The Epistle of Barnabas

And he was willing to suffer thus, for it was necessary that he should suffer on a tree, for the Prophet says of him, Spare my soul from the sword and, Nail my flesh, for the synagogues of the wicked have risen against me.

And again he says: Lo, I have given my back to scourges, and my cheeks to strokes, and I have set my face as a solid rock.

When therefore he made the commandment[*](Proofs from the Prophets) what does he say? Who is he that comes into court! with me? Let him oppose me; or, who is he that seeks justice against me? Let him draw near to the Lord’s servant.

Woe unto you, for ye shall all wax old as a garment and the moth shall eat you up. And again the Prophet says that he was placed as a strong stone for crushing, Lo, I will place for the foundations of Sion a precious stone, chosen out, a chief corner stone, honourable.

Then what does he say? And he that hopetli on it shall live for ever. Is then our hope on a stone? God forbid. But he means that the Lord placed his flesh in strength. For he says, And he placed me as a solid rock.

And again the Prophet says, The stone which the builders rejected, this is become the head of the corner, and again he says, This is the great and wonderful day which the Lord made.

I write to you more simply that you may understand: I am devoted to your love.

What then does the Prophet say again? The synagogue of the sinners compassed me around, they surrounded me as bees round the honeycomb and, They cast lots for my clothing.

Since therefore he was destined to be manifest and to suffer in the flesh his Passion was foretold. For the Prophet says concerning Israel, Woe unto their soul, for they have plotted an evil plot against themselves, saying, ‘Let us

What does the other Prophet, Moses, say to them? Lo, thus saith the Lord God, enter into the good land which the Lord sware that he would give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and inherit it, a land flowing with milk and honey.

But learn what knowledge says. Hope, it says, on that Jesus[*](A contrast is here no doubt implied between that Jesus who will be manifested and the Jesus, or Joshua (the two names are the same in Greek) who led the Israelites over the Jordan.) who will be manifested to you in the flesh. For man is earth which suffers, for the creation of Adam was from the face of the earth.

What then is the meaning of into the good land, a land flowing with milk and honey? Blessed be our Lord, brethren, who has placed in us wisdom and understanding of his secrets. For the prophet speaks a parable of the Lord: Who shall understand save he who is wise, and learned, and a lover of his Lord?