Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 2
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)
1ημερω ουν ουϲων πονηρων και αυτου του ενεργουντοϲ εχοντοϲ την εξουϲιαν οφιλομεν εαυτοιϲ προϲεχοτεϲ · εκζητειν τα δικαιωματα κυ 2τηϲ ουν πιϲτεωϲ ημων ειϲιν βοηθοι · φοβοϲ · ϋπομονη τα δε ϲυνμαχουντα ημιν μακροθυμια · και εγκρατια · 3τουτω μενοντων τα προϲ κν αγνωϲ ϲυνευφρενονται αυτοιϲ · ϲοφια · ϲυνεϲιϲ επιϲτημη γνωϲιϲ 4πεφανερωκεν γαρ ημι δια παντων τω προφητων οτι ουτε θυϲιων ουτε ολοκαυτωματων ουτε προϲφορω χρηζει λεγων οτε μεν 5τι μοι πληθοϲ των θυϲιων ϋμων λεγει κϲ πληριϲ ειμι ολοκαυτωματων κ(αι) ϲτεαρ αρνων και αιμα ταυρων και τραγων ου βουλομε ουδ αν ερχηϲθε οφθηναι μοι τιϲ γαρ εξεζητηϲεν ταυτα εκ των χιρων υμων πατιν μου την αυλην ου προϲθηϲεϲθαι ουδε εαν φερηται ϲεμιδαλιν ματαιον θυμιαμα βδελυγμα μοι εϲτιν ταϲ νεομηνιαϲ ϋμων και τα ϲαββατα ουκ ανεχομαι
1Seeing 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. 2The aids of our faith then are fear and patience, and our allies are long-suffering and self-restraint. 3While these abide in a pure spirit in matters relating to the Lord, wisdom, understanding, science, knowledge rejoice with them. 4For 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; 5What 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.
6ταυτα ουν κατηργηϲεν ινα ο καινοϲ ι νομοϲ του κυ ηκμων ιυ χρυ ανευ ζυγου αναγκηϲ ων μη ανθρωποποιητον εχη την προϲφοραν 7λεγει δε παλιν προϲ αυτουϲ μη εγω ενετιλαμην τοιϲ πατραϲιν ϋμων εκπορευομενοιϲ εκ γηϲ αιγυπτου προϲενεγκαι μοι ολοκαυτωματα και θυϲιαϲ 8αλλ η τουτο ενετιλαμη αυτοιϲ εκαϲτοϲ ϋμων κατα του πληϲιον εν τη καρδια αυτου κακιαν μη μνηϲικακιτω και ορκον ψευδη μη αγαπαται 9αιϲθανεϲθαι ουν οφιλομεν μη οντεϲ αϲυνετοι την γνωμην τηϲ αγαθωϲυνηϲ του πατροϲ ημων οτι ημιν λεγει θελων ημαϲ μη ομοιωϲ πλανωμενουϲ εκεινοιϲ ζητιν πωϲ προϲαγωμε αυτω 10ημιν ουν ουτωϲ λεγει θυϲια τω θω καρδια ϲυτετριμμενη οϲμη ευωδιαϲ τω κω καρδια δοξαζουϲα τον πεπλακοτα αυτην · ακριβευεϲθαι ουν οφιλομεν αδελφοι περι τηϲ ϲωτηριαϲ ημων ϊνα μη ο πονηροϲ παριϲδυϲιν ϊ πλανηϲ ποιηϲαϲ ημιν εκϲφενδονηϲη ημαϲ απο τηϲ ζωηϲ ημω
6These 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. 7And He saith again unto them; Did command your fathers when they went forth from the land of Egypt to bring Me whole burnt offerings and sacrifices? 8Nay, 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. 9So 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. 10Thus 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.
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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