The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 144
The True Meaning of the Name Pharisee
'As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, God sendeth his prophets and servants into the world in order that sinners may repent; and he sendeth not for the sake of the righteous, because they have no need of repentance, even as he that is clean hath no need of the bath. But verily I say unto you, if ye were true Pharisees ye would be glad that I should have gone in to sinners for their salvation.'
'Tell me, know ye your origin, and wherefore the world began to receive Pharisees? Surely I will tell you, seeing that ye know it not. Wherefore hearken to my words.'
'Enoch, a friend of God, who walked with God in truth, making no account of the world, was translated into paradise; and there he abideth until the judgment (for when the end of the world draweth nigh he shall return to the world with Elijah and one other). And so men, having knowledge of this, through desire of paradise, began to seek God their creator. For "Pharisee" strictly meaneth "seeketh God" in the language of Canaan, for there did this name begin by way of deriding good men, seeing that the Canaanites were given up to idolatry, which is the worship of human hands.'
'Whereupon the Canaanites beholding those of our people that were separated from the world to serve God, in derision when they saw such an one, said "Pharisee!" that is, "He seeketh God"; as much as to say: "O mad fellow, thou hast no statues of idols and adorest the wind; wherefore look to thy fate and come and serve our gods."'
'Verily I say unto you,' said Jesus, 'all the saints and prophets of God have been Pharisees not in name, as you are, but in very deed. For in all their acts they sought God their creator, and for love of God they forsook cities and their own goods, selling these and giving to the poor for love of God.'
'As God lives, in whose presence my soul stands, God sends his prophets and servants into the world so that sinners may repent. He does not send them for the sake of the righteous, who have no need of repentance, just as a clean person has no need of a bath. Truly I tell you, if you were true Pharisees, you would rejoice that I entered the house of sinners for their salvation.'
'Tell me, do you know your origin and why the world began to accept Pharisees? Since you do not know, I will tell you. Listen, therefore, to my words.'
'Enoch, a friend of God who walked with God in truth and cared nothing for the world, was taken into paradise. He remains there until the judgment, for when the end of the world draws near he will return to the world with Elijah and one other. When people learned this, their desire for paradise led them to seek God their Creator. In the language of Canaan, "Pharisee" strictly means "one who seeks God." This name began as a term of mockery for good people, because the Canaanites were devoted to idolatry, the worship of things made by human hands.'
'When the Canaanites saw members of our people separating themselves from the world to serve God, they mocked such a person by calling him "Pharisee," meaning "He seeks God." It was as though they said, "O madman, you have no statues of idols and worship the wind. Consider your fate, therefore, and come serve our gods."'
'Truly I tell you,' said Jesus, 'all God's holy ones and prophets were Pharisees—not merely in name, as you are, but in deed. In everything they did, they sought God their Creator; and for love of God they forsook cities and their own possessions, selling them and giving the proceeds to the poor.'
'As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, God sendeth his prophets and servants into the world in order that sinners may repent; and he sendeth not for the sake of the righteous, because they have no need of repentance, even as he that is clean hath no need of the bath. But verily I say unto you, if ye were true Pharisees ye would be glad that I should have gone in to sinners for their salvation.'
'Tell me, know ye your origin, and wherefore the world began to receive Pharisees? Surely I will tell you, seeing that ye know it not. Wherefore hearken to my words.'
'Enoch, a friend of God, who walked with God in truth, making no account of the world, was translated into paradise; and there he abideth until the judgment (for when the end of the world draweth nigh he shall return to the world with Elijah and one other). And so men, having knowledge of this, through desire of paradise, began to seek God their creator. For "Pharisee" strictly meaneth "seeketh God" in the language of Canaan, for there did this name begin by way of deriding good men, seeing that the Canaanites were given up to idolatry, which is the worship of human hands.'
'Whereupon the Canaanites beholding those of our people that were separated from the world to serve God, in derision when they saw such an one, said "Pharisee!" that is, "He seeketh God"; as much as to say: "O mad fellow, thou hast no statues of idols and adorest the wind; wherefore look to thy fate and come and serve our gods."'
'Verily I say unto you,' said Jesus, 'all the saints and prophets of God have been Pharisees not in name, as you are, but in very deed. For in all their acts they sought God their creator, and for love of God they forsook cities and their own goods, selling these and giving to the poor for love of God.'