Epistle of Barnabas 1.1–10.12
Traditional ascription rejected: The letter names no author. From Clement of Alexandria (late second century) onward it was ascribed to Barnabas, Paul's companion (Acts 4:36), but its date and its hostility to Jewish practice make that unlikely; modern scholars treat it as anonymous.
Greek text: Lake, LCL 24 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912), digitized by the Perseus Digital Library and published by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0). Compare: Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885).
Chapter 1
1.1Lake, LCL 24:340
Χαίρετε, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς, ἐν εἰρήνῃ.
Chairete, huioi kai thygateres, en onomati kyriou tou agapēsantos hēmas, en eirēnę̄.
Greetings, sons and daughters, in the name of the Lord who loved us, in peace.
Notes and citation
Summary: Greeting to the readers as sons and daughters.
- The letter names neither its author nor its recipients. From the late second century it was attributed to Barnabas, Paul's companion (Acts 4:36), but modern scholars regard it as anonymous.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.1 (Lake, LCL 24:340; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
1.2Lake, LCL 24:340
Μεγάλων μὲν ὄντων καὶ πλουσίων τῶν τοῦ θεοῦ δικαιωμάτων εἰς ὑμᾶς, ὑπέρ τι καὶ καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ὑπερευφραίνομαι ἐπὶ τοῖς μακαρίοις καὶ ἐνδόξοις ὑμῶν πνεύμασιν· οὕτως ἔμφυτον τῆς δωρεᾶς πνευματικῆς χάριν εἰλήφατε.
Megalōn men ontōn kai plousiōn tōn tou theou dikaiōmatōn eis hymas, hyper ti kai kathʼ hyperbolēn hypereuphrainomai epi tois makariois kai endoxois hymōn pneumasin; houtōs emphyton tēs dōreas pneumatikēs charin eilēphate.
Since God's righteous decrees toward you are great and rich, I rejoice above all and beyond measure in your blessed and glorious spirits; so implanted is the grace of the spiritual gift that you have received.
Notes and citation
Summary: The author rejoices in the spiritual gifts of his readers.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.2 (Lake, LCL 24:340; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
1.3Lake, LCL 24:340
διὸ καὶ μᾶλλον συγχαίρω ἐμαυτῷ ἐλπίζων σωθῆναι, ὅτι ἀληθῶς βλέπω ἐν ὑμῖν ἐκκεχυμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ πλουσίου τῆς πηγῆς κυρίου πνεῦμα ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς. οὕτω με ἐξέπληξεν ἐπὶ ὑμῶν ἡ ἐμοὶ ἐπιποθήτη ὄψις ὑμῶν.
dio kai mallon synchairō emautǭ elpizōn sōthēnai, hoti alēthōs blepō en hymin ekkechymenon apo tou plousiou tēs pēgēs kyriou pneuma ephʼ hymas. houtō me exeplēxen epi hymōn hē emoi epipothētē opsis hymōn.
Therefore I rejoice all the more with myself in the hope of being saved, because I truly see among you the Spirit poured out upon you from the riches of the Lord's fountain. So greatly did the sight of you, which I had longed for, astonish me concerning you.
Notes and citation
Summary: Seeing the Spirit poured out on them fills him with joy.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (punctuation slip in the digital text (the sentence continues)): σωθῆναι. ὅτι ἀληθῶς → σωθῆναι, ὅτι ἀληθῶς.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.3 (Lake, LCL 24:340; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
1.4Lake, LCL 24:340
πεπεισμένος οὖν τοῦτο καὶ συνειδὼς ἐμαυτῷ, ὅτι ἐν ὑμῖν λαλήσας πολλὰ ἐπίσταμαι, ὅτι ἐμοὶ συνώδευσεν ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης κύριος, καὶ πάντως ἀναγκάζομαι κἀγὼ εἰς τοῦτο, ἀγαπᾶν ὑμᾶς ὑπὲρ τὴν ψυχήν μου, ὅτι μεγάλη πίστις καὶ ἀγάπη ἐγκατοικεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι ζωῆς αὐτοῦ.
pepeismenos oun touto kai syneidōs emautǭ, hoti en hymin lalēsas polla epistamai, hoti emoi synōdeusen en hodǭ dikaiosynēs kyrios, kai pantōs anankazomai kagō eis touto, agapan hymas hyper tēn psychēn mou, hoti megalē pistis kai agapē enkatoikei en hymin epʼ elpidi zōēs autou.
Being persuaded of this, then, and conscious that, having spoken much among you, I know that the Lord traveled with me on the way of righteousness, I too am wholly compelled to this: to love you more than my own life, because great faith and love dwell in you in the hope of his life.
Notes and citation
Summary: He loves them more than his life because of their faith and love.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.4 (Lake, LCL 24:340; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
1.5Lake, LCL 24:340–342
λογισάμενος οὖν τοῦτο, ὅτι ἐὰν μελήσῃ μοι περὶ ὑμῶν τοῦ μέρος τι μεταδοῦναι ἀφʼ οὗ ἔλαβον, ὅτι ἔσται μοι τοιούτοις πνεύμασιν ὑπηρετήσαντι εἰς μισθόν, ἐσπούδασα κατὰ μικρὸν ὑμῖν πέμπειν, ἵνα μετὰ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν τελείαν ἔχητε τὴν γνῶσιν.
logisamenos oun touto, hoti ean melēsę̄ moi peri hymōn tou meros ti metadounai aphʼ hou elabon, hoti estai moi toioutois pneumasin hypēretēsanti eis misthon, espoudasa kata mikron hymin pempein, hina meta tēs pisteōs hymōn teleian echēte tēn gnōsin.
Considering this, then, that if I take care to share with you some part of what I have received, it will bring me a reward for having served such spirits, I have hastened to send you a short letter, so that along with your faith you may have perfect knowledge.
Notes and citation
Summary: He writes so that they may have perfect knowledge along with their faith.
- “Knowledge” (γνῶσις): a key word of the letter, meaning the deeper, largely allegorical understanding of scripture that the author offers.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.5 (Lake, LCL 24:340–342; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
1.6Lake, LCL 24:342
Τρία οὖν δόγματά ἐστιν κυρίου· ζωῆς ἐλπίς, ἀρχὴ καὶ τέλος πίστεως ἡμῶν· καὶ δικαιοσύνη, κρίσεως ἀρχὴ καὶ τέλος· ἀγάπη εὐφροσύνης καὶ ἀγαλλιάσεως ἔργων δικαιοσύνης μαρτυρία.
Tria oun dogmata estin kyriou; zōēs elpis, archē kai telos pisteōs hēmōn; kai dikaiosynē, kriseōs archē kai telos; agapē euphrosynēs kai agalliaseōs ergōn dikaiosynēs martyria.
There are, then, three teachings of the Lord: the hope of life, the beginning and end of our faith; and righteousness, the beginning and end of judgment; love of gladness and exultation, the testimony of works of righteousness.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Three teachings of the Lord: hope, righteousness, and love.
- The Greek of this verse is uncertain and the manuscripts differ; the three “teachings” are hope, righteousness, and love.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.6 (Lake, LCL 24:342; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
1.7Lake, LCL 24:342
ἐγνώρισεν γὰρ ἡμῖν ὁ δεσπότης διὰ τῶν προφητῶν τὰ παρεληλυθότα καὶ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων δοὺς ἀπαρχὰς ἡμῖν γεύσεως, ὧν τὰ καθʼ ἕκαστα βλέποντες ἐνεργούμενα, καθὼς ἐλάλησεν, ὀφείλομεν πλουσιώτερον καὶ ὑψηλότερον προσάγειν τῷ φόβῳ αὐτοῦ.
egnōrisen gar hēmin ho despotēs dia tōn prophētōn ta parelēlythota kai ta enestōta, kai tōn mellontōn dous aparchas hēmin geuseōs, hōn ta kathʼ hekasta blepontes energoumena, kathōs elalēsen, opheilomen plousiōteron kai hypsēloteron prosagein tǭ phobǭ autou.
For the Master has made known to us through the prophets the things that are past and the things that are present, and has given us a foretaste of the things to come. As we see these things coming to pass one by one, just as he spoke, we ought to draw near to the fear of him more richly and more loftily.
Notes and citation
Summary: God has revealed past, present, and future through the prophets.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.7 (Lake, LCL 24:342; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
1.8Lake, LCL 24:342
ἐγὼ δὲ οὐχ ὡς διδάσκαλος, ἀλλʼ ὡς εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν ὑποδείξω ὀλίγα, διʼ ὧν ἐν τοῖς παροῦσιν εὐφρανθήσεσθε.
egō de ouch hōs didaskalos, allʼ hōs heis ex hymōn hypodeixō oliga, diʼ hōn en tois parousin euphranthēsesthe.
But I, not as a teacher but as one of you, will point out a few things by which you will be gladdened in the present circumstances.
Notes and citation
Summary: He writes not as a teacher but as one of them.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accents and breathing)): ἀλλʼ ὧς εἰς ἐξ ὑμῶν → ἀλλʼ ὡς εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 1.8 (Lake, LCL 24:342; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-1-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 2
2.1Lake, LCL 24:342
Ἡμερῶν οὖν οὐσῶν πονηρῶν καὶ αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐνεργοῦντος ἔχοντος τὴν ἐξουσίαν, ὀφείλομεν ἑαυτοῖς προσέχοντες ἐκζητεῖν τὰ δικαιώματα κυρίου,
Hēmerōn oun ousōn ponērōn kai autou tou energountos echontos tēn exousian, opheilomen heautois prosechontes ekzētein ta dikaiōmata kyriou,
Since, then, the days are evil and the one who is at work has the power, we ought to pay attention to ourselves and seek out the righteous decrees of the Lord.
Notes and citation
Summary: In evil days, seek the Lord's decrees.
- “The one who is at work”: the devil.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.1 (Lake, LCL 24:342; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2Lake, LCL 24:342
τῆς οὖν πίστεως ἡμῶν εἰσιν βοηθοὶ φόβος καὶ ὑπομονή, τὰ δὲ συμμαχοῦντα ἡμῖν μακροθυμία καὶ ἐγκράτεια·
tēs oun pisteōs hēmōn eisin boēthoi phobos kai hypomonē, ta de symmachounta hēmin makrothymia kai enkrateia;
The helpers of our faith, then, are fear and endurance, and our allies are patience and self-control.
Notes and citation
Summary: Faith's helpers: fear, endurance, patience, self-control.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.2 (Lake, LCL 24:342; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.3Lake, LCL 24:342–344
τούτων οὖν μενόντων τὰ πρὸς κύριον ἁγνῶς, συνευφραίνονται αὐτοῖς σοφία, σύνεσις, ἐπιστήμη, γνῶσις.
toutōn oun menontōn ta pros kyrion hagnōs, syneuphrainontai autois sophia, synesis, epistēmē, gnōsis.
While these remain in purity toward the Lord, wisdom, understanding, insight, and knowledge rejoice with them.
Notes and citation
Summary: With these, wisdom and knowledge follow.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.3 (Lake, LCL 24:342–344; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.4Lake, LCL 24:344
πεφανέρωκεν γὰρ ἡμῖν διὰ πάντων τῶν προφητῶν, ὅτι οὔτε θυσιῶν οὔτε ὁλοκαυτωμάτων οὔτε προσφορῶν χρῄζει, λέγων ὅτε μέν·
pephanerōken gar hēmin dia pantōn tōn prophētōn, hoti oute thysiōn oute holokautōmatōn oute prosphorōn chrę̄zei, legōn hote men;
For he has made clear to us through all the prophets that he needs neither sacrifices nor burnt offerings nor offerings, saying in one place:
Notes and citation
Summary: The prophets show God does not need sacrifices.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong breathing)): οὕτε θυσιῶν → οὔτε θυσιῶν.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.4 (Lake, LCL 24:344; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.5Lake, LCL 24:344
Τί μοι πλῆθος τῶν θυσιῶν ὑμῶν; λέγει κύριος. πλήρης εἰμὶ ὁλοκαυτωμάτων, καὶ στέαρ ἀρνῶν καὶ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων οὐ βούλομαι, οὐδʼ ἂν ἔρχησθε ὀφθῆναί μοι, τίς γὰρ ἐξεζήτησεν ταῦτα ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν; πατεῖν μου τὴν αὐλὴν οὐ προσθήσεσθε. ἐὰν φέρητε σεμίδαλιν, μάταιον· θυμίαμα βδέλυγμά μοί ἐστιν· τὰς νεομηνίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ σάββατα οὐκ ἀνέχομαι.
Ti moi plēthos tōn thysiōn hymōn? legei kyrios. plērēs eimi holokautōmatōn, kai stear arnōn kai haima taurōn kai tragōn ou boulomai, oudʼ an erchēsthe ophthēnai moi, tis gar exezētēsen tauta ek tōn cheirōn hymōn? patein mou tēn aulēn ou prosthēsesthe. ean pherēte semidalin, mataion; thymiama bdelygma moi estin; tas neomēnias hymōn kai ta sabbata ouk anechomai.
“What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? says the Lord. I am full of burnt offerings, and I do not want the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats, not even if you come to appear before me. For who has required these things from your hands? You shall no longer trample my court. If you bring fine flour, it is futile; incense is an abomination to me; your new moons and sabbaths I cannot endure.”
Isa 1:11 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 1:12 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 1:13 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaiah: God rejects empty sacrifices and festivals.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.5 (Lake, LCL 24:344; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.6Lake, LCL 24:344
ταῦτα οὖν κατήργησεν, ἵνα ὁ καινὸς νόμος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἄνευ ζυγοῦ ἀνάγκης ὤν, μὴ ἀνθρωποποίητον ἔχῃ τὴν προσφοράν.
tauta oun katērgēsen, hina ho kainos nomos tou kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou, aneu zygou anankēs ōn, mē anthrōpopoiēton echę̄ tēn prosphoran.
These things, then, he abolished, so that the new law of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is without the yoke of compulsion, might have an offering not made by human hands.
Notes and citation
Summary: The sacrifices were abolished for Christ's new law.
- The letter reads the Old Testament sacrificial and ritual laws as never having been meant literally; this is its central argument.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.6 (Lake, LCL 24:344; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.7Lake, LCL 24:344
λέγει δὲ πάλιν πρὸς αὐτούς· Μὴ ἐγὼ ἐνετειλάμην τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν ἐκπορευομένοις ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, προσενέγκαι μοι ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίας;
legei de palin pros autous; Mē egō eneteilamēn tois patrasin hymōn ekporeuomenois ek gēs Aigyptou, prosenenkai moi holokautōmata kai thysias?
And again he says to them, “Did I command your fathers, when they came out of the land of Egypt, to offer me burnt offerings and sacrifices?
Jer 7:22 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Jeremiah: God did not command sacrifices at the exodus.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.7 (Lake, LCL 24:344; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.8Lake, LCL 24:344
ἀλλʼ ἢ τοῦτο ἐνετειλάμην αὐτοῖς· ἕκαστος ὑμῶν κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ἑαυτοῦ κακίαν μὴ μνησικακείτω, καὶ ὅρκον ψευδῆ μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε.
allʼ ē touto eneteilamēn autois; hekastos hymōn kata tou plēsion en tę̄ kardią heautou kakian mē mnēsikakeitō, kai horkon pseudē mē agapate.
But this is what I commanded them: let none of you bear a grudge in his heart against his neighbor, and do not love a false oath.”
Zech 8:17 (quotation, high confidence) · Jer 7:23 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God commanded instead to bear no grudge and swear no false oath.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accent)): ἀλλʼ ἡ τοῦτο → ἀλλʼ ἢ τοῦτο.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.8 (Lake, LCL 24:344; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.9Lake, LCL 24:344
αἰσθάνεσθαι οὖν ὀφείλομεν, μὴ ὄντες ἀσύνετοι, τὴν γνώμην τῆς ἀγαθωσύνης τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν, ὅτʼ ἡμῖν λέγει, θέλων ἡμᾶς μὴ ὁμοίως πλανωμένους ἐκείνοις ζητεῖν, πῶς προσάγωμεν αὐτῷ.
aisthanesthai oun opheilomen, mē ontes asynetoi, tēn gnōmēn tēs agathōsynēs tou patros hēmōn, hotʼ hēmin legei, thelōn hēmas mē homoiōs planōmenous ekeinois zētein, pōs prosagōmen autǭ.
We ought to perceive, then, since we are not without understanding, the gracious purpose of our Father, for he speaks to us, wishing us not to go astray as they did, but to seek how we may draw near to him.
Notes and citation
Summary: God wants us not to go astray as they did.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.9 (Lake, LCL 24:344; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
2.10Lake, LCL 24:344–346
ἡμῖν οὖν οὕτως λέγει· Θυσία τῷ κυρίῳ καρδία συντετριμμένη, ὀσμὴ εὐωδίας τῷ κυρίῳ καρδία δοξάζουσα τὸν πεπλακότα αὐτήν. ἀκριβεύεσθαι οὖν ὀφείλομεν, ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν, ἵνα μὴ ὁ πονηρὸς παρείσδυσιν πλάνης ποιήσας ἐν ἡμῖν ἐκσφενδονήσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν.
hēmin oun houtōs legei; Thysia tǭ kyriǭ kardia syntetrimmenē, osmē euōdias tǭ kyriǭ kardia doxazousa ton peplakota autēn. akribeuesthai oun opheilomen, adelphoi, peri tēs sōtērias hēmōn, hina mē ho ponēros pareisdysin planēs poiēsas en hēmin eksphendonēsę̄ hēmas apo tēs zōēs hēmōn.
To us, then, he speaks thus: “A sacrifice to the Lord is a broken heart; a sweet fragrance to the Lord is a heart that glorifies the one who formed it.” We ought, then, brothers, to be very careful about our salvation, so that the evil one may not slip error into us and hurl us out of our life.
Ps 51:17 (50:19 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The true sacrifice is a broken heart; guard against the evil one.
- The first line is from Ps 51:17; the second is not in the Old Testament (a similar line appears in the Apocalypse of Adam).
Cite (SBL): Barn. 2.10 (Lake, LCL 24:344–346; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-2-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 3
3.1Lake, LCL 24:346
Λέγει οὖν πάλιν περὶ τούτων πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἱνατί μοι νηστεύετε, λέγει κύριος, ὡς σήμερον ἀκουσθῆναι ἐν κραυγῇ τὴν φωνὴν ὑμῶν; οὐ ταύτην τὴν νηστείαν ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην, λέγει κύριος, οὐκ ἄνθρωπον ταπεινοῦντα τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ,
Legei oun palin peri toutōn pros autous; Hinati moi nēsteuete, legei kyrios, hōs sēmeron akousthēnai en kraugę̄ tēn phōnēn hymōn? ou tautēn tēn nēsteian egō exelexamēn, legei kyrios, ouk anthrōpon tapeinounta tēn psychēn autou,
Again, then, he speaks to them about these things: “Why do you fast for me, says the Lord, so that today your voice is heard in a shout? This is not the fast that I have chosen, says the Lord, not a man humbling his soul;
Isa 58:4 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 58:5 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaiah on the fast God does not want.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Barn. 3.1 (Lake, LCL 24:346; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-3-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2Lake, LCL 24:346
οὐδʼ ἂν κάμψητε ὡς κρίκον τὸν τράχηλον ὑμῶν καὶ σάκκον ἐνδύσησθε καὶ σποδὸν ὑποστρώσητε, οὐδʼ οὕτως καλέσετε νηστείαν δεκτήν.
oudʼ an kampsēte hōs krikon ton trachēlon hymōn kai sakkon endysēsthe kai spodon hypostrōsēte, oudʼ houtōs kalesete nēsteian dektēn.
not even if you bend your neck like a ring and put on sackcloth and spread ashes beneath you, not even so will you call it an acceptable fast.”
Isa 58:5 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Outward signs of fasting are not enough.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Barn. 3.2 (Lake, LCL 24:346; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-3-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
3.3Lake, LCL 24:346
πρὸς ἡμᾶς δὲ λέγει· Ἰδοὺ αὕτη ἡ νηστεία, ἣν ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην, λέγει κύριος· λύε πάντα σύνδεσμον ἀδικίας, διάλυε στραγγαλιὰς βιαίων συναλλαγμάτων, ἀπόστελλε τεθραυσμένους ἐν ἀφέσει καὶ πᾶσαν ἄδικον συγγραφὴν διάσπα. διάθρυπτε πεινῶσιν τὸν ἄρτον σου, καὶ γυμνὸν ἐὰν ἴδῃς περίβαλε· ἀστέγους εἴσαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου, καὶ ἐὰν ἴδῃς ταπεινόν, οὐχ ὑπερόψῃ αὐτόν, οὐδὲ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκείων τοῦ σπέρματός σου.
pros hēmas de legei; Idou hautē hē nēsteia, hēn egō exelexamēn, legei kyrios; lye panta syndesmon adikias, dialye strangalias biaiōn synallagmatōn, apostelle tethrausmenous en aphesei kai pasan adikon syngraphēn diaspa. diathrypte peinōsin ton arton sou, kai gymnon ean idę̄s peribale; astegous eisage eis ton oikon sou, kai ean idę̄s tapeinon, ouch hyperopsę̄ auton, oude apo tōn oikeiōn tou spermatos sou.
But to us he says, “Behold, this is the fast that I have chosen, says the Lord: loose every bond of unrighteousness, untie the knots of forced contracts, send away the broken in release, and tear up every unjust agreement. Break your bread for the hungry, and if you see someone naked, clothe him; bring the homeless into your house; and if you see a lowly person, do not despise him, nor anyone of your own family.
Isa 58:6 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 58:7 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The true fast: justice, freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (missing accent)): εἰς τὸν οἶκον σου → εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 3.3 (Lake, LCL 24:346; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-3-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
3.4Lake, LCL 24:346
τότε ῥαγήσεται πρώϊμον τὸ φῶς σου, καὶ τὰ ἰάματά σου ταχέως ἀνατελεῖ, καὶ προπορεύσεται ἔμπροσθέν σου ἡ δικαιοσύνη, καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ θεοῦ περιστελεῖ σε.
tote rhagēsetai prōïmon to phōs sou, kai ta iamata sou tacheōs anatelei, kai proporeusetai emprosthen sou hē dikaiosynē, kai hē doxa tou theou peristelei se.
Then your light will break forth early, and your healing will spring up quickly, and righteousness will go before you, and the glory of God will surround you.
Isa 58:8 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Then light and healing will come.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (probable digitization slip: “garments” for “healing” (ἰάματα, as in Isa 58:8 LXX and Lake's text)): τὰ ἱμάτιά σου → τὰ ἰάματά σου.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 3.4 (Lake, LCL 24:346; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-3-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
3.5Lake, LCL 24:346–348
τότε βοήσεις, καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐπακούσεταί σου, ἔτι λαλοῦντός σου ἐρεῖ· Ἰδοὺ πάρειμι· ἐὰν ἀφέλῃς ἀπὸ σοῦ σύνδεσμον καὶ χειροτονίαν καὶ ῥῆμα γογγυσμοῦ, καὶ δῷς πεινῶντι τὸν ἄρτον σου ἐκ ψυχῆς σου καὶ ψυχὴν τεταπεινωμένην ἐλεήσῃς.
tote boēseis, kai ho theos epakousetai sou, eti lalountos sou erei; Idou pareimi; ean aphelę̄s apo sou syndesmon kai cheirotonian kai rhēma gongysmou, kai dǭs peinōnti ton arton sou ek psychēs sou kai psychēn tetapeinōmenēn eleēsę̄s.
Then you will call out, and God will hear you; while you are still speaking he will say, ‘Behold, here I am’: if you take away from yourself the bond and the pointing of the finger and the word of grumbling, and give your bread to the hungry from your soul, and have mercy on a humbled soul.”
Isa 58:9 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 58:10 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God will answer those who show mercy.
- “The pointing of the finger” (χειροτονία): literally “stretching out the hand”; in Isa 58:9 it is a gesture of contempt.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Barn. 3.5 (Lake, LCL 24:346–348; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-3-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
3.6Lake, LCL 24:348
εἰς τοῦτο οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ὁ μακρόθυμος προβλέψας, ὡς ἐν ἀκεραιοσύνῃ πιστεύσει ὁ λαός, ὃν ἡτοίμασεν ἐν τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ αὐτοῦ, προεφανέρωσεν ἡμῖν περὶ πάντων, ἵνα μὴ προσρησσώμεθα ὡς ἐπήλυτοι τῷ ἐκείνων νόμῳ.
eis touto oun, adelphoi, ho makrothymos problepsas, hōs en akeraiosynę̄ pisteusei ho laos, hon hētoimasen en tǭ ēgapēmenǭ autou, proephanerōsen hēmin peri pantōn, hina mē prosrēssōmetha hōs epēlytoi tǭ ekeinōn nomǭ.
For this reason, then, brothers, the long-suffering one, foreseeing that the people whom he prepared in his Beloved would believe in innocence, revealed everything to us beforehand, so that we might not be shipwrecked as proselytes to their law.
Notes and citation
Summary: God warned us beforehand so that we would not become proselytes to the Jewish law.
- “Their law”: the Jewish law as observed literally. The author sharply opposes Christian adoption of Jewish practice.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 3.6 (Lake, LCL 24:348; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-3-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 4
4.1Lake, LCL 24:348
Δεῖ οὖν ἡμᾶς περὶ τῶν ἐνεστώτων ἐπιπολὺ ἐραυνῶντας ἐκζητεῖν τὰ δυνάμενα ἡμᾶς σώζειν. φύγωμεν οὖν τελείως ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων τῆς ἀνομίας, μήποτε καταλάβῃ ἡμᾶς τὰ ἔργα τῆς ἀνομίας· καὶ μισήσωμεν τὴν πλάνην τοῦ νῦν καιροῦ, ἵνα εἰς τὸν μέλλοντα ἀγαπηθῶμεν.
Dei oun hēmas peri tōn enestōtōn epipoly eraunōntas ekzētein ta dynamena hēmas sōzein. phygōmen oun teleiōs apo pantōn tōn ergōn tēs anomias, mēpote katalabę̄ hēmas ta erga tēs anomias; kai misēsōmen tēn planēn tou nyn kairou, hina eis ton mellonta agapēthōmen.
We must, then, search diligently about present things and seek out what is able to save us. Let us flee completely from all the works of lawlessness, lest the works of lawlessness overtake us; and let us hate the error of the present time, so that we may be loved in the time to come.
Notes and citation
Summary: Flee lawlessness and hate the error of the present age.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong breathing and accent)): φύγωμεν οὑν → φύγωμεν οὖν.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.1 (Lake, LCL 24:348; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.2Lake, LCL 24:348
μὴ δῶμεν τῇ ἑαυτῶν ψυχῇ ἄνεσιν, ὥστε ἔχειν αὐτὴν ἐξουσίαν μετὰ ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ πονηρῶν συντρέχειν, μήποτε ὁμοιωθῶμεν αὐτοῖς.
mē dōmen tę̄ heautōn psychę̄ anesin, hōste echein autēn exousian meta hamartōlōn kai ponērōn syntrechein, mēpote homoiōthōmen autois.
Let us not give our soul freedom to run with sinners and wicked people, lest we become like them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not keep company with the wicked.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.2 (Lake, LCL 24:348; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.3Lake, LCL 24:348
τὸ τέλειον σκάνδαλον ἤγγικεν, περὶ οὗ γέγραπται, ὡς Ἐνὼχ λέγει. Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ὁ δεσπότης συντέτμηκεν τοὺς καιροὺς καὶ τὰς ἡμέρας, ἵνα ταχύνῃ ὁ ἠγαπημένος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν ἥξῃ,
to teleion skandalon ēngiken, peri hou gegraptai, hōs Enōch legei. Eis touto gar ho despotēs syntetmēken tous kairous kai tas hēmeras, hina tachynę̄ ho ēgapēmenos autou kai epi tēn klēronomian hēxę̄,
The final stumbling block has drawn near, about which it is written, as Enoch says: “For this reason the Master has cut short the times and the days, so that his Beloved may hurry and come to his inheritance.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The final trial is near, as Enoch foretold.
- The quotation is attributed to Enoch but is not found in the surviving books of Enoch.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong breathing and accent)): περὶ οὖ γέγραπται → περὶ οὗ γέγραπται.
Extrabiblical texts: 1 En. (1 Enoch [in the ETH canon]; quotation)
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.3 (Lake, LCL 24:348; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.4Lake, LCL 24:348
λέγει δὲ οὕτως καὶ ὁ προφήτης· Βασιλεῖαι δέκα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς βασιλεύσουσιν, καὶ ἐξαναστήσεται ὄπισθεν μικρὸς βασιλεύς, ὃς ταπεινώσει τρεῖς ὑφʼ ἓν τῶν βασιλέων.
legei de houtōs kai ho prophētēs; Basileiai deka epi tēs gēs basileusousin, kai exanastēsetai opisthen mikros basileus, hos tapeinōsei treis hyphʼ hen tōn basileōn.
And the prophet also speaks thus: “Ten kingdoms will reign upon the earth, and after them a little king will arise, who will subdue three of the kings at once.”
Dan 7:24 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Daniel's ten kingdoms and the little king.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.4 (Lake, LCL 24:348; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.5Lake, LCL 24:348–350
ὁμοίως περὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ λέγει Δανιήλ· Καὶ εἶδον τὸ τέταρτον θηρίον τὸ πονηρὸν καὶ ἰσχυρὸν καὶ χαλεπώτερον παρὰ πάντα τὰ θηρία τῆς θαλάσσης, καὶ ὡς ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἀνέτειλεν δέκα κέρατα, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν μικρὸν κέρας παραφυάδιον, καὶ ὡς ἐταπείνωσεν ὑφʼ ἓν τρία τῶν μεγάλων κεράτων.
homoiōs peri tou autou legei Daniēl; Kai eidon to tetarton thērion to ponēron kai ischyron kai chalepōteron para panta ta thēria tēs thalassēs, kai hōs ex autou aneteilen deka kerata, kai ex autōn mikron keras paraphyadion, kai hōs etapeinōsen hyphʼ hen tria tōn megalōn keratōn.
Likewise Daniel says concerning the same: “And I saw the fourth beast, wicked and strong and more fierce than all the beasts of the sea, and how ten horns sprang from it, and from them a little offshoot horn, and how it subdued three of the great horns at once.”
Dan 7:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Dan 7:8 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Daniel's fourth beast and the little horn.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.5 (Lake, LCL 24:348–350; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.6Lake, LCL 24:350
συνιέναι οὖν ὀφείλετε. ἔτι δὲ καὶ τοῦτο ἐρωτῶ ὑμᾶς ὡς εἶς ἐξ ὑμῶν ὤν, ἰδίως δὲ καὶ πάντας ἀγαπῶν ὑπὲρ τὴν ψυχήν μου, προσέχειν νῦν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ μὴ ὁμοιοῦσθαί τισιν ἐπισωρεύοντας ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν λέγοντας, ὅτι ἡ διαθήκη ἐκείνων καὶ ἡμῶν.
synienai oun opheilete. eti de kai touto erōtō hymas hōs eis ex hymōn ōn, idiōs de kai pantas agapōn hyper tēn psychēn mou, prosechein nyn heautois kai mē homoiousthai tisin episōreuontas tais hamartiais hymōn legontas, hoti hē diathēkē ekeinōn kai hēmōn.
You ought, then, to understand. And I ask you this also, as one who is one of you and who loves you all individually more than my own life: take heed to yourselves now, and do not be like some, heaping up your sins and saying that the covenant is both theirs and ours.
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not say that the covenant belongs to both Jews and Christians.
- A key text for the letter's view that the covenant belongs to Christians only, not to the Jewish people; see 4.7–8. This view was not shared by all early Christian writers.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.6 (Lake, LCL 24:350; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.7Lake, LCL 24:350
ἡμῶν μέν· ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνοι οὕτως εἰς τέλος ἀπώλεσαν αὐτὴν λαβόντος ἤδη τοῦ Μωϋσέως. λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφή· Καὶ ἦν Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ ὄρει νηστεύων ἡμέρας τεσσαράκοντα καὶ νύκτας τεσσαράκοντα, καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν διαθήκην ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου, πλάκας λιθίνας γεγραμμένας τῷ δακτύλῳ τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ κυρίου.
hēmōn men; allʼ ekeinoi houtōs eis telos apōlesan autēn labontos ēdē tou Mōÿseōs. legei gar hē graphē; Kai ēn Mōÿsēs en tǭ orei nēsteuōn hēmeras tessarakonta kai nyktas tessarakonta, kai elaben tēn diathēkēn apo tou kyriou, plakas lithinas gegrammenas tǭ daktylǭ tēs cheiros tou kyriou.
It is ours; but they lost it completely in this way, after Moses had already received it. For the scripture says, “And Moses was on the mountain fasting forty days and forty nights, and he received the covenant from the Lord, stone tablets written with the finger of the hand of the Lord.”
Exod 34:28 (allusion, high confidence) · Exod 31:18 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The covenant given to Moses was lost by Israel.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.7 (Lake, LCL 24:350; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.8Lake, LCL 24:350
ἀλλὰ ἐπιστραφέντες ἐπὶ τὰ εἴδωλα ἀπώλεσαν αὐτήν. λέγει γὰρ οὕτως κύριος· Μωϋσῆ Μωϋσῆ, κατάβηθι τὸ τάχος, ὅτι ἠνόμησεν ὁ λαός σου, οὓς ἐξήγαγες ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ συνῆκεν Μωϋσῆς καὶ ἔριψεν τὰς δύο πλάκας ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνετρίβη αὐτῶν ἡ διαθήκη, ἵνα ἡ τοῦ ἠγαπημένου Ἰησοῦ ἐγκατασφραγισθῇ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ἡμῶν ἐν ἐλπίδι τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ.
alla epistraphentes epi ta eidōla apōlesan autēn. legei gar houtōs kyrios; Mōÿsē Mōÿsē, katabēthi to tachos, hoti ēnomēsen ho laos sou, hous exēgages ek gēs Aigyptou, kai synēken Mōÿsēs kai eripsen tas dyo plakas ek tōn cheirōn autou; kai synetribē autōn hē diathēkē, hina hē tou ēgapēmenou Iēsou enkatasphragisthę̄ eis tēn kardian hēmōn en elpidi tēs pisteōs autou.
But turning to idols they lost it. For the Lord says thus: “Moses, Moses, go down quickly, for your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have acted lawlessly.” And Moses understood, and threw the two tablets out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, so that the covenant of the Beloved, Jesus, might be sealed in our hearts in the hope of faith in him.
Exod 32:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Exod 32:19 (allusion, high confidence) · Deut 9:12 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Israel's idolatry broke the covenant; Jesus's covenant is sealed in our hearts.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (punctuation slip in the digital text (a quotation follows)): λέγει γὰρ οὕτως κύριος. Μωϋσῆ → λέγει γὰρ οὕτως κύριος· Μωϋσῆ.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.8 (Lake, LCL 24:350; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.9Lake, LCL 24:350–352
πολλὰ δὲ θέλων γράφειν, οὐχ ὡς διδάσκαλος, ἀλλʼ ὡς πρέπει ἀγαπῶντι ἀφʼ ὧν ἔχομεν μὴ ἐλλείπειν, γράφειν ἐσπούδασα, περίψημα ὑμῶν. διὸ προσέχωμεν ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις· οὐδὲν γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἡμᾶς ὁ πᾶς χρόνος τῆς πίστεως ἡμῶν, ἐὰν μὴ νῦν ἐν τῷ ἀνόμῳ καιρῷ καὶ τοῖς μέλλουσιν σκανδάλοις, ὡς πρέπει υἱοῖς θεοῦ, ἀντιστῶμεν, ἵνα μὴ σχῇ παρείσδυσιν ὁ μέλας.
polla de thelōn graphein, ouch hōs didaskalos, allʼ hōs prepei agapōnti aphʼ hōn echomen mē elleipein, graphein espoudasa, peripsēma hymōn. dio prosechōmen en tais eschatais hēmerais; ouden gar ōphelēsei hēmas ho pas chronos tēs pisteōs hēmōn, ean mē nyn en tǭ anomǭ kairǭ kai tois mellousin skandalois, hōs prepei huiois theou, antistōmen, hina mē schę̄ pareisdysin ho melas.
Though I wish to write many things, not as a teacher but as befits one who loves, not to fall short of what we have, I have hastened to write, I your devoted servant. So let us take heed in the last days; for the whole time of our faith will profit us nothing unless now, in the lawless time and in the stumbling blocks to come, we resist, as befits sons of God, so that the Black One may not find a way in.
Notes and citation
Summary: In the last days, resist so that the devil cannot slip in.
- “Your devoted servant” (περίψημα ὑμῶν): literally “your scapegoat” or “offscouring”; a phrase of humble devotion (compare 6.5; Ign. Eph. 8.1).
- “The Black One”: the devil.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.9 (Lake, LCL 24:350–352; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.10Lake, LCL 24:352
φύγωμεν ἀπὸ πάσης ματαιότητος, μισήσωμεν τελείως τὰ ἔργα τῆς πονηρᾶς ὁδοῦ. μὴ καθʼ ἑαυτοὺς ἐνδύνοντες μονάζετε ὡς ἤδη δεδικαιωμένοι, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ συνερχόμενοι συνζητεῖτε περὶ τοῦ κοινῇ συμφέροντος.
phygōmen apo pasēs mataiotētos, misēsōmen teleiōs ta erga tēs ponēras hodou. mē kathʼ heautous endynontes monazete hōs ēdē dedikaiōmenoi, allʼ epi to auto synerchomenoi synzēteite peri tou koinę̄ sympherontos.
Let us flee from all vanity; let us utterly hate the works of the evil way. Do not withdraw by yourselves and live alone, as though already justified, but come together and seek together what is for the common good.
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not live in isolation; gather and seek the common good.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.10 (Lake, LCL 24:352; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.11Lake, LCL 24:352
λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφή· Οὐαὶ οἱ συνετοὶ ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐνώπιον ἑαυτῶν ἐπιστήμονες. γενώμεθα πνευματικοί, γενώμεθα ναὸς τέλειος τῷ θεῷ. ἐφʼ ὅσον ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμῖν, μελετῶμεν τὸν φόβον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ φυλάσσειν ἀγωνιζώμεθα τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἐν τοῖς δικαιώμασιν αὐτοῦ εὐφρανθῶμεν.
legei gar hē graphē; Ouai hoi synetoi heautois kai enōpion heautōn epistēmones. genōmetha pneumatikoi, genōmetha naos teleios tǭ theǭ. ephʼ hoson estin en hēmin, meletōmen ton phobon tou theou kai phylassein agōnizōmetha tas entolas autou, hina en tois dikaiōmasin autou euphranthōmen.
For the scripture says, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” Let us become spiritual; let us become a perfect temple for God. As far as it lies with us, let us practice the fear of God and strive to keep his commandments, so that we may rejoice in his righteous decrees.
Isa 5:21 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Cor 3:16 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Become spiritual, a perfect temple for God.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong vowel)): ἐνώπιαν ἑαυτῶν → ἐνώπιον ἑαυτῶν.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.11 (Lake, LCL 24:352; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.12Lake, LCL 24:352
ὁ κύριος ἀπροσωπολήμπτως κρινεῖ τὸν κόσμον. ἕκαστος καθὼς ἐποίησεν κομιεῖται. ἐὰν ᾖ ἀγαθός, ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ προηγήσεται αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν ᾖ πονηρός, ὁ μισθὸς τῆς πονηρίας ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ·
ho kyrios aprosōpolēmptōs krinei ton kosmon. hekastos kathōs epoiēsen komieitai. ean ę̄ agathos, hē dikaiosynē autou proēgēsetai autou; ean ę̄ ponēros, ho misthos tēs ponērias emprosthen autou;
The Lord will judge the world without partiality. Each will receive according to what he has done. If he is good, his righteousness will go before him; if he is wicked, the wages of wickedness will be before him.
1 Pet 1:17 (echo, medium confidence) · 2 Cor 5:10 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God judges without favoritism; each receives according to deeds.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.12 (Lake, LCL 24:352; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-12).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.13Lake, LCL 24:352
ἵνα μήποτε ἐπαναπαυόμενοι ὡς κλητοὶ ἐπικαθυπνώσωμεν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς ἄρχων λαβὼν τὴν καθʼ ἡμῶν ἐξουσίαν ἀπώσηται ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ κυρίου.
hina mēpote epanapauomenoi hōs klētoi epikathypnōsōmen tais hamartiais hēmōn, kai ho ponēros archōn labōn tēn kathʼ hēmōn exousian apōsētai hēmas apo tēs basileias tou kyriou.
Let us never rest as those who are called and fall asleep in our sins, and the evil ruler gain power over us and thrust us out of the kingdom of the Lord.
Notes and citation
Summary: Do not grow complacent as the called, lest the devil cast us out.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (misplaced accent)): ἐπαναπαύομενοι → ἐπαναπαυόμενοι.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.13 (Lake, LCL 24:352; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-13).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
4.14Lake, LCL 24:352–354
ἔτι δὲ κἀκεῖνο, ἀδελφοί μου, νοεῖτε· ὅταν βλέπετε μετὰ τηλικαῦτα σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα γεγονότα ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ οὕτως ἐγκαταλελεῖφθαι αὐτούς· προσέχωμεν, μήποτε, ὡς γέγραπται, πολλοὶ κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοὶ εὑρεθῶμεν.
eti de kakeino, adelphoi mou, noeite; hotan blepete meta tēlikauta sēmeia kai terata gegonota en tǭ Israēl, kai houtōs enkataleleiphthai autous; prosechōmen, mēpote, hōs gegraptai, polloi klētoi, oligoi de eklektoi heurethōmen.
And consider this also, my brothers: when you see that after such great signs and wonders were done in Israel, even so they were abandoned, let us take heed lest, as it is written, we be found “many called, but few chosen.”
Matt 22:14 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Israel was abandoned despite great signs: many are called, few chosen.
- “As it is written”: a saying of Jesus (Matt 22:14) introduced as scripture.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Barn. 4.14 (Lake, LCL 24:352–354; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-4-14).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 5
5.1Lake, LCL 24:354
Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ὑπέμεινεν ὁ κύριος παραδοῦναι τὴν σάρκα εἰς καταφθοράν, ἵνα τῇ ἀφέσει τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἁγνισθῶμεν, ὅ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ αἵματι τοῦ ῥαντίσματος αὐτοῦ.
Eis touto gar hypemeinen ho kyrios paradounai tēn sarka eis kataphthoran, hina tę̄ aphesei tōn hamartiōn hagnisthōmen, ho estin en tǭ haimati tou rhantismatos autou.
For this reason the Lord endured to hand over his flesh to destruction, so that we might be made pure by the forgiveness of sins, that is, by his sprinkled blood.
1 Pet 1:2 (echo, medium confidence) · Heb 12:24 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Christ gave his flesh so that we might be cleansed by his blood.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.1 (Lake, LCL 24:354; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.2Lake, LCL 24:354
γέγραπται γὰρ περὶ αὐτοῦ ἃ μὲν πρὸς τὸν Ἰσραήλ, ἃ δὲ πρὸς ἡμᾶς, λέγει δὲ οὕτως· Ἐτραυματίσθη διὰ τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν καὶ μεμαλάκισται διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν· τῷ μώλωπι αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς ἰάθημεν· ὡς πρόβατον ἐπὶ σφαγὴν ἤχθη, καὶ ὡς ἀμνὸς ἄφωνος ἐναντίον τοῦ κείραντος αὐτόν.
gegraptai gar peri autou ha men pros ton Israēl, ha de pros hēmas, legei de houtōs; Etraumatisthē dia tas anomias hēmōn kai memalakistai dia tas hamartias hēmōn; tǭ mōlōpi autou hēmeis iathēmen; hōs probaton epi sphagēn ēchthē, kai hōs amnos aphōnos enantion tou keirantos auton.
For it is written about him, some things concerning Israel and some concerning us, and it says thus: “He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sins; by his stripes we were healed. He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer.”
Isa 53:5 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 53:7 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaiah's suffering servant is Christ.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accent)): ἅ μὲν πρὸς → ἃ μὲν πρὸς.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.2 (Lake, LCL 24:354; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.3Lake, LCL 24:354
οὐκοῦν ὑπερευχαριστεῖν ὀφείλομεν τῷ κυρίῳ, ὅτι καὶ τὰ παρεληλυθότα ἡμῖν ἐγνώρισεν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐνεστῶσιν ἡμᾶς ἐσόφισεν. καὶ εἰς τὰ μέλλοντα οὐκ ἐσμὲν ἀσύνετοι.
oukoun hypereucharistein opheilomen tǭ kyriǭ, hoti kai ta parelēlythota hēmin egnōrisen kai en tois enestōsin hēmas esophisen. kai eis ta mellonta ouk esmen asynetoi.
We ought, then, to give great thanks to the Lord, because he has made known to us the things that are past, and made us wise in things present, and we are not without understanding regarding things to come.
Notes and citation
Summary: Give thanks for God's revelation of past, present, and future.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.3 (Lake, LCL 24:354; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.4Lake, LCL 24:354
λέγει δὲ ἡ γραφή· Οὐκ ἀδίκως ἐκτείνεται δίκτυα πτερωτοῖς. τοῦτο λέγει, ὅτι δικαίως ἀπολεῖται ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἔχων ὁδοῦ δικαιοσύνης γνῶσιν ἑαυτὸν εἰς ὁδὸν σκότους ἀποσυνέχει.
legei de hē graphē; Ouk adikōs ekteinetai diktya pterōtois. touto legei, hoti dikaiōs apoleitai anthrōpos, hos echōn hodou dikaiosynēs gnōsin heauton eis hodon skotous aposynechei.
And the scripture says, “Not unjustly are nets spread for birds.” It means this: that a man who has knowledge of the way of righteousness will justly perish if he shuts himself up in the way of darkness.
Prov 1:17 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Whoever knows the right way but chooses darkness perishes justly.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.4 (Lake, LCL 24:354; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.5Lake, LCL 24:354
ἔτι δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ἀδελφοί μου· εἰ ὁ κύριος ὑπέμεινεν παθεῖν περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς ἡμῶν, ὢν παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου κύριος ᾧ εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου· Ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον κατʼ εἰκόνα καὶ καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν ἡμετέραν· πῶς οὖν ὑπέμεινεν ὑπὸ χειρὸς ἀνθρώπων παθεῖν;
eti de kai touto, adelphoi mou; ei ho kyrios hypemeinen pathein peri tēs psychēs hēmōn, ōn pantos tou kosmou kyrios hǭ eipen ho theos apo katabolēs kosmou; Poiēsōmen anthrōpon katʼ eikona kai kathʼ homoiōsin hēmeteran; pōs oun hypemeinen hypo cheiros anthrōpōn pathein?
And further, my brothers: if the Lord endured to suffer for our soul, though he is Lord of the whole world, to whom God said at the foundation of the world, “Let us make man according to our image and likeness,” how, then, did he endure to suffer at the hand of men?
Gen 1:26 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Why did the Lord of the world, addressed at creation, suffer at human hands?
- The author reads Gen 1:26 (“Let us make”) as God speaking to the Son; see also 6.12.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.5 (Lake, LCL 24:354; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.6Lake, LCL 24:354–356
μάθετε. οἱ προφῆται, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχοντες τὴν χάριν, εἰς αὐτὸν ἐπροφήτευσαν· αὐτὸς δέ, ἵνα καταργήσῃ τὸν θάνατον καὶ τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀνάστασιν δείξῃ, ὅτι ἐν σαρκὶ ἔδει αὐτὸν φανερωθῆναι, ὑπέμεινεν,
mathete. hoi prophētai, apʼ autou echontes tēn charin, eis auton eprophēteusan; autos de, hina katargēsę̄ ton thanaton kai tēn ek nekrōn anastasin deixę̄, hoti en sarki edei auton phanerōthēnai, hypemeinen,
Learn: the prophets, having their grace from him, prophesied of him; and he, in order to abolish death and show the resurrection from the dead, because he had to be manifested in the flesh, endured,
2 Tim 1:10 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Christ endured suffering to abolish death and show the resurrection.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong breathings)): ὅτι ὲν σαρκὶ ἕδει → ὅτι ἐν σαρκὶ ἔδει.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.6 (Lake, LCL 24:354–356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.7Lake, LCL 24:356
ἵνα τοῖς πατράσιν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν ἀποδῷ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ τὸν λαὸν τὸν καινὸν ἑτοιμάζων ἐπιδείξῃ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὤν, ὅτι τὴν ἀνάστασιν αὐτὸς ποιήσας κρινεῖ.
hina tois patrasin tēn epangelian apodǭ, kai autos heautǭ ton laon ton kainon hetoimazōn epideixę̄ epi tēs gēs ōn, hoti tēn anastasin autos poiēsas krinei.
so that he might fulfill the promise made to the fathers, and, preparing the new people for himself, show while he was on earth that he himself will raise the dead and will judge.
Notes and citation
Summary: He fulfilled the promise and prepared a new people.
Topics: Christology, Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.7 (Lake, LCL 24:356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.8Lake, LCL 24:356
πέρας γέ τοι διδάσκων τὸν Ἰσραὴλ καὶ τηλικαῦτα τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα ποιῶν ἐκήρυσσεν, καὶ ὑπερηγάπησεν αὐτόν.
peras ge toi didaskōn ton Israēl kai tēlikauta terata kai sēmeia poiōn ekēryssen, kai hyperēgapēsen auton.
Indeed, he taught Israel and did such great wonders and signs, and preached, and loved them exceedingly.
Notes and citation
Summary: He taught Israel and loved them greatly.
- The sense of the last clause is uncertain: “he loved them” (Israel) or “they loved him.”
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.8 (Lake, LCL 24:356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.9Lake, LCL 24:356
ὅτε δὲ τοὺς ἰδίους ἀποστόλους τοὺς μέλλοντας κηρύσσειν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον αὐτοῦ ἐξελέξατο, ὄντας ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν ἁμαρτίαν ἀνομωτέρους, ἵνα δείξῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἦλθεν καλέσαι δικαίους, ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς, τότε ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτὸν εἶναι υἱὸν θεοῦ.
hote de tous idious apostolous tous mellontas kēryssein to euangelion autou exelexato, ontas hyper pasan hamartian anomōterous, hina deixę̄, hoti ouk ēlthen kalesai dikaious, alla hamartōlous, tote ephanerōsen heauton einai huion theou.
And when he chose his own apostles, who were to preach his gospel, men who were lawless beyond all sin, so that he might show that he came not to call the righteous but sinners, then he revealed himself to be the Son of God.
Matt 9:13 (quotation, high confidence) · Mark 2:17 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Christ chose sinners as apostles to show he came for sinners.
- “Lawless beyond all sin”: a striking exaggeration, to stress that Christ called sinners.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.9 (Lake, LCL 24:356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.10Lake, LCL 24:356
εἰ γὰρ μὴ ἦλθεν ἐν σαρκί, οὐδʼ ἄν πως οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐσώθησαν βλέποντες αὐτόν, ὅτε τὸν μέλλοντα μὴ εἶναι ἥλιον, ἔργου τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ ὑπάρχοντα, ἐμβλέποντες οὐκ ἰσχύουσιν εἰς τὰς ἀκτῖνας αὐτοῦ ἀντοφθαλμῆσαι·
ei gar mē ēlthen en sarki, oudʼ an pōs hoi anthrōpoi esōthēsan blepontes auton, hote ton mellonta mē einai hēlion, ergou tōn cheirōn autou hyparchonta, emblepontes ouk ischyousin eis tas aktinas autou antophthalmēsai;
For if he had not come in the flesh, how could people have been saved by looking at him? For when they look at the sun, which will cease to exist and is the work of his hands, they cannot gaze directly into its rays.
Notes and citation
Summary: Christ came in the flesh because no one could look on his glory directly.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.10 (Lake, LCL 24:356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.11Lake, LCL 24:356
οὐκοῦν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς τοῦτο ἐν σαρκὶ ἦλθεν, ἵνα τὸ τέλειον τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἀνακεφαλαιώσῃ τοῖς διώξασιν ἐν θανάτῳ τοὺς προφήτας αὐτοῦ.
oukoun ho huios tou theou eis touto en sarki ēlthen, hina to teleion tōn hamartiōn anakephalaiōsę̄ tois diōxasin en thanatǭ tous prophētas autou.
So the Son of God came in the flesh for this reason, that he might bring to completion the full measure of sins of those who persecuted his prophets to death.
Matt 23:32 (echo, medium confidence) · 1 Thess 2:15 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: He came in the flesh to complete the sins of those who killed the prophets.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.11 (Lake, LCL 24:356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.12Lake, LCL 24:356
οὐκοῦν εἰς τοῦτο ὑπέμεινεν. λέγει γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τὴν πληγὴν τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἐξ αὐτῶν· Ὅταν πατάξωσιν τὸν ποιμένα ἑαυτῶν, τότε ἀπολεῖται τὰ πρόβατα τῆς ποίμνης.
oukoun eis touto hypemeinen. legei gar ho theos tēn plēgēn tēs sarkos autou hoti ex autōn; Hotan pataxōsin ton poimena heautōn, tote apoleitai ta probata tēs poimnēs.
So for this he endured. For God says that the wound of his flesh came from them: “When they strike their shepherd, then the sheep of the flock will perish.”
Zech 13:7 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 26:31 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Zechariah foretold that the shepherd would be struck.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.12 (Lake, LCL 24:356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-12).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.13Lake, LCL 24:356
αὐτὸς δὲ ἠθέλησεν οὕτω παθεῖν· ἔδει γάρ, ἵνα ἐπὶ ξύλου πάθῃ. λέγει γὰρ ὁ προφητεύων ἐπʼ αὐτῷ· Φεῖσαί μου τῆς ψυχῆς ἀπὸ ῥομφαίας, καί· Καθήλωσόν μου τὰς σάρκας, ὅτι πονηρευομένων συναγωγαὶ ἐπανέστησάν μοι.
autos de ēthelēsen houtō pathein; edei gar, hina epi xylou pathę̄. legei gar ho prophēteuōn epʼ autǭ; Pheisai mou tēs psychēs apo rhomphaias, kai; Kathēlōson mou tas sarkas, hoti ponēreuomenōn synagōgai epanestēsan moi.
But he himself willed to suffer thus, for it was necessary that he suffer on a tree. For the one who prophesies of him says, “Spare my soul from the sword,” and, “Nail my flesh, for the assemblies of evildoers have risen up against me.”
Ps 22:20 (21:21 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 119:120 (118:120 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 22:16 (21:17 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 86:14 (85:14 LXX) (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Psalms foretold his suffering on a tree.
- “Nail my flesh”: from Ps 119:120 LXX (118:120), read as a prophecy of the crucifixion.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip: part of a word was repeated; punctuation slip in the digital text (a quotation follows)): ἐπʼ αὐτῷ. Φεῖσαί → ἐπʼ αὐτῷ· Φεῖσαί; ἐπανέστησάν νέστησάν μοι → ἐπανέστησάν μοι.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.13 (Lake, LCL 24:356; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-13).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
5.14Lake, LCL 24:356–358
καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Ἰδού, τέθεικά μου τὸν νῶτον εἰς μάστιγας, τὰς δὲ σιαγόνας εἰς ῥαπίσματα. τὸ δὲ πρόσωπόν μου ἔθηκα ὡς στερεὰν πέτραν.
kai palin legei; Idou, tetheika mou ton nōton eis mastigas, tas de siagonas eis rhapismata. to de prosōpon mou ethēka hōs sterean petran.
And again he says, “Behold, I have given my back to scourges and my cheeks to blows, and I have set my face like a solid rock.”
Isa 50:6 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 50:7 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaiah: the servant gave his back to scourging.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 5.14 (Lake, LCL 24:356–358; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-5-14).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 6
6.1Lake, LCL 24:358
Ὅτε οὖν ἐποίησεν τὴν ἐντολήν, τί λέγει; Τίς ὁ κρινόμενός μοι; ἀντιστήτω μοι· ἢ τίς ὁ δικαιούμενός μοι; ἐγγισάτω τῷ παιδὶ κυρίου.
Hote oun epoiēsen tēn entolēn, ti legei? Tis ho krinomenos moi? antistētō moi; ē tis ho dikaioumenos moi? engisatō tǭ paidi kyriou.
When, then, he gave the command, what does he say? “Who is the one who disputes with me? Let him oppose me. Or who is the one who goes to law with me? Let him draw near to the Servant of the Lord.
Isa 50:8 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Isaiah: who will contend with the Lord's Servant?
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accent)): ἡ τίς ὁ δικαιούμενός → ἢ τίς ὁ δικαιούμενός.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.1 (Lake, LCL 24:358; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.2Lake, LCL 24:358
οὐαὶ ὑμῖν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσεσθε, καὶ σὴς καταφάγεται ὑμᾶς. καὶ πάλιν λέγει ὁ προφήτης, ἐπεὶ ὡς λίθος ἰσχυρὸς ἐτέθη εἰς συντριβήν· Ἰδού, ἐμβαλῶ εἰς τὰ θεμέλια Σιὼν λίθον πολυτελῆ, ἐκλεκτόν, ἀκρογωνιαῖον, ἔντιμον.
ouai hymin, hoti hymeis pantes hōs himation palaiōthēsesthe, kai sēs kataphagetai hymas. kai palin legei ho prophētēs, epei hōs lithos ischyros etethē eis syntribēn; Idou, embalō eis ta themelia Siōn lithon polytelē, eklekton, akrogōniaion, entimon.
Woe to you, for you will all grow old like a garment, and the moth will devour you.” And again the prophet says, since he was set as a strong stone for crushing: “Behold, I will lay in the foundations of Zion a precious stone, chosen, a cornerstone, honored.”
Isa 50:9 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 28:16 (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Pet 2:6 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Christ is the chosen cornerstone of Zion.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.2 (Lake, LCL 24:358; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.3Lake, LCL 24:358
εἶτα τί λέγει; Καὶ ὃς ἐλπίσει ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. ἐπὶ λίθον οὖν ἡμῶν ἡ ἐλπίς; μὴ γένοιτο· ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐν ἰσχύϊ τέθεικεν τὴν σάρκα αὐτοῦ κύριος. λέγει γάρ· Καὶ ἔθηκέ με ὡς στερεὰν πέτραν.
eita ti legei? Kai hos elpisei epʼ auton zēsetai eis ton aiōna. epi lithon oun hēmōn hē elpis? mē genoito; allʼ epei en ischyï tetheiken tēn sarka autou kyrios. legei gar; Kai ethēke me hōs sterean petran.
Then what does he say? “And whoever hopes in him will live forever.” Is our hope, then, in a stone? Certainly not; but because the Lord has set his flesh in strength. For he says, “And he set me like a solid rock.”
Isa 28:16 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 50:7 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Our hope is not in a stone but in Christ's flesh set firm.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.3 (Lake, LCL 24:358; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.4Lake, LCL 24:358
λέγει δὲ πάλιν ὁ προφήτης· Λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας. καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἡμέρα ἡ μεγάλη καὶ θαυμαστή, ἣν ἐποίησεν ὁ κύριος.
legei de palin ho prophētēs; Lithon hon apedokimasan hoi oikodomountes, houtos egenēthē eis kephalēn gōnias. kai palin legei; Hautē estin hē hēmera hē megalē kai thaumastē, hēn epoiēsen ho kyrios.
And the prophet says again, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.” And again he says, “This is the great and wonderful day that the Lord has made.”
Ps 118:22 (117:22 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 118:24 (117:24 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The rejected stone has become the cornerstone.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.4 (Lake, LCL 24:358; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.5Lake, LCL 24:358
ἁπλούστερον ὑμῖν γράφω, ἵνα συνιῆτε· ἐγὼ περίψημα τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμῶν.
haplousteron hymin graphō, hina syniēte; egō peripsēma tēs agapēs hymōn.
I write to you more simply, so that you may understand; I am your love's devoted servant.
Notes and citation
Summary: He writes simply so that they may understand.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.5 (Lake, LCL 24:358; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.6Lake, LCL 24:358
τί οὖν λέγει πάλιν ὁ προφήτης; Περιέσχεν με συναγωγὴ πονηρευομένων, ἐκύκλωσάν με ὡσεὶ μέλισσαι κηρίον, καί· Ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον.
ti oun legei palin ho prophētēs? Perieschen me synagōgē ponēreuomenōn, ekyklōsan me hōsei melissai kērion, kai; Epi ton himatismon mou ebalon klēron.
What, then, does the prophet say again? “An assembly of evildoers surrounded me; they encircled me like bees around a honeycomb,” and, “For my clothing they cast lots.”
Ps 22:16 (21:17 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 118:12 (117:12 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 22:18 (21:19 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Psalms foretold the crucifixion.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accent)): τί οὗν λέγει → τί οὖν λέγει.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.6 (Lake, LCL 24:358; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.7Lake, LCL 24:358–360
ἐν σαρκὶ οὖν αὐτοῦ μέλλοντος φανεροῦσθαι καὶ πάσχειν, προεφανερώθη τὸ πάθος. λέγει γὰρ ὁ προφήτης ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ· Οὐαὶ τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτῶν, ὅτι βεβούλευνται βουλὴν πονηρὰν καθʼ ἑαυτῶν, εἰπόντες· Δήσωμεν τὸν δίκαιον, ὅτι δύσχρηστος ἡμῖν ἐστίν.
en sarki oun autou mellontos phanerousthai kai paschein, proephanerōthē to pathos. legei gar ho prophētēs epi ton Israēl; Ouai tę̄ psychę̄ autōn, hoti bebouleuntai boulēn ponēran kathʼ heautōn, eipontes; Dēsōmen ton dikaion, hoti dyschrēstos hēmin estin.
Since, then, he was about to be manifested and to suffer in the flesh, his suffering was revealed beforehand. For the prophet says concerning Israel, “Woe to their soul, for they have plotted an evil plot against themselves, saying, ‘Let us bind the righteous one, for he is troublesome to us.’”
Isa 3:9 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 3:10 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The prophets foretold that Israel would bind the righteous one.
Extrabiblical texts: Wis 2:12 (Wisdom of Solomon [in RC, EO, ETH canons]; allusion)
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.7 (Lake, LCL 24:358–360; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.8Lake, LCL 24:360
τί λέγει ὁ ἄλλος προφήτης Μωϋσῆς αὐτοῖς; Ἰδού, τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός· Εἰσέλθατε εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, ἣν ὤμοσεν κύριος τῷ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακώβ, καὶ κατακληρονομήσατε αὐτήν, γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι.
ti legei ho allos prophētēs Mōÿsēs autois? Idou, tade legei kyrios ho theos; Eiselthate eis tēn gēn tēn agathēn, hēn ōmosen kyrios tǭ Abraam kai Isaak kai Iakōb, kai kataklēronomēsate autēn, gēn rheousan gala kai meli.
What does the other prophet, Moses, say to them? “Behold, thus says the Lord God: Enter into the good land, which the Lord swore to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and inherit it, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Exod 33:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Exod 33:3 (allusion, high confidence) · Lev 20:24 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Moses: enter the good land flowing with milk and honey.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.8 (Lake, LCL 24:360; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.9Lake, LCL 24:360
τί δὲ λέγει ἡ γνῶσις; μάθετε. ἐλπίσατε, φησίν, ἐπὶ τὸν ἐν σαρκὶ μέλλοντα φανεροῦσθαι ὑμῖν Ἰησοῦν. ἄνθρωπος γὰρ γῆ ἐστιν πάσχουσα· ἀπὸ προσώπου γὰρ τῆς γῆς ἡ πλάσις τοῦ Ἀδὰμ ἐγένετο.
ti de legei hē gnōsis? mathete. elpisate, phēsin, epi ton en sarki mellonta phanerousthai hymin Iēsoun. anthrōpos gar gē estin paschousa; apo prosōpou gar tēs gēs hē plasis tou Adam egeneto.
But what does knowledge say? Learn: “Hope,” it says, “in Jesus, who is about to be manifested to you in the flesh.” For man is earth that suffers; for the forming of Adam was from the face of the earth.
Gen 2:7 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The “good land” is Jesus in the flesh; man is suffering earth.
- “Knowledge” (γνῶσις): the deeper sense of scripture; here the author gives his allegorical reading of the promised land as Christ's flesh.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.9 (Lake, LCL 24:360; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.10Lake, LCL 24:360
τί οὖν λέγει· Εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι; εὐλογητὸς ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν, ἀδελφοί, ὁ σοφίαν καὶ νοῦν θέμενος ἐν ἡμῖν τῶν κρυφίων αὐτοῦ· λέγει γὰρ ὁ προφήτης παραβολὴν κυρίου· τίς νοήσει, εἰ μὴ σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων καὶ ἀγαπῶν τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ;
ti oun legei; Eis tēn gēn tēn agathēn, gēn rheousan gala kai meli? eulogētos ho kyrios hēmōn, adelphoi, ho sophian kai noun themenos en hēmin tōn kryphiōn autou; legei gar ho prophētēs parabolēn kyriou; tis noēsei, ei mē sophos kai epistēmōn kai agapōn ton kyrion autou?
What, then, does it mean: “Into the good land, a land flowing with milk and honey”? Blessed be our Lord, brothers, who has placed in us wisdom and understanding of his secrets. For the prophet speaks a parable of the Lord: who will understand it, except one who is wise and understanding and loves his Lord?
Prov 1:6 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Only the wise understand the Lord's parables.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.10 (Lake, LCL 24:360; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.11Lake, LCL 24:360
ἐπεὶ οὖν ἀνακαινίσας ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἀφέσει τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς ἄλλον τύπον, ὡς παιδίων ἔχειν τὴν ψυχήν, ὡς ἂν δὴ ἀναπλάσσοντος αὐτοῦ ἡμᾶς.
epei oun anakainisas hēmas en tę̄ aphesei tōn hamartiōn, epoiēsen hēmas allon typon, hōs paidiōn echein tēn psychēn, hōs an dē anaplassontos autou hēmas.
Since, then, he renewed us by the forgiveness of sins, he made us another type, so that we have the soul of children, as though he were forming us anew.
Notes and citation
Summary: Forgiveness renewed us like newly formed children.
Topics: Baptism
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.11 (Lake, LCL 24:360; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.12Lake, LCL 24:360
λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφὴ περὶ ἡμῶν, ὡς λέγει τῷ υἱῷ· Ποιήσωμεν κατʼ εἰκόνα καὶ καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν ἡμῶν τὸν ἄνθρωπον, καὶ ἀρχέτωσαν τῶν θηρίων τῆς γῆς καὶ τῶν πετεινῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῶν ἰχθύων τῆς θαλάσσης. καὶ εἶπεν κύριος, ἰδὼν τὸ καλὸν πλάσμα ἡμῶν· Αὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθύνεσθε καὶ πληρώσατε τὴν γῆν. ταῦτα πρὸς τὸν υἱόν.
legei gar hē graphē peri hēmōn, hōs legei tǭ huiǭ; Poiēsōmen katʼ eikona kai kathʼ homoiōsin hēmōn ton anthrōpon, kai archetōsan tōn thēriōn tēs gēs kai tōn peteinōn tou ouranou kai tōn ichthyōn tēs thalassēs. kai eipen kyrios, idōn to kalon plasma hēmōn; Auxanesthe kai plēthynesthe kai plērōsate tēn gēn. tauta pros ton huion.
For the scripture speaks about us, as he says to the Son: “Let us make man according to our image and likeness, and let them rule over the beasts of the earth and the birds of heaven and the fish of the sea.” And the Lord said, seeing our beautiful form, “Increase and multiply and fill the earth.” These things he said to the Son.
Gen 1:26 (quotation, high confidence) · Gen 1:28 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Genesis's “Let us make man” is God speaking to the Son about us.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong letter and accent)): Λὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθυνέσθε → Αὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθύνεσθε.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.12 (Lake, LCL 24:360; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-12).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.13Lake, LCL 24:360–362
πάλιν σοι ἐπιδείξω, πῶς πρὸς ἡμᾶς λέγει. δευτέραν πλάσιν ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων ἐποίησεν. λέγει δὲ κύριος· Ἰδού, ποιῶ τὰ ἔσχατα ὡς τὰ πρῶτα. εἰς τοῦτο οὖν ἐκήρυξεν ὁ προφήτης· Εἰσέλθατε εἰς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι καὶ κατακυριεύσατε αὐτῆς.
palin soi epideixō, pōs pros hēmas legei. deuteran plasin epʼ eschatōn epoiēsen. legei de kyrios; Idou, poiō ta eschata hōs ta prōta. eis touto oun ekēryxen ho prophētēs; Eiselthate eis gēn rheousan gala kai meli kai katakyrieusate autēs.
Again I will show you how he speaks to us. He made a second creation in the last days. And the Lord says, “Behold, I make the last things like the first.” For this reason, then, the prophet proclaimed, “Enter into a land flowing with milk and honey and rule over it.”
Exod 33:3 (allusion, medium confidence) · Rev 21:5 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: In the last days God makes a new creation like the first.
- “I make the last things like the first” is not found in scripture in this form.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.13 (Lake, LCL 24:360–362; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-13).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.14Lake, LCL 24:362
ἴδε οὖν, ἡμεῖς ἀναπεπλάσμεθα, καθὼς πάλιν ἐν ἑτέρῳ προφήτῃ λέγει· Ἰδού, λέγει κύριος, ἐξελῶ τούτων, τουτέστιν ὧν προέβλεπεν τὸ πνεῦμα κυρίου, τὰς λιθίνας καρδίας καὶ ἐμβαλῶ σαρκίνας· ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐν σαρκὶ ἔμελλεν φανεροῦσθαι καὶ ἐν ἡμῖν κατοικεῖν.
ide oun, hēmeis anapeplasmetha, kathōs palin en heterǭ prophētę̄ legei; Idou, legei kyrios, exelō toutōn, toutestin hōn proeblepen to pneuma kyriou, tas lithinas kardias kai embalō sarkinas; hoti autos en sarki emellen phanerousthai kai en hēmin katoikein.
See, then, we have been formed anew, as he says again in another prophet: “Behold, says the Lord, I will take out of them” (that is, out of those whom the Spirit of the Lord foresaw) “the hearts of stone and put in hearts of flesh”; for he himself was to be manifested in the flesh and to dwell in us.
Ezek 11:19 (quotation, high confidence) · Ezek 36:26 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God replaces hearts of stone with hearts of flesh; Christ dwells in us.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.14 (Lake, LCL 24:362; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-14).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.15Lake, LCL 24:362
ναὸς γὰρ ἅγιος, ἀδελφοί μου, τῷ κυρίῳ τὸ κατοικητήριον ἡμῶν τῆς καρδίας.
naos gar hagios, adelphoi mou, tǭ kyriǭ to katoikētērion hēmōn tēs kardias.
For the dwelling place of our heart, my brothers, is a holy temple to the Lord.
1 Cor 3:16 (echo, medium confidence) · Eph 2:21 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Our heart is a holy temple to the Lord.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.15 (Lake, LCL 24:362; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-15).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.16Lake, LCL 24:362
λέγει γὰρ κύριος πάλιν· Καὶ ἐν τίνι ὀφθήσομαι τῷ κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ μου καὶ δοξασθήσομαι; λέγει· Ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀδελφῶν μου, καὶ ψαλῶ σοι ἀνάμεσον ἐκκλησίας ἁγίων. οὐκοῦν ἡμεῖς ἐσμέν, οὕς εἰσήγαγεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν.
legei gar kyrios palin; Kai en tini ophthēsomai tǭ kyriǭ tǭ theǭ mou kai doxasthēsomai? legei; Exomologēsomai soi en ekklēsią adelphōn mou, kai psalō soi anameson ekklēsias hagiōn. oukoun hēmeis esmen, hous eisēgagen eis tēn gēn tēn agathēn.
For the Lord says again, “And with what shall I appear before the Lord my God and be glorified?” He says, “I will confess you in the assembly of my brothers, and I will sing to you in the midst of the assembly of the saints.” So we are the ones whom he brought into the good land.
Ps 42:2 (41:3 LXX) (allusion, medium confidence) · Ps 22:22 (21:23 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: We are those brought into the good land.
- The first question is a free form of Ps 42:2.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.16 (Lake, LCL 24:362; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-16).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.17Lake, LCL 24:362
τί οὖν τὸ γάλα καὶ τὸ μέλι; ὅτι πρῶτον τὸ παιδίον μέλιτι, εἶτα γάλακτι ζωοποιεῖται· οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς τῇ πίστει τῆς ἐπαγγελίας καὶ τῷ λόγῳ ζωοποιούμενοι ζήσομεν κατακυριεύοντες τῆς γῆς.
ti oun to gala kai to meli? hoti prōton to paidion meliti, eita galakti zōopoieitai; houtōs oun kai hēmeis tę̄ pistei tēs epangelias kai tǭ logǭ zōopoioumenoi zēsomen katakyrieuontes tēs gēs.
What, then, is the milk and honey? That a child is first nourished with honey, then with milk. So also we, being nourished by faith in the promise and by the word, will live and rule over the earth.
Notes and citation
Summary: Milk and honey are the nourishment of faith and the word.
- The author refers to the ancient custom of giving a newborn honey and then milk; honey and milk were also given to the newly baptized in some early churches.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.17 (Lake, LCL 24:362; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-17).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.18Lake, LCL 24:362
προειρήκαμεν δὲ ἐπάνω. Καὶ αὐξανέσθωσαν καὶ πληθυνέσθωσαν καὶ ἀρχέτωσαν τῶν ἰχθύων. τίς οὖν ὁ δυνάμενος νῦν ἄρχειν θηρίων ἢ ἰχθύων ἢ πετεινῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ; αἰσθάνεσθαι γὰρ ὀφείλομεν, ὅτι τὸ ἄρχειν ἐξουσίας ἐστίν, ἵνα τις ἐπιτάξας κυριεύσῃ.
proeirēkamen de epanō. Kai auxanesthōsan kai plēthynesthōsan kai archetōsan tōn ichthyōn. tis oun ho dynamenos nyn archein thēriōn ē ichthyōn ē peteinōn tou ouranou? aisthanesthai gar opheilomen, hoti to archein exousias estin, hina tis epitaxas kyrieusę̄.
And we said above, “And let them increase and multiply and rule over the fish.” Who, then, is now able to rule over beasts or fish or birds of heaven? For we ought to understand that to rule implies authority, so that one may command and have dominion.
Notes and citation
Summary: No one yet truly rules creation.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accents)): ἤ ἰχθύων ἤ πετεινῶν → ἢ ἰχθύων ἢ πετεινῶν.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.18 (Lake, LCL 24:362; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-18).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
6.19Lake, LCL 24:362–364
εἰ οὖν οὐ γίνεται τοῦτο νῦν, ἄρα ἡμῖν εἴρηκεν, πότε· ὅταν καὶ αὐτοὶ τελειωθῶμεν κληρονόμοι τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου γενέσθαι.
ei oun ou ginetai touto nyn, ara hēmin eirēken, pote; hotan kai autoi teleiōthōmen klēronomoi tēs diathēkēs kyriou genesthai.
If, then, this does not happen now, he has told us when: when we ourselves are made perfect so as to become heirs of the Lord's covenant.
Notes and citation
Summary: We will rule creation when we are made perfect heirs.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 6.19 (Lake, LCL 24:362–364; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-6-19).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 7
7.1Lake, LCL 24:364
Οὐκοῦν νοεῖτε, τέκνα εὐφροσύνης, ὅτι πάντα ὁ καλὸς κύριος προεφανέρωσεν ἡμῖν, ἵνα γνῶμεν, ᾧ κατὰ πάντα εὐχαριστοῦντες ὀφείλομεν αἰνεῖν.
Oukoun noeite, tekna euphrosynēs, hoti panta ho kalos kyrios proephanerōsen hēmin, hina gnōmen, hǭ kata panta eucharistountes opheilomen ainein.
Understand, then, children of gladness, that the good Lord revealed everything to us beforehand, so that we might know whom we ought to praise, giving thanks for everything.
Notes and citation
Summary: God revealed all things so that we might praise him.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.1 (Lake, LCL 24:364; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.2Lake, LCL 24:364
εἰ οὖν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, ὢν κύριος καὶ μέλλων κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, ἔπαθεν, ἵνα ἡ πληγὴ αὐτοῦ ζωοποιήσῃ ἡμᾶς· πιστεύσωμεν, ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἠδύνατο παθεῖν εἰ μὴ διʼ ἡμᾶς.
ei oun ho huios tou theou, ōn kyrios kai mellōn krinein zōntas kai nekrous, epathen, hina hē plēgē autou zōopoiēsę̄ hēmas; pisteusōmen, hoti ho huios tou theou ouk ēdynato pathein ei mē diʼ hēmas.
If, then, the Son of God, being Lord and about to judge the living and the dead, suffered so that his wound might give us life, let us believe that the Son of God could not suffer except for our sake.
Acts 10:42 (echo, medium confidence) · 2 Tim 4:1 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Son of God suffered only for our sake.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.2 (Lake, LCL 24:364; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.3Lake, LCL 24:364
ἀλλὰ καὶ σταυρωθεὶς ἐποτίζετο ὄξει καὶ χολῇ. ἀκούσατε, πῶς περὶ τούτου πεφανέρωκαν οἱ ἱερεῖς τοῦ ναοῦ. γεγραμμένης ἐντολῆς· Ὃς ἂν μὴ νηστεύσῃ τὴν νηστείαν, θανάτῳ ἐξολεθρευθήσεται, ἐνετείλατο κύριος, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπὲρ τῶν ἡμετέρων ἁμαρτιῶν ἔμελλεν τὸ σκεῦος τοῦ πνεύματος προσφέρειν θυσίαν, ἵνα καὶ ὁ τύπος ὁ γενόμενος ἐπὶ Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ προσενεχθέντος ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τελεσθῇ.
alla kai staurōtheis epotizeto oxei kai cholę̄. akousate, pōs peri toutou pephanerōkan hoi hiereis tou naou. gegrammenēs entolēs; Hos an mē nēsteusę̄ tēn nēsteian, thanatǭ exolethreuthēsetai, eneteilato kyrios, epei kai autos hyper tōn hēmeterōn hamartiōn emellen to skeuos tou pneumatos prospherein thysian, hina kai ho typos ho genomenos epi Isaak tou prosenechthentos epi to thysiastērion telesthę̄.
But also, when he was crucified, he was given vinegar and gall to drink. Hear how the priests of the temple revealed this. When the commandment was written, “Whoever does not keep the fast shall surely die,” the Lord commanded it, since he himself was to offer the vessel of the Spirit as a sacrifice for our sins, so that the type set forth in Isaac, who was offered on the altar, might be fulfilled.
Matt 27:34 (echo, high confidence) · Lev 23:29 (allusion, high confidence) · Gen 22:9 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Day of Atonement fast and Isaac's sacrifice foreshadow Christ.
- “The vessel of the Spirit”: Christ's body.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.3 (Lake, LCL 24:364; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.4Lake, LCL 24:364
τί οὖν λέγει ἐν τῷ προφήτῃ; Καὶ φαγέτωσαν ἐκ τοῦ τράγου τοῦ προσφερομένου τῇ νηστείᾳ ὑπὲρ πασῶν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν. προσέχετε ἀκριβῶς· Καὶ φαγέτωσαν οἱ ἱερεῖς μόνοι πάντες τὸ ἔντερον ἄπλυτον μετὰ ὄξους.
ti oun legei en tǭ prophētę̄? Kai phagetōsan ek tou tragou tou prospheromenou tę̄ nēsteią hyper pasōn tōn hamartiōn. prosechete akribōs; Kai phagetōsan hoi hiereis monoi pantes to enteron aplyton meta oxous.
What, then, does he say in the prophet? “And let them eat of the goat that is offered at the fast for all their sins.” Pay close attention: “And let the priests alone eat the entrails unwashed with vinegar.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The priests eat the goat's entrails with vinegar.
- These instructions are not in the Old Testament; they reflect Jewish tradition about the Day of Atonement (compare Mishnah, Menahot 11.7).
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.4 (Lake, LCL 24:364; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.5Lake, LCL 24:364
πρὸς τί; ἐπειδὴ ἐμὲ ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν μέλλοντα τοῦ λαοῦ μου τοῦ καινοῦ προσφέρειν τὴν σάρκα μου μέλλετε ποτίζειν χολὴν μετὰ ὄξους, φάγετε ὑμεῖς μόνοι, τοῦ λαοῦ νηστεύοντος καὶ κοπτομένου ἐπὶ σάκκου καὶ σποδοῦ. ἵνα δείξῃ, ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν παθεῖν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν.
pros ti? epeidē eme hyper hamartiōn mellonta tou laou mou tou kainou prospherein tēn sarka mou mellete potizein cholēn meta oxous, phagete hymeis monoi, tou laou nēsteuontos kai koptomenou epi sakkou kai spodou. hina deixę̄, hoti dei auton pathein hypʼ autōn.
Why? Because you are going to give me gall with vinegar to drink when I am about to offer my flesh for the sins of my new people; you alone eat, while the people fast and mourn in sackcloth and ashes; to show that he must suffer at their hands.
Notes and citation
Summary: The rite foreshadows the gall and vinegar given to Christ.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.5 (Lake, LCL 24:364; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.6Lake, LCL 24:364
ἃ ἐνετείλατο, προσέχετε· Λάβετε δύο τράγους καλοὺς καὶ ὁμοίους καὶ προσενέγκατε, καὶ λαβέτω ὁ ἱερεὺς τὸν ἔνα εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν.
ha eneteilato, prosechete; Labete dyo tragous kalous kai homoious kai prosenenkate, kai labetō ho hiereus ton ena eis holokautōma hyper hamartiōn.
Pay attention to what he commanded: “Take two goats, good and alike, and offer them, and let the priest take one as a whole burnt offering for sins.”
Lev 16:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Lev 16:9 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The two goats of the Day of Atonement.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.6 (Lake, LCL 24:364; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.7Lake, LCL 24:364–366
τὸν δὲ ἕνα τί ποιήσωσιν; Ἐπικατάρατος, φησιν, ὁ εἷς. προσέχετε, πῶς ὁ τύπος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανεροῦται·
ton de hena ti poiēsōsin? Epikataratos, phēsin, ho heis. prosechete, pōs ho typos tou Iēsou phaneroutai;
And what shall they do with the other? “The other,” he says, “is accursed.” Notice how the type of Jesus is revealed:
Lev 16:8 (allusion, medium confidence) · Gal 3:13 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The second goat is accursed: a type of Jesus.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.7 (Lake, LCL 24:364–366; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.8Lake, LCL 24:366
Καὶ ἐμπτύσατε πάντες καὶ κατακεντήσατε καὶ περίθετε τὸ ἔριον τὸ κόκκινον περὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὕτως εἰς ἔρημον βληθήτω. καὶ ὅταν γένηται οὕτως, ἄγει ὁ βαστάζων τὸν τράγον εἰς τὴν ἔρημον καὶ ἀφαιρεῖ τὸ ἔριον καὶ ἐπιτίθησιν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ φρύγανον τὸ λεγόμενον ῥαχήλ, οὗ καὶ τοὺς βλαστοὺς εἰώθαμεν τρώγειν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ εὑρίσκοντες· οὕτω μόνης τῆς ῥαχοῦς οἱ καρποὶ γλυκεῖς εἰσιν.
Kai emptysate pantes kai katakentēsate kai perithete to erion to kokkinon peri tēn kephalēn autou, kai houtōs eis erēmon blēthētō. kai hotan genētai houtōs, agei ho bastazōn ton tragon eis tēn erēmon kai aphairei to erion kai epitithēsin auto epi phryganon to legomenon rhachēl, hou kai tous blastous eiōthamen trōgein en tę̄ chōrą heuriskontes; houtō monēs tēs rhachous hoi karpoi glykeis eisin.
“And all of you spit on it and pierce it, and put the scarlet wool around its head, and so let it be driven into the wilderness.” And when this has been done, the one who carries the goat leads it into the wilderness, takes off the wool, and places it on a bush called rachel, whose shoots we are accustomed to eat when we find them in the countryside; so sweet are the fruits of the rachel alone.
Lev 16:10 (allusion, medium confidence) · Lev 16:21 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The scapegoat is spat upon, pierced, and crowned with scarlet wool.
- These details of the scapegoat rite are not in Leviticus 16; they come from Jewish tradition.
- “Rachel”: a thorny bush, perhaps a kind of bramble; the name is otherwise unknown.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.8 (Lake, LCL 24:366; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.9Lake, LCL 24:366
τί οὖν τοῦτό ἐστιν; προσέχετε· Τὸν μὲν ἕνα ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, τὸν δὲ ἕνα ἐπικατάρατον, καὶ ὅτι τὸν ἐπικατάρατον ἐστεφανωμένον; ἐπειδὴ ὄψονται αὐτὸν τότε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τὸν ποδήρη ἔχοντα τὸν κόκκινον περὶ τὴν σάρκα καὶ ἐροῦσιν· Οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν, ὅν ποτε ἡμεῖς ἐσταυρώσαμεν ἐξουθενήσαντες καὶ κατακεντήσαντες καὶ ἐμπτύσαντες; ἀληθῶς οὗτος ἦν, ὁ τότε λέγων ἑαυτὸν υἱὸν θεοῦ εἶναι.
ti oun touto estin? prosechete; Ton men hena epi to thysiastērion, ton de hena epikataraton, kai hoti ton epikataraton estephanōmenon? epeidē opsontai auton tote tę̄ hēmerą ton podērē echonta ton kokkinon peri tēn sarka kai erousin; Ouch houtos estin, hon pote hēmeis estaurōsamen exouthenēsantes kai katakentēsantes kai emptysantes? alēthōs houtos ēn, ho tote legōn heauton huion theou einai.
What, then, does this mean? Pay attention: “The one on the altar, the other accursed,” and why is the accursed one crowned? Because they will see him then on that day with the long scarlet robe about his flesh, and they will say, “Is this not the one whom we once crucified, despising and piercing and spitting on him? Truly this was the one who then said he was the Son of God.”
Zech 12:10 (echo, medium confidence) · Rev 1:7 (echo, medium confidence) · Matt 27:28 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: At his coming, those who crucified Christ will recognize him.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong breathing)): τῇ ἠμέρᾳ → τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.
Topics: Christology, Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.9 (Lake, LCL 24:366; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.10Lake, LCL 24:366
πῶς γὰρ ὅμοιος ἐκείνῳ; εἰς τοῦτο ὁμοίους τοὺς τράγους, καλούς, ἴσους, ἵνα, ὅταν ἴδωσιν αὐτὸν τότε ἐρχόμενον, ἐκπλαγῶσιν ἐπὶ τῇ ὁμοιότητι τοῦ τράγου. οὐκοῦν ἴδε τὸν τύπον τοῦ μέλλοντος πάσχειν Ἰησοῦ.
pōs gar homoios ekeinǭ? eis touto homoious tous tragous, kalous, isous, hina, hotan idōsin auton tote erchomenon, ekplagōsin epi tę̄ homoiotēti tou tragou. oukoun ide ton typon tou mellontos paschein Iēsou.
For how is he like that goat? For this reason the goats are alike, good, and equal: so that when they see him coming then, they may be astonished at the likeness of the goat. See, then, the type of Jesus, who was to suffer.
Notes and citation
Summary: The identical goats foreshadow Christ's suffering and return.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.10 (Lake, LCL 24:366; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
7.11Lake, LCL 24:366–368
τί δέ, ὅτι τὸ ἔριον μέσον τῶν ἀκανθῶν τιθέασιν; τύπος ἐστὶν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ θέμενος, ὅτι ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ τὸ ἔριον ἆραι τὸ κόκκινον, δεῖ αὐτὸν πολλὰ παθεῖν διὰ τὸ εἶναι φοβερὰν τὴν ἄκανθαν, καὶ θλιβέντα κυριεῦσαι αὐτοῦ. οὕτω, φησίν, οἱ θέλοντές με ἰδεῖν καὶ ἅψασθαί μου τῆς βασιλείας ὀφείλουσιν θλιβέντες καὶ παθόντες λαβεῖν με.
ti de, hoti to erion meson tōn akanthōn titheasin? typos estin tou Iēsou tę̄ ekklēsią themenos, hoti hos ean thelę̄ to erion arai to kokkinon, dei auton polla pathein dia to einai phoberan tēn akanthan, kai thlibenta kyrieusai autou. houtō, phēsin, hoi thelontes me idein kai hapsasthai mou tēs basileias opheilousin thlibentes kai pathontes labein me.
And why do they place the wool in the midst of the thorns? It is a type of Jesus set forth for the church: whoever wishes to take the scarlet wool must suffer much, because the thorn is fearsome, and gain it only through affliction. So, he says, those who wish to see me and lay hold of my kingdom must receive me through affliction and suffering.
Acts 14:22 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: To gain the kingdom one must pass through thorns and suffering.
- The closing saying is not found in the canonical Gospels; compare Acts 14:22.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Barn. 7.11 (Lake, LCL 24:366–368; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-7-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 8
8.1Lake, LCL 24:368
Τίνα δὲ δοκεῖτε τύπον εἶναι, ὅτι ἐντέταλται τῷ Ἰσραὴλ προσφέρειν δάμαλιν τοὺς ἄνδρας, ἐν οἷς εἰσὶν ἁμαρτίαι τέλειαι, καὶ σφάξαντας κατακαίειν, καὶ αἴρειν τότε τὴν σποδὸν παιδία καὶ βάλλειν εἰς ἄγγη καὶ περιτιθέναι τὸ ἔριον τὸ κόκκινον ἐπὶ ξύλον ʽἴδε πάλιν ὁ τύπος ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ καὶ τὸ ἔριον τὸ κόκκινονʼ καὶ τὸ ὕσσωπον, καὶ οὕτως ῥαντίζειν τὰ παιδία καθʼ ἕνα τὸν λαόν, ἵνα ἁγνίζωνται ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν;
Tina de dokeite typon einai, hoti entetaltai tǭ Israēl prospherein damalin tous andras, en hois eisin hamartiai teleiai, kai sphaxantas katakaiein, kai airein tote tēn spodon paidia kai ballein eis angē kai peritithenai to erion to kokkinon epi xylon ʽide palin ho typos ho tou staurou kai to erion to kokkinonʼ kai to hyssōpon, kai houtōs rhantizein ta paidia kathʼ hena ton laon, hina hagnizōntai apo tōn hamartiōn?
And what do you think is the type in this, that Israel was commanded that men in whom sins are complete should offer a heifer, and slaughter and burn it, and that then children should take the ashes and put them into vessels, and tie the scarlet wool and the hyssop on a stick (see again the type of the cross and the scarlet wool), and so the children should sprinkle the people one by one, so that they might be purified from their sins?
Num 19:2 (allusion, high confidence) · Num 19:9 (allusion, medium confidence) · Num 19:18 (allusion, medium confidence) · Heb 9:13 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The red heifer rite is a type of the cross.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 8.1 (Lake, LCL 24:368; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-8-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
8.2Lake, LCL 24:368
νοεῖτε, πῶς ἐν ἁπλότητι λέγει ὑμῖν. ὁ μόσχος ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐστίν, οἱ προσφέροντες ἄνδρες ἁμαρτωλοὶ οἱ προσενέγκαντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν σφαγήν. εἶτα οὐκέτι ἄνδρες, οὐκέτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ἡ δόξα.
noeite, pōs en haplotēti legei hymin. ho moschos ho Iēsous estin, hoi prospherontes andres hamartōloi hoi prosenenkantes auton epi tēn sphagēn. eita ouketi andres, ouketi hamartōlōn hē doxa.
Understand how simply he speaks to you. The calf is Jesus; the sinful men who offer it are those who brought him to the slaughter. Then there are no longer men, no longer the glory of sinners.
Notes and citation
Summary: The calf is Jesus; those who offer it are those who killed him.
- The last sentence is obscure; it may mean that after this, sinners have no more part in the rite.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 8.2 (Lake, LCL 24:368; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-8-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
8.3Lake, LCL 24:368
οἱ ῥαντίζοντες παῖδες οἱ εὐαγγελισάμενοι ἡμῖν τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν καὶ τὸν ἁγνισμὸν τῆς καρδίας, οἷς ἔδωκεν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τὴν ἐξουσίαν ʽοὖσιν δεκάδυο εἰς μαρτύριον τῶν φυλῶν ὅτι δεκάδυο φυλαὶ τοῦ Ἰσραήλʼ, εἰς τὸ κηρύσσειν.
hoi rhantizontes paides hoi euangelisamenoi hēmin tēn aphesin tōn hamartiōn kai ton hagnismon tēs kardias, hois edōken tou euangeliou tēn exousian ʽousin dekadyo eis martyrion tōn phylōn hoti dekadyo phylai tou Israēlʼ, eis to kēryssein.
The children who sprinkle are those who preached to us the forgiveness of sins and the purification of the heart, to whom he gave authority over the gospel to preach (they were twelve, as a testimony to the tribes, because there are twelve tribes of Israel).
Notes and citation
Summary: The sprinkling children are the twelve apostles.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 8.3 (Lake, LCL 24:368; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-8-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
8.4Lake, LCL 24:368
διὰ τί δὲ τρεῖς παῖδες οἱ ῥαντίζοντες; εἰς μαρτύριον Ἀβραάμ, Ἰσαάκ, Ἰακώβ, ὅτι οὗτοι μεγάλοι τῷ θεῷ.
dia ti de treis paides hoi rhantizontes? eis martyrion Abraam, Isaak, Iakōb, hoti houtoi megaloi tǭ theǭ.
And why are there three children who sprinkle? As a testimony to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because these were great before God.
Notes and citation
Summary: Three sprinklers stand for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 8.4 (Lake, LCL 24:368; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-8-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
8.5Lake, LCL 24:368–370
ὅτι δὲ τὸ ἔριον ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον; ὅτι ἡ βασιλεία Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ξύλου, καὶ ὅτι οἱ ἐλπίζοντες ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ζήσονται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
hoti de to erion epi to xylon? hoti hē basileia Iēsou epi xylou, kai hoti hoi elpizontes epʼ auton zēsontai eis ton aiōna.
And why is the wool on the stick? Because the kingdom of Jesus is on the tree, and because those who hope in him will live forever.
Notes and citation
Summary: The wool on the stick means Jesus reigns from the cross.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 8.5 (Lake, LCL 24:368–370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-8-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
8.6Lake, LCL 24:370
διὰ τί δὲ ἅμα τὸ ἔριον καὶ τὸ ὕσσωπον; ὅτι ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ ἡμέραι ἔσονται πονηραὶ καὶ ῥυπαραί, ἐν αἷς ἡμεῖς σωθησόμεθα· ὅτι καὶ ὁ ἀλγῶν σάρκα διὰ τοῦ ῥύπου τοῦ ὑσσώπου ἰᾶται.
dia ti de hama to erion kai to hyssōpon? hoti en tę̄ basileią autou hēmerai esontai ponērai kai rhyparai, en hais hēmeis sōthēsometha; hoti kai ho algōn sarka dia tou rhypou tou hyssōpou iatai.
And why the wool and the hyssop together? Because in his kingdom there will be evil and foul days, in which we shall be saved; for the one who suffers in the flesh is healed through the cleansing of the hyssop.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hyssop means healing in evil days.
- “The cleansing of the hyssop” (τοῦ ῥύπου τοῦ ὑσσώπου): literally “the dirt of the hyssop”; the phrase is obscure.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong vowel)): ὑσσύπου → ὑσσώπου.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 8.6 (Lake, LCL 24:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-8-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
8.7Lake, LCL 24:370
καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὕτως γενόμενα ἡμῖν μέν ἐστιν φανερά, ἐκείνοις δὲ σκοτεινά, ὅτι οὐκ ἤκουσαν φωνῆς κυρίου.
kai dia touto houtōs genomena hēmin men estin phanera, ekeinois de skoteina, hoti ouk ēkousan phōnēs kyriou.
And for this reason these things, happening in this way, are plain to us but obscure to them, because they did not hear the voice of the Lord.
Notes and citation
Summary: These meanings are clear to us but hidden from those who did not listen.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 8.7 (Lake, LCL 24:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-8-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 9
9.1Lake, LCL 24:370
Λέγει γὰρ πάλιν περὶ τῶν ὠτίων, πῶς περιέτεμεν ἡμῶν τὴν καρδίαν. λέγει κύριος ἐν τῷ προφήτῃ· Εἰς ἀκοὴν ὠτίου ὑπήκουσάν μου. καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Ἀκοῇ ἀκούσονται οἱ πόρρωθεν, ἃ ἐποίησα γνώσονται. καί· Περιτμήθητε, λέγει κύριος, τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν.
Legei gar palin peri tōn ōtiōn, pōs perietemen hēmōn tēn kardian. legei kyrios en tǭ prophētę̄; Eis akoēn ōtiou hypēkousan mou. kai palin legei; Akoę̄ akousontai hoi porrōthen, ha epoiēsa gnōsontai. kai; Peritmēthēte, legei kyrios, tas kardias hymōn.
For he speaks again about the ears, how he circumcised our heart. The Lord says in the prophet, “At the hearing of the ear they obeyed me.” And again he says, “Those far off will hear with their hearing; they will know what I have done.” And, “Circumcise your hearts, says the Lord.”
Ps 18:44 (17:45 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 33:13 (quotation, high confidence) · Jer 4:4 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God circumcised our hearts and ears to hear.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.1 (Lake, LCL 24:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.2Lake, LCL 24:370
καὶ πάλιν λέγει Ἄκουε Ἰσραήλ. ὅτι τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός σου. καὶ πάλιν τὸ πνεῦμα κυρίου προφητεύει· Τίς ἐστιν ὁ θέλων ζῆσαι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα; ἀκοῇ ἀκουσάτω τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ παιδός μου.
kai palin legei Akoue Israēl. hoti tade legei kyrios ho theos sou. kai palin to pneuma kyriou prophēteuei; Tis estin ho thelōn zēsai eis ton aiōna? akoę̄ akousatō tēs phōnēs tou paidos mou.
And again he says, “Hear, O Israel, for thus says the Lord your God.” And again the Spirit of the Lord prophesies, “Who is the one who wishes to live forever? Let him listen closely to the voice of my Servant.”
Jer 7:2 (allusion, medium confidence) · Deut 6:4 (echo, medium confidence) · Ps 34:12 (33:13 LXX) (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 50:10 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The prophets call Israel to hear the Lord's Servant.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.2 (Lake, LCL 24:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.3Lake, LCL 24:370
καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Ἄκουε οὐρανέ, καὶ ἐνωτίζου γῆ, ὅτι κύριος ἐλάλησεν ταῦτα εἰς μαρτύριον. καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Ἀκούσατε λόγον κυρίου, ἄρχοντες τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου. καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Ἀκούσατε, τέκνα, φωνῆς βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ. οὐκοῦν περιέτεμεν ἡμῶν τὰς ἀκοάς, ἵνα ἀκούσαντες λόγον πιστεύσωμεν ἡμεῖς.
kai palin legei; Akoue ourane, kai enōtizou gē, hoti kyrios elalēsen tauta eis martyrion. kai palin legei; Akousate logon kyriou, archontes tou laou toutou. kai palin legei; Akousate, tekna, phōnēs boōntos en tę̄ erēmǭ. oukoun perietemen hēmōn tas akoas, hina akousantes logon pisteusōmen hēmeis.
And again he says, “Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken these things as a testimony.” And again he says, “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of this people.” And again he says, “Hear, children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” So he circumcised our hearing, so that we might hear the word and believe.
Isa 1:2 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 1:10 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 28:14 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 40:3 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God circumcised our hearing so that we might hear and believe.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.3 (Lake, LCL 24:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.4Lake, LCL 24:370–372
ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ περιτομή, ἐφʼ ᾗ πεποίθασιν, κατήργηται, περιτομὴν γὰρ εἴρηκεν οὐ σαρκὸς γενηθῆναι· ἀλλὰ παρέβησαν, ὅτι ἄγγελος πονηρὸς ἐσόφιζεν αὐτούς.
alla kai hē peritomē, ephʼ hę̄ pepoithasin, katērgētai, peritomēn gar eirēken ou sarkos genēthēnai; alla parebēsan, hoti angelos ponēros esophizen autous.
But the circumcision in which they trust has been abolished. For he declared that circumcision was not of the flesh; but they transgressed, because an evil angel deceived them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Circumcision of the flesh was never meant; an evil angel misled Israel.
- The claim that fleshly circumcision was due to an evil angel is the letter's own, and was not shared by other early Christian writers.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.4 (Lake, LCL 24:370–372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.5Lake, LCL 24:372
λέγει πρὸς αὐτούς· Τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ʽὧδε εὑρίσκω ἐντολήνʼ· Μὴ σπείρητε ἐπʼ ἀκάνθαις, περιτμήθητε τῷ κυρίῳ ὑμῶν. καὶ τί λέγει; Περιτμήθητε τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν, καὶ τὸν τράχηλον ὑμῶν οὐ σκληρυνεῖτε. λάβε πάλιν· Ἰδού, λέγει κύριος, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἀπερίτμητα ἀκροβυστίαν, ὁ δὲ λαὸς οὗτος ἀπερίτμητος καρδίας.
legei pros autous; Tade legei kyrios ho theos hymōn ʽhōde heuriskō entolēnʼ; Mē speirēte epʼ akanthais, peritmēthēte tǭ kyriǭ hymōn. kai ti legei? Peritmēthēte tēn sklērokardian hymōn, kai ton trachēlon hymōn ou sklēryneite. labe palin; Idou, legei kyrios, panta ta ethnē aperitmēta akrobystian, ho de laos houtos aperitmētos kardias.
He says to them, “Thus says the Lord your God” (here I find a commandment): “Do not sow among thorns; be circumcised to your Lord.” And what does he say? “Circumcise your hardness of heart, and do not stiffen your neck.” Take this again: “Behold, says the Lord, all the nations are uncircumcised in foreskin, but this people is uncircumcised in heart.”
Jer 4:3 (quotation, high confidence) · Jer 4:4 (quotation, high confidence) · Deut 10:16 (quotation, high confidence) · Jer 9:26 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The prophets call for circumcision of the heart.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip: a stray combining mark in place of the closing parenthesis mark): ἐντολήν̓ → ἐντολήνʼ.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.5 (Lake, LCL 24:372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.6Lake, LCL 24:372
ἀλλʼ ἐρεῖς· Καὶ μὴν περιτέτμηται ὁ λαὸς εἰς σφραγῖδα. ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶς Σύρος καὶ Ἄραψ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἱερεῖς τῶν εἰδώλων. ἄρα οὖν κἀκεῖνοι ἐκ τῆς διαθήκης αὐτῶν εἰσίν; ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι ἐν περιτομῇ εἰσίν.
allʼ ereis; Kai mēn peritetmētai ho laos eis sphragida. alla kai pas Syros kai Araps kai pantes hoi hiereis tōn eidōlōn. ara oun kakeinoi ek tēs diathēkēs autōn eisin? alla kai hoi Aigyptioi en peritomę̄ eisin.
But you will say, “Surely the people was circumcised as a seal.” But so is every Syrian and Arab and all the priests of the idols. Are they, then, also of their covenant? Why, even the Egyptians practice circumcision.
Rom 4:11 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Other peoples are circumcised too, so it cannot be the covenant's seal.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.6 (Lake, LCL 24:372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.7Lake, LCL 24:372
μάθετε οὖν, τέκνα ἀγάπης, περὶ πάντων πλουσίως, ὅτι Ἀβραάμ, πρῶτος περιτομὴν δούς, ἐν πνεύματι προβλέψας εἰς τὸν Ἰησοῦν περιέτεμεν, λαβὼν τριῶν γραμμάτων δόγματα.
mathete oun, tekna agapēs, peri pantōn plousiōs, hoti Abraam, prōtos peritomēn dous, en pneumati problepsas eis ton Iēsoun perietemen, labōn triōn grammatōn dogmata.
Learn, then, children of love, about everything richly: that Abraham, who first gave circumcision, circumcised looking forward in the Spirit to Jesus, having received the teachings of three letters.
Notes and citation
Summary: Abraham's circumcision looked forward to Jesus.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.7 (Lake, LCL 24:372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.8Lake, LCL 24:372
λέγει γάρ· Καὶ περιέτεμεν Ἀβραὰμ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ ἄνδρας δεκαοκτὼ καὶ τριακοσίους. τίς οὖν ἡ δοθεῖσα αὐτῷ γνῶσις; μάθετε, ὅτι τοὺς δεκαοκτὼ πρώτους, καὶ διάστημα ποιήσας λέγει τριακοσίους. τὸ δεκαοκτὼ ι δέκα, η ὀκτώ· ἔχεις Ἰησοῦν. ὅτι δὲ ὁ σταυρὸς ἐν τῷ ταῦ ἤμελλεν ἔχειν τὴν χάριν, λέγει καὶ τοὺς τριακοσίους. δηλοῖ οὖν τὸν μὲν Ἰησοῦν ἐν τοῖς δυσὶν γράμμασιν, καὶ ἐν τῷ ἑνὶ τὸν σταυρόν.
legei gar; Kai perietemen Abraam ek tou oikou autou andras dekaoktō kai triakosious. tis oun hē dotheisa autǭ gnōsis? mathete, hoti tous dekaoktō prōtous, kai diastēma poiēsas legei triakosious. to dekaoktō i deka, ē oktō; echeis Iēsoun. hoti de ho stauros en tǭ tau ēmellen echein tēn charin, legei kai tous triakosious. dēloi oun ton men Iēsoun en tois dysin grammasin, kai en tǭ heni ton stauron.
For it says, “And Abraham circumcised from his household eighteen men and three hundred.” What, then, was the knowledge given to him? Learn that he mentions the eighteen first, and then, after a pause, the three hundred. The eighteen: I is ten, H is eight; you have Jesus. And because the cross in the letter T was to have grace, he mentions also the three hundred. So he shows Jesus in the two letters, and the cross in the one.
Gen 14:14 (allusion, high confidence) · Gen 17:23 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The number 318 spells Jesus (IH) and the cross (T) in Greek numerals.
- Greek letters also served as numbers: Ι = 10, Η = 8 (ΙΗ, the first letters of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ, “Jesus”), and Τ = 300, a letter shaped like a cross. The count of 318 comes from Gen 14:14; Gen 17:23–27 tells of the circumcision.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accent)): τίς οὖν ἧ δοθεῖσα → τίς οὖν ἡ δοθεῖσα.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.8 (Lake, LCL 24:372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
9.9Lake, LCL 24:372–374
οἶδεν ὁ τὴν ἔμφυτον δωρεὰν τῆς διδαχῆς αὐτοῦ θέμενος ἐν ἡμῖν. οὐδεὶς γνησιώτερον ἔμαθεν ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ λόγον· ἀλλὰ οἶδα, ὅτι ἄξιοί ἐστε ὑμεῖς.
oiden ho tēn emphyton dōrean tēs didachēs autou themenos en hēmin. oudeis gnēsiōteron emathen apʼ emou logon; alla oida, hoti axioi este hymeis.
He who placed within us the implanted gift of his teaching knows it. No one has learned from me a more genuine word; but I know that you are worthy.
Notes and citation
Summary: The author vouches for the truth of this teaching.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 9.9 (Lake, LCL 24:372–374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-9-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
Chapter 10
10.1Lake, LCL 24:374
Ὅτι δὲ Μωϋσῆς εἶπεν· Οὐ φάγεσθε χοῖρον οὔτε ἀετὸν οὔτε ὀξύπτερον οὔτε κόρακα οὔτε πάντα ἰχθύν, ὃς οὐκ ἔχει λεπίδα ἐν ἑαυτῷ, τρία ἔλαβεν ἐν τῇ συνέσει δόγματα.
Hoti de Mōÿsēs eipen; Ou phagesthe choiron oute aeton oute oxypteron oute koraka oute panta ichthyn, hos ouk echei lepida en heautǭ, tria elaben en tę̄ synesei dogmata.
Now when Moses said, “You shall not eat pig, nor eagle, nor hawk, nor crow, nor any fish that has no scales on it,” he received in his understanding three teachings.
Lev 11:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Lev 11:13 (allusion, high confidence) · Lev 11:10 (allusion, high confidence) · Deut 14:8 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Moses' food laws contain three moral teachings.
- Chapter 10 reads the Jewish food laws as moral allegories: each unclean animal stands for a kind of person to avoid. The natural history is that of ancient popular belief.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.1 (Lake, LCL 24:374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.2Lake, LCL 24:374
πέρας γέ τοι λέγει αὐτοῖς ἐν τῷ Δευτερονομίῳ· Καὶ διαθήσομαι πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον τὰ δικαιώματά μου. ἄρα οὖν οὐκ ἔστιν ἐντολὴ θεοῦ τὸ μὴ τρώγειν, Μωϋσῆς δὲ ἐν πνεύματι ἐλάλησεν.
peras ge toi legei autois en tǭ Deuteronomiǭ; Kai diathēsomai pros ton laon touton ta dikaiōmata mou. ara oun ouk estin entolē theou to mē trōgein, Mōÿsēs de en pneumati elalēsen.
Indeed, he says to them in Deuteronomy, “And I will establish my righteous decrees with this people.” So then, not eating is not a commandment of God; but Moses spoke in the Spirit.
Deut 4:1 (allusion, low confidence) · Deut 4:5 (allusion, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The food laws were spoken spiritually, not literally.
- The quotation is a free summary; compare Deut 4:1, 5.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.2 (Lake, LCL 24:374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.3Lake, LCL 24:374
τὸ οὖν χοιρίον πρὸς τοῦτο εἶπεν· οὐ κολληθήσῃ φησίν, ἀνθρώποις τοιούτοις, οἵτινές εἰσιν ὅμοιοι χοίρων· τουτέστιν ὅταν σπαταλῶσιν, ἐπιλανθάνονται τοῦ κυρίου, ὅταν δὲ ὑστεροῦνται, ἐπιγινώσκουσιν τὸν κύριον, ὡς καὶ ὁ χοῖρος ὅταν τρώγει τὸν κύριον οὐκ οἶδεν, ὅταν δὲ πεινᾷ κραυγάζει, καὶ λαβὼν πάλιν σιωπᾷ.
to oun choirion pros touto eipen; ou kollēthēsę̄ phēsin, anthrōpois toioutois, hoitines eisin homoioi choirōn; toutestin hotan spatalōsin, epilanthanontai tou kyriou, hotan de hysterountai, epiginōskousin ton kyrion, hōs kai ho choiros hotan trōgei ton kyrion ouk oiden, hotan de peiną kraugazei, kai labōn palin siōpą.
So he mentioned the pig for this reason: you shall not cling, he means, to people who are like pigs; that is, when they live in luxury they forget the Lord, but when they are in want they acknowledge the Lord, just as the pig, when it eats, does not know its master, but when it is hungry it cries out, and when it has received food it is silent again.
Notes and citation
Summary: The pig stands for people who remember God only in need.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.3 (Lake, LCL 24:374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.4Lake, LCL 24:374
Οὐδὲ φάγῃ τὸν ἀετὸν οὐδὲ τὸν ὀξύπτερον οὐδὲ τὸν ἰκτῖνα οὐδὲ τὸν κόρακα· οὐ μή, φησίν, κολληθήσῃ οὐδὲ ὁμοιωθήσῃ ἀνθρώποις τοιούτοις, οἵτινες οὐκ οἴδασιν διὰ κόπου καὶ ἱδρῶτος πορίζειν ἑαυτοῖς τὴν τροφήν, ἀλλὰ ἁρπάζουσιν τὰ ἀλλότρια ἐν ἀνομίᾳ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπιτηροῦσιν ὡς ἐν ἀκεραιοσύνῃ περιπατοῦντες καὶ περιβλέπονται, τίνα ἐκδύσωσιν διὰ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ὡς καὶ τὰ ὄρνεα ταῦτα μόνα ἑαυτοῖς οὐ πορίζει τὴν τροφήν, ἀλλὰ ἀργὰ καθήμενα ἐκζητεῖ, πῶς ἀλλοτρίας σάρκας καταφάγῃ, ὄντα λοιμὰ τῇ πονηρίᾳ αὐτῶν.
Oude phagę̄ ton aeton oude ton oxypteron oude ton iktina oude ton koraka; ou mē, phēsin, kollēthēsę̄ oude homoiōthēsę̄ anthrōpois toioutois, hoitines ouk oidasin dia kopou kai hidrōtos porizein heautois tēn trophēn, alla harpazousin ta allotria en anomią autōn kai epitērousin hōs en akeraiosynę̄ peripatountes kai periblepontai, tina ekdysōsin dia tēn pleonexian, hōs kai ta ornea tauta mona heautois ou porizei tēn trophēn, alla arga kathēmena ekzētei, pōs allotrias sarkas kataphagę̄, onta loima tę̄ ponērią autōn.
“Nor shall you eat the eagle, nor the hawk, nor the kite, nor the crow.” You shall not, he means, cling to or become like such people, who do not know how to provide their food by toil and sweat, but in their lawlessness seize what belongs to others, and, while walking about as if in innocence, watch and look around for someone to strip because of their greed; just as these birds alone do not provide food for themselves, but sit idle and seek how they may devour the flesh of others, being pests in their wickedness.
Lev 11:13 (allusion, high confidence) · Lev 11:14 (allusion, medium confidence) · Lev 11:15 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Birds of prey stand for people who live by robbing others.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (letters transposed)): οὐ προίζει → οὐ πορίζει.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.4 (Lake, LCL 24:374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.5Lake, LCL 24:374–376
Καὶ οὐ φάγῃ, φησίν, σμύραιναν οὐδὲ πολύποδα οὐδὲ σηπίαν· οὐ μή, φησίν, ὁμοιωθήσῃ κολλώμενος ἀνθρώποις τοιούτοις, οἵτινες εἰς τέλος εἰσὶν ἀσεβεῖς καὶ κεκριμένοι ἤδη τῷ θανάτῳ, ὡς καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ἰχθύδια μόνα ἐπικατάρατα ἐν τῷ βυθῷ νήχεται, μὴ κολυμβῶντα ὡς τὰ λοιπά, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῇ γῇ κάτω τοῦ βυθοῦ κατοικεῖ.
Kai ou phagę̄, phēsin, smyrainan oude polypoda oude sēpian; ou mē, phēsin, homoiōthēsę̄ kollōmenos anthrōpois toioutois, hoitines eis telos eisin asebeis kai kekrimenoi ēdē tǭ thanatǭ, hōs kai tauta ta ichthydia mona epikatarata en tǭ bythǭ nēchetai, mē kolymbōnta hōs ta loipa, allʼ en tę̄ gę̄ katō tou bythou katoikei.
“And you shall not eat,” he says, “the lamprey, nor the octopus, nor the cuttlefish.” You shall not, he means, become like such people by clinging to them, who are utterly ungodly and already condemned to death; just as these fish alone are accursed and swim in the depths, not swimming like the rest, but dwelling on the ground below the deep.
Notes and citation
Summary: Bottom-dwelling fish stand for the utterly ungodly.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.5 (Lake, LCL 24:374–376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.6Lake, LCL 24:376
ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν δασύποδα οὐ φάγῃ. πρὸς τί; οὐ μὴ γένῃ, φησίν, παιδοφθόρος οὐδὲ ὁμοιωθήσῃ τοῖς τοιούτοις, ὅτι ὁ λαγωὸς κατʼ ἐνιαυτὸν πλεονεκτεῖ τὴν ἀφόδευσιν· ὅσα γὰρ ἔτη ζῇ, τοσαύτας ἔχει τρύπας.
alla kai ton dasypoda ou phagę̄. pros ti? ou mē genę̄, phēsin, paidophthoros oude homoiōthēsę̄ tois toioutois, hoti ho lagōos katʼ eniauton pleonektei tēn aphodeusin; hosa gar etē zę̄, tosautas echei trypas.
But you shall not eat the hare either. Why? You shall not, he means, become a corrupter of boys, nor become like such people, because the hare gains an extra orifice every year; for as many years as it lives, so many holes it has.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: The hare stands for corrupters of boys.
- “Corrupter of boys” (παιδοφθόρος): one who sexually abuses boys; compare Did. 2.2. The claim about the hare is ancient folklore.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.6 (Lake, LCL 24:376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.7Lake, LCL 24:376
ἀλλὰ οὐδὲ τὴν ὕαιναν φάγῃ· οὐ μή, φησίν, γένῃ μοιχὸς οὐδὲ φθορεὺς οὐδὲ ὁμοιωθήσῃ τοῖς τοιούτοις. πρὸς τί; ὅτι τὸ ζῷον τοῦτο παρʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ἀλλάσσει τὴν φύσιν καὶ ποτὲ μὲν ἄρρεν, ποτὲ δὲ θῆλυ γίνεται.
alla oude tēn hyainan phagę̄; ou mē, phēsin, genę̄ moichos oude phthoreus oude homoiōthēsę̄ tois toioutois. pros ti? hoti to zǭon touto parʼ eniauton allassei tēn physin kai pote men arren, pote de thēly ginetai.
Nor shall you eat the hyena. You shall not, he means, become an adulterer or a corrupter, nor become like such people. Why? Because this animal changes its nature every year, and is sometimes male, sometimes female.
Notes and citation
Summary: The hyena stands for adulterers and corrupters.
- The belief that the hyena changes sex is ancient folklore.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (missing elision mark)): παρ ἐνιαυτὸν → παρʼ ἐνιαυτὸν.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.7 (Lake, LCL 24:376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.8Lake, LCL 24:376
ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν γαλῆν ἐμίσησεν καλῶς. οὐ μή, φησίν, γενηθῇς τοιοῦτος, οἵους ἀκούομεν ἀνομίαν ποιοῦντας ἐν τῷ στόματι διʼ ἀκαθαρσίαν, οὐδὲ κολληθήσῃ ταῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ταῖς τὴν ἀνομίαν ποιούσαις ἐν τῷ στόματι. τὸ γὰρ ζῷον τοῦτο τῷ στόματι κύει.
alla kai tēn galēn emisēsen kalōs. ou mē, phēsin, genēthę̄s toioutos, hoious akouomen anomian poiountas en tǭ stomati diʼ akatharsian, oude kollēthēsę̄ tais akathartois tais tēn anomian poiousais en tǭ stomati. to gar zǭon touto tǭ stomati kyei.
But he rightly hated the weasel also. You shall not, he means, become like those whom we hear of doing lawlessness with the mouth because of impurity; nor shall you cling to impure women who do lawlessness with the mouth. For this animal conceives through its mouth.
Notes and citation
Summary: The weasel stands for those who commit impure acts with the mouth.
- The author refers to oral sexual acts, which he condemns. The belief about the weasel is ancient folklore.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.8 (Lake, LCL 24:376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.9Lake, LCL 24:376
περὶ μὲν τῶν βρωμάτων λαβὼν Μωϋσῆς τρία δόγματα οὕτως ἐν πνεύματι ἐλάλησεν· οἱ δὲ κατʼ ἐπιθυμίαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὡς περὶ βρώσεως προσεδέξαντο.
peri men tōn brōmatōn labōn Mōÿsēs tria dogmata houtōs en pneumati elalēsen; hoi de katʼ epithymian tēs sarkos hōs peri brōseōs prosedexanto.
Concerning foods, then, Moses received three teachings and spoke thus in the Spirit; but they, because of the desire of the flesh, accepted them as though they concerned food.
Notes and citation
Summary: Israel misread spiritual teachings as rules about food.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.9 (Lake, LCL 24:376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.10Lake, LCL 24:376–378
λαμβάνει δὲ τῶν αὐτῶν τριῶν δογμάτων γνῶσιν Δαυείδ καὶ λέγει· Μακάριος ἀνήρ, ὃς οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν βουλῇ ἀσεβῶν, καθὼς καὶ οἱ ἰχθύες πορεύονται ἐν σκότει εἰς τὰ βάθη· καὶ ἐν ὁδῷ ἁμαρτωλῶν οὐκ ἔστη, καθὼς οἱ δοκοῦντες φοβεῖσθαι τὸν κύριον ἁμαρτάνουσιν ὡς ὁ χοῖρος, καὶ ἐπὶ καθέδραν λοιμῶν οὐκ ἐκάθισεν, καθὼς τὰ πετεινὰ καθήμενα εἰς ἁρπαγήν. ἔχετε τελείως καὶ περὶ τῆς βρώσεως.
lambanei de tōn autōn triōn dogmatōn gnōsin Daueid kai legei; Makarios anēr, hos ouk eporeuthē en boulę̄ asebōn, kathōs kai hoi ichthyes poreuontai en skotei eis ta bathē; kai en hodǭ hamartōlōn ouk estē, kathōs hoi dokountes phobeisthai ton kyrion hamartanousin hōs ho choiros, kai epi kathedran loimōn ouk ekathisen, kathōs ta peteina kathēmena eis harpagēn. echete teleiōs kai peri tēs brōseōs.
And David receives knowledge of the same three teachings and says: “Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,” just as the fish go in darkness into the depths; “and has not stood in the way of sinners,” just as those who seem to fear the Lord sin like the pig; “and has not sat in the seat of pestilent men,” just as the birds sit waiting for plunder. You have the full teaching also about food.
Ps 1:1 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 1 confirms the three teachings.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.10 (Lake, LCL 24:376–378; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.11Lake, LCL 24:378
πάλιν λέγει Μωϋσῆς· Φάγεσθε πᾶν διχηλοῦν καὶ μαρυκώμενον. τί λέγει; ὅτι τὴν τροφὴν λαμβάνων οἶδεν τὸν τρέφοντα αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἀναπαυόμενος εὐφραίνεσθαι δοκεῖ. καλῶς εἶπεν βλέπων τὴν ἐντολήν. τί οὖν λέγει; κολλᾶσθε μετὰ τῶν φοβουμένων τὸν κύριον, μετὰ τῶν μελετώντων ὃ ἔλαβον διάσταλμα ῥήματος ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, μετὰ τῶν λαλούντων τὰ δικαιώματα κυρίου καὶ τηρούντων, μετὰ τῶν εἰδότων, ὅτι ἡ μελέτη ἐστὶν ἔργον εὐφροσύνης, καὶ ἀναμαρυκωμένων τὸν λόγον κυρίου. τί δὲ τὸ διχηλοῦν; ὅτι ὁ δίκαιος καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τῷ κόσμῳ περιπατεῖ καὶ τὸν ἅγιον αἰῶνα ἐκδέχεται. βλέπετε, πῶς ἐνομοθέτησεν Μωϋσῆς καλῶς.
palin legei Mōÿsēs; Phagesthe pan dichēloun kai marykōmenon. ti legei? hoti tēn trophēn lambanōn oiden ton trephonta auton kai epʼ autǭ anapauomenos euphrainesthai dokei. kalōs eipen blepōn tēn entolēn. ti oun legei? kollasthe meta tōn phoboumenōn ton kyrion, meta tōn meletōntōn ho elabon diastalma rhēmatos en tę̄ kardią, meta tōn lalountōn ta dikaiōmata kyriou kai tērountōn, meta tōn eidotōn, hoti hē meletē estin ergon euphrosynēs, kai anamarykōmenōn ton logon kyriou. ti de to dichēloun? hoti ho dikaios kai en toutǭ tǭ kosmǭ peripatei kai ton hagion aiōna ekdechetai. blepete, pōs enomothetēsen Mōÿsēs kalōs.
Again Moses says, “You shall eat every animal that divides the hoof and chews the cud.” What does he mean? That the one who receives food knows the one who feeds him, and resting upon him seems to rejoice. He spoke well, looking to the commandment. What, then, does he mean? Cling to those who fear the Lord, to those who meditate in their heart on the exact meaning of the word they have received, to those who speak and keep the Lord's righteous decrees, to those who know that meditation is a work of gladness and who chew over the word of the Lord. And what is the divided hoof? That the righteous man both walks in this world and awaits the holy age. See how well Moses legislated.
Lev 11:3 (quotation, high confidence) · Deut 14:6 (quotation, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Clean animals stand for those who meditate on God's word and await the age to come.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong letter)): τὰ διδαιώματα → τὰ δικαιώματα.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.11 (Lake, LCL 24:378; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.
10.12Lake, LCL 24:378
ἀλλὰ πόθεν ἐκείνοις ταῦτα νοῆσαι ἢ συνιέναι; ἡμεῖς δὲ δικαίως νοήσαντες τὰς ἐντολὰς λαλοῦμεν, ὡς ἠθέλησεν ὁ κύριος. διὰ τοῦτο περιέτεμεν τὰς ἀκοὰς ἡμῶν καὶ τὰς καρδίας, ἵνα συνιῶμεν ταῦτα.
alla pothen ekeinois tauta noēsai ē synienai? hēmeis de dikaiōs noēsantes tas entolas laloumen, hōs ēthelēsen ho kyrios. dia touto perietemen tas akoas hēmōn kai tas kardias, hina syniōmen tauta.
But how could they perceive or understand these things? But we, rightly understanding the commandments, speak them as the Lord wished. For this reason he circumcised our ears and our hearts, so that we might understand these things.
Notes and citation
Summary: We understand the commandments because God circumcised our ears and hearts.
Cite (SBL): Barn. 10.12 (Lake, LCL 24:378; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/1-1/#p-10-12).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 24, 1912); made independently of existing English translations.