Acts of Barnabas

Acts of Barnabas

The text of the pseudepigraphical Acts of Barnabas claims to identify its author as "John Mark," the companion of Paul, as if writing an account of Barnabas, the Cypriot Jew who was a member of the earliest church at Jerusalem; through the services of Barnabas the convert Saul was welcomed into the apostolic community. Three pseudepigraphical works are linked with the name of Barnabas: the "Epistle of Barnabas", written between AD 70 and 135, this "Acts" and the medieval forgery "Gospel of Barnabas". None of them were accepted into the Biblical canon.

The language and the ecclesiastical politics of "Acts of Barnabas" reveal it to be a work of the 5th century, designed to strengthen the claims of the church of Cyprus to apostolic foundation as the site of Barnabas' grave, and therefore of its bishops' independence from the patriarch of Antioch. These are 5th century concerns, the independence of the Church of Cyprus having been declared by the Council of Ephesus in 431 and confirmed by Emperor Zeno of the Byzantine Empire in 474-75 (see link).

It was translated and edited by M. R. James [In "The Apocryphal New Testament," Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.] ; his version has remained a standard in English (see link).

Some have mistakenly assumed that the reference to a gospel used by Barnabas referred to in the "Acts of Barnabas" was the medieval Islamist forgery, the "Gospel of Barnabas". However, this is clearly false, as the quotation reveals: :"Barnabas, having unrolled the Gospel, which we have received from Matthew his fellow-labourer, began to teach the Jews."

By omitting this emphasized phrase in quoting this passage, the impression may be given that there is a "Gospel of Barnabas" earlier than the so-called "Decretum Gelasianum", an agenda for those who would maintain the late "Gospel"'s authenticity.

External links

* [http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-08/anf08-90.htm Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. VIII: "Acts of Barnabas: The Journeyings and Martyrdom of St. Barnabas the Apostle"] (e-text; in English)
* [http://www.ub.rug.nl/eldoc/dis/theology/i.czachesz/c8.pdf The Commission of John Mark in the "Acts of Barnabas"]

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Acts of the Apostles — The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. It is commonly referred to as simply Acts. The title Acts of the Apostles (Greek, Praxeis Apostolon ) was first used by Irenaeus in the late second… …   Wikipedia

  • Acts of the Apostles (genre) — The Acts of the Apostles is a genre of Early Christian literature, claiming to recount the lives and works of the apostles of Jesus. This is considered important mainly because of the concept of apostolic succession.List of acts* Acts of Andrew * …   Wikipedia

  • Acts of the Apostles — • The fifth book of the New Testament Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Acts of the Apostles     Acts of the Apostles     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Barnabas — [bär′nə bəs] n. [ME < LL (Vulg.: Acts 4:36) < Gr < Aram barnebhū āh, son of exhortation] 1. a masculine name: dim. Barney; var. Barnaby 2. Bible (original name Joses or Joseph) a Levite of Cyprus, a Christian apostle & missionary… …   English World dictionary

  • Barnabas — surname of Joseph the Levite of Cyprus (Acts iv:36), lit. son of exhortation, from Aramaic bar son + nabha prophecy, exhortation. St. Barnabas Day (colloquially St. Barnaby), June 11, in the Old Style calendar was reckoned the longest day of the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Barnabas, Saint — orig. Joseph the Levite flourished 1st century; feast day June 11 Apostolic Father and early Christian missionary. Born in Cyprus, he was a Hellenized Jew who joined the church in Jerusalem shortly after its founding. According to the Acts of the …   Universalium

  • Barnabas —    Son of consolation, the surname of Joses, a Levite (Acts 4:36). His name stands first on the list of prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch (13:1). Luke speaks of him as a good man (11:24). He was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • Barnabas — A Cypriot and a Levite who, on becoming a Christian, generously disposed of his real estate (Acts 4:36–7) and was instrumental in persuading Paul to come to Antioch (Acts 11:25–6). Subsequently, Paul and Barnabas travelled together, accompanied… …   Dictionary of the Bible

  • Barnabas — (first century)    Saint and Apostle.    Barnabas was not one of the original twelve. According to Acts, ‘Joseph, who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which… …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • Acts 15 — 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they… …   The King James version of the Bible

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”