Gospel of Barnabas (Apocrypha) [Paperback]

Foreword: Iman Muhammad Armiya Nu'man (Author), Lonsdale Ragg (Editor), Laura Maria Roberts Ragg (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Apocrypha | Publication Date: April 9, 2002

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Italian (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 273 pages
• Publisher: EWorld Inc. (April 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881316157
• ISBN-13: 978-1881316152
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #931,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Only for Students of Religous Apologetics, February 8, 2006

By 

Reader From Aurora - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gospel of Barnabas (Apocrypha) (Paperback)

The Gospel of Barnabas (GB) is a well known late-medieval forgery (most likely 15th or 16th Century Spain) which purports to be a lost or suppressed gospel by the apostle Barnabas. This edition is a re-release of the Ragg's early twentieth century translation amended to incorporate opening comments from an Islamic apologetic perspective. I offer the following thoughts for potential readers.

This book is probably only of interest for serious students of religious apologetics and religious history. Despite the publisher's claim the GB is not, nor has it ever been, recognized as a legitimate historic text by main stream scholars. It does, however, have some appeal for the insight it provides into popular apologetics.

Perhaps the GB's most interesting aspect is its enduring appeal as an apologetic tool. Undoubtably historic texts can make effective evangelizing tools - the GB, however, appears to be poorly suited for this role. It is a clearly an inauthentic document and exposes a message contrary to the religion in professes to support.

With regard to authenticity its challenges are numerous:
- it refers to jubilees occurring every 100 years rather than every fifty as was the case in the early Christian epoch (changed to 100 years intervals in 14th century)
- uses the fourth century Latin vulgate translation of the Bible (challenging for first century author)
- claims that Jesus was born when Pilate was governor (26 or 27 A.D.)
- claims that Nazareth is a seashore or lakeshore village
- despite the editors apparent attempt to confuse GB with the first century Epistle of Barnabus or the fifth century apocryphal Acts of Barnabas there is no reference to this text by either Christian or Islamic writers prior to approximately 1600

Despite it fabricated nature, perhaps what makes its use as an apologetic tool even more surprising is its heretical theology:
- contrary to Quran Mohammad is portrayed as a Christ-like entity
- the world was created for Muhammad
- Muhammad is an intercessor between God and man
- Contradicts Quran claim that Jesus is the Messiah

Overall, GB is an interesting read for students of religious apologetics. I cannot recommend the text for a broader audience - it is replete with misrepresentation and fabrication. Readers seeking a more serious examination of GB can see David Sox's the Gospel of Barnabas. Those interested in a discussion of GB within the genre of religious forgies may find J. Slomp's work helpful (some available for free on net). Those interested in serious comparative apologetics may wish to look at a series of public debates between Shabir Ally and William Craig.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars open your mind to a diffrent light, October 15, 2005

By 

harmonythruchaos (florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gospel of Barnabas (Apocrypha) (Paperback)

I read this book years ago(5) and recently I let someone borrow it
they lost it and I was deeply upset because I had a very old version of the book it was passed on to me from a spiritual mentor of mine .So know Im searching to see If I can find it again I dont Know If this version is as the one I had (will see). If you seek for a gerater understandig, a diffrent view from what others believe to be what is true. This book Is wonderful, it will open your mind .

25 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good translation, July 16, 2001

By 

Michael K. Epps Jr. (Herndon, VA. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gospel of Barnabas (Apocrypha) (Paperback)

I have read a couple different translation this one is pretty good. For those of you who are new to the Gospel of Barnabass, I hope that you have done your research and understand how there was a council in Nice who decided which books were going to be compiled into or left out of the Bible that you see today. Also how this is one of the Gospels that is in the Vatican library but won't be acknowledge like many others because it threatens the structure of the church. There are Gospels written by females for example, but you wont hear of them through the church. This Gospel specifically is noted because it is one of the most accurate accounts of Jesus but it does not support the crucifixion (cruci-fiction) story. It tells in detail how it was made to appear that Christ was crucified while in actuality he wasn't. The intervention and aide of a few Archangels saved him from that "cup". You will have to read the book to know the account and the name of the angels who helped him. Due to the nature of this book you could see why it would be threatening to the Christian Church even though it is one of their Gospels. Lets remember cruci simply means to hang on a cross while fixio means to make up, as in making up murder. So when we say crucifixion what are we really saying? Keep in mine that all of the disciples ran when the centurions came, so who could have given an accurate account, plus Mark and Luke was written how many years after Jesus? The only accurate account is the one he personally dictated to Barnabass his disciple. Check out the book!