The so-called "Letter of Bar-Nabas" was not written by Paulus' companion Bar-Nabas but in his name and by an unknown author. The letter was written well after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and siege of Masada.
Given the subject matter, the letter most likely was written between 120 and 135 CE, just before the Second Revolt, although a date after the Second Revolt is possible as well. We do not know whether the letter suffered from editing in later centuries. The letter is a treatise, interpreting the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. Christianity was seen by the author as an entirely new entity that arose from Judaism. The author's bias against Judaism is clear, for the treatise attacks all forms of ritual in Judaism, claiming that they are mistakes in understanding what should have pointed to Jesus. In his viewpoint, most of the rituals in the Jewish religion were intended as analogies. (For example, the author has interesting things to say about various sexual issues, which he gleans from the dietary code of Leviticus/Deuteronomy!) To him, only Christians can understand the Torah, which he reads from the Greek Septuagint. The author is usually understood to have come from Alexandria and (if the text is genuine) certainly believed that Jesus was God. At some points, he appears to have been Docetic (parts of ch. 11, his emphasis on "knowledge," and his separation between the physical and spiritual). This too tends to place the writing in the second quarter of the II century.
Although Jewish rituals are disdained by "Bar-Nabas," he approves of Christian forms of ritual, openly promoting baptismal regeneration, for instance.
The treatise contains a version of the "two ways" teaching, which appears more original in the Didache than here. Bar-Nabas echoes the Didache's teachings against abortion, again citing the "two ways" teaching, in which it was mentioned. Bar-Nabas appears to take a statement regarding sodomy further than the authors of the Didache (or "two ways" teaching) did.
The earliest manuscript evidence for the letter comes from Codex Sinaiticus (early IV century), but that manuscript is not complete. Codex Hierosolymitanus (1056 CE) is more complete but is considerably later. Other fragments exist, but the later portions of the treatise are recovered from the Latin version.
The text below is not a translation but is a revision and modernization of former translations (beginning with the translation of William Hone, published in 1820, and that of J.B. Lightfoot). In the absence of an available Greek text this was necessary. Important comments are enclosed in curly brackets.
ONE
Hello to you, sons and daughters,
Since God's tenets are great and excellent to you, I rejoice greatly at your blessed and glorious souls: so worthily have you received the favor of the spiritual gift. For that reason, I am joyful, hoping more to be saved, because I truly see the breath poured out among you from the riches of the Lord's fountain. So greatly did the much-desired sight of you astonish me respecting you. Therefore since I am persuaded of this, and am conscious with myself that having said much among you I know that the Lord travelled with me on the path of justification, and am wholly constrained also myself to this, to love you more than my own life (for great trust and love dwells in you through the hope of the life which is his)--considering this therefore, that, if it will be my care to communicate to you some portion of that which I received, it will turn to my reward for having served such spirits, I was eager to send you a trifle, that along with your trust you might also make your knowledge complete.
Well then, the Lord's tenets are three:
For Yahweh made known to us by his prophets things past and present, giving us likewise the firstfruits of the taste of things future. And seeing each of these things coming to pass in various ways, just as he said, we should offer a richer and higher offering to the fear of him. But I, not as though I were a teacher, but as one of yourselves, will show forth a few things, whereby you will be gladdened in the present circumstances.
Therefore, since the days are evil, and that the Active One himself
has the authority, we should pay attention to ourselves and to seek out
the the Lord's tenets.
The aids of our trust then are fear and endurance, and our allies are
longsuffering and self-control.
While these remain in a pure spirit in matters relating to the Lord,
wisdom, understanding, science, and knowledge rejoice with them.
For he made apparent to us by all the prophets that he wants
neither sacrifices nor burnt offerings nor oblations, saying at
one time,
"What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me," says Yahweh.
"I am filled with burnt offerings, and I do not want the fat of lambs
and the blood of bulls and of goats. When you come to be
seen by me, who required these things from your hands? You will
no longer walk in my court. If you bring fine flour, it is
worthless. Incense is a detestable thing to me. I cannot put up with
your new moons and your sabbaths, [and your calling of assemblies, they
are lawlessness -- even the meetings. My soul hates your new moons
and festivals.]"
Therefore he abolished these things, so that the new code of our Lord, Anointed Jesus, which is free from the yoke of restriction, might have its offering that is not made by human hands.
And he told them again, "Did I give the precept to your ancestors to bring me burnt offerings and sacrifices when they left the land of Egypt? No, this was my precept to them: 'Let none of you hold a grudge of evil in his heart against his neighbor, and do not love a false oath."
So since we are not without understanding, we should examine the attitude of our Father's goodness. For he is speaking to us, wanting for us not to go astray like them but to seek how we may draw near to him.
So then he tells us, "The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, God will not despise a broken and humble heart." Therefore, brothers, we should learn accurately about our salvation, lest the Evil One (after making an entrance in us of error) cast us away from our life.
Therefore he says again to them about these things, "Why are you fasting for me," says Yahweh, "so that your voice is heard this day calling out loud? This is not the fast that I have chosen," says Yahweh -- "not a man humbling his soul, not though you should bow your head like a bulrush and put on sackcloth and spread ashes under him. Will you call a fast that is acceptable?"
But to us he says, "Look, this is the fast that I have chosen," says Yahweh. "Loosen the bonds of wickedness, untie the cords of the burdens, let the broken ones be released, and tear in pieces every yoke. Break your bread with the hungry, bring the homeless into your house, and if you see someone naked clothe him, nor will you hide yourself from your own family.
"Then your light will break through like the dawn, and your healing will rise quickly, and justification will go out ahead of your face, and God's glory will be your reward.
"Then you will call out, and God will hear you. While you are speaking, he will say 'Look, I am here'. If you will take away the yoke from your midst and the pointing of the finger and the word of murmuring, and will pour your soul out for the hungry, and will have mercy on the afflicted soul."
Therefore, my brothers, for this reason the long-suffering one, foreseeing that the people whom he had prepared in his beloved one would believe in sincerity, he showed us previously about all things, so that we might not shipwreck ourselves like new converts on their Torah.
Therefore it is necessary for us to examine the things that are about to happen, and to search for the things that have the power to save us. Therefore we should flee every lawless deed and let us hate the error of the present time, so that we would be loved for what is toccome. We should not give our souls rest, to have the freedom to associate with sinners and wicked men, otherwise we might possibly become like them.
The last stumbling block is near, which the writing talks about,
as [Henoch] said: "For this reason the Lord has shortened the seasons and
the days: so that his beloved ones might hurry and come to his
inheritance."
And the prophet also says this: "Ten rulers will rule
the land, and after them another little one will arise, who will
humble three of the kings."
In the same way Daniel spoke about the same thing: "And I saw the fourth wild animal to be wicked and strong and more intractable, and ten horns arose from it. From these arose a little horn, and before this three of the great horns were pulled out."
Therefore you should understand this. And so I ask you this one thing, as though I were one of you and loving each of you more than my own life, to pay attention to yourselves now, and not to compare yourselves to certain people who add sin to sin by saying that our covenant remains with them also.
It is ours, but they lost it in this way for the age when Moses had just received it. For the writing says, "And Moses was in the mountain fasting for forty days and forty nights, and he received the covenant from Yahweh and tablets of stone written with the finger of Yahweh's hand."
But they lost it by turning to idols. For Yahweh says this, "Moses, Moses, go down quickly, for your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have done unlawfully." And Moses understood, and he threw the two tablets from his hands. And their covenant was broken, so that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed in our hearts to the hope of his trust.
[Now though I would like to write many things, not as a teacher but as is necessary for who loves you, so that you would not fall short of what we have, I was anxious to write to you, being your devoted slave.]
So let us pay attention to the last days. For the whole time of our [lives and our] trust will profit us nothing unless we now, in the season of lawlessness and in the wanderings that are coming, offer a resistance that is proper for God's sons, so that darkness may not make an entrance.
We should flee from all worthless things, we should hate the deeds of evil. Do not enter in secretly and stand away by yourselves, as though you were already justified, but assemble yourselves together and discuss what is profitable for God's beloved ones.
For the writing says, "Woe to those who are wise for themselves, and understanding in their own sight." We should become spiritual, we should become God's complete temple. As long as it is up to us, we should consider the fear of God, [and] we should try hard to keep his precepts, so that we may rejoice in his tenets.
Yahweh will judge the universe without personal bias, everyone will receive according to his deeds. If someone is good, his justification will go ahead of him in the way, if he is evil, the reward of his evil-doing will go ahead of him. Otherwise if we sit down as called ones, we might fall asleep in our sins, and the prince of evil will have authority over us and cast us out from the the Lord's kingdom.
Consider this also: you see that after so many signs and wonders were wrought in Israel, even then they were abandoned. Therefore, we should pay attention, otherwise it may happen to us as the writing says, "Many are called but few are chosen."
Now for this reason the Lord endured to hand over his body to decay, so that we might be made holy through the forgiveness of sins, which is through the sprinkling of his blood.
For the writing about him contains some things that belong to Israel, and some things that belong to us. And it says this: "He was wounded for your wanderings, and he was bruised for our sins...By his scourgings we were healed. He was led like a sheep to slaughter. He was silent as a lamb is voiceless before his shearer."
Therefore, we should be very thankful to the Lord, for he both revealed to us the past, [and made us wise in the present,] and we are not without understanding about the future.
Now it says, "The nets are not spread unjustly for the birds." He said this because a man will be destroyed justly if he has the knowledge of the way of justification and does not restrict himself from the way of darkness.
And still there is this, my brothers: if the Lord endured to suffer for our souls, though he was Lord of the whole creation, to whom God said from the laying down of creation, I will make humanity according to my image and likeness," how then did he endure to suffer by human hands?
I will demonstrate. The prophets, receiving favor from God, prophesied about him. But he himself endured so that he might would destroy death and display the resurrection of the dead, for he must be displayed physically, so that at the same time he would redeem the promise made to the ancestors, and by preparing the new people for himself might show, while he was on land, that after the resurrection he himself will judge.
Yes and he heralded, teaching Israel and performing so many wonders and miracles, and he loved them greatly.
And when he chose his own envoys who were to herald his good message, he chose sinners above every sin, so that he might show that he came "not to call just people but sinners." Then he showed himself to be God's son. For if he had not come physically, neither would people have been able to look at him and be saved, since when they look upon the sun which is the work of his own hands and will later cease to be, they are unable to endure to look at its rays.
Therefore God's son came physically for this reason: that he would fill up the measure of their sins against those who persecuted and his prophets to the point of death. Therefore he endured for that reason.
For God says of the wounds of his flesh that they were from them. And, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."
But he wanted to suffer this way, for it was necessary for him to suffer on a cross. For someone said, prophesying about him, "Spare my soul from the sword," and, "Pierce my flesh" from your fear.
And again, "The assembly of evildoers has risen up against me. They have pierced my hands and feet."
And again he says, "Look, I have given my back to stripes, and I set my face like a hard rock."
Therefore when he gave the precept, what did he say? "Who is the one who contends with me? Let him stand against me. Or who is the one who goes to court with me? Let him approach Yahweh's servant.
"Woe to you, for you will age like clothing, and the moth will devour you." And since he was picked for crushing like a hard stone, the prophet says again, "Look, I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, a precious, chosen, and honorable one." And what follows? "And the one who sets his hope in him will live forever." Is our hope then set on a stone? By no means! But because the Lord set his flesh in strength against sufferings. For he says, "I have set myself like a hard rock."
And the prophet says again, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." And again he says, "This is the great and wonderful day, which Yahweh made."
I am writing to you more plainly, so that you would understand, for also I would even die on your behalf. Now what does the prophet say again? "The assembly of evildoers surrounded me. They surrounded me as bees do a honeycomb", and, "They cast a lot for my garment." For as much then as he was about to be displayed physically and to suffer, his suffering had been displayed previously. For the prophet says this against Israel, "Woe to their souls, for they have counseled lawless counsel against themselves saying, 'Let us snare the just one, because he is unprofitable for us.'"
Similarly, Moses said to them, "Look, Yahweh God says this: Enter into the good land that the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaak, and Jacob so that he would give it to you, and inherit it: a land flowing with milk and honey." Now understand the spiiritual meaning. Put your trust in Jesus, the one who is about to be displayed to you physically. For humanity is the land that suffers, for Adam's creation was from the face of the ground.
Therefore, what is he saying? "Into the good land, a land flowing with milk and honey?" Brothers, blessed is our Lord, who gave us wisdom and hearts to understand his secret things. For the prophet says this, "Who will understand the analogies of the Lord, except the one who is wise and intelligent and who loves his Lord?"
Therefore, since he renewed us in the forgiveness of sins, he made us into a new type, so that we should have the souls like children, forming us again spiritually.
For the writing says about us where he says to the son, "I will make humanity in my image and in my likeness. Let them be dominant over the wild animals of the land, and the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea." And when Yahweh saw his creation of humanity -- that it was very good -- he said, "Increase, and multiply, and fill the earth." He said this to the son.
Again I will show you how Yahweh is making us a second formation in the later days: Yahweh says, "Look, I am making the last things like the first." For this reason the prophet heralded, "Enter a land flowing with milk and honey, and be lords over it."
Therefore, see that we have been formed from the top, as he says again in another prophet, "Yahweh says, 'Look, I will take from these people'", that is to say, from those whom Yahweh's spirit saw beforehand, "their hearts of stone, and will put into them hearts of flesh," for he was to be displayed in the flesh and to live among us.
For, my brothers, the dwelling of our hearts is a holy temple to Yahweh. For Yahweh says again, "For where will I appear to Yahweh my God and be glorified? I will acknowledge to you in the assembly of my brothers, and I will sing to you in the assembly of the holy ones." Therefore, we are those whom he brought into that good land.
Therefore, what are the milk and the honey? Because as the child is first nourished by honey, and then by milk, in the same way also we are kept alive by our trust in the promise and by the message, and will live and be lords of the earth.
For he said previously, "Increase and multiply and be dominant over the fish." But who is the one who is able to be dominant over the land animals, or fish, or birds of the sky? For you know that to rule is to have authority, so that someone is set over what he dominates. Then since we do not have this now, he told us that this would be later, when we ourselves will have become complete so that we would become heirs of the the Lord's covenant.
Therefore, beloved children, know that the good Lord displayed all things to us beforehand, that we might know to whom we should give thanksgiving and praise in all things.
Therefore, since God's son, who is Lord of all and who will come to judge both living and dead, suffered so that his wounds might give us life, we should trust that God's son was unable to suffer except on our behalf. But when he was being crucified they gave him vinegar and gall to drink.
Hear how the priests of the temple revealed this also. By his precept in the writing, "Whoever will not fast the fast will die the death," Yahweh declared that he himself was about to offer the vessel of his spirit for our sins, so that the type of what was given in Isaak (who was offered upon the altar) would be fulfilled.
Therefore, what is he saying in the prophet? "And let them eat of the goat
that is offered at the day of the fast for all their sins."
Listen carefully, my brothers, "And let all the priests, and they
alone, eat the intestines unwashed with vinegar."
Why is this? Because "when I who offer my flesh for the sins of my new people, you will give me gall with vinegar to drink. Therefore, [you eat] while the people are fasting and crying in sackcloth and ashes."
And that he wight show that he must suffer at their hands,
pay attention to the precepts that he gave. He says, "Take two goats, fair
and alike, and offer them, and let the high priest take one for a
burnt offering for sins."
But what was it necessary for them to do with the other one? He says,
"Let it be cursed." Pay attention how this appears to be a type
of Jesus.
And let the assembly spit on it and kick it, and put scarlet wool around its head, and let it be carried out into the desert this way. And when it has been done, the one who takes the goat into the desert led it, and took off the wool, and put it on the briar whose sprouts we are able to eat when we find them in the country. The fruit of this briar alone is so sweet.
So what purpose does this ritual have? Listen: "One was at the altar, and the other was cursed." And why was the cursed one was crowned? For they will see him in that day wearing the scarlet robe about his body, and they will say, "Isn't this the one whom we crucified, after despising him, piercing him, and mocking him? Truly this was the one who then said that he was God's son."
Therefore, as he was like what was on the earth, so it says the goats will be fair and alike, so that, when they see him coming then, they may be amazed at the likeness to the goat. Therefore you see a type of Jesus, who was to suffer.
But what does it mean, that they place the wool in the midst of the thorn? It is a type of Jesus set out for the assembly. For it was necessary for the one who wanted to take away the scarlet wool to suffer many difficult things because the thorn was sharp, and through affliction obtain it, he says this: "Those who want to see me, and to come to my kingdom, must come to me through afflictions and troubles.
But what do you think the type means, where the precept is given to Israel that those grown men whose sins are complete offer a heifer and after slaughtering it, they burn it. And then the youths take up the ashes and put them into vessels, and tie scarlet wool on a tree with hyssop. And when this has happened, the youths sprinkle the people one by one, that they may be cleansed from their sins. Understand how in all freedom of speech it is spoken to you: the calf is Jesus. The men who offer it, who are sinners, are those who brought him to die. After this, they have nothing more [to do with it]; that glory is no more for sinners.
The children who sprinkle are those who heralded to us the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of our hearts, to whom the Lord gave authority to herald the good message. They were twelve in number, representing the tribes (for there are twelve tribes of Israel).
But why are the youths who sprinkle three in number? As a testimony to Abraham, Isaak and Jacob, because they were mighty in God's presence.
Then there is the placing the wool on the tree: the kingdom of Jesus was on the cross, and so those who put their trust on him will live forever.
And why were the wool and the hyssop together? Because in his kingdom there will be evil and foul days, in which we will be saved, for the one who suffers pain in the flesh from something foul is healed through the hyssop.
Therefore indeed it is obvious to us why these things happened this way, but to them they were obscure, because they did not listen to the Lord's voice.
Therefore, the writing says again about our ears how he has circumcised them with our hearts. Yahweh says in the prophet, "With the hearing of the ears they listened to me." And again, Those who are far away will hear and will understand what I have done." And, "Be circumcised in your hearts," says Yahweh.
And again he says, "Hear, O Israel, for Yahweh your
God says this: Whoever wants to live forever, he should hear
the voice of my servant boy."
And again he says, "Hear, oh sky, and lend an ear, oh land, for
Yahweh has spoken these things as a testimony." And again he says,
"Hear the sayings of Yahweh, you rulers of the people." And again he
says, "My children, hear the voice of one calling out in the
desert." Therefore he circumcised our ears, so that we might
hear the message and trust.
But as for circumcision, by which they are persuaded, it has been abolished, for the circumcision he spoke about was not physical. But they wandered from his precepts, for an evil one deceived them.
He told them, "Yahweh your God says this" (I find the precept this way), "Do not sow upon thorns, but circumcise yourselves in your hearts to Yahweh." And what is he saying? [Listen to your Lord. And again he says,] Be circumcised in the hardness of your hearts, and do not stiffen your necks. And again, Yahweh says, "Look, all the nations are uncircumcised in their foreskins, but this people is uncircumcised in their hearts."
But you will say, the people have been circumcised as a seal. No, for in the same way is every Syrian and Arabian and all the priests of the idols. Do all those then too belong to the covenant? And even the Egyptians are circumcised!
Therefore, beloved children, learn about all things abundantly, that Abraham, who was first to bring in circumcision, looked ahead spiritually to Jesus, when he circumcised after receiving the secret of the three letters.
For the writing says that "Abraham circumcised
three hundred eighteen males of his household." What then was the secret
thing given to him? Notice that he says "eighteen" first
and then "three hundred." In the number eighteen
{which is IH in Greek}, "I"
and "H" means "ten" and "eight."
Here you have Jesus {In Greek, Jesus is IHSOUS, the first
two letters of which are IH, which means
18.}
And because the cross was how we would have favor,
he adds "three hundred" {The number 300 in Greek is represented
by tau: T.}
So he revealed Jesus in the two letters, and the cross in the remaining one . {I.e., the number
318 has three characters, two of which spell out the beginning of "Jesus" and
the other of which represents the cross. The author seems to say that "eighteen"
is placed first, which indicates that in his text, IHT
is the representation of 318, rather than TIH. This
rearrangment of numbers was common below 1000.}
The one who placed into us the innate gift of his covenant knows that no
one has ever learned from me a more genuine truth, but I trust that you
are worthy.
But whd did Moses say, You will not eat pigs, or eagles, or vultures, or gulls, or any fish that has no scales upon it? He received, spiritually, three tenets in what he understood.
Yes, and he told them also in Deuteronomy, And I will give my tenets to this people. So then it is not a precept of God that they should not eat them with their teeth, but Moses told it to them spiritually.
Now he did not allow them to eat the pig, meaning, "You will not cling to people who are like pigs," that is, those who forget Yahweh in their pleasure, but when any need pinches them they recognize Yahweh, just as when the pig eats it does not know its lord, but when it is hungry it makes a sound, and again when it has received food it is silent.
Neither will you eat eagles, or vultures, or hawks, or gulls. He is saying that you will not cling to or become like such men who do not know how to provide food for themselves by labor and sweat, but who lawlessnessly snatch others' things, and as if they were walking in innocence they look to lay snares for them. Just as these birds alone do not seek food for themselves, but they sit idle and seek how they may eat the flesh of others, being destructive in their evil doings.
He says, "And you will not eat lampreys or octopi or squid." That is, you will not become like such men, who are completely lawless, and are already condemned to death, just as these sea creatures alone are cursed and swim in the depths, not swimming on the surface like the rest, but dwelling on the ground at the bottom of the deep sea.
He adds, "You will not eat rabbits." For what reason? You will not sodomize servant boys, nor will you become like such persons, for every year [the rabbit] adds one hole in its rear for sex, for according to the number of years it lives it has just that many holes [for sex].
Again, "Neither will you eat the hyena." He is saying, You will not become an adulterer or one who corrupts others [a bisexual], nor will you resemble such people. Why is this? Because this animal changes its nature every year, and becomes at one time male and at another female.
Now he has hated the weasel also for this reason, for this animal conceives with its mouth. He is saying that you will not become like those men who do what is wrong with their mouths in uncleanness. Neither will you cling to unclean women who do what is wrong with their mouths.
Therefore, speaking as though about meats, Moses delivered three precepts to in a spiritual sense, but they received them according to the desire of the flesh, as though they referred to meats.
Therefore, David also took knowledge of the same three precepts, and said,
You have now the complete instruction about eating.
Now Moses says, You will everything that has a cloven hoof and chews the cud. What is he saying? The one who receives the food knows the one who gave it to him, and after resting he rejoices in him. He said this well, with regard to the precept. So what is he saying? We should cling to those who fear Yahweh, with those who meditate on the precept that they have received in their hearts, with those who declare the just judgments of Yahweh and keep them, with those who know that meditation is a work of pleasure and who chew the cud of the Lord's message. But why those who have cloven hooves? Because the just person walks in this world, and expects for the other one. You see how wisely Moses instructed these things.
But how should you know or understand these things? Since we have justly known the precepts, we tell them as the Lord wants. For this purpose he circumcised our ears and hearts: so that we would know these things.
But we should ask whether the Lord took care to display anything ahead of time about water and the cross. Now about the former of these it was written to Israel, how they would not receive the baptism into forgiveness of sins, but would build another one for themselves.
For the prophet said, Be amazed, oh sky, and let the land quake at this, for this people has done two great evil things: they abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and they dug for themselves cisterns of stagnant water.
Is my holy mountain, Sinai, a deserted wilderness? For you will be like the fledglings of a bird when their nests are taken away.
And again the prophet says, I will go ahead of you and flatten
mountains and break the brass gates and break iron bars into
pieces, and I will give you dark, hidden, and invisible treasures,
so that they would know that I am Yahweh God.
And,
You will live in a high cave of a strong rock.
And, His water is trustworthy. You will observe the king in
glory, and your souls will learn the fear of Yahweh.
And again he says in another prophet, Now the one who does these
things will be like the tree that is planted by streams
of water. He will yield his fruit at its season, and
his leaves will not fall off, and all of whatever he does
will prosper.
It is not this way with the ungodly, but they are like the dust that the wind scatters from the face of the ground. Therefore, ungodly people will not stand in judgment, nor will sinners stand in the council of the just. For Yahweh knows the way of the just, and the way of the ungodly will be destroyed.
Consider how he pointed out the water and the cross together. For he was saying this: Blessed are those who put their trust in the cross and go down into the water. For he will have his reward seasonably. He says, "Then I will repay." But now what is he saying? His leaves will not fall off. In this he means that every word that comes out from you through your mouth in trust and love, will be for the change and hope of many.
And another prophet says the same: And Jacob's land was praised by the whole earth, glorifying the vessel of his spirit.
What follows? And there was a river running from the right side, and beautiful trees grew up from it, and whoever eats of them will live for the age.
He says this because we go down into the water full of sins and stains, and we rise up producing fruit in the heart, having our fear and hope in Jesus, spiritually. And whoever eats of these will live for the age. He is saying that whoever listens to these declarations and trusts, will live forever.
In the same way he determines something about the cross in another prophet, saying, "And when will these things happen?" Yahweh says, "When a tree that has fallen stands upright, and when blood drips from the tree." Again you see mention of the cross and the one who was to be crucified.
And he says farther on in Moses (when war was being fought against Israel by foreigners -- so he would remind them [who were so beaten] that they were handed to death for their sins) -- indeed, the Spirit says to Moses' heart -- that he should make a type of the cross and of the one who was to suffer, so that they would know that unless they put their trust in him, they would be overcome for the age. Therefore, Moses armed them in the midst of the encounter, and standing on higher ground than anyone he stretched out his arms, and so Israel was again victorious.
Then when he lowered them, they were slaughtered with the sword. Why was this? So that they might know that unless they should put their trust in him they are unable to be saved.
And again in another prophet he says, All day long have I stretched out my hands to an unpersuaded people that spoke against my just way.
Again Moses makes a type of Jesus, showing that it was necessary for him to suffer, and that the one whom they thought to have destroyed would make people live as a sign while Israel fell. For Yahweh caused all kinds of serpents to bite them, and they died. Since the wandering began in Eva through the serpent, that similarly he might convince them that on account of their wandering they would be delivered over to the pain of death.
Yes, and Moses himself had given the precept: "You will not make yourselves a carved or molten image to be your God", yet he himself made one, so that he would show them a type of Jesus. So Moses made a brazen serpent, and set it up at a high place, and summoned the people with a declaration.
So when they had gathered they asked Moses to offer up an atoning sacrifice for them, so they would be healed. And Moses spoke to them, saying, "Whenever one of you is bitten, he should come to the serpent that is placed on the tree, and he should trust and hope that the serpent who himself is dead is able to make alive, and immediately he will be saved." And they did this. Here again you have in these things also the glory of Jesus, how all things are in him and for him .
Again, what did Moses say to Joshua the son of Nun, when he gave him that name, as though he were a prophet, so that all the people would hear him alone, because the Father reveals all things concerning his Son Jesus? [NOTE: "Jesus" and "Joshua" are the same name.]
Therefore Moses told Joshua the son of Nun, giving him that name, when he sent him as a spy on the land, Take a scroll in your hands, and write what Yahweh says, how God's son will cut up by the roots all the house of Amalek in the last days.
See again that it is Jesus, not a mortal but God's son, and that he was displayed in the flesh analogously. Since then men will say that the Anointed One is David's son, David himself prophesied, being afraid and knowing well the error of sinners, Yahweh said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right side until I place your enemies as a footstool for your feet.'
And again Isaiah says this: Yahweh said to my Anointed Lord, whose right hand I have taken hold of, that the nations should listen in his presence, and I will break the strength of kings. See how David [and Isaiah] call him "Lord" and not "son."
Now let us ask whether this people or the first people are the heirs, and whether the covenant is with us or them. Hear now what the writing says first about the people, "And Isaak prayed about Rebekka his wife, for she was barren. And she conceived. Then Rebekka went out to ask the Lord, and the Lord said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples are in your abdomen. Now one people will have power over the other people, and the greater will serve the lesser.'"
You should understand who Isaak is, and who Rebekka is, and about whom he showed that one people would be greater than the other.
And in another prophecy Jacob spoke more clearly to Yosef his son, saying, "Look, Yahweh has not deprived me of seeing your face. Bring me your sons, so I may bless them." And he brought Ephraim and Manasseh, wanting Manasseh to be blessed, because he was the older, for Yosef led him to his father Jacob's right side. But Jacob saw spiritually a type of the people that should come afterwards. And what does it say? "And Jacob crossed his hands, and placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the second and younger, and blessed him. And Yosef said to Jacob, 'Put your right hand on Manasseh's head, for he is my first born son.' And Jacob said to Yosef, 'I know it, my son, I know it. But the greater will serve the lesser, though he too will be blessed.'"
Notice in whose cases he chose that this people should be first and heir of the covenant. Since then he also made it further known through Abraham, we reach the completion of our knowledge. What then did he say to Abraham when he alone trusted, and it was recorded for justification? "Look Abraham, I have made you a father of nations that trust in God while foreskinned."
Now let us ask now about the covenant that he swore to the ancestors to give it to the people. Yes indeed he has given it, but they themselves were not found worthy to receive it on account of their sins.
For the prophet says, "And Moses was fasting in Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights, so that he would receive Yahweh's covenant to give to the people. And he received from Yahweh the two tablets which were written by the finger of Yahweh's hand, spiritually." And when Moses had received them, he brought them down to give them to the people.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "'Moses, Moses, go down quickly, for your people, whom you led out from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.' And Moses noticed that they had made for themselves again a molten image, and he cast the tablets of Yahweh's covenant from his hands, and they were broken in pieces."
Moses received them, but they themselves were not found worthy. But how know that we have received them. Moses received them, since he was a servant, but Yahweh himself gave them to us to be the people of his inheritance, having endured on our behalf.
But he was displayed, in order that at the same time they might fill up their sins, and we would would be made heirs, and would receive the covenant through the Lord Jesus. He was prepared for this ahead of time, so that by appearing he would redeem from darkness our hearts, which had already been devoured by death and handed over to the lawlessness of wrong, and so would establish the covenant in us through the message. For it was written that the Father charged him to deliver us from darkness, and to prepare a holy people for himself.
Therefore the prophet says, "I, Yahweh your God, called you in justification, and I will take hold of your hands and will strengthen you, and I will give you a covenant of the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, and to bring those who are bound out of their prison, and those who sit in darkness out of their prison house." Therefore, we know what we were ransomed from.
[Again the prophet says, "Look, I have set you to be a light to the nations, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the land. Yahweh God who bought you says this."]
Again the prophet says, "Yahweh's spirit is on me. He anointed me to herald a good message to the humble, to heal those who are broken-hearted, to herald a release to captives and sight to the blind, to proclaim Yahweh's acceptable year of and day of repayment, to comfort all those who mourn."
In addition, it is written similarly about the sabbath in the ten sayings that he spoke to Moses face to face on Mount Sinai: "And you will keep Yahweh's sabbath holy, with clean hands and with a clean heart."
And in another place he says, "If my descendants observe the sabbath, then I will give my mercy to them."
He speaks of the sabbath also at the beginning of the creation: "And God made the deeds of his hands in six days, and he ended on the seventh day, and rested on it, and he made it holy."
Children, pay attention to what this means: "He finished in six days." It means this, that in six thousand years Yahweh would bring all things to an end, for "a day with him is like a thousand years," as he himself testified when he said, "Look, Yahweh's day will be like a thousand years." Therefore, children, in six days, that is in six thousand years, everything would be finished.
"And he rested on the seventh day." He means this: that when his son comes and abolishes the time of the Lawless One, and judges the ungodly, and changes the sun and the moon and the stars, then he will truly rest on that "seventh day."
Yes, and lastly he adds, "You will make it holy with clean hands and a clean heart." Therefore, if [we believe] anyone is able now to make the day holy that God made holy, though he is clean in heart, we are greatly deceived.
Look, therefore then he will truly rest and make it holy, when we ourselves will be able to do so, we who have been justified and receiving the promise, when lawlessness is no more and all things have been made new by the Lord, after we ourselves will have been made holy first.
Finally he says to them, "I am unable to endure your new moons and your sabbaths." You see what is his meaning: the sabbaths that you presently keep are not acceptable but the one that I have made, so that, when I have rested from all things, I will make the beginning of the eighth day which is the beginning of another age.
For this reason we keep the eighth day for rejoicing, in which also Jesus rose from the dead, and after being displayed, he ascended into the sky.
It remains for me to tell you about the temple, how these wretched men who had been deceived put their trust in the building, as though it were God's house, and not in God who made them. For almost like the gentiles they "made him holy" in the temple. But know what the Lord said in nullifying the temple: "'Who has measured the sky with a span, or the land with his hand? Haven't I?,' says Yahweh. 'The the sky is my throne and the land is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build for me? Or what will be my resting place?'" Know that their hope is worthless.
Furthermore he says again, "Look, those who destroyed this temple will rebuild it themselves." And so it happened, for for on account of their war it was destroyed by their enemies. Now also the servants of their enemies build it up.
Again, it was displayed how the city and the temple and the people of Israel would be handed over. For the writing says, "And it will be in the last days, that the Lord will hand over the sheep of the pasture and the flock and the tower to destruction." And it came to pass as Yahweh spoke.
Now let's ask whether there is any temple of God. There is, in the place where he himself declares to make and complete it. For it is written, "And it will happen, when the week is complete, that God's temple will be built gloriously in the name of Yahweh." Therefore, I find that there is a temple. So how will it be built in the name of Yahweh? Know that before we trusted in God, the dwellings of our hearts were corrupt and weak, like "a temple truly built by hands." For it was full of idolatry and was a house of spirit beings, because we did whatever was opposed to God.
"But it will be built in the name of Yahweh." So pay attention that the temple of Yahweh will be built gloriously, and know by what means that will be. In receiving the forgiveness of our sins and trusting in the name of the Lord we became new, created again, as from the beginning. For this reason God lives truly in our houses within us. How? The message of his trust, the calling of his promise, the wisdom of the tenets, the precepts of the teaching, he himself prophesies in us, he himself lives in us, opening the door of the temple for us who had been in bondage to death. This is the mouth of wisdom, having given us repentance, leading us to the incorruptible temple.
Therefore, the one who wants to be saved does not look at a person, but at the one who lives and speaks in him, being amazed that he has never heard these words from the speaker's mouth, nor did he ever want to hear them. This is the spiritual temple constructed for Yahweh.
Now I trust this, that as much as possible and with all simplicity have declared to you those things that belong to salvation, hoping that I have not neglected anything. For if I should write about things present or to come, you would not understand them, since they are put in analogies. So Therefore, this is enough about these things, but let us go on to another piece of knowledge and teaching.
There are two ways of teaching and of power, the one of light and the other of darkness, but there is a great difference between the two ways. For on the former are placed the light-giving messengers of God; on the other are the Enemy's messengers. And the former is the Lord from every age and to every age; the other is lord of the season of wrong.
5 Therefore, this is the way of light, if anyone desiring to reach the place chosen for him wants to be jealous in his works. The knowledge that was given to us to walk in is like this:
You will love the one who made you; [you will fear the one who created you]; you will glorify the one who redeemed you from death. You will be simple in heart and rich in spirit. You will not cling to those who walk on death's path; you will hate to do anything that is not pleasing to God; you will hate all hypocrisy; you will never neglect the Lord's precepts.
You will not exalt yourself, but will be humble in all
things. You will not honor yourself. You will not
enter any evil reasoning against your neighbor. You will not let
over-boldness into your soul.
You will not commit prostitution. "You will not commit
adultery." You will not sodomize servant boys. You will not
be issuing God's message if any are unclean.
You will not show personal bias when you reprove him for wandering. You will be gentle; you will be quiet. You will fear the sayings that you have heard. You will not carry a grudge against your brother. You will not doubt whether something will be or not be.
"You will not take the name of the Lord on deception." "You will love your neighbor" more than your own life. You will not destroy a fetus by abortion, nor will you kill what is born. You will not withhold your hand from your son or daughter, but from their youth you will teach them the fear of Yahweh.
You will not strongly desire your neighbor's goods, nor will you be greedy. Nor will you cling with your soul to high-minded people, but you will walk with the humble and just. You will accept as good whatever effects happen to you, [knowing that nothing happens without God.] You will not be double-souled or double-tongued, [for a double tongue is death's snare.]
You will submit to your lords as to a type of God in reverence and fear. You will not direct those of your male or female slaves in bitterness who trust in God, or else somehow they might no longer fear the God who is over both of you. For he did not come to call people who have personal bias, but those whom the Spirit prepared.
You will let your neighbor share in all your things, and you will not say that anything is your own. For since you are partners in that which is incorruptible, how much rather should you be with the corruptible things? You will not be quick to speak, for the mouth is death's snare. Strive on behalf of your souls, with all your strength.
Do not hold out your hands to receive or draw them in when giving. Like "the apple of your eye," you will love every one that speaks the Lord's message to you, and remember the coming day of judgment night and day. Now you will seek out every day the persons of the holy ones, either laboring verbally and going to advise them and considering how you might save souls, or you will work with your hands for the forgiveness of your sins, giving to the poor.
You will not decide whether to give, nor will you grumble when giving, but you will give to everyone who asks, knowing who is the good rewarder of your gifts. You will keep what you have received, neither adding to those things nor taking away from them. You will hate hate the Evil One.
You will judge a just judgment. You will not cause division, but you will make peace between those who argue and bring them together. You will acknowledge your sins, not coming to prayer with a consciousness of evil. This is the way of light.
But the way of darkness is crooked and full of curses. For it is a way of eternal death with punishment. Those who walk in it will meet the things that destroy their souls. These are: idolatry; free speech; pride of authority; hypocrisy; doubleness of the soul; adultery; murder; plundering; pride; wandering; deceit; malice; arrogance; sorcery; [magic;] greed; lack of the fear of God.
These are persecutors of good people; haters of truth, lovers of lies; those who do not know the reward of justification; they do not cling to what is good; they do not give just judgment, paying no attention to the widow and the orphan; they watch out for evil, and not for the fear of God. These are people from whom gentleness and endurance stand aloof and far away. They love worthless things, seeking repayment. They have no mercy on the poor, and do not work for the one is burdened and oppressed. They are ready to speak evil, not knowing the one who made them. They are murderers of children, corrupters of God's, turning away from the one who is in need, oppressing the one who is afflicted. These advocates of the wealthy are unjust judges of the poor. They are sinners in everything.
Therefore, it is appropriate to learn the Lord's tenets -- the ones that have been written earlier -- and to walk in them. For the one who does these things will be glorified in God's kingdom, but the one who chooses the other things will be destroyed together with his deeds. For this reason there is a resurrection and a repayment.
I beg those of you who are in a higher station, if you would receive any advice from my good intent, you have among you those to whom you may do good. Do not fail. For the day is nearing in which everything will be destroyed, together with the Evil One. "The Lord is near and his reward."
Therefore, I beg you again and again to be good code-givers to one to another. Continue to be trustworthy advisors to one another. Take away all hypocrisy from you.
And may God, who is Lord of all creation, give you wisdom, knowledge, advice, and recognition of his tenets in patience. Now be taught by God, seeking what Yahweh requires of you, and do it, so that you may be found in the day of judgment.
But if you have among you any remembrance of what is good, remember me when you practice these things, so that both my desire and my watching may result in something good. I beg you, asking it as a favor. For as long as the good vessel is with you, lack none of these things, but seek them unceasingly, and fulfill every precept. For these things are appropriate and worthy.
For this reason I was more eager to write to you as much as I was
able, so that you might rejoice.
Goodbye, children of love and peace. May the Lord of glory and
of every generous thing be with your spirits. A-mein.