BARNABAS
The general epistle of
TO
INDEX
Preface.
1. All
happiness to you my sons and daughters in the name of our Lord Christ who loved
us in peace.
2. Having
perceived the abundance of knowledge of the great and excellent laws of God to
be within you I rejoice greatly in your blessed and admirable souls, for you
received the grace, which was granted in you worthily.
3.
For this
cause I am full of joy trusting in your salvation, since I truly behold the
Spirit infused in you from the pure fountain of God.
4. This
persuasion I have of you, and am indeed convinced that ever since I began to
speak to you I never saw a greater ordinary success in the way of the law in
you, which is Christ.
5. For this
reason my brothers I know also that I love you more than my own soul.
And it is also herein that the greatness of love and faith dwells as well
as the hope of that life which is to come.
6. In this
knowledge I take care to communicate to you part of what I have received knowing
that it shall turn to my reward in having served such good souls.
Wherefore I take this diligence in these few words to write to you that
along with your faith knowledge may be perfected in you.
7. The Lord
ordained three things, the hope of life, and the beginning and the completion
thereof. For by His prophets He
declared to us the things that are past and He opened the beginning of those
that are to come.
8.
It
therefore, just as He said, becomes us to become ever more holy and closer to
the altar, wherefore I, not as a teacher but as one of you will endeavor to
bring before you a few things on account of which in many ways you may be more
joyful.
Urging to inquire.
1. Since
now the days are exceedingly evil, and the adversary has the power of this
present world, we ought to pay more diligence to inquire into the righteous
judgments of the Lord.
2.
Fear and
patience then are assistants to our faith, and our fellow combatants are; long
suffering, and endurance.
3.
As long
as these remain pure in what relates to the Lord, then wisdom, understanding,
science, and knowledge rejoices together with them.
4.
For God
has made it clear to us through all His prophets, that He has no use for our
sacrifices or burnt offerings or oblations, saying;
5.
"To
what purpose are the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?
I am full of burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of beasts, I delight
not in the blood of bulls or of goats.
6.
When you
appear before Me, who has asked this of your hands?
No more shall you tread down My courts, bring no more vain oblations, and
your incense is an abomination to Me.
7.
Your new
moons, your sabbaths, and your calling of
assemblies I cannot stand them, away with them, for even your
solemn assemblies are iniquity, My soul hates your new moons and your
appointed feasts."
8.
God
therefore has abolished these things that a new law of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which is without such necessity, might have the Spiritual offering of men
themselves.
9.
For again
so spoke the Lord afore-time; "Did I at any time command your fathers when
they came out of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices?
10.
But this
I commanded them saying; Let none of you imagine evil in
his heart against his neighbor, and love no false oath."
11.
And since
we are not without understanding we ought to apprehend the design of our
merciful Father speaking to us in such ways, the sacrifices being our errors,
that we should find how to approach Him.
12.
It was
therefore that He said to us; "The
sacrifice of God is a broken and contrite heart, for this God will not
despise".
13. We
therefore brothers ought to inquire more diligently after those things which
pertain to our salvation, that the adversary may not have any advantage over us,
depriving us of our spiritual life.
14.
For again
He spoke to them concerning this saying. "You
shall not fast like you do this day, to make your voice heard on high.
15. Shall
this be a fast that I should have chosen, for you to burden your soul, to bow
your head like a bull, and to spread ashes with sackcloth?
Will you call that a fast or an acceptable day to the Lord?"
16. No! But rather on this wise He spoke; "Is not this the fast that I have chosen, to undo the bonds of wickedness, and to take away the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you should break every yoke."
17.
It is to
share your bread with the hungry, and to bring in the poor which were cast out
of your house, and when you see the naked - to cover him, and that you do not
hide yourself from your own flesh.
18.
For then
your light shall break forth as the morning, and your health shall come quickly,
and righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your
reward.
19.
Then when
you call - the Lord shall answer, you shall cry, and He shall say; Here am I, - if
you remove from you the yoke,
the pointing with the finger, and the speaking of vanity, and if your soul yearns
to the hungry, and you satisfy the afflicted soul."
20. In this
did God manifest His foreknowledge and the love He had for us, since those,
which He had purchased for His beloved Son, they were to believe in sincerity.
21.
For this
same reason then was it that He showed this to all of us so that we should not
run as converts to the Jewish law.
To search truth and hate evil.
1.
Wherefore
also is it necessary to diligently search into the things that are near to come,
and that in writing this to you - it may serve to keep you whole.
2.
And to that very end - let us flee from all evil works, hating the errors of
the present time, and instead rejoice in that which is to come.
3.
Let us not
take to ourselves the liberty to
dispute with the wicked and with sinners, lest in time we become like them.
4.
For it is
written. "The end of sin is
near at hand." And the prophet
Daniel said. "To this end the
Lord shortened the days and the times so that His beloved might come into their
inheritance that much the sooner".
5.
For the
prophet spoke; "Ten kings shall reign, and a little one at the last who
shall humble three kings."
6.
And
Daniel again concerning the kingdoms says "And I saw a fourth beast
dreadful, and terrible, exceedingly strong, and it had ten horns, and as I
beheld the horns - from among them came another little horn before which three
were plucked-up by the roots."
7. We then
should understand this also, and I entreat you as one of your own brothers who
loves you beyond even my own life, that you look to yourselves, and not be like
those that add sin to sin, who say; that their covenant is also ours.
8.
The
covenant with Moses was, that if a man keeps the law perfect he shall live by
"his" righteousness, since then no man except Christ Jesus was able to
do so, the new covenant is; to live by the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
This is ours indeed, since they forever lost that which Moses received.
9.
For again
say the scriptures. "And Moses
continued fasting forty days and nights in the mountain receiving the covenant
of the Lord, the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God".
10.
But
turning themselves to idols - they lost it, and the Lord said to Moses; "Go
down quickly for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have corrupted
themselves turning aside from what I commanded them".
11.
And Moses
threw the two tablets out of his hands - breaking their covenant; this was so
that the love of Jesus might be sealed in your hearts to the hope of His faith.
12. Let us therefore pay heed in these last times, for all your previous life and your faith will profit you nothing unless you continue (endure) to hate what is evil, and continue to withstand future temptations. For so the Son of God tells us. "Let us resist all inequity, and hate it."
13. Consider
then what works are of evil, and do not abstain from others as if you were
already justified, but coming together in one place ''inquire'' in what is
acceptable and profitable for the sons of God.
14.
For the
scripture says. "Woe
to them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight".
15.
Let us
become a spiritual temple perfect to God, and with as much as there is - let us
meditate on the fear of God. And
strive to the utmost of our power to keep His commandments so that we may
rejoice in His righteous judgments.
16.
For God
will judge the world without respect of persons, wherein thus everyone shall
receive according to his works.
17. If a man
were good his righteousness will go before him, and if he were wicked the reward
of his wickedness will follow him.
18.
Take heed lest now that we are called, that in sitting still - we
fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked one getting dominion over us stirs us to
shut us out of the kingdom of God.
19. And
consider this also, that although great signs and wonders were done among the
Jews, still the Lord forsook them.
20.
Be aware
therefore lest the same will happen to us, even as it is
written; "Many are called, but few are chosen
The Lord willingly offered Himself.
1.
It
was for this reason that our Lord offered to give His body to destruction that
through the forgiveness of our sins we might be sanctified in His blood.
2.
In the
things written concerning Him then, some is to the people of the Jews, and some
to us. For thus said the
scriptures; "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities, and by His blood we were healed, He was led as a Lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so He opened not His
mouth."
3. We ought
therefore to give all the more thanks to God in that He declared to us both that
which is passed, nor leaving us without understanding of things to come.
4.
For to
them, the Jews of the physical law, He said; "The nets are not unjustly
spread for the birds.” This He
spoke because man will perish justly in as much as he, who has knowledge of the
way of truth, if he nonetheless does not depart from the way of darkness.
5.
And for
this the Lord was contend to suffer for our souls, even though He was Lord of
the whole earth to whom God before the very beginning of the world said;
"Let us make man after our own image and likeness."
6.
And just
"how" He suffered for us, and how this was at the hand of man, I will
show you.
7.
For the
prophet having received from Him the gift of prophecy, He spoke of Himself that
He would abolish death, making known to us the resurrection of the dead.
And it pleased him to come in the flesh, even as it was required, to make
good on the promise, which He had previously given to our fathers.
8.
And thus
preparing Himself a new people, that while He was on earth, He might demonstrate
to them that after the resurrection He would judge the world.
9.
He then
preached to the people of Israel, and performed many wonders and signs among
them, to show them the exceedingly great love, which He bore towards them.
10. And when
He chose His apostles, who afterwards were to publish His gospel, He might
plainly show that He came not to call the righteous - but sinners to repentance.
11. And He
clearly manifested Himself in the Son, for if He had not come in the flesh, how
would men have been able to look upon Him to the end to be saved?
12. For
again, we cannot even behold the rays of the sun for any duration, which is only
the works of His hands that afterwards is to perish, how less therefore can we
behold the light of God as God.
13.
To this
end He came in the flesh, that He might fill-up the measure of the iniquity of
them that persecuted His prophets to death, for that reason also He did suffer.
14.
For of
the stripes of the flesh God said - that they were from them, and, I will smite
the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.
15.
Thus He
suffered - because it became Him to suffer on the cross, and so spoke one
prophecy concerning Him; Spare My soul from the sword.
Again, "Pierce My flesh from Thy fear".
16.
And
again, "The congregation of the workers of iniquity rose up against Me.
And; "I gave My back to the smiters, and My face I set hard as a
rock".
The Lord in power.
1. And
having fulfilled the command of God, what was it that he said?
"Who will contend with Me? Let
him stand-up to Me!" Or;
"Who is he that will implore Me? Let him draw near to the Servant of the Lord."
2.
Woe to
you, for you shall wax old like a garment, as when the moth eats you up.
3.
And again
the prophet adds; "He is placed as a stone for stumbling, for behold, in
Zion I place, for a foundation, a stone, a choice Cornerstone, an honorable
stone." For what follows?
"And he that hopes in Him shall live forever."
4.
What then
do we say? Shall our hope be built
on a stone? God forbid it was
because God had hardened His flesh against suffering that He said; "I have
made Myself as a firm rock."
5.
And again
the prophet ads, "The stone which the builders rejected become the head of
the corner". And again,
"This is the great and wonderful day which the Lord has made."
6.
I now am
writing these things more plainly to you so that you may understand, for indeed
I would be content even to die for your sakes.
7. And what
again did the prophet say? "The
counsel of the wicked surrounded Me, they came around Me as bees around the
honeycomb, and My robe they cast lot."
8.
For as
much then as our Savior was to appear in the flesh and suffer, His passion was
hereby foretold.
9.
For again
the prophet said of Israel; "Woe be to their soul for they took wicked
counsel against themselves in saying; let us lay snares for the righteous, for
he is of no profit to us."
10. And Moses
in like manner said; "Behold, thus says the Lord God; Enter into the good
land of which the Lord swore to Abraham Isaac and Jacob, that He would give it
to them for a possession, a land flowing with and honey."
11. The
spiritual meaning of this then is like saying - Put your trust in Jesus who
shall be manifested to you in the flesh, for the land, as the ground, is man,
for even so Adam was formed of the earth.
12. And what
shall it mean where He said; "Into a land flowing with milk and honey?
Yea indeed blessed be our Lord who has given us wisdom and a heart to
understand His secrets.
13.
For so
spoke the prophet, "Who shall understand the hard sayings of the Lord?
Only he that is wise and intelligent, that loves his Lord!"
14.
Seeing
therefore He has renewed us by the remission of our sins He put another heart
into us that we should have souls like that of children, forming us anew by the
Spirit.
15.
For so
the scriptures speak concerning us - where the Father spoke to the Son; Let us
make man after our likeness and image, and let them have dominion over the
beasts of the earth, and over the fowls of the air, and the fish of the sea.
16. And when
the Lord beheld the man He had formed, he saw that it was very good, and He
said; Increase multiply, and replenish the earth. This, He spoke thus to His Son.
17. And now I
will show you how we are made new creatures in the ending days, for the Lord
said; "Behold, I will make the last as the first.
18. And
likewise the prophet spoke, "Enter into the land flowing with milk and
honey, and have dominion over it".
19. Therefore
you see how we are again formed anew. For
He again spoke by another prophet of those whom He foresaw.
Behold the Lord says; "I will take their heart of stone from them,
and put into them hearts of flesh (for He was about to be manifested in the
flesh, and to dwell in us.
20. For the
habitation of our hearts my brothers is a holy temple to the Lord, for the Lord
again said; "In what shall I appear before the Lord my God - and be
glorified?"
21. For thus
He answers, "I will confess Thee in the congregation, in the midst of my
brothers, and I will sing to Thee in the church of the saints.
Therefore it are "we" whom He has brought into that good land.
22.
But now
what shall the milk and honey signify? For
as the child is nourished with milk, then with honey, so are we kept alive in
the faith of the promise, and by His word we shall live and have dominion over
the land, just as He foretold saying; To increase, multiply, and have dominion
over the fishes etc.
23. But who
now is able to have dominion over the wild beasts or fishes, or birds?
For as you know, to rule is to have power in order that a man may be set
over what he rules.
24.
But for
as much as we do not have that now - He lets us know "when" we shall
have it, namely; when we have become perfected, made the inheritors of the
covenant of the Lord.
The Lord's offering foreshadowed.
1.
Understand
then my beloved children that the good God manifested all things to us in
previous times so that we might come to know to whom we ought always to give
thanks and praise.
2.
If
therefore the Son of God, who is Lord of all and will judge both the living and
the dead, has suffered so that by His stripes we might live.
Then let us believe that the Son of God could not have suffered but
except for us, for thus being crucified, they gave Him vinegar and gall to
drink.
3.
Hear then
how the priest of the temple foreshadowed this. For the Lord commanded that he who did not fast the appointed
fast - that he should die, since He also was one day to offer-up His body, but
for "our" sins, and so it was fulfilled what was like Isaac, him being
offered on the altar.
4.
And what
was it then He said by the prophet? "Let
them eat of the goat (which was being offered) in the day of the fast - for all
our sins."
5. And hear
well, for He said; "And all the priests - they only shall eat the inwards
not washed with vinegar".
6. And why
was this so? Because I know that
hereafter I shall offer My flesh for the sins of a new people, and you will give
Me to drink vinegar mixed with gall, therefore the people were to eat it while
fasting and lamenting in sackcloth and ashes.
7. And so
that He might foreshadow that He was to suffer for them, this is how He
appointed it; Take two goats that are alike, and offer them, and let the high
priest take one of them for a burnt-offering, and of the other He said; Let it
be accursed.
8. Consider
then how well this shows to have been a type of Jesus, for He said; "And
let all the congregation spit upon it and prick it, and place wool on its head,
and so let it be carried into the wilderness."
9.
And this
being done, he that was appointed to lead the goat into the wilderness was to
take away the scarlet wool and place it on a thorn-bush whose small fruit we are
wont to eat, and that fruit is sweet.
10.
To what
end thus was all this ceremony? Consider
how one was offered the altar while the other was accursed, and why that which
was accursed was crowned.
11.
It was so
that in that day they would see Christ having a scarlet garment on His body, and
they will say; "Is not this He whom we crucified, whom we despised,
pierced, and mocked? Certainly is
He who of Himself said that He was the Son of God".
12.
And since
then He will be like as He was on earth, so the Jews were to take two goats fair
and alike so that when they shall see Him coming hereafter - that they may be
amazed at the likeness of the goats.
13.
And what
shall it signify that the wool was to be placed on the thorns?
This also is a figure of Jesus and of the church, for just as one must go
through much difficulty in removing the scarlet wool from the thorns, they being
sharp and all.
14.
"So
they, says Christ, that will behold Me and come to My kingdom must pass through
many afflictions and troubles to attain unto Me."
The figure of the heifer.
1. And
what do you suppose it may have been where it was commanded to the people of
Israel, that grown persons in whose sins were come to fullness, that they should
offer a heifer - and to burn it after it had been killed?
2. After
which young lads were to take the ashes, and placing them in a vessel to tie a
piece of scarlet wool on a stick with hyssop, and so the young men would
sprinkle everyone of the people, and they would be clean of their sins.
3. Thus
consider how all these things were fore-shadowed to us.
For this heifer is Christ Jesus, and the wicked men that were to offer it
were those sinners that put Him to death, who afterwards had nothing to do with
it anymore, these sinners had no more the honor of handling it.
4. But the
young men that performed the sprinkling, signify those who preach to us the
forgiveness of sins and the purification of heart, these are the ones to whom
the Lord gave authority to preach His gospel.
5.
At the
beginning then they were twelve, to signify the twelve tribes of Israel, yet
there were only three young men appointed to sprinkle, and why was that?
This denotes Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they were great before God.
6.
And why
was the wool put upon the stick? Because
the kingdom of Jesus was founded on the cross, and that they who hereafter would
put their trust in Him - might live forever.
7.
And why
were the wool and hyssop put together? To
signify that in the entrance into the kingdom of Christ there would be evil and
hard days, in which however we would be saved, which is as the hyssop that cures
the filth of the disease of the flesh.
8.
These
things thus as they were done provide us indeed with evidence, but to the Jews
they are obscure, because they would not listen to the voice of the Lord.
Of circumcision.
1.
For
again the scriptures speaks concerning our ears that God has circumcised them
together with our hearts.
2.
For thus
spoke the Lord by the holy prophets; "In the hearing of the ear they obeyed
Me." And again, "They
that were afar off heard and understood the things that I have done".
And again, "Circumcise your hearts, says the Lord".
3.
And
again; "Hear O Israel, for thus says the Lord your God; Who is there that
desires to live forever? Let the
same listen to the voice of My Son."
4.
And
again, "Hear O heaven, and give ear O earth, for the Lord has spoken these
things for a testimony". And
again, "Hear the word of the Lord you princes of the people".
And; "Hear O children the voice of one crying in the
wilderness."
5.
Therefore
did He circumcise our ears - that we should hear His word, and believe, but as
for that circumcision in which the Jews trust, is abolished.
6.
For the
circumcision of which God spoke was not of the flesh since they transgressed His
commands, the evil one having deceived them.
And God spoke thus to them; "Thus says the Lord your God; sow not
among thorns, but circumcise yourselves to the Lord your God".
7.
And what
does He mean speaking in this way? It
is to listen to your Lord. For
again He said, "Circumcise the hardness of your heart, and harden not your
neck".
8.
And
again, "Behold, all the nations are uncircumcised, but this people are
un-circumcised in heart".
9. But now
you will say; but the Jews were circumcised for a sign.
But so all the Syrians, and the Arabians, and all the idolous priests,
but shall they therefore be of the covenant of Israel?
For even the Egyptians circumcised themselves.
10. Understand
these thing thus more fully my children, for Abraham was first to bring in
circumcision - in spirit looking forward to Jesus.
11.
For in
this he received the mystery of the three letters, for the scripture says; that
Abraham circumcised 318 men of his house. What
then may be the mystery herein?
12. Mark
first the 18, and next the 300, for the numerical letters of 10 and 8 are I, and
H, which denote Jesus.
13.
And
because the cross was that by which we were to find grace, He adds the 300, the
mark of which is T, the two letters thus signify Jesus with the third as His
cross.
14.
And He
who grafted within me His doctrine, knows that I never taught to anyone a more
certain truth, but I trust that you are worthy of it.
The law - spiritual.
1. And
now why was it that Moses said you shall not eat of the swine, nor of the eagle
or the hawk, nor the crow or any fish that has no scales on it?
2. The
answer is that in the spiritual sense He comprehended three doctrines to be
gathered from them aside of what He says to them in the book of Deuteronomy.
3.
For He
says, "And I will give My statutes to this people".
Wherefore it was not God's command that they should not eat these things,
but Moses spoke rather as to the spirit.
4.
For in
forbidding the swine it means; you shall not join yourself to such persons as
are like the swine, they that live in pleasure forgetting their God.
5.
For when
they are hungry, they know not the Lord, just as the swine who when he is full
knows not his master, but when hungry he makes noise, and being fed, he again is
silent.
6.
Neither
then shall you eat the eagle nor the hawk or the kite or the crow, which means.
You shall not keep company with such men who know not with their labors
and sweat to obtain food for themselves, who instead injure and ravish the
things of others, who watch how to lay snares, meanwhile appearing as if they
live in perfect innocence.
7.
For these
birds do not labor for their food, but sitting they watch how they may eat the
flesh of others, or what others provide, they being destructive in their
wickedness.
8. Nor shall
you eat the lamprey, so He says, or the polypus, or cuttle fish, meaning.
You shall not be like such men, nor to speak like these, for they are
altogether wicked and born to death. For
so these fishes are accursed wallowing in the mud, nor do they swim as other
fishes, but they tumble in the dirt at the bottom of the deep.
9.
And He
added the hare not to eat, for this signifies; you shall not be an adulterer,
nor be like such persons, for the hare multiplies every year its conceptions,
and that for as long as he lives so much he multiplies to himself.
10.
Nor shall
you eat of the Hyena, which again is not to be an adulterer, nor to be a
corrupter of others, not to be like such, for each year this creature changes
its kind, sometimes male, and sometimes female.
11.
For which
cause also the weasel is hated, to signify that we should not be like such
persons that with their mouth commit wickedness, nor to join with impure women
in uncleanliness, for that animal conceives with its mouth.
12.
Moses
therefore speaking in regards to meats did indeed deliver three great precepts
to them in the spiritual significance of these commands, but they, according to
the desires of the flesh, understood him as if he had only meant it of meats.
13. David
therefore having rightly understood the knowledge of this threefold command
said; “Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the
ungodly." Which then is like
the fishes we spoke of at the bottom of the sea.
14. And he
continued to say "Nor who stand in the way of sinners."
Which then are these who appear to fear God, yet who sin like the swine.
15. And David
again, "Nor that sits in the seat of the scorners".
Which then is as the birds that sit and watch what they may devour.
16.
Here thus
you have the law perfectly as it concerns meats, and the true knowledge thereof.
17. For Moses
saying; You shall eat what divides the hoofs, and that chew the cud, signifies
one, who having taken his food, recalls Him who has fed him, and resting in Him,
rejoicing in Him.
18.
Moses
thus spoke very well with respect to the commandments.
For what he really said was that we should hold firm to such as fear the
Lord, and with such as meditate on the commands of the word which they received
in their hearts, and with those that declare the righteous judgments of God, and
that keep His commandments.
19. In short,
we keep with those who know that to meditate is a work of for which also they
trained themselves in the word of God.
20. And why
might it be to eat that which cloves the hoofs? It is because the righteous although living in this world -
have their expectations set on another.
21.
So you
see my brothers how very admirable Moses made all these things.
And to know and understand all this is because we understand correctly.
22.
And we
speak the commandments of the Lord, as "He" will, for He circumcised
ears and our hearts, to the end that we might know these things.
Baptism.
1.
And
now let us inquire if the Lord took care to manifest anything beforehand
concerning water and the cross.
2.
For of
the first people of Israel it is written how they did not receive that baptism
that brings forgiveness of sins, but they instituted to themselves another,
which could not.
3.
For thus
spoke the prophet; "Be astonished O heaven, and let the earth tremble at
it, for this people have done two great wicked things; they left Me - the
fountain of living water, and; they dug for themselves broken vessels that
cannot hold water."
4.
And again
the Lord said' "Is My holy mountain, My Zion a wilderness?
For you shall be as a young bird when its nest is taken away.
5.
And
again; I will go before you, and level the mountains, and break the gates of
brass, and snap asunder the bars of iron, and give to you the hidden treasures,
so they may know that I am the Lord God."
6.
And
again, "He shall dwell in the high den of the strong rock."
And the same prophet follows to say "His water is faithful, you
shall see the King glory, and your soul shall learn the fear of the Lord".
7. And by
another prophet; "He that does these things shall be like a tree planted by
the rivers of water, which shall give its fruit in due season, its leaves shall
not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper."
8.
But as
for the wicked, it shall not be so with him, but they shall be as the dust
scattered by the winds from the face of the earth.
9.
Wherefore
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the counsel of the
righteous, for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, while the way of the
ungodly shall perish.
10.
Consider
then how He has joined both the cross and the water, for so He said;
"Blessed are they who put their trust in the cross and descend into the
water, for in due time they shall have their reward which I will give
them."
11.
And as
for the present time, He says; "Their leaves shall not fall."
Meaning, that every word going forth from their mouth shall in faith and
love be to the conversion and the hope of many.
12.
And in
like manner another prophet spoke; "And the land of Jacob was the praise of
all the earth". Whereby thus
He magnified the vessel of His Spirit.
13. Then
follows; "And there was a river running on the right hand with beautiful
trees growing by it, and he that eat of them shall live forever."
14.
Which
then signifies, is that we go down into the water full of sin and pollution but
coming up again we bring forth fruit, having in our heart the fear and hope
which is in Jesus by the Spirit. For
whosoever shall eat of them, shall live forever, which means; that whosoever
shall listen to those that call them, and believe shall live forever.
Moses foreshadowed the Lord.
1.
In
like manner He determined concerning the cross, for in answer to that question
the Lord said; "When the tree that has fallen shall rise again, and when
blood shall fall from the tree".
2. Here thus
you have mention made of both the cross and of Him that was to be crucified on
it.
3. And
further He spoke by Moses; the Holy Spirit putting it in Moses to represent both
the sign of the cross and of Him that was to suffer in such way that if they did
not believe in Him they would be overcome forever.
4.
For Moses
stored up armor upon armor in the middle of a tumultuous ground, standing high
above all of them stretching forth his arms and so Israel conquered.
5.
But as
soon as he would let his arms down - they were slain again.
And why was this? This was to the end that they might know that unless they
trust in Him - they couldn't be saved.
6.
And by
another prophet He said, "I have stretched out My hands all the day long to
a disobedient people who speak against my righteous ways."
7. And again
Moses makes a type of Jesus showing that He was to die, in Him whom they thought
to be dead - to give life to others, in the similitude of those that fell in
Israel.
8.
For God
caused all sorts of serpents to bite them, and they died, for since the
transgression of Eve began in a serpent, that thus wise He might convince them
that they were to be delivered to the pains of death for their transgressions.
9.
Moses
then, who himself had commanded them saying; you shall not make any image or
molten image to be your god, yet now he himself did so in order that he might
represent to them the figure of the Lord Jesus.
10.
For he
made a brazen serpent and set it on high, and by a proclamation calling the
people together, they entreated Moses that he would make atonement for them,
praying that they might be healed.
11.
And Moses
spoke to them saying, "When anyone of you is bitten, let him come to the
serpent that is set on the pole, and let him assuredly trust that though he be
dead, yet He is able to give life, and immediately he will be healed".
And they did so.
12.
See
therefore how in this also you have the glory of Jesus, and that all things are
in Him and to Him.
13.
And again
what was it that Moses said to Jesus the son of Nun?
For
he gave that name to him as a prophet that all the people might hear him only,
for the Father manifested all things concerning His Son Jesus, to Jesus the son
of Nun.
14.
He gave
him that name when he was sent to spy out the land of Canaan, and he said,
"Take a book in your hand, and write what the Lord says".
15. And so Jesus the Son of God shall in the last day's cut-off the house of Am'alek by the roots, as was manifested in the Jesus, son of Nun.
16. And
because it might afterwards be said that Christ was the son of David, therefore
David well knowing and fearing the errors of the wicked, said; "The Lord
said to my Lord, sit yourself at My right hand till I make your enemies your
footstool
17.
And
Isaiah also spoke on thus wise; "The Lord said to Christ my Lord; I have
taken His right hand that the nations should obey Him, and I will break the
strength of kings.
18. Thus we
behold how both David and Isaiah call Him Lord, and Son of God.
The inheritors of the promise.
1.
But
let us go yet further and inquire whether this people be heir, or of the former
be, and if the covenant be with us, or with them.
2.
First,
the scripture says this for the people; "Isaac prayed for his wife Rebecca
because she was barren, and she conceived."
3.
Afterwards
Rebecca inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said to her; "There are two
nations in your womb, two people shall come forth from your body, and one shall
have power over the other, the greater shall serve the lesser.
4.
Understand
here then who Isaac was, and who Rebecca was, and of whom it was foretold that
one shall be greater than the other.
5. And in
another prophecy Jacob speaks more clearly to his son Joseph saying,
"Behold the Lord has not deprived me of seeing your face, bring me your
sons that I may bless them."
6.
And he
brought to his father Manasseh and Ephraim, expecting that he would bless Manasseh
since he was the elder.
7.
Therefore
did Joseph bring him to the right hand of his father, but Jacob by the Spirit
foresaw the figure of the people that was to come.
8.
And so
what does the scripture say? "Jacob
crossed his arms putting his right hand on Ephraim, the second and younger son,
and blessed him.
9.
And
Joseph said to Jacob, put your right hand on the head of Manasseh, for he is my
first-born son.
10.
And Jacob
said to Joseph; I know it my son, I know it, but the greater shall serve the
lesser, yet he also shall be blessed. So
you see whom he appointed that they should be the first people and heirs of the
covenant."
11.
And if we
take this yet further to Abraham we come to understand it perfectly, for did not
the scriptures say of Abraham that he believed and it was reckoned to him for
righteousness? And; Behold, I have
made you a father of the nations who without circumcision believe in the Lord.
12.
And so
let us inquire if God has fulfilled the covenant, which he swore to our fathers
to perform to this people, for yes indeed He gave it, but they were not worthy
to receive it because of their sins.
13.
For so
spoke the prophet; "And Moses continued fasting in mount Sinai to receive
the covenant of the Lord, he with the people for forty days and nights.
14.
And he
received the two tablets of the Lord written by the finger of the Lord's hand in
the Spirit, and Moses having received them brought hem down that he might
deliver them to the people.
15. And the
Lord said to Moses; Moses, Moses, get yourself down quickly, for the people
which you brought out of the land of Egypt have done wickedly."
16.
And Moses
understood that they had again set-up a molten image, and he cast the two stone
tablets out of his hands, and the tables of the covenant were broken, Moses thus
received them but they were not worthy.
17.
Now then
understand "how" we received them, for Moses being a servant, took
them, but the Lord "Himself" gave them to us so we might be the people
of His inheritance having suffered for us.
18.
He
therefore was manifested to them that they might fill up their measure of sin,
and that we, being made heirs by Him, should receive the covenant of the Lord
Jesus.
19.
And again
the prophet said; "Behold, I have set you for a light to the Gentiles to be
a lamp to the ends of the earth, says the Lord who redeemed you."
20.
To this
very end He was prepared that by His appearance He might redeem our hearts from
darkness, that is to those who were delivered and held in death, and thus
establish a new covenant with us by His word.
21.
For so it
is written, that the Father commanded Him to prepare to Himself a holy people by
delivering us from darkness.
22.
Therefore
the prophet said; "I the Lord your God has called you in righteousness, and
I will take you by the hand, and will strengthen you, and I will give you for a
covenant to the people, for a light to the Gentiles.
23. To open
the eyes of the blind, to bring forth the prisoners from prison, and those that
are in darkness from out of the dark prison."
24.
Consider
thus from whence we are redeemed, for again the prophet said.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me for He has anointed Me, He has
sent me to preach glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken in heart, to
preach remission to captives, and sight to the blind.
25.
To
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of restitution, to comfort
all that mourn."
The Sabbath and the temple.
1.
Furthermore,
in the Ten Commandments, which God gave to Moses at mount Sinai face to face, it
is written; "Sanctify the Sabbath of the Lord with pure hands and a clean
heart."
2.
And
elsewhere He says; "If your children shall keep My Sabbaths, then I will
have mercy on them."
3.
And even
in the beginning of creation He makes mention of the Sabbath, for God made the
works of His hands in six days and finished them on the seventh day, and rested
on the seventh day, and sanctified it.
4.
So
consider my children what this signified. He
finished them in six, the meaning of which is that in 6000 years
the
Lord will bring all things to an end.
5. For with
Him one day is a 1000 years, as He himself testifies saying; Behold, this day
shall be as a thousand years." Therefore
my children, six days, that is in six thousand years all things shall be
accomplished.
6.
And He
said; "that He rested on the seventh day," which means; that when His
Son shall come, and abolish the season of the wicked one, and judge the ungodly,
and changing the sun and the moon and the stars, then He shall rest gloriously
in that seventh day.
7. Lastly He
adds; "You shall sanctify it with
clean hands and a pure heart."
We
therefore are greatly deceived to imagine that we can sanctify that day which
God made holy if we do not have a pure heart in all things.
8. But then
He will truly sanctify it with blessed rest, when at that time we will be able
to sanctify it, we ourselves first being made holy.
9.
And also
He said to them; "Your new moons and sabbaths, I cannot bear them.
Thus consider what this means, namely; that the sabbath which you now
keep are not acceptable to Me, but rather those which I have made when resting
from all things, then shall begin the eight day, which is the beginning of the
other world.
10. And for this cause we observe the eight-day with gladness, in which
Jesus rose from the dead, and having shown himself to His disciples ascended into heaven.
11.
But I
have yet to speak to you of the temple, how these miserably deceived men put
their trust in a house, and not in the God who made as if it were the habitation
of God.
12.
For in
the same fashion the Gentiles consecrate themselves to a temple.
But hear how the Lord speaks rendering the temple vain, saying; "Who
has measured the span of the heavens, or the earth with his hand, is it not I?
13.
For
thus
said the Lord; Heaven is My throne, and the earth My footstool, what then will
be the house that you will build for Me, or the place of My rest?"
14.
Know
therefore that all their hope is in vain, for again He spoke in this manner,
"Behold, they that destroy the temple, even they shall build it
again". And so also it came to
pass, for in their wars their enemies destroyed it, and servants of their
enemies are building it again.
15.
Furthermore,
it has been shown how the city and the temple, as well as the people of Israel
should be given up, for the scripture says.
And it shall come to pass in the last days that the Lord will deliver the
sheep of His pasture and their tower to destruction.
And likewise it has come to pass as the Lord spoke.
16. And now
let us inquire if there be any temple of God. It then is, and it is where He himself declared He would both
make and perfect it.
17.
For it is
written; "And it shall be that as soon as the week is completed that the
temple of the Lord shall be build gloriously in the name of the Lord.
18.
Thus we
found that there is to be a temple, but "how" shall it be build in the
name of the Lord? And to show this,
the habitation of our heart, before we believed, was corrupt and feeble, as a
temple build with hands.
19.
For it
was a house full of idolatry and of evils in as much as the things done in it
were contrary to God, but now it shall be build in the name of the Lord.
20.
For just
think of how the temple of the Lord shall be gloriously build, and consider by
what means that will be, for having received remission of our sins, and trusting
in the name of the Lord, we are redeemed just as were we newly created from the
beginning. God therefore truly
dwells in our houses, that is, in us.
21. And how
shall He dwell in us? By His word
of faith, the calling of His promise, the wisdom of His righteous judgments, the
commands of His doctrine.
22.
For He
himself prophesies within us, who were in bonds of death, and opens to us the
gates of our temple, which is the mouth of wisdom.
This means did He bring us an incorruptible temple.
23.
He
therefore that desires to be saved, does not look to a man, but to Him who lives
within him, and who speaks by Him.
24. And we
are struck by wonder, since of ourselves we never heard such words spoken of
ourselves, nor did we expect to hear such come of our mouth.
25. This then is the spiritual temple build unto the Lord.
The things righteous.
1.
And thus
I trust that I nave declared to you as much as I could and in simplicity, such
things, which make for your salvation, and not to have omitted anything that may
be required thereto.
2.
For if I
could speak further of the things, which are, and are to come, you would not
comprehend them since they are in parables, this therefore must be sufficient
for these things.
3.
And now
let us go to another kind of knowledge and doctrine.
For there are two doctrines and powers, the one is light the other of
darkness.
4.
But there
is a great deal of difference between these two, for the angels of God, the
leaders of the way of light, are appointed over one, over the other are the
angels of Satan. One is the Lord
from everlasting to everlasting,
the other the prince of the period of unrighteousness
5.
The way
of light then, if anyone desires to attain to that place appointed for him, and
who hastens thereto in his works with the given him to walk therein, is this;
You shall love Him who made you. And
you shall glorify Him who redeemed you from death.
6. You shall
be simple in heart, rich in the Spirit, you shall not join those who walk in the
way of death, you shall hate to do anything not pleasing to God, you shall abhor
all divisions, nor shall you neglect any command of God.
7. You shall
not exalt yourself, but be humble; you shall not take honor to yourself, nor
enter into any wicked counsel against your neighbor, nor over-confident in your
heart.
8. You shall
not commit adultery, nor corrupt yourself with mankind; you shall not make use
of the word of God to any impurity.
9. You shall
not accept any man's person. And
when you reprove faults, you shall be gentle, you shall be quiet and tremble at
the words, which you have heard. You
shall not keep any hatred in your heart against your brother, nor
shall you entertain any doubt whether it shall be or not.
10. You shall
not take 'he name of the Lord in vain, and you shall love neighbor above your
own soul.
11. You shall
not destroy your conceptions before they are brought forth, nor kill them after
they are born.
12. You shall
not withdraw your hand from your son or your daughter, but you shall teach them
from their youth the fear of the Lord.
13. You shall
not covet your neighbor's goods, nor shall you be an extortionist nor shall your
heart be joined to proud men, but you shall be numbered among the righteous and
the lowly, and whatever thing happens to you, - you shall receive them as good.
14. You shall not be double minded nor double tongued, for this is the
snare of death,
you shall be subject to the Lord and to secular masters as representatives of
God in fear and in reverence.
15. You shall
not be bitter in your command towards any of your servants that trust in God,
lest you chance not to fear Him who is over both, for He came to call without
respect of persons' calling them which the Spirit had prepared.
16.
You shall
share with your neighbor of all that you have, and not call anything your own,
for if you share in those things that are how much the more should you do so in
that which is corruptible.
17.
You shall
not be forward to speak, for the mouth is a snare of death, strive for your soul
with all your might, do not put out your hand only to receive, nor should you
withhold your hand when you should give.
18.
You shall
love all those who speak the word of God, as were they the apple of your eye,
and call to remembrance the judgment to come both day and night.
19.
Seek out
the person of the righteous each day, and consider how to so, as well as
learning to admonish, meditating how you may save a soul.
20.
You shall
labor to give to the poor that your sins may be forgiven you, nor shall you
deliberate if you should give, nor afterwards murmur at it.
21.
Give to
everyone that asks, so that you will come to know whom the good rewarded is of
your gifts, and keep what you have received, neither take from it, nor add to
it.
22. Let the
wicked be your aversion always, and you shall judge a righteous judgment, and
never cause divisions, but make peace between those that are at difference.
23.
You shall
confess your sins, and not come to your prayer with an evil conscience; this is
the way of light.
The way of error.
1.
But
the way of darkness is crooked and full of cursing, for it is the way of eternal
death with punishment, in which they that walk therein meet the things that
destroy their souls.
2.
Such are,
idolatry, confidence, pride of power, hypocrisy, double-mindedness, adultery,
murder, rape, pride, deceit, malice, arrogance, witchcraft, covertness, and the
lack of the fear of God.
3.
In this
walk those that are persecutors of such as are good, haters of truth, lovers of
lies, who know not the reward of righteousness, nor cleave to anything that is
good.
4. Who
administer not righteous judgment to the widow and orphan, who watch for wicked
and not the fear of the Lord, patience, and gentleness are far from them, loving
vanity and strive after rewards.
5.
Who have
no compassion on the poor, nor take any pains for such as are heavy laden and
oppressed who are ready to speak evil, not knowing who made them.
6.
Murderers
of children, corrupters of the creatures of God, that turn from the needy,
oppressing the afflicted, they are the advocates of the rich, and unjust judges
of the poor, being altogether sinners.
7.
It is
therefore fitting that learning the just commands of the Lord that we walk in
them, for he who does shall be glorified in the kingdom of God.
8.
But he
that chooses the other, shall be destroyed together with his works, for this
cause there shall be both a resurrection and retribution.
9.
I entreat
those that are in high esteem among you, if you will take my counsel which I
offer with good intentions, that you do well to those that you have with you,
and not forsake them.
10.
For the
day is at hand in which all things shall be destroyed together with the wicked,
the Lord is near, and His reward is with Him.
11.
I again
entreat you, be as good lawgivers to one another, continue with faithful counsel
to each other, and remove all hypocrisy from you.
12. And may
God the Lord of all the world give you wisdom, knowledge, counsel, and
understanding of His judgments in patience.
13.
Be taught
of God, seeking what it is that the Lord requires of you, and doing it, that you
may be saved in the day of judgment.
14.
If there
be among you any remembrance of good, think of me, meditate on these things that
both my desire and my watching for you may turn to a good account.
15.
I entreat
you, asking as a favor of you, while you are in this beautiful tabernacle of the
body, be wanting in none of these things, but seek them without ceasing, and
fulfill every command, for these things are worthy to be done.
16.
Therefore
also did I take diligence to write to you according to my ability, that you
might rejoice.
17.
Farewell
my children of love and peace. The
Lord of glory and of all grace be with your spirits.
Amen.
