The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 178 “The heavens are nine.” The nine heavens beside the Qur'an's seven, and the supposed Dante link, tested:
The Greatness of Paradise and the Nine Heavens
'And let this suffice you,' said Jesus, 'for the knowledge of paradise.'
Whereupon Bartholomew said again: 'O master, have patience with me if I ask thee one word.'
Jesus answered: 'Say that which thou desirest.'
Said Bartholomew: 'Paradise is surely great: for, seeing there be in it such great goods, it needs must be great.'
Jesus answered: 'Paradise is so great that no man can measure it. Verily I say unto thee that the heavens are nine, among which are set the planets, that are distant one from another five hundred years' journey for a man: and the earth in like manner is distant from the first heaven five hundred years' journey.
'But stop thou at the measuring of the first heaven, which is by so much greater than the whole earth as the whole earth is greater than a grain of sand. So also the second heaven is greater than the first, and the third than the second, and so on up to the last heaven, each one is likewise greater than the next. And verily I say to thee that paradise is greater than all the earth and all the heavens together, even as all the earth is greater than a grain of sand.'
Then said Peter: 'O master, paradise must needs be greater than God, because God is seen within it.'
Jesus answered: 'Hold thy peace Peter, for thou unwittingly blasphemest.'
'Let this be enough,' Jesus said, 'to give you knowledge of paradise.'
Then Bartholomew said again: 'O Master, be patient with me while I ask one more question.'
Jesus answered: 'Ask what you desire.'
Bartholomew said: 'Paradise must surely be immense, for if it contains such great blessings, it must itself be great.'
Jesus answered: 'Paradise is so great that no human being can measure it. Truly, I tell you, the heavens are nine, and among them the planets are set. Each heaven is separated from the next by a journey of five hundred years for a human being, and the earth is likewise five hundred years' journey from the first heaven.'
'But consider only the measure of the first heaven: it is as much greater than the whole earth as the whole earth is greater than a grain of sand. Likewise, the second heaven is greater than the first, the third greater than the second, and so on to the last heaven, each being greater than the one below it. Truly, I tell you, paradise is greater than the whole earth and all the heavens together, just as the whole earth is greater than a grain of sand.'
Then Peter said: 'O Master, paradise must be greater than God, since God is seen within it.'
Jesus answered: 'Be silent, Peter, for without realizing it you are blaspheming.'
'And let this suffice you,' said Jesus, 'for the knowledge of paradise.'
Whereupon Bartholomew said again: 'O master, have patience with me if I ask thee one word.'
Jesus answered: 'Say that which thou desirest.'
Said Bartholomew: 'Paradise is surely great: for, seeing there be in it such great goods, it needs must be great.'
Jesus answered: 'Paradise is so great that no man can measure it. Verily I say unto thee that the heavens are nine, among which are set the planets, that are distant one from another five hundred years' journey for a man: and the earth in like manner is distant from the first heaven five hundred years' journey.
'But stop thou at the measuring of the first heaven, which is by so much greater than the whole earth as the whole earth is greater than a grain of sand. So also the second heaven is greater than the first, and the third than the second, and so on up to the last heaven, each one is likewise greater than the next. And verily I say to thee that paradise is greater than all the earth and all the heavens together, even as all the earth is greater than a grain of sand.'
Then said Peter: 'O master, paradise must needs be greater than God, because God is seen within it.'
Jesus answered: 'Hold thy peace Peter, for thou unwittingly blasphemest.'