Epistle of Barnabas 21

1It is well, therefore, that he who has learned the judgments of the Lord, as many as have been written, should walk in them. For he who keepeth these shall be glorified in the kingdom of God; but he who chooseth other things shall be destroyed with his works. On this account there will be a resurrection, on this account a retribution. I beseech you who are superiors, if you will receive any counsel of my good-will, have among yourselves those to whom you may show kindness: do not forsake them. For the day is at hand on which all things shall perish with the evil [one]. The Lord is near, and His reward. Again, and yet again, I beseech you: be good lawgivers to one another; continue faithful counsellors of one another; take away from among you all hypocrisy. And may God, who ruleth over all the world, give to you wisdom, intelligence, understanding, knowledge of His judgments, with patience. And be ye taught of God, inquiring diligently what the Lord asks from you; and do it that ye may be safe in the day of judgment. And if you have any remembrance of what is good, be mindful of me, meditating on these things, in order that both my desire and watchfulness may result in some good. I beseech you, entreating this as a favour. While yet you are in this fair vessel, do not fail in any one of those things, but unceasingly seek after them, and fulfil every commandment; for these things are worthy. Wherefore I have been the more earnest to write to you, as my ability served, that I might cheer you. Farewell, ye children of love and peace. The Lord of glory and of all grace be with your spirit. Amen.

ΧΧΙ. Καλὸν οὖν ἐστὶν μαθόντα τὰ δικαιώματα τοῦ Κυρίου, ὅσα γέγραπται, ἐν τούτοις περιπατεῖν. ὁ γὰρ ταῦτα ποιῶν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ δοξασθήσεται" ὁ ἐκεῖνα ἐκλε- γόμενος μετὰ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ συναπολεῖται. διὰ τοῦτο ἀνάστασις, διὰ τοῦτο ἀνταπόδομα. ᾿Ερωτῶ τοὺς ὑπερέ- χοντας, εἴ τινά μου γνώμης ἀγαθῆς λαμβάνετε συμβουλίαν" ἔχετε μεθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν eis obs ἐργάσησθε τὸ καλόν μὴ ἐλλείπητε. ἐγγὺς ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν § συναπολεῖται πάντα τῷ πονηρῷ. ἐγγὺὴς ὁ Κύριος καὶ ὅ micédc δύτοῦ. ἔτε καὶ ἔτε ἐρωτῶ ὑμᾶς" το. ἑαυτῶν γίνεσθε νομοθῆται dyabol, ἑαντῶν pévere σύμβουλοι 1, es δὼ “ιστοί, ἄρατε ἐξ ὑμῶν πᾶσαν ὑπόκρισιν. ὁ δὲ Θεός, ὁ τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου κυριεύων, δῴη ὑμῖν σοφίαν, σύνεσιν, ἐπι- ᾿ στήμην, γνῶσιν τῶν δικαιωμάτων αὐτοῦ, ὑπομονήν. γί- νεσθε δὲ θεοδίδακτοι, ἐκζητοῦντες τί ζητεῖ Κύριος ἀφ᾽ ὑμών, καὶ ποιεῖτε ἵνα εὑρεθῆτε ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως. εἰ δέ τίς ἐστιν ἀγαθοῦ μνεία, μνημονεύετέ μου μελετῶντες ταῦτα, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία εἴς τε ἀγαθὸν χωρήσῃ. ἐρωτῶ ὑμᾶς, χάριν αἰτούμενος. ἕως ἔτι τὸ καλὸν σκεῦός ἐστιν μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν, μὴ ἐλλείπητε μηδενὶ ἑαυτῶν, ἀλλὰ συνεχῶς ἐκζη- τεῖτε ταῦτα καὶ ἀναπληροῦτε πᾶσαν ἐντολήν ἔστιν γὰρ ἄξια. ο. διὸ μᾶλλον ἐσπούδασα γράψαι ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἡἠδυνήθην, εἰς τὸ εὐφρᾶναι ὑμᾶς. Σώζξεσθε, ὠγάπης τέκνα καὶ εἰρήνης. ὁ Κύριος τῆς δόξης καὶ πάσης χάριτος μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμών.