IKTHYS
THE GOSPEL OF BARNABA
~ part 2 ~
When
Jesus had said this, Peter answered: 'O teacher, behold we have felt all to
follow thee, what shall become of us?'
'O Lord, what thing is this? for I
have chosen twelve, and one of them is a
devil.'
The disciples were sore grieved at this ; whereupon he who writeth secretly
questioned Jesus with tears, saying:
'O master, will Satan deceive me, and shall I then become reprobate?'
Jesus answered: "Be not sore grieved, Barnabas; for those whom God
hath chosen before the creation of the world shall not perish. Rejoice, for thy
name is written in the book of life.'
Jesus comforted his disciples, saying: 'Fear not, for he who shall hate me
is not grieved at my saying, because in him is not the divine feeling.'
At his words the chosen were comforted. Jesus made his prayers, and his
disciples said: 'Amen, so be it, Lord God almighty and merciful.'
Having finished his devotions, Jesus came down from the mountain with his
disciples, and met ten lepers, who from afar off cried out: 'Jesus, son of
David, have mercy on us!'
Jesus called them near to him, and said unto them: 'What will ye of me, O
brethren?'
They all cried out: 'Give us health!'
Jesus answered: 'Ah, wretched that ye are, have ye so lost your
reason for that ye say: "Give us health?" See ye not me to be a man
like yourselves. Call unto our God that hath created you: and he that is
almighty and merciful will heal you.
With tears the lepers answered: 'We know that thou art man like us, but
yet an holy one of God and a prophet of the Lord; wherefore pray thou to God,
and he will heal us.
Thereupon the disciples prayed Jesus, saying: 'Lord, have mercy upon
them.' Then groaned Jesus and prayed to God, saying: 'Lord God almighty and
merciful, have mercy and hearken to the words of thy servant: and for love of
Abraham our father and for thy holy covenant have mercy on the request of these
men, and grant them health.' Whereupon Jesus, having said this, turned himself
to the lepers and said: 'Go and show yourselves to the priests according to the
law of God.'
The lepers departed and on the way were cleansed. Whereupon one of them. seeing
that he was healed, returned to find Jesus, and he was an Ishmaelite. And having
found Jesus he bowed himself, doing reverence unto him, and saying: 'Verily thou
art an holy one of God' and with thanks he prayed him that he would receive him for servant. Jesus answered: 'Ten have been cleansed;
where are the nine?' And he said to him that was cleansed: 'I am not come to be
served, but to serve: wherefore go to shine home, and recount how much God hath
done in thee, in order that they may know that the promises made to Abraham and
his son, with the kingdom of God, are drawing nigh.' The cleansed leper departed, and having arrived in his own
neighbourhood recounted how much God through Jesus had wrought in him. [11]
Jesus went to the sea
of Galilee, and having embarked in a ship sailed to his city of Nazareth;
whereupon there was a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was nigh
unto sinking. And Jesus was sleeping upon the prow of the ship. Then drew near
to him his disciples, and awoke him, saying: 'O master, save thyself, for we
perish!' They were encompassed with very great fear, by reason of the great wind
that was contrary and the roaring of the sea. Jesus arose, and raising his eyes
to heaven, said: 'O Elohim Sabaoth, have mercy upon thy servants.' Then,
when Jesus had said this, suddenly the wind ceased, and the sea became calm.
Wherefore the seamen feared, saying: 'And who is this, that the sea and the wind
obey him?"
Having arrived at the city of Nazareth the seamen spread through the city all
that Jesus had wrought, whereupon the house where Jesus was, was surrounded by
as many as dwelt in the city. And the scribes and doctors having presented
themselves unto him said: 'We have heard how much thou hast wrought in the sea
and in Judaea: give us therefore some sign here in thine own country.'
Jesus answered: 'This faithless generation seek a sign, but it shall not be
given them, because no prophet is received in his own country. In the time of
Elijah there were many widows in Judaea, but he was not sent to be nourished
save unto a widow of Sidon. Many were the lepers in the time of Elisha in Judaea;
nevertheless only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.'
Then were the citizens enraged and seized him and carried him on to the top of a
precipice to cast him down. But Jesus walking through the midst of them,
departed from them.
Jesus went up
to Capernaum, and as he drew near to the city behold there came out of the tombs
one that was possessed of a devil, and in such wise that no chain could hold him,
and he did great harm to the man.
The demons cried out through his mouth, saying: 'O holy one of God, why
art thou come before the time to trouble us?' And they prayed him that he would
not cast them forth.
Jesus asked them how many they were. They answered: 'Six thousand six hundred
and sixty-six.' When the disciples heard this they were affrighted, and prayed
Jesus that he would depart.
Then said Jesus: 'Where is your faith? It is
necessary that the demon should depart, and not I.'
The demons therefore
cried: 'We will come out, but permit us to enter into those swine.'
There were feeding there, near to the sea, about ten thousand swine
belonging to the Canaanites. Thereupon
Jesus said: 'Depart,
and enter into the swine.' With a roar the demons entered into the swine, and cast them headlong into the sea. Then
fled into the city they that fed the swine, and recounted all that had been
brought to pass by Jesus.
Accordingly the men of the city came forth and found Jesus and the man that was
healed. The men were filled with fear and prayed Jesus that he would depart out
of their borders. Jesus accordingly departed from them and went up into the
parts of Tyre and Sidon.
And lo! a woman of Canaan with her two sons, who had come forth out of her own
country to find Jesus. Having therefore seen him come with his disciples,
she cried out: 'Jesus, son of David, have mercy on my daughter, who is tormented
of the devil!
Jesus did not answer even a single , because they were of the uncircumcised
people. The disciples were moved to pity, and said: 'O master, have pity on them!
Behold how much they cry out and weep!'
The woman answered: 'O Lord, the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their
masters' table.' Then was Jesus seized with admiration at the words of the
woman, and said: 'O woman, great is thy faith.' And having raised his hands to
heaven he prayed to God, and then he said: 'O woman, thy daughter is freed, go
thy way in peace.' The woman departed, and returning to her home found her
daughter, who was blessing God.' Wherefore the woman said: 'Verily there is none
other God than the God
of Israel.' Whereupon all her kinsfolk joined themselves unto the law of [God],
according to the law written in the book of Moses.
The disciples
questioned Jesus on that day, saying: 'O master, why didst thou make such answer
to the woman, saying that they were dogs?'
Jesus answered: 'Verily I say unto you that a dog is better than an
uncircumcised man.' Then were the disciples sorrowful, saying: 'Hard are
these words, and who shall be able to receive them?'
Jesus answered: "If ye consider, O foolish ones, what the dog doth, that
hath no reason, for the service of his master, ye will find my saying to be true.
Tell me, doth the dog guard the house of his master, and expose his life against
the robber? Yea, assuredly. But what receiveth he? Many blows and injuries with
little bread, and he always showeth to his master a joyful countenance. Is this
true?' 'True it is, O master,' answered the disciples.
Then said Jesus: 'Consider now how much God hath given to man, and ye shall see
how unrighteous he is in not observing the covenant of God made with Abraham his
servant. Remember that which David said to Saul king of Israel, against Goliath
the Philistine: "My lord," said David, "while thy servant was
keeping thy servant's flock there came the wolf, the bear, and the lion and
seized thy servant's sheep: whereupon thy servant went and slew them, rescuing
the sheep. And what is this uncircumcised one but like unto them ? Therefore
will thy servant go in the name of the Lord God of Israel, and will slay this
unclean one that blasphemeth the holy people of God."
Then said the disciples: 'Tell us O master for what reason man must needs be
circumcised?"
And
having said this, Jesus sat nigh unto the mountain which they looked upon. And
his disciples came to his side to listen to his words. Then said Jesus: 'Adam
the first man having eaten, by fraud of Satan, the food forbidden of God in
paradise, his flesh rebelled against the spirit; whereupon he swore, saying:
"By God, I will cut thee!" And having broken a piece of rock, he
seized his flesh to cut it with the sharp edge of the stone: whereupon he was
rebuked by the angel Gabriel. And he answered: "I have sworn by God to cut
it; I will never be a liar!"
Then the angel showed him the superfluity of his flesh, and that he cut off.
And hence, just as every man taketh flesh from the flesh of Adam, so is he bound
to observe all that Adam promised with an oath. This did Adam observe in his
sons, and from generation to generation came down the obligation of circumcision.
But in the time of Abraham there were but few circumcised upon the earth,
because that idolatry was multiplied up the earth. Whereupon God told to Abraham
the fact concerning circumcision, and made this covenant, saying: "The soul
that shall not have his flesh circumcised, I will scatter him from among my
people for ever." '
The disciples trembled with fear at these words of Jesus, for with vehemence of
spirit he spoke. Then said Jesus: Leave fear to him that hath not circumcised
his foreskin, for he is deprived of paradise. And having said this, Jesus spoke
again, saying: 'The spirit in many is ready in the service of God, but the flesh
is weak. The man therefore that feareth God ought to consider what the flesh is,
and where it had its origin, and whereto it shall be reduced. Of the clay of the
earth created God flesh, and into it he breathed the breath of life, with an
inbreathing therein. And therefore when the flesh shall hinder the service of
God it ought to be spurned like clay and trampled on, forasmuch as he that
hateth his soul in this world shall keep it in life eternal.
'What the flesh is at this present its desires make manifest -that it is a harsh
enemy of all good: for it alone desireth sin.
'Ought then man for the sake of satisfying one of his enemies to leave off
pleasing God, his creator? Consider ye this. All the saints and prophets have
been enemies of their flesh for service of God: wherefore readily and with
gladness they went to their death, so as not to offend against the law of God
given by Moses his servant, and go and serve the false and lying gods.
Remember Elisha, who ate barley-bread, and wore the Coarsest raiment. Verily I
say unto you that they, not fearing to spurn the flesh, were feared with great
terror by the king and princes. This should suffice for the spurning of
Having said this, Jesus wept, saying: 'Woe to those who are servants to
their flesh, for they are sure not to have any good in the other life, but only
torments for their sins. I tell you that there was a rich glutton who paid no
heed to aught but gluttony, and so every day held a splendid feast. There stood
at his gate a poor man by name Lazarus, who was full of wounds, and was fain to
have those crumbs that fell from the glutton's table. But no one gave them to
him; nay, all mocked him. Only the dogs had pity on him, for they licked his
wounds. It came to pass that the poor man died, and the angels carried him to
the arms of Abraham our father. The rich man also died, and the devils carried
him to the arms of Satan; whereupon, undergoing the greatest torment, he lifted
up his eyes and from afar saw Lazarus in the arms of Abraham. Then cried the
rich man: "O father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, who upon
his fingers may bring me a drop of water to cool my tongue, which is tormented
in this flame."
Abraham answered: "Son, remember that thou receivedst thy good in the
other life and Lazarus his evil; wherefore now thou shalt be in torment, and
Lazarus in consolation."
'The rich man cried out again, saying: "O father Abraham, in my house there
are three brethren of mine. Therefore send Lazarus to announce to them how much
I am suffering, in order that they may repent and not come hither."
'Abraham answered: "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
'The rich man answered: "Nay, father Abraham; but if one dead shall arise
they will believe."
'Abraham answered: "Whoso believeth not Moses and the prophets will not
believe even the dead if they should arise.
'See then whether the poor are blessed,' said Jesus, 'who have patience, and
only desire that which is necessary, hating the flesh. O wretched they, who bear
others to the burial, to give their flesh for food of worms, and do not learn
the truth. So far from it that they live here like immortals, for they build
great houses and purchase great revenues and live in pride.'
Then said he who
writeth: 'O master, true are thy words, and therefore have we forsaken all to
follow thee. Tell us, then, how we ought to hate our flesh; for to kill oneself
is not lawful, and living we needs must give it its livelihood.'
Jesus answered: 'Keep thy
flesh like a horse, and thou shalt live securely. For unto a horse food is given
by measure, and labour without measure, and the bridle is put on him that he may
walk at thy will, he is tied up that he may not annoy any one, he is kept in a
poor place, and beaten when he is not obedient: so do thou, then, O Barnabas,
and thou shalt live always with God.
'And be not offended at my
words, for David the prophet did the same thing, as he confesseth, saying:
"I am as an horse before thee and am always by thee."
'Now tell me, whether is poorer
he who is content with little, or he who desireth much? Verily I say unto you,
that if the world had but a sound mind no one would amass anything for
himself, but all would be in common. But in this is known its madness, that the
more it amasseth the more it desireth.
And as much as it amasseth, for the fleshly repose of others cloth it amass the
same. Therefore let one single robe suffice for you, cast away your purse, carry
no wallet, no sandals on your feet; and do not think, saying: "What shall
happen to us?" but have thought to do the will of God, and he will provide
for your need, insomuch that nothing shall be lacking unto you.
'Verily I say unto you, that
the amassing much in this life giveth sure witness of not having anything to
receive in the other. For he that hath Jerusalem for his native country buildeth
not houses in Samaria, for that there is enmity between these cities. Understand
ye?' 'Yes, answered the disciples. [14]
Then
said Jesus: 'There was a man on a journey who, as he was walking, discovered a
treasure in a field that was to be sold for five pieces of money. Straightway
the man, when he knew this, sold his cloak to buy that field. Is that credible?'
The disciples answered: 'He who
would not believe this is mad.'
Thereupon Jesus said: 'Ye will be mad
if ye give not your senses to God to buy your soul, wherein resideth the
treasure of love; for love is a treasure incomparable. For he that loveth
God hath God for his own; and whoso hath God hath everything.' Peter answered: 'O master, how ought
one to love God with true love? Tell thou us.' Jesus replied: 'Verily I say unto you
that he who shall not hate his father and his mother, and his own life, and
children and wife for love of God, that such an one is not worthy to be loved of
God.'
Peter answered: 'O master, it is written in
the law of God in the book of Moses: "Honour thy father, that thou mayest
live long upon the earth." And further he saith: "Cursed be the son
that obeyeth not his father and his mother"; wherefore God commanded that
such a disobedient son should be by the wrath of the people stoned before
the gate of the city. And now how biddest thou us to hate father and mother?'
Jesus replied: 'Every of mine is
true, because it is not mine, but God's, who hath sent me to the house of
Israel. Therefore I say unto you that all that which ye possess God hath
bestowed it upon you: and so, whether is the more precious, the gift or
the giver? When thy father and thy mother with every other thing is a
stumbling-block to thee in the service of God, abandon them as enemies. Did not
God say to Abraham: "Go forth from the house of thy father and of thy
kindred, and come to dwell in the land which I will give to thee and to thy seed?".
And wherefore did God say this, save because the father of
Abraham was an image-maker, who made and worshipped false gods? Whence there was
enmity between them, insomuch that the father wished to burn his son.' Peter answered: 'True are thy
words; wherefore I pray thee tell us how Abraham mocked his father.' Jesus replied: 'Abraham was seven
years old when he began to seek God.
So one day he said to his father: "Father,
what made man?" 'The foolish father answered:
"Man; for I made thee, and my father made me."'Abraham answered: "Father, it
is not so; for I have heard an old man weeping and saying: 'O my God, wherefore
hast thou not given me children?' "
His father replied: "It is
true, my son, that God helpeth man to make man, but he putteth not his hands
thereto; it is only necessary that man come to pray to his God and to give him
lambs and sheep, and his God will help him." Abraham answered: "How many gods are there, father?"
'The old man replied: "They are infinite in number,
my son"
Then said Abraham: "O father, what shall I do if
I shall serve one god and another shall wish me evil because I serve him not? In
any wise there will come discord between them and so war will arise among the
gods. But if perchance the god that willeth me evil shall slay my own god, what
shall I do? It is certain that he will slay me also."
'The old man, laughing, answered: "O son, have no fear,
for no god maketh war upon another god; nay, in the great temple there are a
thousand gods with the great god Baal; and I am now nigh seventy years
old, and yet never have I seen that one god hath smitten another god. And
assuredly all men do not serve one god, but one man one, and another
another." 'Abraham answered: "So, then, they have peace
among themselves?" 'Said his father: "They have."
'Then said Abraham: "O father, what be the gods
like?" 'The old man answered: "Fool, every day I make a
god, which I sell to others to buy bread, and thou knowest not what the
gods are like!" And then at that moment he was making an idol. "This,"
said he, "is of palm wood, that one is of olive, that little one is
of ivory: see how fine it is! Does it not seem as though it were alive?
Assuredly, it lacks but breath!"
'Abraham answered: "And so, father, the gods are
without breath? Then how do they give breath? And being without life, how give
they life? It is certain, father, that these are not God."'The old man was wrath at these words, saying: "If thou
wert of age to understand, I would break thy head with this axe: But hold thy
peace, because thou hast not understanding!"
'Abraham answered: "Father, if the gods help to make
man, how can it be that man should make the gods? And if the gods are made of
wood, it is a great sin to burn wood. But tell me, father, how is it that, when
thou hast made so many gods, the gods have not helped thee to make so many other
children that thou shouldest become the most powerful man in the
world?"
'The father was beside himself, hearing his son speak so; the
son went on: "Father, was the world for some time without men?'' " Yes," answered the old man, "and why?"
"Because," said Abraham, "I should like
to know who made the first God."
"Now go out of my house!" said the old
man, "and leave me to make this god quickly, and speak no words to me; for,
when thou art hungry thou desires bread and not words."
Said Abraham: "A fine god, truly, that thou cuttest him
as thou wilt, and he defendeth not himself!"
'Then the old man was angry, and said: "All the world
saith that it is a god, and thou, mad fellow, sayest that it is not. By my gods,
if thou wert a man I could kill thee!" And having said this, he gave blows
and kicks to Abraham, and chased him from the house.' [15]
When
every one had departed from the temple, the priests closed the temple and went
away. Then Abraham took the axe and cut off the feet of all the idols, except
the great god Baal. At its feet he placed the axe, amid the ruins which the
statues made, for they, through being old and composed of pieces, fell in pieces.
Thereupon, Abraham, going forth from the temple, was seen by certain men, who
suspected him of having gone to thieve something from the temple. So they laid
hold on him, and having arrived at the temple, when they saw their gods so
broken in pieces, they cried out with lamentation: "Come quickly, O men,
and let us slay him who bath slain our gods!" There ran together there
about ten thousand men, with the priests, and questioned Abraham of the reason
why he had destroyed their gods.
Abraham answered: "Ye are
foolish! Shall then a man slay God? It is the great God that bath slain them.
See you not that axe which he bath near his feet? Certain it is that he desireth
no fellows." 'Then arrived there the father
of Abraham, who, mindful of the many discourses of Abraham against their gods,
and recognizing the axe wherewith Abraham had broken in pieces the idols, cried
out: "It bath been this traitor of a son of mine, who bath slain our gods!
for this axe is mine." And he recounted to them all that had passed between
him and his son.
'Accordingly the men
collected a great quantity of wood, and having bound Abraham's hands and feet
put him upon the wood, and put fire underneath.
'Lo' God, through
his angel, commanded the fire that it should not burn Abraham his servant. The
fire blazed up with great fury, and burned about two thousand men of those who
had condemned Abraham to death. Abraham verily found himself free, being carried
by the angel of God near to the house of his father, without seeing who carried
him; and thus Abraham escaped death.'
Then
said Philip: 'Great is the mercy of God upon whoso loveth him. Tell us O master,
how Abraham came to the knowledge of God.'
Jesus answered: 'Having arrived
nigh unto the house of his father, Abraham feared to go into the house; so he
removed some distance from the house and sat under a palm tree, where thus
abiding by himself he said: "It needs must be that there is a God who hath
life and power more than man, since he maketh man, and man without God could not
make man. Thereupon, looking round upon the stars, the moon, and the sun, he
thought that they had been God. But after considering their variableness with
their movements, he said: "It needs must be that God move not, and that
clouds hide him not; otherwise men would be brought to naught." Whereupon,
remaining thus in suspense, he heard himself called by name,
"Abraham!" And so, turning round and not seeing any one on any side,
he said: "I have surely heard myself called by name, 'Abraham.' "
Thereupon, two other times in like manner. he heard himself called by name,
"Abraham!" 'He answered: "What
calleth me?" 'Then he heard it said:
"I am the angel of God, Gabriel."
'Therefore was Abraham
filled with fear; but the angel comforted him, saying: "Fear not, Abraham,
for that thou art friend of God; wherefore, when thou didst break in pieces the
gods of men, thou wert chosen of the God of the angels and prophets; insomuch
that thou art written in the book of life."
'Then said Abraham:
"What ought I to do, to serve the God of the angels and holy prophets?"
'The angel
answered: "Go to that fount and wash thee, for God willeth to speak with
thee."'Abraham
answered: "Now, how ought I to wash me?"
'Then the
angel presented himself unto him as a beautiful youth, and washed himself in the
fount, saying: "Do thou in turn likewise to thyself, O Abraham." When
Abraham had washed himself, the angel said: "Go up that mountain, for God
willeth to speak to thee there."
He ascended the mountain as the angel said to Abraham, and having sat down upon
his knees he said to himself: "When will the God of the angels speak to
me?"' He heard himself called with a gentle voice: "Abraham!"'Abraham answered him: "Who calleth me?"
'The voice answered: "I am thy God, O Abraham."'Abraham, filled with fear, bent his face to earth, saying: "How shall thy
servant hearken unto thee, who is dust and ashes!"
'Then said God: "Fear not, but rise up, for I have chosen thee for my
servant, and I will to bless thee and make thee increase into a great people.
Therefore go thou forth from the house of thy father and of thy kindred, and
come to dwell in the land which I will give to thee and to thy seed."
'Abraham answered: "All will I do, Lord; but guard me that none other god
may do me hurt."
'Then spake God, saying: "I am God alone. and there is none other God but
me. I strike down, and make whole; I slay, and give life; I lead down to hell,
and I bring out thereof, and none is able to deliver himself out of my
hands." Then God gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so our father Abraham
knew God.'
And
having said this, Jesus lifted up his hands, saying: 'To thee be honour and
glory, O God. So be it!' [17]
IKTHYS