Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Peace and Salutations to all

We will study together the passages of the Gospel of Barnabas as translated by Lonsdale and Laura Cragg. Recently an old Bible 1500 years to be precise was intercepted - said to be worth $28M is in the hands of the Turks and currently going through processing but the Vatican want it … It is in Syriac a dialect of Aramaic - and it is said to be closely linked to the Gospel of Barnabas - I’ve been hoping to study this apocrypha but rumours suggested it was a fraud from Muslims, but if this new book is 1500 years old that fraud is impossible since Arabian Islam is less than 1500 years old. Extracts of the Gospel will be taken out and presented for comments the text will be in blue.

**True Gospel of Jesus, called Christ, a new Prophet sent by God to the world: according to the description of
Barnabas his apostle.

**Barnabas, apostle of Jesus the Nazarene, called Christ, to all them that dwell upon the earth desireth peace and consolation.

Dearly beloved, the great and wonderful God hath during these past days visited us by his prophet Jesus Christ in great mercy of teaching and miracles, by reason whereof many, being deceived of Satan, under pretence of piety, are preaching most impious doctrine, calling Jesus son of God, repudiating the circumcision ordained of God for ever, and permitting every unclean meat: among whom also Paul hath been deceived, whereof I speak not without grief; for which cause I am writing that truth which I have seen and heard, in the intercourse that I have had with Jesus, in order that ye may be saved, and not be deceived of Satan and perish in the judgement of God. Therefore beware of every one that preacheth unto you new doctrine contrary to that which I write, that ye may be saved eternally.

The great God be with you and guard you from Satan and from every evil. Amen.

Here it is clear that Jesus (AS) is being called “the Nazarene” and nominated Christ or Messiah. It is interesting Barnabas says “Dearly Beloved” … this could mean the reader or God depending on how you read the sentence. In the very introduction you get a gist of sense of a refutation forming against the dominant waves of Christendom … I’ll leave it here and allow others to analyse this paragraph and we can discuss it together.

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Re: Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

There are clearly 3 areas of contention raised by Barnabas:

a) Son of God
b) Abolishing Circumcision
c) Eating Haram Meat

Also you note that unlike the other gospels which were written because they felt lke doing so, Barnabas was writing to respond to the fitnah he saw developing. His validation being that he was a close companion to Jesus (AS). His motives were so his brothers could be saved and not deceived by Satan. Like Jesus (AS) he warned against anyone providing a new doctrine - that new doctrine is to be recognised in the light of those 3 contentions - deification of Jesus (AS), eating haram meat and abandoning circumcision.

He bids God be with the reader and recognises that Satan is not the only evil ... but other forms too.

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Re: Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

**Chapter 1 The angel Gabriel visits Virgin Mary concerning the birth of Jesus.

**In these last years a virgin called Mary, of the lineage of David, of the tribe of Judah, was visited by the angel Gabriel from God. This virgin, living in all holiness without any offense, being blameless, and abiding in prayer with fastings, being one day alone, there entered into her chamber the angel Gabriel, and he saluted her, saying: 'God be with thee, O Mary'.
The virgin was affrighted at the appearance of the angel; but the angel comforted her, saying: 'Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God, who hath chosen thee to be mother of a prophet, whom he will send to the people of Israel in order that they may walk in his laws with truth of heart.'

The virgin answered: 'Now how shall I bring forth sons, seeing I know not a man?' The angel answered: 'O Mary, God who made man without a man is able to generate in thee man with- out a man, because with him nothing is impossible.' Mary answered: 'I know that God is almighty, therefore his will be done.' The angel answered: 'Now be conceived in thee
the prophet, whom thou shalt name Jesus: and thou shalt keep him from wine and from strong drink and from every unclean meat, because the child is an holy one of God.' Mary bowed herself with humility, saying: 'Behold the handmaid of God, be it done according to thy word.' The angel departed, and the virgin glorified God, saying: 'Know, O my soul, the greatness of God, and exult, my spirit, in God my Saviour; for he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden, insomuch that I shall be called blessed by all the nations, for he that is mighty hath made me great, and blessed be his holy name. For his mercy extendeth from generation to generation of them that fear him. Mighty hath he made his hand, and he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of his heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. Him who hath been hungry hath he filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. For he keepeth in memory the promises
made to Abraham and to his son for ever'.

**Chapter 2 The warning of the angel Gabriel given to Joseph concerning the conception of the Virgin Mary.

**Mary having known the will of God, fearing the people, lest they should take offense at her being great with child, and should stone her as guilty of fornication, chose a companion of her own lineage, a man by name called Joseph, of blameless life: for he as a righteous man feared God and served him with fastings and prayers, living by the works of his hands, for he was a carpenter. Such a man the virgin knowing, chose him for her companion and revealed to him the divine counsel.

Joseph being a righteous man, when he perceived that Mary was great with child, was minded to put her away because he feared God. Behold, whilst he slept, he was rebuked by the angel of God, saying 'O Joseph, why art thou minded to put away Mary thy wife? Know that whatsoever hath been wrought in her hath all been done by the will of God. The virgin shall bring forth a son, whom thou shall call by the name Jesus; whom thou shalt keep from wine and strong drink and from every unclean meat, because he is an holy one of God from his mother's womb. He is a prophet of God sent unto the people of Israel, in order that he may convert Judah to his heart, and that Israel may walk in the law of the Lord, as it is
written in the law of Moses. He shall come with great power, which God shall give him, and shall work great miracles, whereby many shall be saved'. Joseph, arising from sleep, gave thanks to God, and abode with Mary all his life, serving God with all sincerity.

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Re: Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

In Chapter 1 the condition of Maryam (AS) is almost absolutely like that of what is understood in Islam. There is no marriage or engagement to Joseph. I particularly find the interesting the idea that the angel said the intent is "that they walk in the laws of God with truth of heart" - This said it is apparent that at this time the Jews although engrossed in formal Rabbinical tradition were void of the "heart" or the essence of the faith. Manipulating religion to serve the desires and control people.

I also find interesting that this talks about the lineage of Maryam (AS) denoting her importance and status as a pious person in her own right. However it invokes her to be a daughter of David (AS). The Qur'an states that people taunted Maryam (AS) calling her the "sister of Aaron" and it appears that through her connection with her relative Elizabeth (sister or cousin) that Elizabeth being a daughter of Aaron qualifies her ... also it appears Aaron had a younger daughter Maryam and they were taunting her with her namesake who was the sister of Aaron. The last possibility could be that she was a sister of another Aaron. It is unclear Islamically whether Maryam (AS) was from the family of David (AS), but there nothing to suggest that she was not. Joseph is not even mentioned in Chapter 1 of this gospel however.

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:jazak:

Almost similar to what mentioned in Holy Qur’an about Hazrat Isa a.s. and about Hazrat Maryam a.s.

Please continue.

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Re: Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

BarakAllahuFiq LK ...

In Chapter 2 however we see that the story of Joseph is indeed unfolding in this gospel. It presents a very similar position to the current canon of the New Testament.

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It is important at this stage to recognise that Barnabas was not around during the birth of Christ (AS). In fact his personal account with Isa (AS) really only begins from Chapter 10 onwards.

Also quite interestingly prior to Chapter 10 Mary and Joseph are treated as a couple and according to Chapter 2 - Joseph abode with Mary all his life ... yet the gospel goes silent on Joseph from Chapter 10 onwards to the end of the 222nd Chapter.

Two other Josephs are mentioned and that is Joseph (AS) son of Jacob (AS) and Joseph disciple of Jesus (AS). It is evident that since Joseph the Carpenter is only mentioned between the second and ninth chapters and that Barnabas allegedly speaks of the birth, when in fact there was no need for it according to his motive for writing the book was purely to clarify the doctrine of Isa (AS) and prevent people going astray with impious doctrine it seems unreasonable at least to me to suggest that Barnabas would deem it fit or necessary to put in a historical account of Isa (AS) when he was not an eye witness of that account.

In all versions of the Bible and this one is no exception - the role of Joseph is next to no role at all - then one wonders is he needed at all ...

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Who was joseph? Is he mentioned anywhere else?

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Re: Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

Joseph is supposed to be the husband of Maryam (AS) according to Christian tradition and references. However, he has no real role to play, allegedly he married after the conception and he was a carpenter and he has no involvement in the life of Jesus (AS) - i.e. a father should be a guide and a protector, but there is nothing here to show this.

Remember the Gospel of Barnabas is a book written by a person and may have had other people add to it through time so just like any book other than the Qur'an we should treat it with a critical eye and take it with a pinch of salt.

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Hmm interesting..so a christian wrote this book and he himself agrees that Jesus was not the son of god..? Sorry for asking stupid questions I dont know much about christianity and its doctrines but this topic is interesting..continue:)

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Re: Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

They are historians translating the gospel of barnabas that was found in an ancient language.

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Re: Gospel of Barnabas - Study - Part 1

Here is a video worth comparing against the Gospel of Barnabas - especially towards the end of it where it echoes the same things about Paul … There is also a verse in the accepted New Testament where Isa (AS) warns about following the a gospel other than the one he came with …