Facsimile of the original Title page THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS EDITED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN MS. IN THE IMPERIAL LIBRARY AT VIENNA BY LONSDALE AND LAURA RAGG WITH A FACSIMILE OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 1907 May the light of the Gospel of Barnabas illuminate The Gospel of Barnabas Contents Pages 1, Introduction V 2. Barnabas in the New Testament vii 3. Life and Message of Barnabas x 4. The Gospel of Jesus 5. How the Gospel of Barnabas Appendix I 274 Survived 6. Unitarianism in the Bible II 275 7. Mohammad in the Bible III 278 8. Jesus in the Bible IV 283 9. Facts About Other Gospels Veracity in the Gospel V 286 10. The Holy Prophet Mohammad Foretold in Ancient Scriptures. VI 287 28728 What Christian Authorities Say 11. about The Myth of God Incarnate- Gospel masked in Greek Philosophy. t, „ VII 297 12. Testimonies from the Bibles to the Quranic Truth that Jesus is not God.' ,. VIII 299 www.islamicbulletin.com INTRODUCTION The Holy Quran asks us not only to believe in our Holy Prophet but also in the prophets who had come prior to his advent. We, Muslims, are interested not only in the Revelation that was given to humanity through our Prophet, but also, in the Revelations which were given to prophets previous to him. Among the prophet's who had appeared before our Holy Prophet, the Quran has emphasized the importance to the Muslims of Prophet Jesus. Jesus was no doubt sent with a mission to the Israelites; he had also a universal mission. In Surah Anbiya the Holy Prophet has been termed in verse 107 as a Mercy unto www.islamicbulletin.com Humanity (Rahmatun lil Alamin). In the-same Surah in verse 91 Jesus has been termed as a "Sign to Humanity" (Ayatun lil Alamin). In addition to his mission to the Israelites Jesus was commissioned with the task of heralding to the world the advent of the Last and Greatest of the prophets. www.islamicbulletin.com VI Incidentally it is only Prophet Jesus and Prophet Mohammed who have the largest following in the world today. Over half of the total human population consists of the Christians who adhere to Prophet Jesus and the Muslims who believe in Prophet Jesus and Prophet Mohammed. The Quran also under lines the closeness of relationship between the Muslims and Christians (Quran 5 : 85-81). It is only an alliance between the Christians and Muslims which can confront the rising tides of atheism and materialism. It is heartening to see that there is a reorientation in the Christian world in its attitude to Muslims. The Declaration of the Second Vatican Council on "Religious Freedom," issued in 1965, said: "Upon the Muslims the Church looks with esteem. They adore One God, Living and Enduring, Merciful and MI-powerful, Maker of heaven and earth, and Speaker to man. They strive to submit wholeheartedly even to his inscrutable decrees." We have great pleasure in presenting to our Muslim and Christi= brothers the Gospel of Barnabas. The Muslims will find it illuminating and inspiring. Our. Christian brothers may find it interesting. Who was Barnabas ? You will find in I, the references in the Holy Bible to Barnabas. May the light of the Gospel of Barnabas illuminate the hearts of all - those, who, care, to read it, Ameen. www.islamicbulletin.com vii BARN ABAS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT OF THE HOLY BIBLE The New Testament of the Bible consists of four Gospels (reports about the life and teachings of Jesus) the acts of the Apostles (being the history of the early Christians), and Epistles of Paul etc. In his Epistle to the Colossians (Chapter 4, Verse 10) Paul describes Barnabas thus : "...Barnabas, touching whom ye received commandments; if he comes unto you, receive him." Here Paul refers to commandments of Jesus. Among other references in Paul's Epistles is the following in the Epistle to the Galatians: "And when James, Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go to the heathen and they unto the circumcision." (Chapter 2. Verse 9). In the Acts of the Apostles, Barnabas is mentioned as follows: "And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is, being interpreted, (The son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus." (Acts 4 : 36). Paul was a, Jew who was persecuting the Christians. He is then said to have seen Jesus in a vision and to Lave become a convert to the creed of Jesus. Among the disciples of Jesus, Barnabas was a dynamic evangelist. Paul also became a preacher, with the difference that Paul began to over-praise and deify Jesus. "And straightaway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the son of God." (Acts 9: 20). www.islamicbulletin.com viii ACTS 9: 26 and 27 "And when Saul (Paul) was come to "Jerusalem, he assayed, to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. "But Barbanas took him and, brought him to the Apostles. ACTS 11: 22 to 30 "Then tidings, of these things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch. "Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 'Mien departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. "And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. "And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout the world which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. "Then the disciples, every Man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea. "Which also they did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." www.islamicbulletin.com ix ACTS 12 : 25 "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark." ACTS 13 : 1 and 2 "Now there was in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon, that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. ACTS 14 : 11 to 15 "And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia. The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. "And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercurius. "Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto 'the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. "Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their' clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out. "And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are thereon." www.islamicbulletin.com LIFE AND MESSAGE OF BASNABAS In spite of the efforts of the Christian churches to black out the life and message of Barnabas, the message of Barnabas has survived. How can it be blacked out when his name and activities have been enshrined, although partially, in the Holy Bible? A Jew born in Cyprus, his name was Joses, and due to his devotion to the cause of Jesus, the other apostles had given him the surname of Barnabas; this term is variously translated as "Son of Consolation" or "Son of Exhortation". He was a successful preacher with a magnetic personality. Any one tormented by the clash of creeds found solace and peace in his company. His eminence- as a man who had been close to Jesus had made him a prominent member of the small group of disciples in Jerusalem who had gathered together after the disappearance of Jesus. They observed the Law of the Prophets, which Jesus had come, not to destroy but, to fulfill (Matthew 5: 17). They continue& to live as Jews and practiced what Jesus had taught them. That Christianity could, ever be regarded as a new religion did not occur to any of them. They were devout and practicing Jews and they were distinguished from their neighbors, only by their faith in the message of Jesus. In the beginning they did not organize themselves as a separate sect and did not have a synagogue of their own. There was nothing in the message of Jesus, as understood by them, to necessitate a break with Judaism. However, they incurred the enmity of the vested interests among the Jewish higher echelon. The conflict between the Jews, and the, followers of Jesus was started' by the Jews because they felt that the Christians would undermine their authority.