Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 1
Introduction
This entry meets the strict three-criteria standard of the Theosis Library:
- Manuscript scan: The actual folio(s) of Codex Sinaiticus containing this chapter, from the Codex Sinaiticus Project (codexsinaiticus.org). Each section links to the specific folio holding its verses.
- Original text: The Codex Sinaiticus Project's verbatim transcription of the folio shown (uncial letters, lunate sigma, nomina sacra preserved).
- English translation: J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers (1891), public domain, retrieved verbatim from Lightfoot 1891 via earlychristianwritings.com transcription.
Why this is here: Codex Sinaiticus binds this text after Revelation, alongside the canonical books. Reading it on the same parchment as the Gospels is primary evidence for how a 4th-century Christian community treated it.
Numbering: Greek verse 8 has no English counterpart under that number. Compare by content.
How was this verified? (Provenance)
1χαιρετε ϋϊοι και θυγατερεϲ εν ονοματι κυ του αγαπηϲαντοϲ ημαϲ εν ιρηνη 2μεγαλων μεν οντω και πλουϲιων τω του θυ δικαιωματων ειϲ ϋμαϲ υπερ τι και καθ υπερβολην υπερευφρενομε επι τοιϲ μακαριοιϲ και ενδοξοιϲ ϋμων πναϲιν ου το εμφυτον τηϲ δωρεαϲ πνικηϲ χαριν ειληφαται 3διο και μαλλον ϲυχαιρω εμαυτω ελπιζων ϲωθηναι οτι αληθωϲ βλεπω εν υμιν εκκεχυμενον απο του πλουϲιου τηϲ αγαπηϲ κυ πνα εφ υμαϲ ουτω με εξεπληξεν επι ϋμω η επιποθητη οψιϲ υμων 4πεπιϲμενοϲ ουν τουτο και ϲυνιδων εμαυτω οτι εν υμιν λαληϲαϲ πολλα επιϲταμαι οτι εμοι ϲυνωδευϲεν εν οδω δικαιοϲυνηϲ κϲ και παντωϲ αναγκαζομε καγω ειϲ τουτο αγαπαν υμαϲ υ̇περ την ψυχην μ(ου) οτι μεγαλη πιϲτιϲ και αγαπη εγκατοικει εν υμιν ελπιδει ζωηϲ αυτου 5λογιϲαμενοϲ ου τουτο οτι εαν μεληϲη μοι περι υμων του μεροϲ τι μεταδουναι αφ ου ελαβον οτι εϲται μοι τοιουτοιϲ πναϲιν ϋπηρετηϲαντι ειϲ μιϲθον εϲπουδαϲα κατα μικρον υμιν πεμπειν ινα μετα τηϲ πιϲτεωϲ ϋμων τελιαν εχηται την γνωϲιν ·
1I Bid you greeting, sons and daughters, in the name of the Lord that loved us, in peace. 2Seeing 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. 3Wherefore 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. 4Being 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, and 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, 5if 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.
6τρια ου δογματα εϲτιν κυ · ζωη · πιϲτιϲ ελπιϲ · αρχη · και τελοϲ ημων · και δικεοϲυνη κριϲεωϲ αρχη · και τελοϲ αγαπη ευφροϲυνη και αγαλλιαϲεωϲ εργων εν δικαιοϲυναιϲ μαρτυρια ˙ 7εγνωριϲεν γαρ ημιν ο δεϲποτηϲ δια των προφητων τα παρεληλυθοτα και τα ενεϲτωτα τω μελλοντων δουϲ απαρχαϲ ημιν γευϲεωϲ ων τα καθ εκαϲτα βλεποντεϲ ενεργουμενα καθωϲ ελαληϲεν οφιλομεν πλουϲιωτερον και ϋψηλοτερο προϲαγειν τω φοβω αυτου 8εγω δε ουχ ωϲ διδαϲκαλοϲ αλλ ωϲ ειϲ εξ υμων ϋποδιξω ολιγα δι ων εν τοιϲ παρουϲιν ευφραθηϲεϲθε
6Well 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. 7For 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.
Cite
Source & Cross-References
- Source text: Codex Sinaiticus folio + transcription (codexsinaiticus.org) + J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers (1891) — view original
- Critical edition: Tischendorf 8th edition (1869) / Codex Sinaiticus transcription
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