THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS
Chapter 1
(1:1) I Bid you greeting, sons and daughters, in the name of the Lord that
loved us, in peace.
(1:2) Seeing that the ordinances of God are great and rich unto you, I
rejoice with an exceeding great and overflowing joy at your blessed and
glorious spirits; so innate is the grace of the spiritual gift that ye have
received.
(1:3) Wherefore also I the more congratulate myself hoping to be saved, for
that I truly see the Spirit poured out among you from the riches of the
fount of the Lord. So greatly did the much-desired sight of you astonish me
respecting you.
(1:4) Being therefore persuaded of this, and being conscious with myself
that having said much among you I know that the Lord journeyed with me on
the way of righteousness, I am wholly constrained also myself to this, to
love you more than my own soul (for great faith and love dwelleth in you
through the hope of the life which is His)--considering this therefore,
that,
(1:5) if it shall be my care to communicate to you some portion of that
which I received, it shall turn to my reward for having ministered to such
spirits, I was eager to send you a trifle, that along with your faith ye
might have your knowledge also perfect.
(1:6) Well then, there are three ordinances of the Lord; *the hope of life,
which is the beginning and end of our faith; and righteousness, which is
the beginning and end of judgment; love shown in gladness and exultation,
the testimony of works of righteousness.*
(1:7) For the Lord made known to us by His prophets things past and
present, giving us likewise the firstfruits of the taste of things future.
And seeing each of these things severally coming to pass, according as He
spake, we ought to offer a richer and higher offering to the fear of Him.
But I, not as though I were a teacher, but as one of yourselves, will show
forth a few things, whereby ye shall be gladdened in the present
circumstances.
Chapter 2
(2:1) Seeing then that the days are evil, and that the Active One
himself has the authority, we ought to give heed to ourselves and to seek
out the ordinances of the Lord.
(2:2) The aids of our faith then are fear and patience, and our allies are
long-suffering and self-restraint.
(2:3) While these abide in a pure spirit in matters relating to the Lord,
wisdom, understanding, science, knowledge rejoice with them.
(2:4) For He hath made manifest to us by all the prophets that He wanteth
neither sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings nor oblations, saying at one
time;
(2:5) "What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices, saith the Lord. I am
full of whole burnt-offerings, and the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls
and of goats desire not, not though ye should come to be seen of Me. or who
required these things at your hands? Ye shall continue no more to tread My
court. If ye bring fine flour, it is in vain; incense is an abomination to
Me; your new moons and your Sabbaths I cannot away with."
(2:6) These things therefore He annulled, that the new law of our Lord
Jesus Christ, being free from the yoke of constraint, might have its
oblation not made by human hands.
(2:7) And He saith again unto them; "Did I command your fathers when they
"went forth from the land of Egypt to bring Me whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices?"
(2:8) "Nay, this was My command unto them, Let none of you bear a grudge of
evil against his neighbor in his heart, and love you not a false oath."
(2:9) So we ought to perceive, unless we are without understanding, the
mind of the goodness of our Father; for He speaketh to us, desiring us not
to go astray like them but to seek how we may approach Him.
(2:10) Thus then speaketh He to us; "The sacrifice unto God is a broken
"heart, the smell of a sweet savor unto the Lord is a heart that glorifies
its Maker." We ought therefore, brethren, to learn accurately concerning
our salvation, lest the Evil One having effected an entrance of error in us
should fling us away from our life.
Chapter 3
(3:1) He speaketh again therefore to them concerning these things;
"Wherefore fast ye for Me, saith the Lord, so that your voice is heard this
day crying aloud? This is not the fast which have chosen, saith the Lord;
not a man abasing his soul;"
(3:2) "not though ye should bend your neck as a hoop, and put on sackcloth
and make your bed of ashes, not even so shall ye call a fast that is
acceptable."
(3:3) But unto us He saith; "Behold, this is the fast which I have chosen,
"saith the Lord; loosen every band of wickedness, untie the tightened cords
of forcible contracts, send away the broken ones released and tear in
pieces every unjust bond. Break thy bread to the hungry, and if thou seest
one naked clothe him; bring the shelterless into thy house, and if thou
seest a humble man, thou shalt not despise him, neither shall any one of
thy household and of thine own seed."
(3:4) "Then shall thy light break forth in the morning, and thy healing
shall arise quickly, and righteousness shall go forth before thy face, and
the glory of God shall environ thee.
(3:5) "Then shalt thou cry out and God shall hear thee; while thou art
still speaking, He shall say 'Lo, I am here'; if thou shalt take away from
thee the yoke and the stretching forth of the finger and the word of
murmuring, and shalt give thy bread to the hungry heartily, and shalt pity
the abased soul."
(3:6) To this end therefore, my brethren, He that is long-suffering,
foreseeing that the people whom He had prepared in His well-beloved would
believe in simplicity, manifested to us beforehand concerning all things,
that we might not as novices shipwreck ourselves upon their law.
Chapter 4
(4:1) It behooves us therefore to investigate deeply concerning the
present, and to search out the things which have power to save us. Let us
therefore flee altogether from all the works of lawlessness, lest the works
of lawlessness overpower us; and let us loathe the error of the present
time, that we may be loved for that which is to come.
(4:2) Let us give no relaxation to our soul that it should have liberty to
consort with sinners and wicked men, lest haply we be made like unto them.
(4:3) The last offence is at hand, concerning which the scripture speaketh,
as Enoch saith. "For to this end the Master hath cut the seasons and "the
days short, that His beloved might hasten and come to His inheritance."
(4:4) And the prophet also speaketh on this wise; "Ten reigns shall reign
"upon the earth, and after them shall arise another king, who shall bring
low three of the kings under one."
(4:5) In like manner Daniel speaketh concerning the same; "And I saw the
forth beast to be wicked and strong and more intractable than all the
beasts of the earth, and how there arose from him ten horns, and from these
a little horn and excrescence, and how that it abased under one three of
the great horns."
(4:6) Ye ought therefore to understand. Moreover I ask you this one thing
besides, as being one of yourselves and loving you all in particular more
than my own soul, to give heed to yourselves now, and not to liken
yourselves to certain persons who pile up sin upon sin, saying that our
covenant remains to them also.
(4:7) Ours it is; but they lost it in this way for ever, when Moses had
just received it. For the scripture saith; "And Moses was in the mountain
fasting forty days and forty nights, and he received the covenant from the
Lord, even tablets of stone written with the finger of the hand of the
Lord."
(4:8) But they lost it by turning unto idols. For thus saith the Lord;
"Moses, Moses, come down quickly; for thy people whom thou broughtest out
of the land of Egypt hath done unlawfully." And Moses understood, and threw
the two tables from his hands; and their covenant was broken in pieces,
that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed unto our hearts in
the hope which springeth from faith in Him.
(4:9) But though I would fain write many things, not as a teacher, but as
becometh one who loveth you not to fall short of that which we possess, I
was anxious to write to you, being your devoted slave. Wherefore let us
take heed in these last days. For the whole time of our faith shall profit
us nothing, unless we now, in the season of lawlessness and in the offenses
that shall be, as becometh sons of God, offer resistance, that the Black
One may not effect an entrance.
(4:10) Let us flee from all vanity, let us entirely hate the works of the
evil way. Do not entering in privily stand apart by yourselves, as if ye
were already justified, but assemble yourselves together and consult
concerning the common welfare.
(4:11) For the scripture saith; "Woe unto them that are wise for
themselves, and understanding in their own sight." Let us become spiritual,
let us become a temple perfect unto God. As far as in us lies, let us
exercise ourselves in the fear of God, [and] let us strive to keep His
commandments, that we may rejoice in His ordinances.
(4:12) The Lord judgeth the world without respect of persons; each man
shall receive according to his deeds. If he be good, his righteousness
shall go before him in the way; if he be evil, the recompense of his evil-
doing is before him; lest perchance,
(4:13) if we relax as men that are called, we should slumber over our sins,
and the prince of evil receive power against us and thrust us out from the
kingdom of the Lord.
(4:14) Moreover understand this also, my brothers. When ye see that after
so many signs and wonders wrought in Israel, even then they were abandoned,
let us give heed, lest haply we be found, as the scripture saith, "many are
called but few are chosen."
Chapter 5
(5:1) For to this end the Lord endured to deliver His flesh unto
corruption, that by the remission of sins we might be cleansed, which
cleansing is through the blood of His sprinkling.
(5:2) For the scripture concerning Him containeth some things relating to
Israel, and some things relating to us. And it speaketh thus; "He was
wounded for your transgressions, and He hath been bruised for our sins; by
His stripes we were healed. As a sheep He was led to slaughter, as a lamb
is dumb before his shearer."
(5:3) We ought therefore to be very thankful unto the Lord, for that He
both revealed unto us the past, and made us wise in the present, and as
regards the future we are not without understanding.
(5:4) Now the scripture saith; "Not unjustly is the net spread for the
birds." He meaneth this that a man shall justly perish, who having the
knowledge of the way of righteousness forceth himself into the way of
darkness.
(5:5) There is yet this also, my brethren; if the Lord endured to suffer
for our souls, though He was Lord of the whole world, unto whom God said
from the foundation of the world, "Let us make man after our image and
likeness", how then did He endure to suffer at the hand of men?
(5:6) Understand ye. The prophets, receiving grace from Him, prophesied
concerning Him. But He Himself endured that He might destroy death and show
forth the resurrection of the dead, for that He must needs be manifested in
the flesh;
(5:7) that at the same time He might redeem the promise made to the
fathers, and by preparing the new people for Himself might show, while He
was on earth, that having brought about the resurrection He will Himself
exercise judgment.
(5:8) Yea and further, He preached teaching Israel and performing so many
wonders and miracles, and He loved him exceedingly.
(5:9) And when He chose His own apostles who were to proclaim His Gospel,
who that He might show that "He came not to call the righteous but sinners"
were sinners above every sin, then He manifested Himself to be the Son of
God.
(5:10) For if He had not come in the flesh neither would men have looked
upon Him and been saved, forasmuch as when they look upon the sun that
shall cease to be, which is the work of His own hands, they cannot face its
rays.
(5:11) Therefore the Son of God came in the flesh to this end, that He
might sum up the complete tale of their sins against those who persecuted
and slew His prophets.
(5:12) To this end therefore He endured. For God saith of the wounds of His
flesh that they came from them; "When they shall smite their own shepherd,
then shall the sheep of the flock be lost."
(5:13) But He Himself desired so to suffer; for it was necessary for Him to
suffer on a tree. For he that prophesied said concerning Him, "Spare My
soul form the sword;" and, "Pierce My flesh with nails, for the
congregations of evil-doers have risen up against Me."
(5:14) And again He saith; "Behold I have given My back to stripes, and My
cheeks to smitings, and My face did I set as a hard rock."
Chapter 6
(6:1) When then He gave the commandment, what saith He? "Who is he that
disputeth with Me? Let him oppose Me. Or who is he that goeth to law with
Me? Let him draw nigh unto the servant of the Lord,"
(6:2) "Woe unto you, for ye all shall wax old as a garment, and the moth
shall consume you." And again the prophet saith, seeing that as a hard
stone He was ordained for crushing; "Behold I will put into the fountains
of Zion a stone very precious, elect, a chief corner-stone, honorable."
(6:3) Then again what saith He; "And whosoever shall set his hope on Him,
shall live forever." Is our hope then set upon a stone? Far be it. But it
is because the Lord hath set His flesh in strength. For He saith; "And He
set Me as a hard rock."
(6:4) And the prophet saith again; "The stone which the builders rejected,
this became the head and the corner." And again He saith; "This is the
great and wonderful day, which the Lord made."
(6:5) I write to you the more simply, that ye may understand, I who am the
offscouring of your love.
(6:6) What then saith the prophet again? "The assembly of evildoers
gathered around Me, they surrounded Me as bees surround a comb"; and; "For
My garment they cast a lot."
(6:7) Forasmuch then as He was about to be manifested in the flesh and to
suffer, His suffering was manifested beforehand. For the prophet saith
concerning Israel; "Woe unto their soul, for they have counseled evil
counsel against themselves saying, Let us bind the righteous one, for he is
unprofitable for us."
(6:8) What sayeth the other prophet Moses unto them? "Behold, these things
saith the Lord God; enter into the good land which the Lord swear unto
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and inherit it, a land flowing with milk and
honey."
(6:9) But what saith knowledge? Understand ye. Set your hope on Him who is
about to be manifested to you in the flesh, even Jesus. For man is earth
suffering; for from the face of the earth came the creation of Adam.
(6:10) What then saith He? "Into the good land, a land flowing with milk
and honey." Blessed is our Lord, brethren, who established among us wisdom
and understanding of His secret things. For the prophet speaketh a parable
concerning the Lord. Who shall comprehend, save he that is wise and prudent
and that loveth his Lord?
(6:11) Forasmuch then as He renewed us in the remission of sins, He made us
to be a new type, so that we should have the soul of children, as if He
were recreating us.
(6:12) For the scripture saith concerning us, how He saith to the Son; "Let
us make man after our image and after our likeness, and let them rule over
the beasts of the earth and the fowls of the heaven and the fishes of the
sea." And the Lord said when He saw the fair creation of us men; "Increase
and multiply and fill the earth." These words refer to the Son.
(6:13) Again I will shew thee how the Lord speaketh concerning us. He made
a second creation at the last; and the Lord saith; "Behold I make the last
things as the first." In reference to this then the prophet preached;
"Enter into a land flowing with milk and honey, and be lords over it."
(6:14) Behold then we have been created anew, as He saith again in another
prophet; "Behold, saith the Lord, I will take out from these", that is to
say, from those whom the Spirit of the Lord foresaw, "their stony hearts,
and will put into them hearts of flesh;" for He Himself was to be
manifested in the flesh and to dwell in us.
(6:15) For a holy temple unto the Lord, my brethren, is the abode of our
heart.
(6:16) For the Lord saith again; "For wherein shall I appear unto the Lord
my God and be glorified? I will make confession unto Thee in the assembly
of my brethren, and I will sing unto Thee in the midst of the assembly of
the saints." We therefore are they whom He brought into the good land.
(6:17) What then is the milk and the honey Because the child is first kept
alive by honey, and then by milk. So in like manner we also, being kept
alive by our faith in the promise and by the word, shall live and be lords
of the earth.
(6:18) Now we have already said above; "And let them increase and multiply
and rule over the fishes." But who is he that is able [now] to rule over
beasts and fishes and fowls of the heaven; for we ought to perceive that to
rule implieth power, so that one should give orders and have dominion.
(6:19) If then this cometh not to pass now, assuredly He spake to us for
the hereafter, when we ourselves shall be made perfect so that we may
become heirs of the covenant of the Lord.
Chapter 7
(7:1) Understand therefore, children of gladness, that the good Lord
manifested all things to us beforehand, that we might know to whom we ought
in all things to render thanksgiving and praise.
(7:2) If then the Son of God, being Lord and future Judge of quick and
dead, suffered that His wound might give us life, let us believe that the
Son of God could not suffer except for our sakes.
(7:3) But moreover when crucified He had vinegar and gall given Him to
drink. Hear how on this matter the priests of the temple have revealed.
Seeing that there is a commandment in scripture, "Whatsoever shall not
observe the fast shall surely die," the Lord commanded, because He was in
His own person about to offer the vessel of His Spirit a sacrifice for our
sins, that the type also which was given in Isaac who was offered upon the
alter should be fulfilled.
(7:4) What then saith He in the prophet? "And let them eat of the goat that
is offered at the fast for all their sins." Attend carefully; "And let all
the priests alone eat the entrails unwashed with vinegar."
(7:5) Wherefore? Since ye are to give Me, who am to offer My flesh for the
sins of My new people, gall with vinegar to drink, eat ye alone, while the
people fasteth and waileth in sackcloth and ashes; that He might shew that
He must suffer at their hands."
(7:6) Attend ye to the commandments which He gave. "Take two goats, fair
and alike, and offer them, and let the priest take the one for a whole
burnt offering for sins."
(7:7) But the other one--what must they do with it? "Accursed," saith He,
"is the one." Give heed how the type of Jesus is revealed.
(7:8) "And do ye all spit upon it and goad it, and place scarlet wool about
its head, and so let it be cast into the wilderness." And when it is so
done, he that taketh the goat into the wilderness leadeth it, and taketh
off the wool, and putteth it upon the branch which is called Rachia, the
same whereof we are wont to eat the shoots when we find them in the
country. Of this briar alone is the fruit thus sweet.
(7:9) What then meaneth this? Give heed. "The one at the alter, and the
other accursed." And moreover the accursed one crowned. For they shall see
Him in that day wearing the long scarlet robe about His flesh, and shall
say, Is not this He, Whom once we crucified and set at nought and spat
upon; verily this was He, Who then said that He was the Son of God.
(7:10) For how is He like the goat? For this reason it says "the goats
shall be fair and alike," that, when they shall see Him coming then, they
may be astonished at the likeness of the goat. Therefore behold the type of
Jesus that was to suffer.
(7:11) But what meaneth it, that they place the wool in the midst of the
thorns? It is a type of Jesus set forth for the Church, since whosoever
should desire to take away the scarlet wool it behoved him to suffer many
things owing to the terrible nature of the thorn, and through affliction to
win the mastery over it. Thus, He saith, they that desire to see Me, and to
attain unto My kingdom, must lay hold on Me through tribulation and
affliction.
Chapter 8
(8:1) But what think ye meaneth the type, where the commandment is given
to Israel that those men, whose sins are full grown, offer an heifer and
slaughter and burn it, and then that the children take up the ashes, and
cast them into vessels, and twist the scarlet wool on a tree (see here
again is the type of the cross and the scarlet wool), and the hyssop, and
that this done the children should sprinkle the people one by one, that
they may be purified from their sins?
(8:2) Understand ye how in all plainness it is spoken unto you; the calf is
Jesus, the men that offer it, being sinners, are they that offered Him for
the slaughter. After this it is no more men (who offer); the glory is no
more for sinners.
(8:3) The children who sprinkle are they that preached unto us the
forgiveness of sins and the purification of our heart, they to whom, being
twelve in number for a testimony unto the tribes (for there are twelve
tribes of Israel), He gave authority over the Gospel, that they should
preach it.
(8:4) But wherefore are the children that sprinkle three in number? For a
testimony unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because these are mighty before
God.
(8:5) Then there is the placing the wool on the tree. This means that the
kingdom of Jesus is on the cross, and that they who set their hope on Him
shall live for ever.
(8:6) And why is there the wool and the hyssop at the same time? Because in
His kingdom there shall be evil and foul days, in which we shall be saved;
for he who suffers pain in the flesh is healed through the foulness of the
hyssop.
(8:7) Now to us indeed it is manifest that these things so befell for this
reason, but to them they were dark, because they heard not the voice of the
Lord.
Chapter 9
(9:1) Furthermore He saith concerning the ears, how that it is our heart
which He circumcised. The Lord saith in the prophet; "With the hearing of
the ears they listened to Me." And again He saith; They that are afar off
shall hear with their ears, and shall perceive what I have done." And; "Be
ye circumcised in your hearts," saith the Lord.
(9:2) And again He saith; "Hear, O Israel, for thus saith the Lord thy God.
Who is he that desireth to live forever, let him hear with his ears the
voice of My servant."
And again He saith; "Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord
hath spoken these things for a testimony." And again He saith; Hear the
words of the Lord, ye rulers of this people." And again He saith; "Hear, O
my children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness." Therefore He
circumcised our ears, that hearing the word we might believe.
(9:3) But moreover the circumcision, in which they have confidence, is
abolished; for He hath said that a circumcision not of the flesh should be
practiced. But they transgressed, for an evil angel taught them cleverness.
(9:4) He saith unto them; "Thus saith the Lord your God" (so I find the
commandment); "sow not upon thorns, be ye circumcised in to your "Lord."
And what saith He? "Be ye circumcised in the hardness of "your heart; and
then ye will not harden your neck." Take this again; "Behold, sayith the
Lord, all the Gentiles are uncircumcised "in their foreskin, but this
people is uncircumcised in their "hearts."
(9:5) But thou wilt say; In truth the people hath been circumcised for a
seal. Nay, but so likewise is every Syrian and Arabian and all the priests
of the idols. Do all those then too belong to their covenant? Moreover the
Egyptians also are included among the circumcised.
(9:6) Learn therefore, children of love, concerning all things abundantly,
that Abraham, who first appointed circumcision, looked forward in the
spirit unto Jesus, when he circumcised having received the ordinances of
three letters.
(9:7) For the scripture saith; "And Abraham circumcised of his household
"eighteen males and three hundred." What then was the knowledge given unto
him? Understand ye that He saith "the eighteen" first, and then after an
interval "three hundred" In the eighteen 'I' stands for ten, 'H' for eight.
Here thou hast JESUS (IHSOYS). And because the cross in the 'T' was to have
grace, He saith also "three hundred". So He revealeth Jesus in the two
letters, and in the remaining one the cross.
(9:8) He who placed within us the innate gift of His covenant knoweth; no
man hath ever learnt from me a more genuine word; but I know that ye are
worthy.
Chapter 10
(10:1) But forasmuch as Moses said; "Ye shall not eat seine nor eagle
nor "falcon nor crow nor any fish which hath no scale upon it", he received
in his understanding three ordinances.
(10:2) Yea and further He saith unto them in Deuteronomy; "And I will lay
"as a covenant upon this people My ordinances." So then it is not a
commandment of God that they should not bite with their teeth, but Moses
spake it in spirit.
(10:3) Accordingly he mentioned the swine with this intent. Thou shalt not
cleave, saith he, to such men who are like unto swine; that is, when they
are in luxury they forget the Lord, but when they are in want they
recognize the Lord, just as the swine when it eateth knoweth not his lord,
but when it is hungry it crieth out, and when it has received food again it
is silent.
(10:4) "Neither shalt thou eat eagle nor falcon nor kite nor crow." Thou
shalt not, He saith, cleave unto, or be likened to, such men who now not
how to provide food for themselves by toil and sweat, but in their
lawlessness seize what belongeth to others, and as if they were walking in
guilelessness watch and search about for some one to rob in their rapacity,
just as these birds alone do not provide food for themselves, but sit idle
and seek how they may eat the meat that belongeth to others, being
pestilent in their evil-doings."
(10:5) "And thou shalt not eat," saith He, "lamprey nor polypus nor cuttle
fish" . Thou shalt not, He meaneth, become like unto such men, who are
desperately wicked, and are already condemned to death, just as these
fishes alone are accursed and swim in the depths, not swimming on the
surface like the rest, but dwell on the ground beneath the deep sea.
(10:6) "Moreover thou shalt not eat the hare." Why so? Thou shalt not be
found a corrupter of boys, nor shalt thou become like such persons; for the
hare gaineth one passage in the body every year; for according to the
number of years it lives it has just so many orifices.
(10:7) Again, "neither shalt thou eat the hyena;" thou shalt not, saith He,
become an adulterer or a fornicator, neither shalt thou resemble such
persons. Why so? Because this animal changeth its nature year by year, and
becometh at one time male and at another female.
(10:8) Moreover He hath hated the weasel also and with good reason. Thou
shalt not, saith He, become such as those men of whom we hear as working
iniquity with their mouth for uncleanness, neither shalt thou cleave unto
impure women who work iniquity with their mouth. For this animal conceiveth
with its mouth.
(10:9) Concerning meats then Moses received three decrees to this effect
and uttered them in a spiritual sense; but they accepted them according to
the lust of the flesh, as though they referred to eating.
(10:10) And David also receiveth knowledge of the same three decrees, and
saith; "Blessed is the man who hath not gone in the council of the
ungodly"--even as the fishes go in darkness into the depths; "and hath not
stood in the path of sinners"--just as they who pretend to fear the Lord
sin like swine; "and hath not sat on the seat of the destroyers"--as the
birds that are seated for prey. Ye have now the complete lesson concerning
eating.
(10:11) Again Moses saith; "Ye shall everything that divideth the hoof and
cheweth the cud." What meaneth he? He that receiveth the food knoweth Him
that giveth him the food, and being refreshed appeareth to rejoice in him.
Well said he, having regard to the commandment. What then meaneth he?
Cleave unto those that fear the Lord, with those who meditate in their
heart on the distinction of the word which they have received, with those
who tell of the ordinances of the Lord and keep them, with those who know
that meditation is a work of gladness and who chew the cud of the word of
the Lord. But why that which divideth the hoof? Because the righteous man
both walketh in this world, and at the same time looketh for the holy world
to come. Ye see how wise a lawgiver Moses was.
(10:12) But whence should they perceive or understand these things? Howbeit
we having justly perceived the commandments tell them as the Lord willed.
To this end He circumcised our ears and hearts, that we might understand
these things.
Chapter 11
(11:1) But let us enquire whether the Lord took care to signify before
hand concerning the water and the cross. Now concerning the water it is
written in reference to Israel, how that they would not receive the baptism
which bringeth remission of sins, but would build for themselves.
(11:2) For the prophet saith; "Be astonished, O heaven, and let the earth
shudder the more at this, for this people hath done two evil things; they
abandoned Me the fountain of life, and they digged for themselves a pit of
death."
(11:3) "Is My holy mountain of Sinai a desert rock? for ye shall be as the
fledglings of a bird, which flutter aloft when deprived of their nest."
(11:4) And again the prophet saith; "I will go before thee, and level
mountains and crush gates of brass and break in pieces bolts of iron, and I
will give thee treasures dark, concealed, unseen, that they may know that I
am the Lord God."
(11:5) And; "Thou shalt dwell in a lofty cave of a strong rock." And; "His
water shall be sure; ye shall see the King in glory, and your soul shall
meditate on the fear of the Lord."
(11:6) And again He saith in another prophet; "And He that doeth these
things shall be as the tree that is planted by the parting streams of
waters, which shall yield his fruit at his proper season, and his leaf
shall not fall off, and all things whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
(11:7) "Not so are the ungodly, not so, but are as the dust which the wind
scattereth from the face of the earth. Therefore ungodly men shall not
stand in judgment, neither sinners in the council of the righteous; for the
Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly shall
perish."
(11:8) Ye perceive how He pointed out the water and the cross at the same
time. For this is the meaning; Blessed are they that set their hope on the
cross, and go down into the water; for He speaketh of the reward at "his
proper season"; then, saith He, I will repay. But now what saith He? "His
leaves shall not fall off"; He meaneth by this that every word, which shall
come forth from you through your mouth in faith and love, shall be for the
conversion and hope of many.
(11:9) And again another prophet saith; "And the land of Jacob was praised
above the whole earth." He meaneth this; He glorifieth the vessel of His
Spirit.
(11:10) Next what saith He? "And there was a river streaming from the right
hand, and beautiful trees rose up from it; and whosoever shall eat of them
shall live forever."
(11:11) This He saith, because we go down into the water laden with sins
and filth, and rise up from it bearing fruit in the heart, resting our fear
and hope on Jesus in the spirit. "And whosoever shall eat of these shall
live forever"; He meaneth this; whosoever, saith He, shall hear these
things spoken and shall believe, shall live forever.
Chapter 12
(12:1) In like manner again He defineth concerning the cross in another
prophet, who saith; "And when shall these things be accomplished? saith the
Lord. Whenever a tree shall be bended and stand upright, and whensoever
blood shall drop from a tree." Again thou art taught concerning the cross,
and Him that was to be crucified.
(12:2) And He saith again in Moses, when war was waged against Israel by
men of another nation, and that He might remind them when the war was waged
against them that for their sins they were delivered unto death; the Spirit
saith to the heart of Moses, that he should make a type of the cross and of
Him that was to suffer, that unless, saith He, they shall set their hope on
Him, war shall be waged against them for ever. Moses therefore pileth arms
one upon another in the midst of the encounter, and standing on higher
ground than any he stretched out his hands, and so Israel was again
victorious. Then, whenever he lowered them, they were slain with the sword.
(12:3) Wherefore was this? That they might learn that they cannot be saved,
unless they should set their hope on Him.
(12:4) And again in another prophet He saith; "The whole day long have I
stretched out My hands to a disobedient people that did gainsay My
righteous way."
(12:5) Again Moses maketh a type of Jesus, how that He must suffer, and
that He Himself whom they shall think to have destroyed shall make alive in
an emblem when Israel was falling. For the Lord caused all manner of
serpents to bite them, and they died (forasmuch as the transgression was
wrought in Eve through the serpent), that He might convince them that by
reason of their transgression they should be delivered over to the
affliction of death.
(12:6) Yea and further though Moses gave the commandment; "Ye shall not
have a molten or a carved image for your God", yet he himself made one that
he might show them a type of Jesus. So Moses maketh a brazen serpent, and
setteth it up conspicuously, and summoneth the people by proclamation.
(12:7) When therefore they were assembled together they entreated Moses
that he should offer up intercession for them that they might be healed.
And Moses said unto them; Whensoever, said he, one of you shall be bitten,
let him come to the serpent which is placed on the tree, and let him
believe and hope that the serpent being himself dead can make alive; and
forthwith he shall be saved. And so they did. Here again thou hast in these
things also the glory of Jesus, how that in Him and unto Him are all
things.
(12:8) What again saith Moses unto Jesus (Joshua) the son of Nun, when he
giveth him this name, as being a prophet, that all the people might give
ear to him alone, because the Father revealeth all things concerning His
Son Jesus?
(12:9) Moses therefore saith to Jesus the son of Nun, giving him this name,
when he sent him as a spy on the land; "Take a book in thy hands, and write
what the Lord saith, how the Son of God shall cut up by the roots all the
house of Amalek in the last days."
(12:10) Behold again it is Jesus, not a son of man, but the Son of God, and
He was revealed in the flesh in a figure. Since then men will say that
Christ is the son of David, David himself prophesieth being afraid and
understanding the error of sinners; "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou
on My right hand until I set thine enemies for a footstool under Thy feet."
(12:1) And again thus sayith Isaiah; "The Lord said unto my Christ the
Lord, of whose right hand I laid hold, that the nations should give ear
before Him, and I will break down the strength of kings." See how David
calleth Him Lord, and calleth Him not Son.
Chapter 13
(13:1) Now let us see whether this people or the first people hath the
inheritance, and whether the covenant had reference to us or to them.
(13:2) Hear then what the scripture saith concerning the people; "And Isaac
prayed concerning Rebecca his wife, for she was barren. And she conceived.
Then Rebecca went out to enquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her;
Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples in thy belly, and one people
shall vanquish another people, and the greater shall serve the less."
(13:3) Ye ought to understand who Isaac is, and who Rebecca is, and in
whose case He hath shown that the one people is greater than the other.
(13:4) And in another prophecy Jacob speaketh more plainly to Joseph his
son, saying; "Behold, the Lord hath not bereft me of thy face; bring me thy
sons, that I may bless them."
(13:5) And he brought Ephraim and Manasseh, desiring that Manasseh should
be blessed, because he was the elder; for Joseph led him by the right hand
of his father Jacob. But Jacob saw in the spirit a type of the people that
should come afterwards. And what saith He? "And Jacob crossed his hands,
and placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the second and younger,
and blessed him. And Joseph said unto Jacob, Transfer thy right hand to the
head of Manasseh, for he is my first born son. And Jacob said to Joseph, I
know it, my son, I know it; but the greater shall serve the less. Yet this
one also shall be blessed."
(13:6) Mark in whose cases He ordained that this people should be first and
heir of the covenant.
(13:7) If then besides this He also recorded it through Abraham, we attain
the completion of our knowledge. What then saith he to Abraham when he
alone believed, and was ascribed for righteousness? "Behold I have made
thee, Abraham, a father of nations that believe in God in uncircumcision."
Chapter 14
(14:1) Yea verily, but as regards the covenant which He swear to the
fathers to give it to the people let us see whether He hath actually given
it. He hath given it, but they themselves were not found worthy to receive
it by reason of their sins.
(14:2) For the prophet saith; "And Moses was fasting in Mount Sinai forty
days and forty nights, that he might receive the covenant of the Lord to
give to the people. And [Moses] received from the Lord the two tables which
were written by the finger of the hand of the Lord in the spirit." And
Moses took them, and brought them down to give them to the people.
(14:3) And the Lord said unto Moses; "Moses, Moses, come down quickly; for
thy people, whom thou leddest forth from the land of Egypt, hath done
wickedly. And Moses perceived that they had made for themselves again
molten images, and he cast them out of his hands and the tables of the
covenant of the Lord were broken in pieces."
(14:4) Moses received them, but they themselves were not found worthy. But
how did we receive them? Mark this. Moses received them being a servant,
but the Lord himself gave them to us to be the people of His inheritance,
having endured patiently for our sakes.
(14:5) But He was made manifest, in order that at the same time they might
be perfected in their sins, and we might receive the covenant through Him
who inherited it, even the Lord Jesus, who was prepared beforehand
hereunto, that appearing in person He might redeem out of darkness our
hearts which had already been paid over unto death and delivered up to the
iniquity of error, and thus establish the covenant in us through the word.
(14:6) For it is written how the Father chargeth Him to deliver us from
darkness, and to prepare a holy people for Himself.
(14:7) Therefore saith the prophet; "I the Lord thy God called thee in
righteousness, and I will lay hold of thy hand and will strengthen thee,
and I have given thee to be a covenant of the race, a light to the
Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, and to bring forth them that are
bound from their fetters, and them that sit in darkness from their prison
house." We perceive then whence we were ransomed.
(14:8) Again the prophet saith; "Behold I have set Thee to be a light unto
the Gentiles, that Thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the
earth; thus saith the Lord that ransomed thee, even God."
(14:9) Again the prophet saith; "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
wherefore He anointed Me to preach good tidings to the humble; He hath sent
Me to heal them that are broken-hearted, to preach release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to proclaim the acceptable year of the
Lord and the day of recompense, to comfort all that mourn."
Chapter 15
(15:1) Moreover concerning the Sabbath likewise it is written in the Ten
Words, in which He spake to Moses face to face on Mount Sinai; "And ye
shall hallow the Sabbath of the Lord with pure hands and with a pure
heart."
(15:2) And in another place He saith; "If my sons observe the Sabbath then
I will bestow My mercy upon them."
(15:3) Of the Sabbath He speaketh in the beginning of the creation; "And
God made the works of His hands in six days, and He ended on the seventh
day, and rested on it, and He hallowed it."
(15:4) Give heed, children, what this meaneth; "He ended in six days." He
meaneth this, that in six thousand years the Lord shall bring all things to
an end; for the day with Him signifyeth a thousand years; and this He
himself beareth me witness, saying; "Behold, the day of the Lord shall be
as a thousand years." Therefore, children, in six days, that is in six
thousand years, everything shall come to an end.
(15:5) "And He rested on the seventh day." this He meaneth; when His Son
shall come, and shall abolish the time of the Lawless One, and shall judge
the ungodly, and shall change the sun and the moon and the stars, then
shall he truly rest on the seventh day.
(15:6) Yea and furthermore He saith; "Thou shalt hallow it with pure hands
and with a pure heart." If therefore a man is able now to hallow the day
which God hallowed, though he be pure in heart, we have gone utterly
astray.
(15:7) But if after all then and not till then shall we truly rest and
hallow it, when we shall ourselves be able to do so after being justified
and receiving the promise, when iniquity is no more and all things have
been made new by the Lord, we shall be able to hallow it then, because we
ourselves shall have been hallowed first.
(15:8) Finally He saith to them; "Your new moons and your Sabbaths I cannot
away with." Ye see what is His meaning ; it is not your present Sabbaths
that are acceptable [unto Me], but the Sabbath which I have made, in the
which, when I have set all things at rest, I will make the beginning of the
eighth day which is the beginning of another world.
(15:9) Wherefore also we keep the eighth day for rejoicing, in the which
also Jesus rose from the dead, and having been manifested ascended into the
heavens.
Chapter 16
(16:1) Moreover I will tell you likewise concerning the temple, how
these wretched men being led astray set their hope on the building, and not
on their God that made them, as being a house of God.
(16:2) For like the Gentiles almost they consecrated Him in the temple. But
what saith the Lord abolishing the temple? Learn ye. "Who hath measured the
heaven with a span, or hath measured the earth with his hand? Have not I,
saith the Lord? The heaven is My throne and the earth the footstool of My
feet. What manner of house will ye build for Me? Or what shall be my
resting place?" Ye perceive that their hope is vain.
(16:3) Furthermore He saith again; "Behold they that pulled down this
temple themselves shall build it."
(16:4) So it cometh to pass; for because they went to war it was pulled
down by their enemies. Now also the very servants of their enemies shall
build it up.
(16:5) Again, it was revealed how the city and the temple and the people of
Israel should be betrayed. For the scripture saith; "And it shall be in the
last days, that the Lord shall deliver up the sheep of the pasture and the
fold and the tower thereof to destruction." And it came to pass as the Lord
spake.
(16:6) But let us enquire whether there be any temple of God. There is; in
the place where he himself undertakes to make and finish it. For it is
written "And it shall come to pass, when the week is being accomplished,
the temple of God shall be built gloriously in the name of the Lord."
(16:7) I find then that there is a temple, How then shall it be built in
the name of the Lord? Understand ye. Before we believed on God, the abode
of our heart was corrupt and weak, a temple truly built by hands; for it
was full of idolatry and was a house of demons, because we did whatsoever
was contrary to God.
(16:8) "But it shall be built in the name of the Lord." Give heed then that
the temple of the Lord may be built gloriously.
(16:9) How? Understand ye. By receiving the remission of our sins and
hoping on the Name we became new, created afresh from the beginning.
Wherefore God dwelleth truly in our habitation within us. How? The word of
his faith, the calling of his promise, the wisdom of the ordinances, the
commandments of the teaching, He Himself prophesying in us, He Himself
dwelling in us, opening for us who had been in bondage unto death the door
of the temple, which is the mouth, and giving us repentance leadeth us to
the incorruptible temple.
(16:10) For he that desireth to be saved looketh not to the man, but to Him
that dwelleth and speaketh in him, being amazed at this that he has never
at any time heard these words from the mouth of the speaker, nor himself
ever desired to hear them. This is the spiritual temple built up to the
Lord.
Chapter 17
(17:1) So far as it was possible with all simplicity to declare it unto
you, my soul hopeth that I have not omitted anything [of the matters
pertaining unto salvation and so failed in my desire].
(17:2) For if I should write to you concerning things immediate or future,
ye would not understand them, because they are put in parables. So much
then for this.
Chapter 18
(18:1) But let us pass on to another lesson and teaching. There are two
ways of teaching and of power, the one of light and the other of darkness;
and there is a great difference between the two ways. For on the one are
stationed the light giving angels of God, on the other the angels of Satan.
(18:2) And the one is the Lord from all eternity and unto all eternity,
whereas the other is Lord of the season of iniquity that now is.
Chapter 19
(19:1) This then is the way of light, if anyone desiring to travel on
the way to his appointed place would be zealous in his works. The knowledge
then which is given to us whereby we may walk therein is as follows.
(19:2) Thou shalt love Him that made thee, thou shalt fear Him that created
thee, thou shalt glorify Him that redeemed thee from death; thou shalt be
simple in heart and rich in spirit; thou shalt not cleave to those who walk
the way of death; thou shalt hate everything that is not pleasing to God;
thou shalt hate all hypocrisy; thou shalt never forsake the commandments of
the Lord.
(19:3) Thou shalt not exalt thyself, but shalt be lowly minded in all
things. Thou shalt not assume glory to thyself. Thou shalt not entertain a
wicked design against thy neighbor; thou shalt not admit boldness into thy
soul.
(19:4) Thou shalt not commit fornication, "thou shalt not commit
adultery", thou shalt not corrupt boys. The word of God shall not come
forth from thee where any are unclean. Thou shalt not make a difference in
a person to reprove him for a transgression. Thou shalt be meek, thou shalt
be "quiet", thou shalt be "fearing the words" which thou hast heard. Thou
shalt not bear a grudge against thy brother.
(19:5) Thou shalt not doubt whether a thing shall be or not be. "Thou shalt
not take the name of the Lord in vain." Thou shalt love thy neighbor more
than thine own soul. Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion, nor again
shalt thou kill it when it is born. Thou shalt not withhold thy hand from
thy son or daughter, but from their youth thou shalt teach them the fear of
God.
(19:6) Thou shalt not be found coveting thy neighbors goods; thou shalt not
be found greedy of gain. Neither shalt thou cleave with thy soul to the
lofty, but shalt walk with the humble and righteous. The accidents that
befall thee thou shalt receive as good, knowing that nothing is done
without God. Thou shalt not be double minded nor double tongued.
(19:7) Thou shalt be subject unto thy masters as to a type of God in shame
and fear. Thou shalt not command in bitterness thy bondservant or thine
handmaid who set their hope on the same God, lest haply, they should cease
to fear the God who is over both of you; for He came not to call with
respect of persons, but to call those whom the Spirit hath prepared.
(19:8) Thou shalt make thy neighbor partake in all things, and shalt not
say "that anything is thine own." For if ye are fellow partakers in that
which is imperishable, how much rather shall ye be in the things which are
perishable. Thou shalt not be hasty with thine own tongue, for the mouth is
the snare of death. So far as thou art able, thou shalt be pure for thy
soul's sake.
(19:9) "Be not thou found holding out thy hands to receive, and drawing
them in to give." Thou shalt love as the apple of thine eye every one "that
speaketh unto thee the word of the Lord.
(19:10) "Thou shalt remember" the day of judgment night and day, and thou
shalt seek out day by day the persons of the saints, either laboring by
word and going to exhort them and meditating how thou mayest save souls by
thy word, or thou shalt work with thy hands for a ransom for thy sins.
(19:11) Thou shall not hesitate to give, neither shalt thou murmur when
giving, but thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of thy reward. Thou
shalt keep those things which thou hast received, neither adding to them
nor taking away from them. Thou shalt utterly hate the Evil One. Thou shalt
judge righteously.
(19:12) Thou shalt not make a schism, but thou shalt pacify them that
contend by bringing them together. Thou shalt confess thy sins. Thou shalt
not betake thyself to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of
light.
Chapter 20
(20:1) But the way of the Black One is crooked and full of a curse. For
it is a way of eternal death with punishment wherein are the things that
destroy men's souls--idolatry, boldness, exhalation of power, hypocrisy,
doubleness of heart, adultery, murder, plundering, pride, transgression,
treachery, malice, stubbornness, witchcraft, magic, covetousness, absence
of the fear of God;
(20:2) persecutors of good men, hating the truth, loving lies, not
perceiving the reward of righteousness, not "cleaving to the good" nor to
the righteous judgment, paying no heed to the widow and the orphan, wakeful
not for the fear of God but for that which is evil; men from whom
gentleness and forbearance stand aloof and far off; loving vain things,
pursuing a recompense, not pitying the poor man, not toiling for him that
is oppressed with toil, ready to slander, not recognizing Him that made
them murderers of children, corrupters of the creatures of God, turning
away from him that is in want, oppressing him that is afflicted, advocates
of the wealthy, unjust judges of the poor, sinful in all things.
Chapter 21
(21:1) It is good therefore to learn the ordinances of the Lord, as many
as have been written above, and to walk in them. For he that doeth these
things shall be glorified in the kingdom of God; whereas he that chooseth
their opposites shall perish together with his works. For this cause is the
resurrection, for this the recompense.
(21:2) I entreat those of you who are in a higher station, if ye will
receive any counsel of good advice from me, keep amongst you those to whom
ye may do good. Fail not.
(21:3) The day is at hand, in which everything shall be destroyed together
with the Evil One. "The Lord is at hand and his reward."
(21:4) Again and again I entreat you; be good lawgivers one to another;
continue faithful councilors to yourselves; take away from you all
hypocrisy.
(21:5) And may God, who is Lord of the whole world, give you wisdom,
judgment, learning, knowledge of His ordinances, patience.
(21:6) And be ye taught of God, seeking diligently what the Lord requireth
of you, and act that ye may be found in the day of judgment.
(21:7) But if you have any remembrance of good, call me to mind when ye
practice these things these things, that both my desire and my watchfulness
may lead to some good result. I entreat you asking it as a favor.
(21:8) So long as the good vessel (of the body) is with you, be lacking in
none of these things, but search them out constantly, and fulfill every
commandment; for they deserve it.
(21:9) For this reason I was the more eager to write to you so far as I was
able, that I might give you joy. Fare ye well, children of love and peace.
The Lord of glory and of every grace be with your spirit.
Translated by J.B. Lightfoot. Adapt. and mod. (c) 1990. ATHENA DATA
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