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The Epistle of Barnabas
Part 2
Chapter
10
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
Chapter 11
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. 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.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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
11 This He saith, because
we go down into the water laden with sins and ilth, 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
Chapter 12
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. 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. 3
Wherefore was this? That they might learn that they
cannot be saved, unless they should set their hope on Him.
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.
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. 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. 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. 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? 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.
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. 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.
Chapter 13
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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
6
Mark in whose cases He ordained that this people should be first and heir of the
covenant. 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 Ihave made thee,
Abraham, a father of nations that believe in God in uncircumcision.
Chapter 14
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 6 For it is written how the Father chargeth Him to
deliver us from darkness, and to prepare a holy people for Himself. 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. 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. 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.
Chapter 15
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. 2 And in another place
He saith; If my sons observe the Sabbath then I will bestow My mercy upon
them. 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. 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 six
days, that is in six thousand years, everything shall come to an end.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Chapter 16
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. 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. 3 Furthermore He saith again; Behold they that pulled down this
temple themselves shall build it. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Chapter 17
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].
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.
Chapter 18
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. 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.
Chapter 19
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 herein is as follows.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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.
Chapter 20
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; 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.
Chapter 21
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. 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.
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. 4 Again and again I entreat you; be good
lawgivers one to another; continue faithful councilors to yourselves; take away
from you all hypocrisy. 5 And may God, who is Lord of the whole world, give
you wisdom, judgment, learning, knowledge of His ordinances, patience. 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. 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. 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. 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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