The Gospel of Barnabas has been considered a "forgery" in the sense that it was falsely attributed to Barnabas, a companion of the Apostle Paul. Early Christian writings often circulated with names of apostles or other prominent figures attached to them to lend authority. Here are some reasons why scholars believe the Gospel of Barnabas is pseudonymous and not authored by Barnabas:
1. Historical Context and Timing
- Date of Writing: The Gospel of Barnabas is generally dated to between 70–135 AD, well after the death of Barnabas, who was active in the mid-1st century. This makes it chronologically implausible for Barnabas to have written it.
- Temple Destruction: The letter refers to the destruction of the Second Temple (70 AD) in the past tense, suggesting it was written after this event, further distancing it from Barnabas.
2. Theological Content
- Supersessionism: The Gospel strongly emphasizes the idea that Christianity has entirely replaced Judaism as God's covenant. The author allegorizes much of the Old Testament and rejects Jewish practices like sacrifices and dietary laws as misunderstandings. While this view was present in early Christianity, it is more developed than what we see in the time of Barnabas.
- Lack of Pauline Theology: As a close companion of Paul, Barnabas would likely reflect Pauline theology, emphasizing grace and justification by faith. However, the Gospel of Barnabas does not exhibit these hallmarks but focuses more on allegory and interpretation of the law.
3. Literary Style and Content
- Allegorical Interpretations: The Gospel's heavy reliance on allegorical interpretations of Scripture is more characteristic of Alexandrian theology (e.g., Philo, Origen) and less reflective of the theological trends during Barnabas’s lifetime.
- Erroneous Exegesis: The author sometimes misinterprets or uses non-canonical Jewish texts. For example, the Gospel claims that the hyena changes genders annually, reflecting an erroneous understanding of natural history.
4. Lack of Early Attribution
- No Early Testimony: None of the earliest church fathers directly attribute the Gospel to Barnabas. Instead, it appears anonymously in the early Christian tradition and is later associated with Barnabas, likely for its authority.
- Exclusion from Canon: While some early Christians valued the Gospel , it was not included in the canon of Scripture, suggesting a recognition of its non-apostolic origin.
5. False Self-Identification
- Lack of Claim to Apostolic Authority: The author does not explicitly claim to be Barnabas but writes with an authoritative tone that might have led others to attach his name to the work later.
Conclusion
The Gospel of Barnabas is regarded as a pseudonymous work because of its late composition, theological content that reflects a post-apostolic context, and lack of evidence connecting it to the historical Barnabas. While it is valuable for understanding early Christian thought, it is not considered authentic to Barnabas himself.