Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 16
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)
1ετι δε και περι του ναου ερω ϋμιν ωϲ πλανωμενοι οι ταλαιπωροι ειϲ την οικοδομην ηλπιϲαν και ουκ επι τον θν αυτων τον ποιηϲαντα αυτουϲ ωϲ οντα οικον θυ 2ϲχεδον ειϲ τα εθνη γαρ αφιερωϲαν γαρ αυτον εν τω ναω αλλα πωϲ λεγει κϲ καταργων αυτον μαθεται τιϲ εμετρηϲεν τον ουρανον ϲπιθαμη η την γην δρακει ουκ εγω λεγει κϲ ο ουνοϲ μοι θρονοϲ η δε γη υποποδιον των ποδων μου ποιον οικον οικοδομηϲεται μοι η τιϲ τοποϲ τηϲ καταπαυϲεωϲ μου εγνωκαται οτι ματαια η ελπιϲ ϋμων 3περαϲ γε τοι παλιν λεγει ϊδου οι καθελοντεϲ τον ναον τουτον αυτοι οικοδομηϲουϲιν 4δια γαρ το πολεμιν αυτουϲ καθηρεθη ϋπο των εχθρων νυν και αυτοι και οι των εχθρων υπηρεται ανοικοδομηϲωϲιν αυτον 5παλιν ωϲ εμελλεν η πολιϲ και ο λαοϲ και ο ναοϲ ϊηλ παραδιδοϲθαι εφανερωθη λεγει γαρ η γραφη · και εϲται επ εϲχατων των ημερω και παραδωϲει κϲ τα προβατα τηϲ νομηϲ και την μανδραν και το πυργον αυτων ειϲ καταφθοραν και εγενετο καθ α ελαληϲεν κϲ
1Moreover 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. 2For 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. 3Furthermore He saith again; Behold they that pulled down this temple themselves shall build it. 4So 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. 5Again, 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.
6ζητηϲωμεν δε ει εϲτιν ναοϲ θυ εϲτιν οπου αυτοϲ λεγει ποιει και καταρτιζειν γεγραπται γαρ και εϲται τηϲ εβδομαδοϲ ϲυντελουμενηϲ ει οικοδομηθηϲεται ναοϲ θυ ενδοξωϲ επι τω ονοματι κυ 7ευριϲκω ουν οτι εϲτιν ναοϲ πωϲ ουν οικοδομηθηϲεται επι τω ονοματι κυ μαθεται προ του υμαϲ πιϲτευϲαι τω θω ημων το κατοικητηριον τηϲ καρδιαϲ φθαρτον και αϲθενεϲ ωϲ αληθωϲ οικοδομητοϲ ναοϲ δια χιροϲ οτι ην πληριϲ μεν ειδωλολατριαϲ και ην οικοϲ δαιμονιων δια το ποιειν ει οϲα ην εναντια τω θω 8οικοδομηθηϲεται δε επι τω ονοματι κυ · μαθετε προ του ϋμαϲ πιϲτευ προϲεχετε δε ινα ο ναοϲ του θυ ενδοξωϲ οικοδομηθη πωϲ μαθεται λαβοντεϲ τη αφεϲιν των αμαρτιων και ελπιϲαντεϲ επι το ονομα εγενομεθα κενοι παλιν εξ αρχηϲ κτιζομενοι διο εν τω κατοικητηριω ημω αληθωϲ ο θϲ κατοικει εν ημιν 9πωϲ ο λογοϲ αυτου τηϲ πιϲτεωϲ η κληϲιϲ τηϲ επαγγελιαϲ · η ϲοφια των δικαιωματων αι εντολαι τηϲ διδαχηϲ αυτοϲ εν ημιν προφητευων αυτοϲ εν ημιν κατοικων τοιϲ τω θανατω δεδουλωμενοιϲ ανυγων ημιν την θυραν του ναου · εϲτιν ϲτομα μετανοιαν διδουϲ ημιν ειϲαγει ειϲ τον αφθαρτον ναον 10ο γαρ ποθων ϲωθηναι βλεπει ουκ ειϲ το ανον αλλα ειϲ τον εν αυτω κατοικουντα και λαλουντα επ αυτω εκπληϲϲομενοϲ επι τω μηδεποτε μητε του λεγοντοϲ τα ρηματα ακηκοεναι εκ του ϲτοματοϲ μητε αυτοϲ ποτε επιτεθυμηκεναι ακουειν τουτο εϲτιν πνικοϲ ναοϲ οικοδομουμενοϲ τω κω
6But 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. 7I 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. 8But it shall be built in the name of the Lord. Give heed then that the temple of the Lord may be built gloriously. 9How? 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. 10For 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.
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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