Why Did the Church Leave the Gospel of Barnabas Out of the Bible?

One popular criticism that nonbelievers bring against the Bible is that certain books, like the Gospel of Barnabas, were left out of the biblical canon. They may argue that certain power-hungry people (such as Emperor Constantine or Roman priests) rejected certain books because they wanted to deceive the church.

In reality, the books included in the Bible and how they were chosen show the Bible’s truth more and leave little reason to question its accuracy.

Let’s look at the Gospel of Barnabas as an example.

What Is the Gospel of Barnabas?

The Gospel of Barnabas is an apocryphal religious text claiming to be an alternative account of Jesus’ life, teachings, and ministry. It is attributed to a figure named Barnabas, purportedly an apostle and companion of Jesus Christ. Unlike the canonical Gospels found in the New Testament, the Gospel of Barnabas is not recognized as part of the Christian biblical canon.

The exact origins and authorship of the Gospel of Barnabas are subject to debate. While it claims to have been written by an apostle of Jesus, scholars do not agree on its true authorship. However, almost all scholars agree it is a later composition, likely originating in the medieval period.

The Gospel of Barnabas significantly deviates from orthodox Christian doctrine and the narratives found in the canonical Gospels. For these reasons and the chronology problems, scholars consider it a later forgery or pseudepigrapha.

How Do Other Religions View the Gospel of Barnabas?

Some religious communities have embraced the Gospel of Barnabas as an authentic and authoritative text; others have rejected it or regarded it skeptically.

Some Muslims have shown interest in the Gospel of Barnabas because it contains themes consistent with Islam. It refers to Muhammad as the true prophet foretold by Moses and other Old Testament writers. However, most Islamic scholars and authorities regard the Gospel of Barnabas with skepticism and do not consider it an authentic or reliable source of Islamic teachings. The discrepancies between the gospel and the Quran, as well as the fact mainstream Christianity has rejected the book, lead many Muslims to dismiss it as unreliable or inauthentic.

Judaism generally does not engage with the Gospel of Barnabas, as it does not form part of the Jewish biblical canon or tradition. It deals primarily with Christian theology and narratives related to Jesus Christ, not topics that Judaism emphasizes.

Other religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, have limited awareness or interest in the Gospel of Barnabas. After all, it is primarily concerned with Christian theology and narratives related to Jesus Christ. Adherents may see the Gospel of Barnabas referenced in academic or interfaith contexts, but it is unlikely they will not see the text as sacred.

Do We Know When the Gospel of Barnabas Was Written?

While the gospel reports the Apostle Barnabas authored it, scholars generally agree that it was written much later, likely in the medieval period.

As mentioned earlier, the earliest known manuscript of the Gospel of Barnabas dates back to the late 1580s, although portions may have circulated in earlier centuries. The manuscript was discovered in the eighteenth century by Spanish scholar J.E.C. Simons, who obtained it from a Christian monastery in the mountains of Cyprus. The manuscript, written in Italian, contains both biblical narratives and additional material not found in the canonical Gospels.

Scholars have proposed various theories about when the Gospel of Barnabas was composed. Some suggest that the gospel may have originated in medieval Christian-Muslim interactions, possibly to reconcile or syncretize the two religions. Others speculate it may have been written as a polemical work to challenge orthodox Christian beliefs.

The Gospel of Barnabas contains theological themes and textual features that suggest a later composition date than the first century AD. For example, the gospel references medieval events and figures, such as the Crusades and the city of Genoa, which did not exist in Jesus’ time. Additionally, linguistic and stylistic analysis of the text indicates it reflects characteristics from medieval Italian literature.

What were the Criteria for the Canon in the Early Church?

Despite its claims to apostolic authorship, the Gospel of Barnabas is widely regarded as a later forgery. Hence, most scholars consider the gospel a pseudepigraphical work—a work falsely attributed to an author to lend credibility or authority. This kind of forgery was common in the ancient world. A teacher could have his ideas accepted if they were written under the name of a well-known figure. The Gospel of Thomas and the apocalyptic Revelation of Peter are other examples.

The early church understood that many alleged gospels weren’t written by the authors listed. So, proof of authorship was one of the main standards for the new canon of Christianity in the second and third centuries AD.

Constantine and the council of bishops at Nicaea may have formally approved the New Testament and biblical canon, but they didn’t change much. The collective church had already settled the canon. Since Jesus commissioned his apostles to make disciples by spreading his teachings, the early church had three standards for canonizing a book.

1. Proof of authorship. Did an apostle or someone close to an apostle write it?
2. Apostolic doctrine. Was it consistent with apostolic doctrine?
3. Universal acceptance of the book’s usefulness for the church. Does the whole church accept this book as useful teaching for the church at large?

In addition, gospel accounts of Jesus’ life had to include the death and resurrection, part of the apostolic doctrine standard.

The early church congregation had settled on the canon long before Constantine got involved, although some books were still controversial. Hebrews was incredibly consistent with apostolic doctrine, but no one knew who wrote it. James was an apostle and Jesus’ brother, yet the teaching of necessary works seemingly conflicted with Paul’s writings. Despite these concerns, both were considered universally useful by the church.

So. How does the Gospel of Barnabas hold up against these standards?

Why Isn’t the Gospel of Barnabas in the Bible?

There are some similarities between the Gospel of Barnabas and Christian doctrine. It includes teachings on ethical conduct, compassion, and social justice that parallel Jesus’ teachings in the canonical Gospels. These moral exhortations emphasize the importance of love, humility, and righteousness in believers’ lives.

However, many religions espouse similar moral beliefs, at least in theory. Christianity isn’t, at its core, a moral system. Following Jesus first centers around the person of God, the Trinity, and our submission to those teachings because of who he is. We cannot separate Christian morals from the person of Christ. He is holy and the only good. To reject him is to reject good, no matter the moral system. Again, this is the apostolic doctrine, the passing down of Christ’s words.

So, the key question is not whether the Gospel of Barnabas has some good ideas. Whether it aligns with apostolic doctrine and the criterion, the church has always used to determine whether it belongs to the biblical canon. Here are the problems we see:

1. Questionable Authorship. Scholars generally agree that the historical Barnabas did not write the gospel but is a later composition, likely originating in the medieval period. The lack of genuine apostolic authorship undermines its credibility and authority as a reliable account of Jesus’ life and teachings.
2. Historical Inaccuracy. The Gospel of Barnabas contains numerous historical inaccuracies and anachronisms inconsistent with Jesus’s period. These discrepancies diminish the gospel’s reliability as a historical document.
3. Goes Against Apostolic Doctrine. The teachings and theological perspectives in the Gospel of Barnabas diverge significantly from apostolic doctrine, specifically claiming Mohammed as the great prophet. Theological discrepancies undermine the gospel’s suitability in the biblical canon.
4. Denial of Jesus’ Divinity. Unlike orthodox Christian belief in Jesus’ divinity, the Gospel of Barnabas portrays Jesus as a human prophet rather than the Son of God. It denies the Trinity and rejects Jesus’ Messianic status, emphasizing his role as a messenger of God.
5. Rejection of Crucifixion: One of the most controversial aspects of the Gospel of Barnabas is it denies Jesus’ crucifixion. Instead, the gospel claims that Judas Iscariot was crucified in Jesus’ place while Jesus ascended to heaven unharmed. This contradicts the central Christian belief in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
6. Lack of Widespread Acceptance. Unlike the canonical Gospels found in the New Testament, the early church did not widely accept or recognize the Gospel of Barnabas. Early Christian leaders, churches, and theologians didn’t just let any book into the canon. Instead, the early church fathers and councils established criteria for determining texts’ authenticity and authority, leading to the recognition of the canonical Gospels as inspired Scripture.

The Gospel of Barnabas does not give us a reason to be skeptical of the Bible. On the contrary, looking at the book’s history underscores the authority of Scripture. Christians can learn here a fundamental principle about what makes Scripture essential and how to discern what teachings are not essential and authoritative.

Peace.

Photo Credit:©GettyImages/Volodymyr Zakharov

Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non-fiction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.

This article is part of our larger resource library of Christian questions important to the Christian faith. From core beliefs to what the Bible says about angels, we want to provide easy to read and understand articles that answer your questions about Christian living.

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