St. Barnabas (1st century) | EAST

(Updated July 13, 2025)

This Author Quote Archive collects pertinent quotes from the Church Father, St. Barnabas (1st century, mentioned in Scripture).

Next to each quote are the Topic Quote Archives in which they are included.

This Quote Archive is being continuously updated as research continues. Quotes marked with “***” have not yet been organized into their respective Topic Quote Archives.

Letters

St. Barnabas, Letter of Barnabas (c. 75)

• The Canon of Scripture | §6
• The Sacrament of Baptism | §11
• The Sacrament of Confession | §19
• The Sacrament of Marriage, Divorce, and Contraception | §10
• Abortion | §19
• Homosexual and Gender-Confusing Behavior | §19

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(§§6, 10-11, 19)

(§6) ..Since, therefore, He was about to be manifested and to suffer in the flesh, His suffering was foreshown. For the prophet speaks against Israel, “Woe to their soul, because they have counseled an evil counsel against themselves” (Isa. 3:9) saying, “Let us bind the just one, because he is displeasing to us” (Wis. 2:12)…

(§10) …Moreover, he has rightly detested the weasel. For he means, “Thou shalt not be like to those whom we hear of as committing wickedness with the mouth, on account of their uncleanness; nor shall thou be joined to those impure women who commit iniquity with the mouth. For this animal conceives by the mouth.”…

(§11) Let us further inquire whether the Lord took any care to foreshadow the water [of baptism] and the cross. Concerning the water, indeed, it is written, in reference to the Israelites, that they should not receive that baptism which leads to the remission of sins, but should procure another for themselves…Mark how He has described at once both the water and the cross. For these words imply, Blessed are they who, placing their trust in the cross, have gone down into the water…Further, what says He? “And there was a river flowing on the right, and from it arose beautiful trees; and whosoever shall eat of them shall live forever” (Ezek. 47:12). This means, that we indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement, but come up, bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear [of God] and trust in Jesus in our spirit…

(§19) The way of light, then, is as follows. If anyone desires to travel to the appointed place, he must be zealous in his works. The knowledge, therefore, which is given to us for the purpose of walking in this way, is the following…Thou shalt not slay the child by procuring abortion; nor, again, shalt thou destroy it after it is born.