Gospel of Barnabas
Barnabas was born in a Jewish family of Cyprus. His original name
was Joses or or Joseph. Because of his devotion and loyalty to Prophet
Jesus and his sacrifice, other apostles surnamed him Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37).
Among the disciples of Prophet Jesus, Barnabas was a dynamic
evangelist and commanded great respect. he was a close companion of
Prophet Jesus. The Bible refers to him as an "apostle" (Acts 14:14), and
"a good man, full of Holy Spirit and of faith" (Acts 11:24). There are
many more verses in the Bible (Acts, Galatians, and Colossians) which
refers to the name of Barnabas and his activities. It says in Colossians
4:10, "if he comes to you, receive him."
Prophet Jesus was literate but did not write or dictate the
messages he received from God. After he had left t his world many people
wrote about his life and teachings, which are known as Gospels. Over one
hundred gospels were written. The author of one of the Gospels was the
Apostle Barnabas.
After Prophet Jesus had departed, rivalry appeared among his
followers. Some wanted to follow his teachings, practices and principles
without any deviation, while others wanted to sacrifice them for the sake
of spreading Christianity, specially among Greeks and Romans. Barnabas
belonged to the first group while Paul belonged to the second.
Prophet Jesus categorically said regarding the laws and prophets
of the Old Testament, "I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill
them" (Matthew 5:17). Further, when a man asked Prophet Jesus how to get
eternal life, he advised him to follow the commandments o the Old Testament
(Mark 10:17-19). Once Apostle Paul established his foothold among the
disciples, he declared abolition of those laws: "For all who rely o the
works of the law are under a curse" (Galatians 3:10); and "you who would
be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4).
But when he wanted to silence the women he took the shelter of 'Law':
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto
them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith
the law" (I Corinthians 14:34-35). The doctrine of redemption is also the
brainchild of apostle Paul (Romans 3:23-25).
Rivalry between the various factions continued for centuries and
resulted in great loss of lives. In 325 A.D. the followers of Paul gained
control at the council of Nicea and immediately ordered great changes.
They canonized the four Greek Gospels to be destroyed. Included in those
were 'The Gospel of Nazarenes', the Gospel of Egyptions, and 'The Gospel
of the Hebrews'. The only Gospel written in Aramaic, the language that
Prophet Jesus spoke, was destroyed.
The council of Nicea established the cardinal doctrine of
Christianity, Trinity (by Athanesius of Alexandria)
The council also changed the birthday of Prophet Jesus to 25
December to match the birthday of Sun-God Mithras, and shifted the Sabbath
from Saturday to Sunday.
The Gospel of Barnabas is the most authentic Gospel available
today. Barnabas was a companion of Prophet Jesus and was filled with Holy
Spirit.
Most of the Bible experts of today agree that the true identities
of the authors of the four canonized Gospels are not known. These Gospels
were written by followers of apostle Paul and names of famous people were
put as authors to give credit and authenticity to these Gospels.
The following are some quotations from the Gospel of Barnabas:
In reply to a question by Philip, Prophet Jesus said: "God alone
hath no equal. He hath had no beginning, nor will he ever have a end, ...
He hath no sons, nor brethern, nor companions." (Gospel of Barnabas,
Chapter 17 - p17 - p18).
"... Verily ye have erred greatly, O Israelites, in calling me, a
man, your God. ... I confess before heaven, ... that I am a stranger to
all that ye have said; seeing that I am man, born of a mortal woman,
subject to the judgement of God, suffering the miseries of eating and
sleeping, of cold and heat, like other men,. Whereupon when God shall
come to judge, my words like a sword shall pierce each one (of them) that
believe me to be more than man," (Gospel of Barnabas, Chapter 93-p117).
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