hands and a pure heart. Who, therefore, can sanctify the day which Yahweh has 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 Yahweh, we shall then be able to sanctify it, having been first sanctified ourselves.
8 And, further, he says unto them, Your new moons and your Shabbatot I cannot endure. See, now, what He means. The Shabbatot 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 also keep the eighth day as a day of gladness, on which also we learned that Yahshua was risen from the dead, and after he had appeared ascended unto heaven.
Barnabas Chapter 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 Elohim, and not on the Elohim who has made them.
2 For almost after the manner of the Gentiles did they consecrate Him in the temple. But what says Yahweh, making it of no effect? Hearken you: Who has measured out the heaven with his palm, or the earth with the flat of his hand, is it not I? says Yahweh. Heaven is My throne, and earth the footstool of My feet. What house will you build for Me, or what shall be the place of My rest? You have known that their hope was vain.
3 And, yet further, He says again, Behold those who have destroyed this temple shall rebuild it.
4 And so is it done, 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 Israel should be given up to their enemies. For the scripture says, And it shall come to pass in the last days that Yahweh shall deliver up the sheep of his pasture, and their fold and their tower shall he give up to destruction; and it was done according to that which Yahweh had spoken.
6 Let us inquire, therefore, whether there be any temple of Yahweh. There is; even where he himself has declared that he would make and perfect it. For it is written, And it shall be when the week is completed that the temple of Yahweh shall be built gloriously in the name of Yahweh.
7 I find, therefore, that there is a temple; how then shall it be built in the name of Yahweh? Learn you. Before that we believed in Elohim 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 demons, because we did such things as were contrary to Elohim;
8 But it shall be built in the name of Yahweh. Attend you: that the temple of Yahweh may be built gloriously. But in what manner? Learn you: having received the remission of our sins, and having hoped upon the name of Yahweh, we have become new, having been again created entirely. Wherefore Elohim of a truth dwells 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 opens the gate of the temple, which is his mouth, and, giving us repentance, leads us into the temple incorruptible.
10 For he who desires to be saved looks not unto the man, but unto him that dwells in him and speaks 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 Yahweh.
Barnabas Chapter 17
1 So far as it is possible for me to show you these things with simplicity, my mind and spirit hopes 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, you would not be able to understand them, because they are couched in parables. These things, therefore, are thus.
Barnabas Chapter 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 Elohim, over the other the angels of Satan;
2 On the one side is he who is Yahweh from everlasting to everlasting, on the other is the ruler of the world that now lies in wickedness.
Barnabas Chapter 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 You shall love him that made you, you shall fear him that formed you, you shall glorify him that redeemed you from death. You shall be simple in heart, and rich in spirit; you shall not cleave unto those who go in the path of death. You shall hate whatever is not pleasing unto Elohim; you shall hate all hypocrisy; you shall not abandon the commandments of Yahweh;
3 You shall not exalt yourself; you shall be humble in all things; you shall not take glory unto yourself; you shall not take evil counsel against your neighbour; you shall not take audacity into your spirit.
4 You shall not commit fornication, you shall not commit adultery. You shall not pollute yourself with mankind: let not the word of Elohim go forth from you in corruption. You shall not accept the person of any to reprove any man for transgression. You shall be gentle, you shall be quiet; you shall tremble at the words that you have heard; you shall not bear malice against your brother;
5 You shall not doubt whether a thing shall be or not; you shall not take the name of Yahweh in vain. You shall love your neighbor beyond your own spirit; you shall not kill a child by abortion, neither shall you destroy it after it is born. You shall not remove your hand from your son or your daughter, but shalt teach them from their youth the fear of Yahweh.
6 You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods; you shall not be an extortioner; you shall not cleave with your spirit unto the proud, but you shall have your behavior with the lowly and the just. Receive as blessings the troubles that come unto you, knowing that without Elohim nothing is done.
7 You shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is the snare of death. You shall submit yourself to your masters as to the image of Elohim, with shame and fear. You shall not give commands with bitterness to your servant and your handmaid, who hope in the same Elohim as you do, lest, perchance, you cease to fear Elohim, 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 You shall communicate in all things with your neighbour, and shalt not say that things are thine own. For if you be partners in that which is incorruptible, how much more in the things that are corruptible? You shall not be hasty of speech, for the mouth is a snare of death. As far as you are able, you shall be pure concerning your spirit.
9 Be not a stretcher forth of your hand in receiving, and a drawer back of it in giving. You shall love, as the apple of thine eye, every one that speaks unto you the word of Yahweh.
10 You shall remember the Day of Judgment by night and by day; and you shall seek out every day the persons of the saints.
11 You shall not doubt to give, nor shall you murmur in giving. Give to every one that asks you, and you shall know who is the good recompenser of the reward. You shall take care of that which you have received, neither adding thereto, nor taking therefrom. You shall hate the evil man unto the end, and shalt judge justly.
12 You shall not make a schism, but shalt make peace by bringing adversaries together. You shall make confession of your sins. You shall 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 practicing to save the spirit by the word, or you shall work by your hands for the redemption of your sins.
Barnabas Chapter 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 spirit. 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 Elohim.
2 Here are those who are persecutors of the good, haters of truth, lovers of lies; those 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 Elohim, 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 evilspeaking, who know not him that made them; murderers of children, corruptors of the image of Elohim; 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 Chapter 21
1 It is therefore right that he who has learned the ordinances of Yahweh, even as many as have been written beforehand, should walk in them. For he who does these things shall be glorified in the kingdom of Elohim, but he who chooses 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 you will receive any friendly advice from me, keep those with you toward whom you may do what is honorable. Fail not in so doing.
3 The day is at hand in which everything shall perish together with the evil one; Yahweh is nigh at hand, and his reward also.
4 Again and again do I ask you, be you good Torah-givers over yourselves, be you good advisers of yourselves. Abide faithful counsellors of one another; take out of the midst of you all hypocrisy,
5 And may Elohim, who rules the whole world, give you wisdom, understanding, science, knowledge of his ordinances, and patience.
6 And be you taught of Elohim, inquiring what Yahweh seeks of you, and so work that you may be found saved in the Day of Judgment.
7 But if there is any memory of that which is good, remember me while you practice these things, that both your desire and your watching may turn unto some good.
8 I beseech you this, asking it as a favor. So long as the good vessel is with you, fail not in any of these things, but seek them out without ceasing, and fulfill 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 Elohim of glory and of all grace be with your spirit. Amen.