The Gospel Of Barnabas: Reply to commentators
Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim. As salaamu 'alaikum, A pair of writer's / commentator's, have launched an attack, against The Gospel Of Barnabas. Yet, have they begun with mistakes, and error's which they have carried throughout their exposition, which serves no practical purpose. The site is located here: http://www.spotlights.org/Barn-2.htm
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< "Internal Evidence" >
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< "Historical Setting" >
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1. "The mention of casks of wood or barrels washed and refilled with wine (GB 152)*. In the days of Jesus skins were used for wine. Casks or barrels of wood were unknown in ancient Palestine."
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It isn't about casks of wood. This paragraph (or maybe the entire encounter with the soldiers) may have been added at a later time, as I saw it in another publication and the soldiers were said to have been killed as result of the reported action. Its origin is suspect.
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2."The Virgin’ (GB 219) as a title was not given to the mother of Jesus before 300AD."
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What this exposition in fact does is cause some confusion. And, it dates the New Testament writings, and The Gospel Of Barnabas. There are similarities in the New Testament, and The Gospel Of Barnabas. >>
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.
The Old Testament has numerous instances of the word "virgin" and the following is one such example: >>
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
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3. "Expressions (words and phrases) well known in Italy from the Italian poet Dante who lived 1265-1321 are scattered throughout the book (GB 23, 59, 60, 78, 217)."
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What words and phrases?
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4."Adam and Eve were commanded by God to do penance (GB 41), a practice of the Middle Ages, not of New Testament times."
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Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
To repent and do penitence, is to feel sorrow, regret, for committing sin, and to commit oneself to doing what is contrary of the sin. To penalize the hated flesh, which is weak. Repentance / penitence, is thousands of years old, and was taught by the Ancient Masters, of the Sacred Science.
The word 'penance' occurs a few times in this gospel, - and one defined entry of the word includes a sacramental rite, that is practiced in some churches. [ 'penance,' is dated from the fourteenth century. [ch.113-'apostles,' is dated from before the twelfth century] - Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.] They may seem to to be interchangeable, at a glance, but for the Christian religious, rite.
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5. "Reference to court procedure of the Middle Ages is given where a prisoner is questioned by a magistrate while a notary records the evidence (GB 121)."
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Actually, what can easily be made reference to here is the notarization of the "supposed" trial and execution of The Prophet 'Isa [Jesus, PBUH]. Other wise, how did the related transcription, become a part of the New Testament. Such fully notarized transcriptions, appear oddly enough in "The Forbidden Books Of The Original N.T. Bible" (re: The Gospel Of Nicodemus).
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6. "Reference is also made to a duel between two rival lovers which reminds one of the age of chivalry In Medieval Europe (GB 99)."
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There is distinct error in seeing this explanation, as a duel between lovers. No one, can stand in opposition to the standards set of THE ONE GOD, as it is futile, to attempt such. Re-read the chapter and others of like kind.
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7. "Among the clearest of all European traces are those of feudalism. The Gospel of Barnabas represents Mary, Martha and Lazarus as feudal lords of whole villages(GB 194, 122)."
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I found nothing in the quoted chapters akin to 9th century feudalist political organizing. The writers, should explain further.
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8. "The picturesque description of the summer season in the fields and valleys (GB 169) is much more suggestive of beautiful Italy than of Palestine in summer when the fields are utterly burnt dry."
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I've never visited that area, so I cannot agree or disagree. Maybe someone will add some details about Palestine, in the Summer, as it will be welcomed.
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9. "Asceticism and other traces of Medieval society, customs, times and beliefs appear throughout the book, e.g. (GB 150) taking the habit of a monk-like Pharisee and dwelling in seclusion for 30(?) years."
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The Book Of wisdom Of THE ONE GOD, ALONE, The Holy Qur'aan, speaks of monasticism or monkery, of more than 1400 year's past. See what Allaah, The All Knowing, The Wise, say's of monasticism:
057.027 Then, in their wake, We followed them up with (others of) Our messengers: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary, and bestowed on him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good Pleasure of Allah; but that they did not foster as they should have done. Yet We bestowed, on those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are rebellious transgressors. Al-Qur'an, 057.027 (Al-Hadid [The Iron]) Text Copied from DivineIslam's Qur'an Viewer software v2.9
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< "Substance" >
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< "Historical Errors" >
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1." When Jesus was born ‘Pilate was governor in the priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas’ (GB 3). These men did not come to office until later - Annas 6 AD, Caiaphas 8 AD, Pilate 26 AD."
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The New Testament, mentions all of these persons at one time or another, in reference to the "supposed" trial and execution of The Prophet Jesus [PBUH]. For instance see John 18: 12-14, 29-38.
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2. "...in the time of Elijah, friend and prophet of God, there were twelve mountains inhabited by seventeen thousand Pharisees..,’ (GB 145). There were no Pharisees in the days of Elijah. History first knows about Pharisees seven centuries later in the period between 135-104 BC."
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Chapter 144 states: "Truly I say to you," said Jesus, "all the saints and prophets of God have been Pharisees..."
Chapter 151 states: "Know you what is the true Pharisee? He is the oil of human nature. For even as oil rests at the top of every liquor, so the goodness of the true Pharisee rests at the top of all human goodness. He is a living book, which God gives to the world; for everything that he says and does is according to the Law of God. Wherefore, who does as he does observes the Law of God. The true Pharisee is salt that suffers not human flesh to be putrefied by sin; for every one who sees him is brought to repentance. He is a light that lightens the pilgrims' way, for every one that considers his poverty with his penitence perceives that in this world we ought not to shut up our heart."
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3. "The Gospel of Barnabas erroneously quotes Jesus as saying that the Year of Jubilee came every 100 years (GB 82, 83). From the time of Moses (Levlticus 25: 11 ) the Year of Jubilee came every 50 years. There was only one time in history that the festival was known to have fallen in 100 year cycles. That was when Pope Boniface VIII (about 1300 AD) announced that it should be celebrated every 100 years. Pope Clement VI (1343 AD) rescinded Boniface’s order and returned the celebration to every 50 years as it had always been. The Gospel of Barnabas was written, therefore, sometime after Pope Boniface 1300 AD for certain, not during the 1st century."
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The Jubilee -Year is said to be an extention of The Sabbatical Year or at the end of seven Sabbatical Years (forty-nine years) there is a Jubilee year. It is also being suggested that the present system, grew out of necessity. If ever there was originally, a 100 years Jubilee, it will take some digging to find it out. See the following url: >> http://www.halexandria.org/dward286.htm (also included is a Christian Jubilee).
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4. "The Gospel of Barnabas records (GB 92) that Jesus and his disciples kept ‘the 40 days’ at Mt. Sinai. The context clearly shows that this refers to the period of Lent before Easter. The Church meditates at this time on the suffering of Christ and his resurrection, which was obviously unknown when Christ was still alive. And it is most unlikely that Jesus and his disciples would have gone some 450 KM away to observe a fast of 40 days."
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The claim is that the "forty day's" refers to a Lent, before Easter. But there is no evidence of this in the New Testament [re: The Gospel Of Barnabas, Chapter 92]. I have two honest, questions: Do Christians keep a "forty day's" fast today? Is it a requirement?
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5. "The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 80) has the Prophet Daniel only two years old when taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Since he interpreted the king’s dream In the 2nd year of the king’s reign (Daniel 2: 1), this would make Daniel only 3 or at the most 4 years old at the time. This is an impossibility, for the king immediately made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon. Daniel was then still a young man, but not that young."
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"Daniel as a child, with Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in such wise that they were but two years old when they were taken;" [The Gospel Of Barnabas]
Daniel 1:6 "Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:"
Daniel 1:17 "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."
Daniel 1:19 "And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king."
Daniel 1:21 "And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus."
Obviously, The Old Testament, and The Gospel Of Barnabas are not considered proof, by some.
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6. "It was Darius who committed the Prophet Daniel to the lions’ den, not Cyrus as The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 50) states. Jesus as prophet would have been accurate in quoting from Daniel 6.
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This may be a misquote as a typo, copyist's error.
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7. "The Gospel of Barnabas (GB 54) has Jesus saying: ‘For he who would get in change a piece of gold must have sixty mites.’ The Italian version of the book divides the golden ‘denarius’ into 60 ‘minuti’. These coins were actually of Spanish origin during the Visigothic Period and betray a Spanish background to the manuscript.
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The "mite" appears to be of 14th century European, origin [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]. It is said to be a small sum of money; a small copper coin.
To be continued inshaa'Allaah.
Salaam. EssentiallyIslam