WHO WAS BARNABAS?
Did He Write A Gospel?
If you are a Muslim, you have likely heard about a book, claiming to be the "Gospel of Barnabas" in which you find many claims against "Saul" (later named Paul) and strong support for the coming of Muhammad, peace be upon him, as the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus (John chapter 14 & 16) referring to the "comforter", "advocate" and "spirit of truth".
Ever since I came to Islam in summer of 1991, I have hear Muslims talking about the "Gospel of Barnabas" as though it was actually something forgotten or removed from the early Bible.
There is even a translation of a book, supposedly coming from the library of a monk or priest named Frau Marino (or something like that), by Laura and Lon Raggs.
But I have always had serious doubts about the authenticity, especially because of the "convenient" way the book protrated Paul (as the evil on who corrupted Jesus message) and even mentioned Muhammad, peace be upon him, by name.
Here is the latest on the topic of "Who Was Barnabas - REALLY?"
He was born in Cyprus, and his birth name was actually Yusuf (Joseph when you apply the Latin pronouciation to it).
He was one of the first to accept the message of Jesus, peace be upon him, and was later called Barnabas the apostle (messenger).
His name and his story does appear in the New Testament in the 5th book, the Acts of the Apostles, attrtibuted to Paul (Saul who chaned his name to Saul after being an enemy of early Christians and then claiming to have a 'Blinding Light" meeting with Jesus, peace be upon him), or at least someone who had known Paul.
More shows up in some of the Epistles (messages) from Paul toward the end of the New Testament collection of books.
Barnabas' death and the circumstances of it are obscure and not historically verifiable.
However, tradition within some of the collections of works from various Christians indicate he may have been martyed at Salamis in Cyprus.
Many have claimed his as the founder of the Cypriot Church and there is a day of feast for him celebrated on June the 11th.
Read . . . Our story on the ancient Bible just discoved - claiming to bring evidence in favor of the "Gospel of Barnabas" [click]
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