Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 13
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)
1ειδωμε δε ει ουτοϲ ο λαοϲ κληρονομει ο πρωτοϲ και η διαθηκη ειϲ ημαϲ η ειϲ εκινουϲ · 2ακουϲατε ουν περι του λαου τι λεγει η γραφη εδειτο δε ιϲαακʼ περι ρεβεκκαϲ τηϲ γυναικοϲ αυτου οτι ϲτιρα ην και ϲυνελαβεν ειτα εξηλθεν ρεβεκκα πυθεϲθαι παρα κυ και ειπε κϲ προϲ αυτην δυο εθνη εν τη γαϲτρι ϲου και δυο λαοι εν τη κοιλια ϲου και ϋπερεξει λατοϲε λαου και ο μειζον δουλευϲει τω ελαϲϲονι 3αιϲθανεϲθαι οφιλεται τιϲ ο ϊϲακ και τιϲ η ρεβεκκα και επι τινω δεδιχεν οτι μειζων ο λαοϲ ουτοϲ η εκεινοϲ 4και εν αλλη προφητια λεγει φανερωτερον ο ϊακωβ προϲ ιωϲηφʼ τον υιον αυτου λεγω ϊδου ουκ εϲτερεϲεν με κϲ του προϲωπου ϲου προϲαγαγε μοι τουϲ ϋϊουϲ ϲου · ϊνα ευλογηϲω αυτουϲ 5και προϲηγαγεν εφραιμ και μαναϲϲη θελων τον εφραιμ ϊνα ευλογηϲη οτι πρεϲβυτεροϲ η ο γαρ ϊωϲηφ προϲηγαγεν ειϲ την δεξιαν χειραν του πρϲ ιακωβ ειδεν δε ϊακωβʼ τυπον τω πνι του λαου του μετοξυ και τι λεγει και εποιηϲεν ιακωβ εναλλαξ ταϲ χιραϲ αυτου και επεθηκεν τη δεξιαν επι την κεφαλην μαναϲϲη του δευτερου και νεωτερου · και ευλογηϲεν αυτον και ειπεν ϊωϲηφʼ · προϲ ϊακωβ μεταθεϲ ϲου τη δεξιαν επι την κεφαλην εφραιμ οτι πρωτοτοκοϲ μου υ̇ϊοϲ εϲτιν · και ειπεν ϊακωβʼ · προϲ ιακωβʼ · οιδα τεκνον οιδα αλλ ο μιζων δουλευϲει τω ελαϲϲονι και ουτοϲ δε ευλογηθηϲεται
1Now let us see whether this people or the first people hath the inheritance, and whether the covenant had reference to us or to them. 2Hear 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. 3Ye 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. 4And 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. 5And 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.
6βλεπετε επι τινων εοικεν τον λαον τουτον ειναι πρωτο και τηϲ διαθηκηϲ κληρονομον . 7ει ουν ετι και δια του αβρααμ εμνηϲθη απεχομεν το τελιον τηϲ γνωϲεωϲ ημων τι ουν λεγει τω αβρααμ · οτε μονοϲ πιϲτευϲαϲ ετεθη ειϲ δικαιοϲυνην ϊδου τεθικα ϲε αβρααμʼ πρα εθνων των πιϲτευοντων δι ακροβυϲτιαν τω θω
6Mark in whose cases He ordained that this people should be first and heir of the covenant. 7If 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.
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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