Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 11
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.
How was this verified? (Provenance)
1ζητηϲωμε ταυτα ει εμεληϲε τω κω προεφανερωϲεν περι του ϋδατοϲ και περι του ϲταυρου περι μεν του υδατοϲ γεγραπται επι το ϊϲλʼ πωϲ το βαπτιϲμα το φερον αφεϲιν αμαρτιων ου μη προϲδεξοται αλλ εαυτοιϲ οικοδομηϲουϲιν 2λεγει γαρ ο προφητηϲ εκϲτηθι ουνε και επι τουτω πλιον φραξατω η γη οτι δυο και πονηρα εποιηϲεν ο λαοϲ ουτοϲ εμε εγκατελιπον πηγην ζωηϲ και εαυτοιϲ ωρυξαν βοθρον θανατου 3μη πετρα ερημοϲ εϲτιν το οροϲ το αγιον μου ϲεινα εϲεϲθαι γαρ ωϲ πετινου νοϲϲοι ανεπταμενοι νοϲϲιαϲ αφειρημενοι 4και παλιν λεγει ο προφητηϲ εγω πορευϲομαι εμπροϲθεν ϲου και ορη ομαλιω και πυλαϲ χαλκαϲ ϲυντριψω και μοχλουϲ ϲιδηρουϲ ϲυνκλαϲω και δωϲω ϲοι θηϲαυρουϲ ϲκοτουϲ αποκρυφουϲ αορατουϲ ϊνα γνωϲιν οτι εγω κϲ ο θϲ και κατοικηϲειϲ εν ϋψηλω ϲπηλαιω πετραϲ ϊϲχυραϲ 5και το υδωρ αυτου πιϲτον βαϲιλεα μετα δοξηϲ οψεϲθε και η ψυχη υμων μελετηϲει φοβον κυ
1But 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. 2For 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. 3Is 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. 4And 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. 5And; 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.
6και παλιν εν αλλω προφητη λεγει και εϲται ο ταυτα ποιων ωϲ το ξυλον το πεφυτευμενον παρα ταϲ διεξοδουϲ των ϋδατων ο τον καρπο αυτου δωϲει εν καιρω αυτου και το φυλλον αυτου ουκ απορυηϲεται και παντα οϲα α ποιη κατευοδωθηϲεται 7ουχ ουτωϲ οι αϲεβειϲ ουχ ουτωϲ αλλ η ωϲ ο χνουϲ ον εκρι μοϲ απο προϲωπου τηϲ γηϲ · δια τουτο ουκ αναϲτηϲονται οι αϲεβειϲ εν κριϲει · ουδε αμαρτωλοι εν βουλη δικαιων οτι γεινωϲκι κϲ οδο δικαιων και οδοϲ αϲεβων απολιται · 8αιϲθανεϲθαι πωϲ το υδωρ και τον ϲταυρον επι το αυτο ωριϲεν τουτο γαρ λεγι μακαριοι οι επι τον ϲταυρον ελπιϲαντεϲ κατεβηϲαν ειϲ το ϋδωρ οτι τον με μιϲθον λεγει εν καιρω αυτου τοτε φηϲιν αποδωϲω νυν δε ο λεγει τα φυλλα ουκ απορυηϲεται τουτο λεγει οτι παν ρημα ο εαν εξελευϲεται εξ υμων δια του ϲτοματοϲ υμω εν πιϲτι και αγαπη εϲται και επιϲτροφην και ελπιδα πολλοιϲ 9και παλιν εταιροϲ προφητηϲ λεγει και ην η γη του ϊακωβʼ επαινουμενη παρα παϲα την γην τουτο λεγει το ϲκευοϲ του πνϲ αυτου δοξαζει 10ειτα τι λεγει και ην ποταμοϲ ελκων εκ δεξιω και ανεβαινεν εξ αυτου δενδρα ωραια και οϲ αν φαγη εξ αυτων ζηϲεται ειϲ τον αιωνα ·
6And 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. 7Not 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. 8Ye 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. 9And 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. 10Next 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.
11οτι ημιϲ μεν καταβενομεν ειϲ το ϋδωρ γεμοντεϲ αμαρτιων και ρυπου και αναβενομεν καρποφορουντεϲ εν τη καρδια και τον φοβον και την ελπιδαν ειϲ τον ιν εν τω πνι εχοτεϲ και οϲ αν φαγη απο τουτων ζηϲεται ειϲ τον αιωνα τουτο λεγει οϲ αν φηϲιν ακουϲη τουτω λαλουμενων κ(αι) πιϲτευϲει ζηϲεται ειϲ τον αιωνα
11This 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.
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
← previous · → next · v cycle view · l back to library