The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 180
Abraham, Reward, and Human Merit
One day, Jesus being in Solomon's porch, there drew nigh to him a scribe, one of them that made discourse to the people, and said to him: 'O master, I have many times made discourse to this people, and there is in my mind a passage of scripture which I am not able to understand.'
Jesus answered: 'And what is it?'
Said the scribe: 'That which God said to Abraham our father, "I will be thy great reward." Now how could man merit such reward?'
Then Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said: 'Assuredly thou art not far from the kingdom of God! Listen to me, for I will tell thee the meaning of such teaching. God being infinite, and man finite, man cannot merit God—and is this thy doubt, brother?'
The scribe answered, weeping: 'Lord, thou knowest my heart; speak, therefore, for my soul desireth to hear thy voice.'
Then said Jesus: 'As God liveth, man cannot merit a little breath which he receiveth every moment.'
The scribe was beside himself, hearing this, and the disciples likewise marvelled, because they remembered that which Jesus said, that whatsoever they gave for love of God, they should receive an hundredfold.
One day, while Jesus was in Solomon's porch, a scribe who taught the people approached him and said: 'O Master, I have often spoken to this people, yet there is a passage of Scripture that I cannot understand.'
Jesus answered: 'And what is it?'
The scribe said: 'It is what God said to our father Abraham: "I will be your great reward." How could a human being merit such a reward?'
Then Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said: 'Surely you are not far from the kingdom of God. Listen to me, and I will tell you the meaning of this teaching. God is infinite and man is finite; therefore man cannot merit God. Is this your doubt, brother?'
The scribe answered, weeping: 'Lord, you know my heart. Speak, therefore, for my soul longs to hear your voice.'
Then Jesus said: 'As God lives, a human being cannot merit even the breath received from moment to moment.'
The scribe was overwhelmed when he heard this, and the disciples likewise marveled because they remembered that Jesus had said they would receive a hundredfold for whatever they gave out of love for God.
One day, Jesus being in Solomon's porch, there drew nigh to him a scribe, one of them that made discourse to the people, and said to him: 'O master, I have many times made discourse to this people, and there is in my mind a passage of scripture which I am not able to understand.'
Jesus answered: 'And what is it?'
Said the scribe: 'That which God said to Abraham our father, "I will be thy great reward." Now how could man merit such reward?'
Then Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said: 'Assuredly thou art not far from the kingdom of God! Listen to me, for I will tell thee the meaning of such teaching. God being infinite, and man finite, man cannot merit God—and is this thy doubt, brother?'
The scribe answered, weeping: 'Lord, thou knowest my heart; speak, therefore, for my soul desireth to hear thy voice.'
Then said Jesus: 'As God liveth, man cannot merit a little breath which he receiveth every moment.'
The scribe was beside himself, hearing this, and the disciples likewise marvelled, because they remembered that which Jesus said, that whatsoever they gave for love of God, they should receive an hundredfold.