Guide · Medium · 8 min
What is the Epistle of Barnabas?
A guide to the Epistle of Barnabas, its allegorical reading of the Old Testament, and its place among the Apostolic Fathers.
# What is the Epistle of Barnabas?
Quick summary
The Epistle of Barnabas is an early Christian writing usually grouped with the Apostolic Fathers. Despite its name, modern scholarship does not normally treat it as written by the New Testament Barnabas.
Main themes
The work argues that Christians should read Israel’s Scriptures spiritually and often allegorically. It contrasts Christian interpretation with Jewish practice in ways that must be read carefully and historically.
Why it matters
Barnabas helps readers see how some early Christians interpreted the Old Testament, ritual law, covenant, and identity. It is valuable as a witness to early Christian exegesis, even when its arguments feel distant or difficult today.
Canon and reception
The text was respected in some Christian circles and appears in important manuscript contexts. Nevertheless, it did not become part of the New Testament canon in the major Christian traditions.
Reading carefully
Because the work includes strong polemical claims about Judaism, it should not be read as a neutral account of Jewish faith. It is a Christian text from a particular historical setting and should be handled with critical care.
Read also
- Who are the Apostolic Fathers?
- What is the Didache?
- What is First Clement?
- What is the biblical canon?
Sources and recommended reading
Editorial note: this article is written in an informational, non-confessional tone. Where traditions disagree, the page should describe differences of reception, use, and canon without presenting one tradition as the universal default.