Epistle of Barnabas 12

1In the same way again he defines concerning the cross in another prophet, who says, “And when will these things be accomplished?” says the Lord. “Whenever a tree is bent and stands upright, and whenever blood drips from a tree.” Again you are taught concerning the cross and him who was to be crucified. And again he says in Moses, when war was waged against Israel by people of another nation, and so that he might remind them, when war was waged against them, that because of their sins they had been delivered unto death: the Spirit says to the heart of Moses that he should make a type of the cross and of him who was to suffer, for unless, he says, they set their hope on him, war will be waged against them forever. Therefore Moses piles arms one upon another in the midst of the encounter, and, standing on higher ground than anyone else, stretches out his hands; and so Israel again is victorious. But whenever he lowers them, they are slain with the sword. Why was this? That they might learn that they cannot be saved unless they set their hope on him. And again, in another prophet, he says, “The whole day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient people who gainsaid my righteous way.” Again Moses makes a type of Jesus: how he must suffer, and how he himself, whom they will think to have destroyed, shall make alive in an emblem when Israel was falling. For the Lord caused all kinds of serpents to bite them, and they died—for the transgression was wrought in Eve through the serpent—so that he might convince them that, because of their transgression, they would be delivered over to the affliction of death. Furthermore, though Moses gave the command, “You shall not have a molten or carved image for your God,” he himself made one, that he might show them a type of Jesus. So Moses makes a bronze serpent, sets it up conspicuously, and summons the people by proclamation. When they had assembled together, they entreated Moses that he should offer intercession for them, so that they might be healed. And Moses said to them, “Whenever one of you is bitten, let him come to the serpent placed on the tree, and let him believe and hope that the serpent, being itself dead, can make alive; and immediately he shall be saved.” And so they did. Here again, in these things also, you have the glory of Jesus: in him and unto him are all things. What again does Moses say to Jesus—Joshua—the son of Nun, when he gives him this name, as being a prophet, so that all the people might give ear to him alone, because the Father reveals all things concerning his Son Jesus? Therefore Moses says to Jesus the son of Nun, giving him this name, when he sent him as a spy into the land, “Take a book in your hands, and write what the Lord says: how the Son of God shall cut up by the roots all the house of Amalek in the last days.” Behold, again it is Jesus—not a son of man, but the Son of God—and he was revealed in the flesh in a figure. Since people will say that Christ is the son of David, David himself prophesies, being afraid and understanding the error of sinners: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I set your enemies as a footstool under your feet.’” And again Isaiah says, “The Lord said unto my Christ the Lord, of whose right hand I laid hold, that the nations should give ear before him, and I will break down the strength of kings.” See how David calls him Lord and does not call him Son.