Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter 8
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)
1τινα δε δοκιται τυπον ειναι οτι εντεταλται τω ϊϲλʼ προϲφεριν δαμαλιν τουϲ ανδραϲ εν οιϲ ειϲιν αμαρτιαι τελιαι και ϲφαξανταϲ κατακαιειν και εριν τοτε τα παιδια ϲποδον και βαλι ειϲ αγγη και περιτιθεναι το εριον το κοκκινον ειδε παλιν ο τυποϲ ο του ϲταυρου και το εριον το κοκκινον και τον ϋϲϲωπον και ουτωϲ ραντιζειν τα παιδια καθ ενα τον λαον ϊνα αγνιζωνται απο των αμαρτιω 2νοειται πωϲ εν απλοτητι λεγεται ϋμιν νομοϲ χϲ ιϲ εϲτιν οι προϲφεροτεϲ ανδρεϲ αμαρτωλοι οι προϲενεγκαντεϲ αυτον επι την ϲφαγην ειτα ουκετι ανδρεϲ ουκετι αμαρτωλω η δοξα · 3οι ραντιζοτεϲ παιδεϲ · ευαγγελιϲαμενοι ημιν την αφεϲιν των αμαρτιων και τον αγνιϲμον οιϲ εδωκεν τη ευαγγελιου την εξουϲιαν ουϲιν ιβ ειϲ μαρτυριον των φυλων οτι ιβ φυλαι του ιϲλʼ ειϲ το κηρυϲϲιν 4διατι δε τρειϲ παιδεϲ οι ραντιζοντεϲ ειϲ μαρτυριον αβρααμʼ ϊϲακ ϊακωβʼ οτι ουτοι μεγαλοι τω θω 5οτι δε το εριον επι το ξυλον οτι η βαϲιλεια ιυ επι ξυλου και οτι οι ελπιζοντεϲ επ αυτον ζηϲονται ειϲ τον αιωνα
1But what think ye meaneth the type, where the commandment is given to Israel that those men, whose sins are full grown, offer an heifer and slaughter and burn it, and then that the children take up the ashes, and cast them into vessels, and twist the scarlet wool on a tree (see here again is the type of the cross and the scarlet wool), and the hyssop, and that this done the children should sprinkle the people one by one, that they may be purified from their sins? 2Understand ye how in all plainness it is spoken unto you; the calf is Jesus, the men that offer it, being sinners, are they that offered Him for the slaughter. After this it is no more men (who offer); the glory is no more for sinners. 3The children who sprinkle are they that preached unto us the forgiveness of sins and the purification of our heart, they to whom, being twelve in number for a testimony unto the tribes (for there are twelve tribes of Israel), He gave authority over the Gospel, that they should preach it. 4But wherefore are the children that sprinkle three in number? For a testimony unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because these are mighty before God. 5Then there is the placing the wool on the tree. This means that the kingdom of Jesus is on the cross, and that they who set their hope on Him shall live for ever.
6διατι δε αμα το εριον και το υϲϲωπον οτι εν τη βαϲιλεια αυτου ημεραι εϲονται ρυπαραι και πονηραι εν αιϲ ημιϲ ϲωθηϲομεθα οτι ο αλγων ϲαρκα δια του ρυπου του ϋϲϲωπου ειαται 7και δια τουτο ουτωϲ γενομενα ημιν μεν εϲτιν φανερα · εκεινοιϲ δε ϲκοτια οτι η ουκ ηκουϲαν φωνηϲ κυ
6And why is there the wool and the hyssop at the same time? Because in His kingdom there shall be evil and foul days, in which we shall be saved; for he who suffers pain in the flesh is healed through the foulness of the hyssop. 7Now to us indeed it is manifest that these things so befell for this reason, but to them they were dark, because they heard not the voice of 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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