Epistle of Barnabas 9:1-28
1He speaks moreover concerning our ears, how He hath circumcised both them and our heart.
2The Lord saith in the prophet, "In the hearing of the ear they obeyed me."
3And again He saith, "By hearing, those shall hear who are afar off; they shall know what I have done."
4And, "Be ye circumcised in your hearts, saith the Lord."
5And again He says, "Hear, O Israel, for these things saith the Lord thy God."
6And once more the Spirit of the Lord proclaims, "Who is he that wishes to live for ever?
7By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant."
8And again He saith, "Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for God hath spoken."
9These are in proof.
10And again He saith, "Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of this people."
11And again He saith, "Hear, ye children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness."
12Therefore He hath circumcised our ears, that we might hear His word and believe, for the circumcision in which they trusted is abolished.
13For He declared that circumcision was not of the flesh, but they transgressed because an evil angel deluded them.
14He saith to them, "These things saith the Lord your God"-(here I find a new commandment)-"Sow not among thorns, but circumcise yourselves to the Lord."
15And why speaks He thus: "Circumcise the stubbornness of your heart, and harden not your neck? " And again: "Behold, saith the Lord, all the nations are uncircumcised in the flesh, but this people are uncircumcised in heart."
16But thou wilt say, "Yea, verily the people are circumcised for a seal."
17But so also is every Syrian and Arab, and all the priests of idols: are these then also within the bond of His covenant?
18Yea, the Egyptians also practise circumcision.
19Learn then, my children, concerning all things richly, that Abraham, the first who enjoined circumcision, looking forward in spirit to Jesus, practised that rite, having received the mysteries of the three letters.
20For [the Scripture] saith, "And Abraham circumcised ten, and eight, and three hundred men of his household."
21What, then, was the knowledge given to him in this?
22Learn the eighteen first, and then the three hundred.
23The ten and the eight are thus denoted-Ten by I, and Eight by H.
24You have [the initials of the, name of] Jesus.
25And because the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter T, he says also, "Three Hundred."
26He signifies, therefore, Jesus by two letters, and the cross by one.
27He knows this, who has put within us the engrafted gift of His doctrine.
28No one has been admitted by me to a more excellent piece of knowledge than this, but I know that ye are worthy.