The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 23 Abraham, the covenant, and circumcision handed down “from generation to generation.” The break from the Law in later Christianity:
Abraham, Circumcision, and the Covenant of God
And having said this, Jesus sat nigh unto the mountain which they looked upon. And his disciples came to his side to listen to his words. Then said Jesus: 'Adam the first man having eaten, by fraud of Satan, the food forbidden of God in paradise, his flesh rebelled against the spirit; whereupon he swore, saying: "By God, I will cut thee!" And having broken a piece of rock, he seized his flesh to cut it with the sharp edge of the stone: whereupon he was rebuked by the angel Gabriel. And he answered: "I have sworn by God to cut it; I will never be a liar!"
'Then the angel showed him the superfluity of his flesh, and that he cut off. And hence, just as every man taketh flesh for the flesh of Adam, so is he bound to observe in his sons, and from generation to generation came down the obligation of circumcision. But in the time of Abraham there were but few circumcised upon the earth, because that idolatry was multiplied upon the earth. Whereupon God told to Abraham the fact concerning circumcision, and made this covenant, saying: "The soul that shall not have his flesh circumcised, I will scatter him from among my people for ever."'
The disciples trembled with fear at these words of Jesus, for with vehemence of spirit he spake. Then said Jesus: 'Leave fear to him that hath not circumcised his foreskin, for he is deprived of paradise.' And having said this, Jesus spake again, saying: 'The spirit in many is ready in the service of God, but the flesh is weak. The man therefore that feareth God ought to consider what the flesh is, and where it had its origin, and whereto it shall be reduced. Of the clay of the earth created God flesh, and into it he breathed the breath of life, with an inbreathing therein. And therefore when the flesh shall hinder the service of God it ought to be spurned like clay and trampled on, forasmuch as he that hateth his soul in this world shall keep it in life eternal.
'What the flesh is at this present its desires make manifest— that it is a harsh enemy of all good: for it alone desireth sin.
'Ought then man for the sake of satisfying one of his enemies to leave off pleasing God, his creator? Consider ye this: All the saints and prophets have been enemies of their flesh for service of God: wherefore readily and with gladness they went to their death, so as not to offend against the law of God given by Moses his servant, and I go and serve the false and lying gods.
'Remember Elijah, who fled through desert places of the mountains, eating only grass, clad in goats\' skin. Ah, how many days he supped not! Ah, how much cold he endured! Ah, how many showers drenched him and that for the space of seven years, wherein endured that fierce persecution of the unclean Jezebel!
'Remember Elisha, who ate barley-bread, and wore the coarsest raiment. Verily I say unto you that they, not fearing to spurn the flesh, were feared with great terror by the king and princes. This should suffice for the spurning of the flesh, O men. But if ye will gaze at the sepulchres, ye shall know what flesh is.'
Having said this, Jesus sat near the mountain they were looking upon, and his disciples came to his side to listen. Jesus said: 'After Adam, the first man, had eaten the food forbidden by God in paradise through Satan's deceit, his flesh rebelled against the spirit. He therefore swore: "By God, I will cut you!" He broke off a piece of rock and took hold of his flesh to cut it with the stone's sharp edge, but the angel Gabriel rebuked him. Adam answered: "I have sworn by God to cut it; I will never be a liar!"'
'The angel then showed Adam the excess part of his flesh, and Adam cut it off. Just as every man inherits his flesh from Adam, so he is bound to observe this practice in his sons; and in this way the obligation of circumcision passed down from generation to generation. But in Abraham's time few people on earth were circumcised, because idolatry had multiplied. God therefore told Abraham about circumcision and made this covenant: "I will cast out from among my people forever the person whose flesh is not circumcised."'
The disciples trembled with fear at Jesus' words, for he spoke with great force. Jesus said: 'Let the man who has not circumcised his foreskin be afraid, for he is deprived of paradise.' He continued: 'In many people the spirit is ready to serve God, but the flesh is weak. A person who fears God should therefore consider what the flesh is, where it came from, and what it will ultimately become. God created the flesh from the clay of the earth and breathed into it the breath of life. Therefore, when the flesh hinders the service of God, it should be rejected like clay and trampled underfoot, because the one who hates his soul in this world will preserve it for eternal life.'
'The desires of the flesh reveal what it is: a harsh enemy of all that is good, for it desires only sin.'
'Should a person stop pleasing God his creator merely to satisfy one of his enemies? Consider this: all the saints and prophets treated their flesh as an enemy in the service of God. Therefore, they went readily and gladly to their deaths rather than offend against the law God gave through Moses his servant. Should I, then, go and serve false and lying gods?'
'Remember Elijah, who fled through the wilderness of the mountains, ate only grass, and wore goatskin. Ah, how many days he went without supper! How much cold he endured! How many downpours drenched him during the seven years in which he suffered the fierce persecution of the unclean Jezebel!'
'Remember Elisha, who ate barley bread and wore the coarsest clothing. Truly, I tell you that because these prophets were not afraid to reject the flesh, kings and princes feared them greatly. This should be enough to teach you to reject the flesh, O people. But if you look into the tombs, you will learn what the flesh is.'
And having said this, Jesus sat nigh unto the mountain which they looked upon. And his disciples came to his side to listen to his words. Then said Jesus: 'Adam the first man having eaten, by fraud of Satan, the food forbidden of God in paradise, his flesh rebelled against the spirit; whereupon he swore, saying: "By God, I will cut thee!" And having broken a piece of rock, he seized his flesh to cut it with the sharp edge of the stone: whereupon he was rebuked by the angel Gabriel. And he answered: "I have sworn by God to cut it; I will never be a liar!"
'Then the angel showed him the superfluity of his flesh, and that he cut off. And hence, just as every man taketh flesh for the flesh of Adam, so is he bound to observe in his sons, and from generation to generation came down the obligation of circumcision. But in the time of Abraham there were but few circumcised upon the earth, because that idolatry was multiplied upon the earth. Whereupon God told to Abraham the fact concerning circumcision, and made this covenant, saying: "The soul that shall not have his flesh circumcised, I will scatter him from among my people for ever."'
The disciples trembled with fear at these words of Jesus, for with vehemence of spirit he spake. Then said Jesus: 'Leave fear to him that hath not circumcised his foreskin, for he is deprived of paradise.' And having said this, Jesus spake again, saying: 'The spirit in many is ready in the service of God, but the flesh is weak. The man therefore that feareth God ought to consider what the flesh is, and where it had its origin, and whereto it shall be reduced. Of the clay of the earth created God flesh, and into it he breathed the breath of life, with an inbreathing therein. And therefore when the flesh shall hinder the service of God it ought to be spurned like clay and trampled on, forasmuch as he that hateth his soul in this world shall keep it in life eternal.
'What the flesh is at this present its desires make manifest— that it is a harsh enemy of all good: for it alone desireth sin.
'Ought then man for the sake of satisfying one of his enemies to leave off pleasing God, his creator? Consider ye this: All the saints and prophets have been enemies of their flesh for service of God: wherefore readily and with gladness they went to their death, so as not to offend against the law of God given by Moses his servant, and I go and serve the false and lying gods.
'Remember Elijah, who fled through desert places of the mountains, eating only grass, clad in goats\' skin. Ah, how many days he supped not! Ah, how much cold he endured! Ah, how many showers drenched him and that for the space of seven years, wherein endured that fierce persecution of the unclean Jezebel!
'Remember Elisha, who ate barley-bread, and wore the coarsest raiment. Verily I say unto you that they, not fearing to spurn the flesh, were feared with great terror by the king and princes. This should suffice for the spurning of the flesh, O men. But if ye will gaze at the sepulchres, ye shall know what flesh is.'