Epistle of Barnabas 9.6
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.
Summary: Other peoples are circumcised too, so it cannot be the covenant's seal.
Greek text · Lake, 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.
English · Claude translation
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.
About this passage
Cite this passage
Barn. 9.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/9/6/).
Plain text
Barn. 9.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/9/6/).
Download citation:BibTeX ·RIS (Zotero, EndNote)
Whole work:BibTeX ·RIS ·Markdown text