The Epistle of Barnabas

THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS — CHAPTERS 16–21 (printed pp. 356–357)

CHAPTER 16

16:1 And I will, moreover, tell you concerning the temple, how these wretched men, being deceived, placed their hopes in the building as if it were the habitation of Yahweh, and not on Yahweh who has made them.

16:2 For almost after the manner of the Gentiles did they consecrate him in the temple. But what said Yahweh, making it of none effect? Listen you: Who has measured out the heaven with his palm, or the earth with the flat of his hand, is it not I? said Yahweh. Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool of my feet. What house will you build for me, or what shall be the place of my rest? You have known that their hope was vain.

16:3 And, yet further, he said again, Behold they that have destroyed this temple shall rebuild it.

16:4 And so doth it happen, for through their war it has been destroyed by the enemy, and now both they themselves and the servants of their enemies shall rebuild it.

16:5 And again it was made manifest how the temple and the people of Israel should be given up to their enemies. For the scripture said, And it shall come to pass in the last days that Yahweh shall deliver up the sheep of his pasture, and their fold and their tower shall he give up to destruction; and it happened according to that which Yahweh had spoken.

16:6 Let us inquire, therefore, whether there be any temple of Yahweh. There is; even where he himself has declared that he would make and perfect it. For it is written, And it shall be when the week is completed that the temple of Yahweh shall be built gloriously in the name of Yahweh.

16:7 I find, therefore, that there is a temple; how then shall it be built in the name of Yahweh? Learn you. Before that we believed in Yahweh the habitation of our heart was corrupt and feeble, as being of a truth a temple built by hands. For it was full of idolatry, and was a habitation of devils, because we did such things as were contrary to Yahweh;

16:8 but it shall be built in the name of Yahweh. Attend you: that the temple of Yahweh may be built gloriously. But in what manner? Learn you: having received the remission of our sins, and having hoped upon the name of Yahweh, we have become new, having been again created entirely. Because of this Yahweh of a truth dwells in us as in an habitation.

16:9 How? The word of his faith, the calling of his promise, the wisdom of his ordinances, the commandments of his doctrine, he himself prophesying in us, he himself dwelling in us. To us, who were enslaved by death, he opens the gate of the temple, which is his mouth, and, giving us repentance, leads us into the temple incorruptible.

16:10 For he who desires to be saved looks not to the man, but to him that dwells in him and speaks in him, wondering that he had never before heard him speaking such words out of his mouth, or even desired to hear. This is the spiritual temple built by Yahweh.

CHAPTER 17

17:1 So far as it is possible for me to show you these things with simplicity, my mind and soul hopes that I have not omitted any of the things that pertain to salvation;

17:2 for if I write to you concerning the things that are at hand, or the things that will be hereafter, you would not be able to understand them, because they are couched in parables. These things, therefore, are thus.

CHAPTER 18

18:1 Let us pass on now to another kind of knowledge and instruction. There are two paths of instruction and authority — the one that of light, and the other that of darkness. But there is a great difference between the two paths. For over the one are appointed as illuminators the angels of Yahweh, over the other the angels of Satan;

18:2 on the one side is he who is Yahweh from everlasting to everlasting, on the other is the ruler of the world that now lies in wickedness.

CHAPTER 19

19:1 Now, the path of life is this: If any one wishes to travel to the appointed place, let him hasten by means of his works. Now, the knowledge of walking in it that is given to us is of this kind:

19:2 You shall love him that made you, you shall fear him that formed you, you shall glorify him that redeemed you from death. You shall be simple in heart, and rich in spirit; you shall not cleave to them that go in the path of death. You shall hate whatever is not pleasing to Yahweh; you shall hate all hypocrisy; you shall not abandon the commandments of Yahweh;

19:3 you shall not exalt yourself, you shall be humble in all things; you shall not take glory to yourself; you shall not take evil counsel against your neighbor; you shall not take audacity into your soul.

19:4 You shall not commit fornication, you shall not commit adultery. You shall not pollute yourself with mankind; let not the word of Yahweh go forth from you in corruption. You shall not accept the person of any to reprove any man for transgression. You shall be gentle, you shall be quiet; you shall tremble at the words that you have heard; you shall not bear malice against your brother;

19:5 you shall not doubt whether a thing shall be or not; you shall not take the name of Yahweh in vain. You shall love your neighbor beyond your own soul; you shall not kill a child by abortion, neither shall you destroy it after it is born. You shall not remove your hand from your son or your daughter, but shall teach them from their youth the fear of Yahweh.

19:6 You shall not covet your neighbor's goods; you shall not be an extortioner; you shall not cleave with your soul to the proud, but you shall have your conversation with the lowly and the just. Receive as blessings the troubles that come to you, knowing that without Yahweh nothing happens.

19:7 You shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is the snare of death. You shall submit yourself to your masters as to the image of Yahweh, with shame and fear. You shall not give commands with bitterness to your servant and your handmaid, who hope in the same Yahweh as you do, lest, perchance, you cease to fear Yahweh, who is over both. For he came not to call men with respect of persons, but to call those whom the Spirit had prepared.

19:8 You shall communicate in all things with your neighbor, and shall not say that things are your own. For if you be partners in that which is incorruptible, how much more in the things that are corruptible? You shall not be hasty of speech, for the mouth is a snare of death. As far as you are able, you shall be pure concerning your soul.

19:9 Be not a stretcher forth of your hand in receiving, and a drawer back of it in giving. You shall love, as the apple of your eye, every one that speaks to you the word of Yahweh.

19:10 You shall remember the day of judgment by night and by day; and you shall seek out every day the persons of the saints.

19:11 You shall not doubt to give, you shall not murmur in giving. Give to every one that asks you, and you shall know who is the good recompenser of the reward. You shall take care of that which you have received, neither adding thereto, nor taking therefrom. You shall hate the evil man to the end, and shall judge justly.

19:12 You shall not make a schism, but shall make peace by bringing adversaries together. You shall make confession of your sins. You shall not go to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life, either laboring by means of the word and proceeding to exhort, and practicing to save the soul by the word, or you shall work by your hands for the redemption of your sins.

CHAPTER 20

20:1 But the path of darkness is crooked and full of cursing, for it is the path of eternal death and punishment, in which way are the things that destroy the soul. Idolatry, boldness, the pride of power, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, adultery, murder, rape, haughtiness, transgression, deceit, malice, self-will, witchcraft, sorcery, covetousness, want of the fear of Yahweh.

20:2 Here are they who are persecutors of the good, haters of truth, lovers of lies; they who know not the reward of righteousness, who cleave not to what is good nor to just judgment; who attend not to the widow and the orphan; who are awake not to the fear of Yahweh, but to evil; from whom meekness and patience are afar off; who love the things that are vain, who follow after recompense, who pity not the poor, who labor not for him who is in trouble; who are prompt to evil-speaking, who know not him that made them; murderers of children, corruptors of the image of Yahweh; who turn away from the poor man and oppress the afflicted; advocates of the rich, unjust judges of the poor, sinners in all things.

CHAPTER 21

21:1 It is therefore right that he who has learned the ordinances of Yahweh, even as many as have been written beforehand, should walk in them. For he who does these things shall be glorified in the Kingdom of Yahweh, but he who chooses the contrary things shall perish together with his works. On this account is the resurrection; on this account is the retribution.

21:2 I ask those who are of high estate among you, if you will receive any friendly advice from me, keep those with you toward whom you may do what is honorable. Fail not in so doing.

21:3 The day is at hand in which everything shall perish together with the evil one; the Lord is nigh at hand, and his reward also.

21:4 Again and again do I ask you, be you good lawgivers over yourselves, be you good advisers of yourselves. Abide faithful counselors of one another; take out of the midst of you all hypocrisy.

21:5 and may Yahweh, who rules the whole world, give you wisdom, understanding, science, knowledge of his ordinances, and patience.

21:6 And be you taught of Yahweh, inquiring what Yahweh seeks of you, and so work that you may be found saved in the day of judgment.

21:7 But if there is any memory of that which is good, remember me while you practice these things, that both your desire and your watching may turn to some good.

21:8 I beseech you this, asking it as a favor. So long as the good vessel is with you, fail not in any of these things, but seek them out without ceasing, and fulfill all the commandments, for these things are worthy.

21:9 Therefore I have been the more anxious to write to you, so far as I was able, to the end that I might make you glad. Farewell, children of love and peace; the Elohim of glory and of all grace be with your spirit. Amen.

[The Epistle of Barnabas ends here, on printed p. 357, exactly as the witness prints it — farewell and "Amen" standing as printed.]