The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 22 “A dog is better than an uncircumcised man.” Jesus keeps Israel's covenant here; how the later church reversed it:
Circumcision and the Uncircumcised
The disciples questioned Jesus on that day, saying: 'O master, why didst thou make such answer to the woman, saying that they were dogs?'
Jesus answered: 'Verily I say unto you that a dog is better than an uncircumcised man.' Then were the disciples sorrowful, saying: 'Hard are these words, and who shall be able to receive them?'
Jesus answered: 'If ye consider, O foolish ones, what the dog doth, that hath no reason, for the service of his master, ye will find my saying to be true. Tell me, doth the dog guard the house of his master, and expose his life against the robber? Yea, assuredly. But what receiveth he? Many blows and injuries with little bread, and he always showeth to his master a joyful countenance. Is this true?'
'True it is, O master,' answered the disciples.
Then said Jesus: 'Consider now how much God hath given to man, and ye shall see how unrighteous he is in not observing the covenant of God made with Abraham his servant. Remember that which David said to Saul king of Israel, against Goliath the Philistine: "My lord," said David, "while thy servant was keeping thy servant\'s flock there came the wolf, the bear, and the lion and seized thy servant\'s sheep: whereupon thy servant went and slew them, rescuing the sheep. And what is this uncircumcised one but like unto them? Therefore will thy servant go in the name of the Lord God of Israel, and will slay this unclean one that blasphemeth the holy people of God."
Then said the disciples: 'Tell us, O master, for what reason man must needs be circumcised?'
Jesus answered: 'Let it suffice you that God hath commanded it to Abraham, saying: "Abraham, circumcise thy foreskin and that of all thy house, for this is a covenant between me and thee for ever."'
That day the disciples questioned Jesus, saying: 'O master, why did you answer the woman that way and call them dogs?'
Jesus answered: 'Truly, I tell you that a dog is better than an uncircumcised man.' The disciples were troubled and said: 'These are hard words; who will be able to accept them?'
Jesus answered: 'O foolish ones, consider what a dog, though it has no reason, does in the service of its master, and you will find my saying to be true. Tell me: does the dog guard its master's house and risk its life against a robber? Yes, certainly. And what does it receive? Many blows and injuries, with little bread; yet it always greets its master with a joyful expression. Is this true?'
'It is true, O master,' the disciples answered.
Then Jesus said: 'Consider how much God has given to man, and you will see how unrighteous a person is when he does not observe the covenant God made with Abraham his servant. Remember what David said to Saul, king of Israel, concerning Goliath the Philistine: "My lord," said David, "while your servant was keeping your flock, a wolf, a bear, and a lion came and seized one of your sheep. Your servant went after them, killed them, and rescued the sheep. What is this uncircumcised man but one like them? Therefore, your servant will go in the name of the Lord God of Israel and kill this unclean man who blasphemes the holy people of God."'
Then the disciples said: 'Tell us, O master, why must a man be circumcised?'
Jesus answered: 'It is enough for you to know that God commanded it to Abraham, saying: "Abraham, circumcise your foreskin and that of everyone in your household, for this is a covenant between me and you forever."'
The disciples questioned Jesus on that day, saying: 'O master, why didst thou make such answer to the woman, saying that they were dogs?'
Jesus answered: 'Verily I say unto you that a dog is better than an uncircumcised man.' Then were the disciples sorrowful, saying: 'Hard are these words, and who shall be able to receive them?'
Jesus answered: 'If ye consider, O foolish ones, what the dog doth, that hath no reason, for the service of his master, ye will find my saying to be true. Tell me, doth the dog guard the house of his master, and expose his life against the robber? Yea, assuredly. But what receiveth he? Many blows and injuries with little bread, and he always showeth to his master a joyful countenance. Is this true?'
'True it is, O master,' answered the disciples.
Then said Jesus: 'Consider now how much God hath given to man, and ye shall see how unrighteous he is in not observing the covenant of God made with Abraham his servant. Remember that which David said to Saul king of Israel, against Goliath the Philistine: "My lord," said David, "while thy servant was keeping thy servant\'s flock there came the wolf, the bear, and the lion and seized thy servant\'s sheep: whereupon thy servant went and slew them, rescuing the sheep. And what is this uncircumcised one but like unto them? Therefore will thy servant go in the name of the Lord God of Israel, and will slay this unclean one that blasphemeth the holy people of God."
Then said the disciples: 'Tell us, O master, for what reason man must needs be circumcised?'
Jesus answered: 'Let it suffice you that God hath commanded it to Abraham, saying: "Abraham, circumcise thy foreskin and that of all thy house, for this is a covenant between me and thee for ever."'