The Epistle of Barnabas

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The Epistle of Barnabas

Codex Sinaiticus Bible New Testament

August 19, 2023

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***This is NOT the Gospel of Barnabas!

[Barnabas was a companion and fellow-preacher with Paul. This Epistle lays a greater claim to canonical authority than most others. It has been cited by Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome, and many ancient Fathers. Cotelerius affirms that Origen and Jerome esteemed it genuine and canonical; but Cotelerius himself did not believe it to be either one or the other; on the contrary, he supposes it was written for the benefit of the Ebionites (the christianized Jews,) who were tenacious of rites and ceremonies. Bishop Fell feared to own expressly what he seemed to be persuaded of, that it ought to be treated with the same respect as several of the books of the present canon. Dr. Bernard, Savilian professor at Oxford, not only believed it to be genuine, but that it was read throughout, in the churches at Alexandria, as the canonical scriptures were. Dodwell supposed it to have been published before the Epistle of Jude, and the writings of both the Johns. Vossius, Dupuis, Dr. Cane, Dr. Mill, Dr. S. Clark, Whiston, and Archbishop Wake also esteemed it genuine: Menardus, Archbishop Laud, Spanheim, and others, deemed it apocryphal.]

The Commandments Of Jesus

Michael Ray Garvin

How do we know if we are truly following Jesus? 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:3-5 KJV. How do we abide in His love and have joy? 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:9-11 KJV. This handbook lists the commands of our Lord Jesus. We should obey the commands of Jesus because we want to, not just because we have to. If we love the Lord God with ALL of our heart, soul, and mind, we will have a desire to want to obey everything He commands (Matthew 28:20). It is about our heart motive towards the Lord. #CommandsofJesus

Shepherd of Hermas

April 17, 2023

The Shepherd of Hermas is a document attributed to Hermas, a Roman freedperson, who flourished during the first half of the 2nd century CE. Hermas as author as well as authorship by one or more writers have been topics of debate. The Muratorian Canon (44) states the Shepherd was written when Hermas’s brother, Pius (traditionally dated c. 140—c. 154 CE), was the bishop of Rome. The writing identifies a Clement who has the responsibility of sending writings on behalf of a Roman church to believers in other cities (Vis. 2.4.3), a reference many regard as a direct allusion to the author of the 1st-century letter, 1 Clement. From the writing we learn that Hermas is the former slave of his master, Rhoda (Vis. 1.1.1), and that he has suffered some setbacks in his business ventures due in part to the sins of his family (Vis. 1.3.1–2; 2.3.1–2). The shepherd of the title refers to an angelic figure, “the angel of repentance,” who appears part way through the work to reveal divine teachings. The 15th-century Codex Athous presents it in three parts: five “visions,” twelve “commandments,” and ten “parables.” These are not strict demarcations, however: the fifth vision is an introduction to the commandments that follow and several of the parables are expansions of the content of the visions. The writing centers largely on ethical teachings and instruction concerning communal values. These focus on the need of Roman Christ followers to renew and increase their commitment to religious ideals, especially to an ecclesial identity that will distinguish it from the society around it. Hermas learns from his heavenly messengers that because believers have sinned following their baptism God is offering them an opportunity before a coming judgment for a “second repentance.” In some parts of the early church the Shepherd was treated as canonical: the Greek Codex Sinaiticus (4th century) and the Greek-Latin Codex Claromantanus (6th century) include it as part of the New Testament; Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria quote it as Scripture. The Shepherdwas one of the most widely read writings in the early church; numerous authors (for example, Tertullian, Origen, Augustine, Jerome, Athanasius, to name only a few) cited it even if they did not regard it as canonical. Its popularity is also attested by numerous depictions of scenes in Christian iconography.

Second Book of Hermas

March 21, 2023

*The audio book start at 53:03 minutes, seconds. The Shepherd of Hermas is a document attributed to Hermas, a Roman freedperson, who flourished during the first half of the 2nd century CE. Hermas as author as well as authorship by one or more writers have been topics of debate. The Muratorian Canon (44) states the Shepherd was written when Hermas’s brother, Pius (traditionally dated c. 140—c. 154 CE), was the bishop of Rome. The writing identifies a Clement who has the responsibility of sending writings on behalf of a Roman church to believers in other cities (Vis. 2.4.3), a reference many regard as a direct allusion to the author of the 1st-century letter, 1 Clement. From the writing we learn that Hermas is the former slave of his master, Rhoda (Vis. 1.1.1), and that he has suffered some setbacks in his business ventures due in part to the sins of his family (Vis. 1.3.1–2; 2.3.1–2). The shepherd of the title refers to an angelic figure, “the angel of repentance,” who appears part way through the work to reveal divine teachings. The 15th-century Codex Athous presents it in three parts: five “visions,” twelve “commandments,” and ten “parables.” These are not strict demarcations, however: the fifth vision is an introduction to the commandments that follow and several of the parables are expansions of the content of the visions. The writing centers largely on ethical teachings and instruction concerning communal values. These focus on the need of Roman Christ followers to renew and increase their commitment to religious ideals, especially to an ecclesial identity that will distinguish it from the society around it. Hermas learns from his heavenly messengers that because believers have sinned following their baptism God is offering them an opportunity before a coming judgment for a “second repentance.” In some parts of the early church the Shepherd was treated as canonical: the Greek Codex Sinaiticus (4th century) and the Greek-Latin Codex Claromantanus (6th century) include it as part of the New Testament; Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria quote it as Scripture. The Shepherdwas one of the most widely read writings in the early church; numerous authors (for example, Tertullian, Origen, Augustine, Jerome, Athanasius, to name only a few) cited it even if they did not regard it as canonical. Its popularity is also attested by numerous depictions of scenes in Christian iconography.