The Epistle of Barnabas
Chapter 13

[1] Furthermore it is written concerning the sabbath, in the Ten Commandments, which God spake in the Mount Sinai to Moses, face to face; Sanctify the sabbath of the Lord with pure hands, and with a clean heart.

[2] And elsewhere he saith; If thy children shall keep my sabbaths, then will I put my mercy upon them.

[3] And even in the beginning of the creation he makes mention of the sabbath. And God made in six days the works of his hands; and he finished them on the seventh day, and he rested the seventh day, and sanctified it.

[4] Consider, my children, what that signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in six thousand years the Lord God will bring all things to an end.

[5] For with him one day is a thousand years; as himself testifieth, saying, Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six thousands years, shall all things be accomplished.

[6] And what is that he saith, And he rested the seventh day; he meaneth this; that when his Son shall come, and abolish the season of the Wicked One, and judge the ungodly; and shall change the sun and the moon, and the stars; then he shall gloriously rest in the seventh day.

[7] He adds lastly; Thou shalt sanctify it with clean hands and a pure heart. Wherefore we are greatly deceived if we imagine that any one can now sanctify that day which God has made holy, without having a heart pure in all things.

[8] Behold therefore he will then truly sanctify it with blessed rest, when we (having received the righteous promise, when iniquity shall be no more, all things being renewed by the Lord) shall be able to sanctify it, being ourselves first made holy.

[9] Lastly, he saith unto them; Your new moons and your sabbaths I cannot bear them. Consider what he means by it; the sabbaths, says he, which ye now keep are not acceptable unto me, but those which I have made; when resting from all things I shall begin the eight day, that is, the beginning of the other world.

[10] For which cause we observe the eighth day with gladness, in which Jesus rose from the dead; and having manifested himself to his disciples, ascended into heaven.

[11] It remains yet that I speak to you concerning the temple how these miserable men being deceived have put their trust in the house, and not in God himself who made them, as if it (the temple) was the habitation of God.

[12] For much after the same manner as the Gentiles, they consecrated him (God) in the temple.

[13] But learn therefore how the Lord speaketh, rendering the temple vain: Who has measured the heaven with a span, and the earth hand? Is it not I? Thus saith the Lord, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What is the house that ye will build me? Or what is the place of my rest? Know therefore that all their hope is in vain.

[14] And again he speaketh after this manner: Behold they that destroy this temple, even they shall again build it up. And so it came to pass; for through their wars it is now destroyed by their enemies; and the servants of their enemies built it up.

[15] Futhermore it has been made manifest, how both the city and the temple, and the people of Israel should be given up. For the Scripture saith; And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the Lord will deliver up the sheep of his pasture, and their fold, and their tower into destruction. and it is come to pass, as the Lord hath spoken.

[16] Let us inquire therefore, whether there be any temple of God? Yes there is; and that there, where himself declares that he would both make and perfect it. For it is written; And it shall be that as soon as the week shall be completed, the temple of the Lord shall be gloriously built in the name of the Lord.

[17] I find therefore that there is a temple. But how shall it be built in the name of the Lord? I will show you.

[18] Before we believed in God, the habitation of our heart was corruptible, and feeble, as a temple truly built with hands.

[19] For it was a house full of devils, inasmuch as there was done in it whatsoever was contrary unto God. But it shall be built in the name of the Lord.

[20] Consider, how that the temple of the Lord shall be very gloriously built; and by what means that shall be, learn.

[21] Having received remission of our sins, and trusting in the name of the Lord, we become renewed, being again created as it were from the beginning. Wherefore God truly dwells in our house, that is, in us.

[22] But how does he dwell in us? The word of his faith, the calling of his promise, the wisdom of his righteous judgements, the commands of his doctrine; he himself prophesies within us, he himself dwelleth in us, and openeth to us who were in bondage of death the gate of our temple, that is, the mouth of wisdom, having given repentance unto us; and by this means has brought us to be an incorruptible temple.

[23] He therfore that desires to be saved looketh not unto the man, but unto him that dwelleth in him, and speaketh by him; being struck with wonder, foreasmuch as he never either heard him speaking such words out of his mouth, nor ever desired to hear them.

[24] This is that spiritual temple that is built unto the Lord.

Source: The Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten Books of Eden.
Published by World Bible Publishers, Inc 1926 pages 160 - 162