Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament (61 page)

where is the place I can rest?”88 You knew

in us and dwelling in us who had served

that their hope was in vain!

death, opening up to us the door of the

3
Moreover he says again, “See, those

temple, which is the mouth, and giving

who have destroyed this temple will

repentance to us—thus he brings us into

themselves build it.”89

his imperishable temple.

4
This is happening. For because of

10
For the one who longs to be saved

their war, it was destroyed by their enelooks not merely to a person but to the mies. And now the servants of the eneone who dwells and speaks in him. For mies will themselves rebuild it.

he is amazed at him since he has never

5
Again it was revealed how the city,

heard him speak these words from his

the temple, and the people of Israel were

mouth nor even ever desired to hear them.

about to be handed over. For the Scrip

This is a spiritual temple built for the

ture says, “It will be in the last days that

Lord.

the Lord will hand over to destruction the

sheep of the pasture along with their en

Insofar as I have been able to

closure and tower.”90 And it has happened

17 set forth these matters to you

just as the Lord said.

simply, I hope to have fulfilled my desire

6
But let us inquire if a temple of God

not to have omitted anything that pertains

still exists. It does exist, where he says

to salvation.

that he is making and completing it. For

2
For if I should write to you about

it is written, “It will come about that

things present or things to come, you

when the seventh day is finished, a temwould not understand, because they are ple of God will be gloriously built in the

set forth in parables. And so these things

name of the Lord.”91

will suffice.

7
And so I conclude that a temple exists. But learn how it will be built in the name of the Lord. Before we believed in

God, the dwelling place of our heart was

88Cf. Isa 40:12; 66:1. 89Cf. Isa 49:17. 90Cf. 1 Encorrupt and feeble, since it really was a och 89:56. 91Cf. Dan 9:24; 1 Enoch 91:13.

234

NON-CANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS

18 But let us turn to another area born. Do not not remove your hand from of knowledge and teaching.

your son or daughter, but from their

There are two paths of teaching and auyouth teach them the reverential fear of thority, the path of light and the path of

God.

darkness. And the difference between the

6
Do not desire your neighbor’s betwo paths is great. For over the one are longings; do not be greedy. Do not join

appointed light-bearing angels of God,

forces with the high and mighty but asbut over the other angels of Satan.

sociate with the humble and upright.

2
And the one is Lord from eternity

Welcome whatever happens to you as

past to eternity to come; but the other is

good, knowing that nothing occurs apart

the ruler over the present age of lawlessfrom God.

ness.

7
Do not be of two minds or speak

from both sides of your mouth, for speak

This then is the path of light.

19

ing from both sides of your mouth is a

Anyone who wants to travel to

deadly trap. Be subject to your masters

the place that has been appointed should

as to a replicao of God, with respect and

be diligent in his works. Such is the

reverential fear. Do not give orders to

knowledge given to us, that we may walk

your male slave or female servant out of

in it.

bitterness—since they hope in the same

2
Love the one who made you; stand

God—lest they stop fearing the God who

in reverential awe of the one who formed

is over you both. For he did not come to

you; glorify the one who ransomed you

call those of high status but those whom

from death. Be simple in heart and rich

the Spirit had prepared.

in spirit. Do not mingle with those who

8
Share all things with your neighbor

walk along the path of death; hate everyand do not say that anything is your own.

thing that is not pleasing to God; hate all

For if you are partners in what is imperhypocrisy; do not abandon the commandishable, how much more in what is perments of the Lord.

ishable? Do not be garrulous, for the

3
Do not exalt yourself but be humble

mouth is a deadly trap. In so far as you

in every way. Do not heap glory on yourare able, be pure within.

self. Do not entertain a wicked plot

9
Do not be one who reaches out your

against your neighbor; do not make your

hands to receive but draws them back

soul impertinent.

from giving. Love like the apple of your

4
Do not engage in sexual immorality,

eye everyone who speaks the word of the

do not commit adultery, do not engage in

Lord to you.

pederasty. The word of God must not go

10
Think about the day of judgment

out from you to any who are impure.n Do

night and day, and seek out the company

not show favoritism when you reproach

of the saints every day, either laboring

someone for an unlawful act. Be meek

through the word and going out to comand gentle; tremble at the words you have fort another, being concerned to save a

heard. Do not hold a grudge against your

life through the word, or working with

brother.

your hands as a ransom for your sins.

5
Do not be of two minds whether this

11
Do not doubt whether to give, nor

should happen or not. Do not take the

grumble while giving. But recognize who

Lord’s name for a futile purpose. Love

your neighbor more than yourself. Do not

abort a fetus or kill a child that is already

n
Meaning
obscure
oOr:
type

THE LETTER OF BARNABAS

235

is the good paymaster of the reward.

to walk in them. For the one who does

Guard the injunctions you have received,

these things will be glorified in the kingneither adding to them nor taking away.

dom of God. The one who chooses those

Completely hate what is evil. Give a fair

other things will be destroyed, along with

judgment.

his works. This is why there is a resur

12
Do not create a schism, but make

rection; this is why a recompense.

peace by bringing together those who are

2
I ask those of you who are in high

at odds. Confess your sins. Do not come

positions, if you are willing to receive

to prayer with an evil conscience. This is

advice from my good counsel: keep some

the path of light.

people among yourselves for whom you

can do good, and do not fail.

20 But the path of the Black One

3
The day is near when all things will

is crooked and filled with a

perish, along with the wicked one. The

curse. For it is the path of eternal death

Lord is near, as is his reward.92

which comes with punishment; on it are

4
Again and again I ask you, be your

those things that destroy people’s souls:

own good lawgivers, remain faithful adidolatry, impertinence, glorification of visors to yourselves, remove all hypocpower, hypocrisy, duplicity, adultery, risy from yourselves.

murder, robbery, arrogance, transgres

5
And may God, the one who rules the

sion, deceit, malice, insolence, sorcery,

entire world, give you wisdom, undermagic, greed, irreverence towards God.

standing, perception, knowledge of his

2
It is filled with persecutors of the

righteous demands, and patience.

good, haters of the truth, lovers of the lie;

6
Become those who are taught by

those who do not know the reward of

God, enquiring into what the Lord seeks

righteousness, nor cling to the good nor

from you. And do it, that you may be

to a fair judgment, who do not look out

found in the day of judgment.

for the widow and the orphan, who are

7
And if there is any recollection of

alert not to the reverential fear of God

what is good, remember me by practicing

but to evil, from whom meekness and

these things, that my desire and vigilance

patience are far removed and remote. For

may lead to a good result. I ask this of

they love what is vain and pursue a reyou, begging for a favor.

ward, showing no mercy to the poor nor

8
While the good vessel is still with

toiling for the oppressed, who are prone

you, do not fail in any of these things,

to slander, not knowing the one who

but enquire fervently after them and fulmade them; murderers of children and fill every commandment. For they are

corruptors of what God has fashioned,

worth doing.

who turn their backs on the needy, op

9
Therefore I have been all the more

press the afflicted, and support the

eager to write what I could, to make you

wealthy. They are lawless judges of the

glad. Be well, children of love and peace.

impoverished, altogether sinful.

May the Lord of glory and of every gracious gift be with your spirit.

And so it is good for one who

21 has learned all the upright demands of the Lord that have been written, 92Cf. Isa 40:10; Rev 22:12.

The Preaching of Peter

A popular document in early Christianity, the Preaching of Peter was widely assumed by early church fathers to have been composed by the apostle Peter himself. Most scholars today, however, think that it was written years after his death, sometime during the first part of the second century.

The book no longer survives intact but is known only through the quotations of later authors, especially Clement of Alexandria, who lived at the end of the second century and the beginning of the third. On the basis of these fragmentary remains it is impossible to judge the original length or contents of the document. Some of its major emphases, however, are reasonably clear: according to its author, Christianity is superior to both to the cults of pagans, who naively worship idols and living creatures, and to the religion of the Jews, who in their ignorance worship angels and celestial bodies rather than the true God. In particular, the book emphasizes that Christ fulfilled the predictions of the Jewish Scriptures and brought salvation to all people. Everyone who learns the truth of Christ is to repent for the forgiveness of their sins.

It is possible, given its themes, that the book was one of the first

“apologies” for early Christianity, that is, a reasoned defense of the views of Christian over against the attacks of its cultured despisers among both pagans and Jews.

Clement
of
Alexandria

Clement
of
Alexandria,

Strom.
1.29.182

Strom.
6.5.39–41

And in the Preaching of Peter you

1

2

may find the Lord called “Law and

But that the most notable of the

Greeks do not know God by di-

Word.”

rect knowledge but indirectly, Peter says

in his Preaching, “Know then that there

Translation by J. K. Elliott,
Apocryphal
New
Testament
(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993) 21–24; used with permission.

236

THE PREACHING OF PETER

237

is one God who made the beginning of

serving angels and archangels, the

all things and has power over their end,”

month and the moon: and if no moon

and “The invisible who sees all things,

be seen, they do not celebrate what is

uncontainable, who contains all, who

called the first sabbath, nor keep the

needs nothing, of whom all things stand

new moon, nor the days of unleavened

in need and for whose sake they exist,

bread, nor the feast of tabernacles, nor

incomprehensible, perpetual, incorruptithe great day (of atonement).”

ble, increated, who made all things by

Then he adds the finale of what is

the word of his power . . . that is, the

required: “So then learn in a holy and

Son.” Then he goes on, “This God you

righteous manner that which we deliver

must worship, not after the manner of