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The Epistle of Barnabas
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Chapter 9: The Spiritual Meaning of Circumcision.
HE ALSO SPEAKS ABOUT OUR EARS: how He has circumcised both them and our hearts. The Lord says in the prophet, "In the hearing of the ear they obeyed me." And again He says, "By hearing, those who are far away shall hear; they shall know what I have done." And, "Be circumcised in your hearts, says the Lord." And again He says, "Hear, O Israel, for these things says the Lord your God." And once more the Spirit of the Lord proclaims, "Who is the one that wishes to live forever? By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant." And again He says, "Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for God has spoken." These serve as proof.
And again He says, "Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of this people." And again He says, "Hear, you children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness." Therefore He has circumcised our ears so that we might hear His word and believe, for the circumcision in which they trusted is abolished. For He declared that circumcision was not of the flesh, but they transgressed because an evil angel deluded them. He says to them, "These things says the Lord your God"—(here I find a new commandment)—"Sow not among thorns, but circumcise yourselves to the Lord." And why does He speak thus: "Circumcise the stubbornness of your heart, and harden not your neck?" And again: "Behold, says the Lord, all the nations are uncircumcised in the flesh, but this people are uncircumcised in heart." But you will say, "Yea, truly the people are circumcised for a seal." But so also is every Syrian and Arab, and all the priests of idols: are these then also within the bond of His covenant? Yes, the Egyptians also practice circumcision.
Learn then, my children, about all things richly, that Abraham, the first who commanded circumcision, looking forward in spirit to Jesus, practiced that rite, having received the mysteries of the three letters. For [the Scripture] says, "And Abraham circumcised ten, and eight, and three hundred men of his household." What, then, was the knowledge given to him in this? Learn the eighteen first, and then the three hundred. The ten and the eight are represented—Ten by I, and Eight by H.
You have [the initials of the name of] Jesus. And because the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter T, he says also, "Three Hundred." He signifies, therefore, Jesus by two letters, and the cross by one. He knows this, who has placed within us the implanted gift of His doctrine. No one has been admitted by me to a more excellent piece of knowledge than this, but I know that you are worthy.
Hear the Scriptures cited in The Epistle of Barnabas
The Epistle of Barnabas quotes or alludes to these Bible chapters more than any others. Each link opens the free audio Bible, where the chapter is read aloud alongside the text, cross-references, and what other early Christian writers said about it.
- Hear James 1 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 22 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 118 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Isaiah 1 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Daniel 7 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear John 12 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Romans 1 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Romans 2 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Hebrews 9 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 14 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 22 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 25 (audio Bible)