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Barnabas (attributed)

The Epistle of Barnabas

Chapter 17

Conclusion of the first part of the epistle.

As far as was possible, and could be done with perspicuity, I cherish the hope that, according to my desire, I have omitted none1 of those things at present [demanding consideration], which bear upon your salvation. For if I should write to you about things future,2 ye would not understand, because such knowledge is hid in parables. These things then are so.

Notes

  1. Cod. Sin. reads, “my soul hopes that it has not omitted anything.”↩
  2. Cod. Sin., “about things present or future.” Hilgenfeld’s text of this passage is as follows: “My mind and soul hopes that, according to my desire, I have omitted none of the things that pertain to salvation. For if I should write to you about things present or future,” etc. Hefele gives the text as above, and understands the meaning to be, “points bearing on the present argument.”↩

Translation by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and Frederick Crombie: The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1870).
Text from Project Gutenberg eBook #77576, proofread by Distributed Proofreaders from Internet Archive scans. Public domain.