Often Relegated to a Minor Role, Barnabas Is Arguably One of The

WITNESSES OF THE Word Tenth in a series Encouraging PRESENCEow many people could be (Acts 4:36), so Barnabas was a nick- Often relegated to a effective, influential, and name, a name of endearment. Bar is the minor role, Barnabas successful if only someone Aramaic word for son, and “son of” for is arguably one of the would give them encourage- Jews meant “one characterized by,” so Hment, make space for them, and enlist Barnabas was understood to mean “one most important figures them in good work? Hardly anyone characterized by encouragement.” That makes it without encouragement and would be a good reputation to have! in the early church. help along the way. Surely the work of (Interestingly, the basis for understand- the church—the work of Christians— ing “nabas,” the second part of the should be to encourage people. I teach name, as relating to encouragement is KLYNE SNODGRASS New Testament at North Park Theo- not clear, but this is the interpretation logical Seminary, but I know I would the apostles attached not have that privilege were it not for to Barnabas.) For an dozens of people throughout my life Quite possibly expanded who encouraged me, made space for Barnabas is the most discussion on me, and gave me good work to do. important, but under- Barnabas, check Most people might think Barnabas, appreciated, person out a video interview who is mentioned mostly in the first in the history of the with the author half of the book of Acts, was a minor church, at least for the at CovChurch.tv New Testament character, but that last fifteen hundred /companion-may- would be a mistake. In fact, I think he years. Were it not for 2012-feature. is one of the most important people in Barnabas, there is the church’s early history. a good chance we would never have If Barnabas was anything, he was an heard of the Apostle Paul. If that seems encourager, so much an encourager that like an unbelievable statement, pay the apostles of the early church gave close attention to what the book of him the name Barnabas and interpreted Acts relates about Paul’s life. the name as “son of encouragement.” The word translated “encouragement” aul may well have been mar- is a broad word and can have the ginalized all his life, were it not nuance of exhorting or comforting, for Barnabas. Barnabas was the but the idea is strengthening people in Pperson who encouraged Paul, made belief or action. Barnabas strengthened space for him, and enlisted him in good people to do what they should. Bar- work. After Paul’s conversion and early nabas was not his given name; he was work in Syria, Paul—still known as Joseph, a Jew, a Levite from Cyprus Saul at that time—went to Jerusalem 16 | The Covenant Companion Most Christians know that the early church shared their possessions to alleviate poverty, but we only know the name of one person who actually did this—Barnabas. important cities in the ancient world, Barnabas went to Tarsus, found Saul, and brought him to Antioch where the two of them taught for the next year. The church in Antioch was the church that sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey. Barnabas was also a man of com- passion, one who cared for the poor. Most Christians know that the early church shared their possessions to alleviate poverty, but we only know the name of one person who actually did this—Barnabas. In Acts 4:37 we are told that Barnabas sold a field and gave the proceeds to the apostles for the poor. Further, when one of the many famines occurred, Christians in Antioch followed the example of Barnabas and sent money to Chris- tians in Jerusalem. They chose Barn- and attempted to join the Christians have slipped into oblivion had it not abas and Saul to take the money. there, but they all were afraid of the been for Barnabas. Some unnamed Clearly Barnabas was a person former persecutor and would not Christians preached the gospel to who could be trusted, one of the most accept him. Barnabas is the one who non-Jews in Antioch, and the Jerusa- trusted people in the early church. intervened on Saul’s behalf. In Acts lem church—unsure whether this was There is more evidence of this fact. 9:26-27 we are told that Barnabas legitimate—sent Barnabas to check When the church in Antioch decided found Saul, led him to the apostles, things out. (See Acts 11:20-26.) to send missionaries, they chose Barn- and told them about Saul’s conversion Barnabas was sent because he was abas and Saul. When there was debate and his preaching boldly in Damas- trusted. Acts 11:24 describes him as after the first missionary journey, the cus. As a consequence Saul was able a good man filled with the Spirit and church in Antioch sent Paul—whose to move freely and preach boldly in with faith. Barnabas demonstrated name had since been changed—and Jerusalem. This is what grace does; it this because he was able to look at Barnabas to Jerusalem to discuss the creates room for people, just as God others—outsiders—and see the grace issue with the church there. When a has created room for us in his own of God at work, rejoice with people, decision was reached, the Jerusalem presence. and encourage them. Also he was able leaders chose two other men to return After this time in Jerusalem Saul to see a need and find a solution for with “our beloved Barnabas and Paul, went to Tarsus, the city where he it. Knowing that there was work to do Klyne Snodgrass is the Paul W. Brandel Profes- was born and far from the centers of in Antioch, one of the most important sor of New Testament Studies at North Park Christianity activity. There he may early churches in one of the most Theological Seminary in Chicago. May 2012 | 17 men who have risked their lives for Barnabas, true to his character, had came to Antioch, Peter and the other the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ” to wanted to reinstate John Mark, just Jews separated themselves from eating convey the decision. as he had earlier reinstated Paul, but with Gentiles so that even Barnabas Barnabas was not a tagalong with Paul would have nothing of it. They was led into hypocrisy (Galatians Saul/Paul. In the narrative of Acts, went their separate ways with John 2:11-14). No one is immune from up through 13:7, Barnabas is always Mark and Barnabas going to Cyprus inappropriate influences. listed first, not Saul. Barnabas is listed and Paul choosing Silas to accompany first among the named prophets and him on his missionary travels. After mentioned earlier that Barnabas teachers in Antioch (13:1-2), and he this Barnabas drops from the story in has been underappreciated at is listed before Saul in the early part Acts, and all the attention is on what least for the past fifteen hundred of the first missionary journey. In happens with Paul. Iyears, but in the early centuries of the those early days it seems that Bar- What if we knew the rest of the church’s history people knew Bar- nabas was the more important person. story? We do know that later Mark, nabas was a major Christian figure Saul’s name is changed to Paul after Barnabas’s cousin, is with Paul and and appreciated him highly. Some the preaching to Sergius Paulus, the sends greetings via Paul’s letters individual or group thought enough Roman proconsul on Cyprus, and (Colossians 4:10 Philemon 24), that of Barnabas to name an important after this Paul is listed before Bar- Paul urges Mark to be welcomed summary of Christian teaching “the nabas (see Acts 13:9 and 43), except (Colossians 4:10), and that Paul asks Epistle of Barnabas.” This work, for Acts 14:14; 15:12, 25. Barnabas for Mark to be summoned to him which dates from the late first or early may well have been the more impres- as someone helpful to him and his second century, is one of the writings sive of the two, for in Lystra, after the ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Is this known as The Apostolic Fathers. It healing of a lame man, the citizens an acknowledgment in the end that was quite influential in the life of the think Barnabas is Zeus and Paul Paul was wrong and should have early church and was even included in is Hermes, Zeus’s messenger (Acts listened to Barnabas? If that is too some manuscripts of the New Testa- 14:12). strong a conclusion, at least we know ment. Rarely does anyone suggest that Barnabas had good reason not it was actually written by Barnabas he change of the name “Saul” to abandon someone others felt had or was viewed as canonical, but to “Paul” is more important made a big mistake. this naming is an indication of how than people usually realize. There are a few places outside Acts respected Barnabas was. Later around T“Saul” is a Jewish name, but “Paul” is where Barnabas appears. In 1 Corin- the fifth century a document called a Roman name. It is no accident that thians 9:6 Paul asks if he and Bar- Acts of Barnabas appeared as well. the change of the name in Acts comes nabas are the only Christian workers Some even suggested that Barnabas just after the preaching to Sergius not freed up so that they do not have was the author of Hebrews, but this Paulus, a Gentile.

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