Why Don’t Christians Include the Gospel of Barnabas in the Bible?
Question:
Why don’t the Christians include the gospel of Barnabas?
Answer:
We need to first understand how the Bible came to be, what the Gospel of Barnabas is, and how it relates to both the Bible and the Qur’an.
First off, the Bible was codified in stages. The Hebrew scriptures were differentiated by Jewish leaders around the 2nd AD century. There was a lot of Christian writings and people were getting confused as to what was Christian and what was Jewish. So Jewish leaders got together and agreed what books would be included in the Cannon.
Not long after, Christians accepted those books as the Old Testament – as apposed to the new testament Christ started at the Last Supper.
Now there was still a lot of popular writing going around and Christian leaders (called Bishops) started to make lists as to the books and letters they thought should be in the cannon. Basically the criteria was it should be written by an apostle or have a long history of being held in esteem by the church, and agreed with an orthodox understanding of theology. It took a little while, but eventually Bishops agreed on the books we have in the New Testament. It was formalized in the Second Council of Trullan of 692 but was generally accepted by the mid-300’s.
Why is this important?
Well, it’s important because we don’t add books to the Bible.
The Gospel of Barnabas
Now let’s understand what the Gospel of Barnabas is. It’s not the Epistle of Barnabas. The Epistle of Barnabas is an ancient Christian book that teaches about the lordship, death and resurrection of Jesus. It was very popular in the early church but didn’t make it into the Bible because it was written later than the first century – when the apostles were still alive.
There is some interesting passages in the Gospel of Barnabas that suggests an even later date of it’s writing. I got a lot this information from here.
The author seems to be missing information about first century Palestine:
- At the very start of the Gospel of Barnabas Jesus is called the Christ: [God has during these past days visited us by his prophet Jesus Christ (p.2).] However, throughout the book Jesus denies being the Messiah: [Jesus confessed and said the truth, “I am not the Messiah” (chap. 42).] How can Jesus be the Christ and deny being the Messiah when both words mean exactly the same thing? Whoever wrote this book did not know the Greek meaning of the word Christ is Messiah.
- In chapter 3 we are told that Herod and Pilate both ruled in Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth: [There reigned at that time in Judaea Herod, by decree of Caesar Augustus, and Pilate was governor.] This is historically wrong for Herod and Pilate never ruled Judea at the same time.
- In chapters 20-21 of this book we are told about Jesus sailing to Nazareth and being welcomed by the seamen of that town. He then leaves Nazareth and goes up to Capernaum: [Jesus went to the sea of Galilee, and having embarked in a ship sailed to his city of Nazareth. … Having arrived at the city of Nazareth the seamen spread through the city all that Jesus wrought (done) … (then) Jesus went up to Capernaum (chaps. 20-21).] There is a major error in this account. Nazareth was not a fishing village, in fact it was about 14 km from the sea of Galilee and situated in the hills of a mountain range
So it doesn’t seem the writer had the access to the knowledge we have of first century palestine.
So when could it have been written?
The author of the Gospel of Barnabas describes nine heavens before paradise:
[Paradise is so great that no man can measure it. Verily I say unto thee that the heavens are nine, among which are set the planets, that are distant one from another five hundred years journey for a man … and Verily I say unto thee that paradise is greater than all the earth and heavens together (chap. 178).]
This is the same way Dante describes it in his Divine Comedy. Dante wrote in the 14th century. We don’t have any other description of nine heavens before Dante. That’s really not proof maybe Dante got his description from the Gospel of Barnabas.
There’s more…
The Gospel of Barnabas has Jesus saying “(I)nsomuch that the year of Jubilee, which now comes every 100 years, shall by the Messiah be reduced to every year in every place (chap. 82).”
There is only one time in history that the jubilee was 100 years, not 50 years. In the year 1300 A.D. Pope Boniface VIII falsely proclaimed that the Jubilee should be celebrated by Christians every 100 years instead of 50 years. However the next Pope, Clement VI, changed it back to every 50 years, and so it was celebrated in 1350 A.D.
This suggests a reasonable time for it to be written. If it was was written when other people say think, it should be included with the Dead Sea Scrolls. There was no Gospel of Barnabas in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Rahim’s Dating
I know there are claims that the Gospel of Barnabas was considered Canonical in the Churches of Alexandria up until till 325 A.D…but there is no proof for it. Also (Rahim, p. 41) says Iranaeus quoted extensively from Gospel of Barnabas to refute the Apostle Paul…but he’s wrong on two accounts. First, I’ve read all the writings of Iranaeus and he never quotes the Gospel of Barnabas. Second, Iranaeus endorses Paul and uses Paul’s writings as scriptural. Muhammad `Ata ur-Rahim throws baseless argument after unsubstantiated fact after un-evidenced claims all in an attempt to prove the antiquity of the Gospel of Barnabas. At best it’s unscholarly.
Tension with the Qur’an
But really, that’s not the important part of the discussion. It’s more important to know how the Gospel of Barnabas relate to the Qur’an.
I know as Christians we wrestle with the tension of apparent contradictions in Scripture. Things like the trinity and if God is always good means that at times we need to hold to conflicting ideas.
There is tension in Islam as well.
- Marriage in the Qur’an binds a woman to one man but it does not bind a man to one woman. Muslim men are free to have several wives (Qur’an 4:3) and an unlimited number of female servants (Qur’an 70:30). However, the Gospel of Barnabas teaches the Biblical idea of marriage, that marriage binds a man and a woman equally together: [Let a man content himself therefore with the wife whom his creator has given him, and let him forget every other woman (chap. 115).]
- The Qur’an clearly teaches that Mary had pain when she gave birth to Jesus:[(A)nd she withdrew with him to a far place. And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm tree. (Qur’an 19:22-23, Pickthall)] However, the Gospel of Barnabas teaches the opposite: The virgin was surrounded by a light exceeding bright, and brought forth her son without pain (chap. 3).
- The Qur’an teaches that there are seven heavens: [The seven heavens and the earth praise Him (Qur’an 17:44, Pickthall).] However the Gospel of Barnabas teaches that there are nine heavens: [Verily I say unto thee that the heavens are nine, among which are set the planets, that are distant one from another five hundred years journey for a man (chap. 178).]
- The Qur’an teaches that Jesus is the Messiah, and it never teaches that Muhammad is the Messiah: [Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary (Qur’an 3:45, Pickthall).] However, the Gospel of Barnabas denies that Jesus is the Messiah, and instead says Muhammad is the Messiah: [Jesus confessed and said the truth, “I am not the Messiah”. (chap. 42). Then said the priest: “How shall the Messiah be called?” … (Jesus answered) “Muhammed is his blessed name” (chap. 97).] Both these ideas apparently contradict the Qur’an.
Why Isn’t the Gospel of Barnabas Part of the Christian Cannon?
So to me it’s clear why the Gospel of Barnabas isn’t accepted by Christians as part of our Cannon – It’s not written by an apostle. It’s contrary to orthodox thought. It’s likely written over 1400 years after the fact.
The question for me is “How do Muslims handle the tension between the Qur’an and the Gospel of Barnabas?”
Thanks for your question. I learned a lot. I hope I haven’t offended you with my response. I would very much like to hear your response to this article.
April 29, 2025 @ 5:21 am
I just listened to the audio version of it on YouTube. I heard no contradictions to scripture. He was quoting Old Testament verses left and right and showing how they pointed to Christ. It’s pretty much a book that takes an old verse and dives much deeper into the symbolism of it and it’s spiritual implications. This book is not for baby Christians. It is not milk, it’s a steak. I personally believe this thread was made to deter people from hearing the truth from this book. There are incredible spiritual insights in this book. As for anything that isn’t in the cannon, always be on guard. Learn from this book like you would from another Christian book. It might not be inspired but it is very informative.
July 26, 2023 @ 6:01 pm
Going back in history… In 64 AD, Nero had made Christians scapegoats for the fire of Rome, In 303 AD, the Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered that the Christian Scriptures be confiscated and burned, and still during the Dark Ages (A.D. 500-1500), Rome burned Bibles along with their owners, literacy in general was prohibited!
As you can imagine, the old authorities and people of the law would not accept such beliefs or teachings to reach the Christian population; therefore, it has been hidden for many years.
On what sense we can rely? Ideology clearly did not end from the Holy Cities untill the final messenger Mohammad PBUH has came, thus it makes this Gospel prophecies very accurate even if written or copied at any time!
No one will expect to have a 100% accurate book dated 2000 years ago and written by humanity during the worst era of wars and terror!
I recommend reading this Gospel with open mind, as it contains so much parables and instructions to get eternal life in heaven.. God please open the eyes of everyone! Amen
August 22, 2023 @ 9:24 am
Jesus tells us He is the Way, Truth and Light, no one can come to the Father except by Him. It’s my contention that the Gospel of Barnabas is not pointing to Jesus or the Father. It’s leading people to error.
December 29, 2024 @ 9:55 am
no one can come to the Father except by Him, it means that no one can come to the father except by his teaching or by his gospel.
It’s my contention that the Gospel of Barnabas is pointing to Jesus as holy prophet and the Father as God. It’s leading people to the truth.
Read more at >>> http://revtrev.com/live-light/why-dont-christians-include-the-gospel-of-barnabas/
Read more at >>> http://revtrev.com/live-light/why-dont-christians-include-the-gospel-of-barnabas/
April 4, 2022 @ 8:53 pm
I read the Gospel of Barnabas and what other Christians say that the writer of the Barnabas Gospel was written by a Muslim. But I read for a Christian research who said that the paper of the original version of B’s Gospel is used during the Roman in Palestine, so there was no Islam. Second, Barnabas never called Jesus God or Son of God, but he used to call him the teacher. He also agreed with the Quran that Jesus never crucified but raised to Heavens. Finally, in the Gospel of Barnabas Jesus gave the good news of the coming of Prophet Muhammad. That’s why the Church did not include Barnabas Gospel.
December 17, 2022 @ 4:33 am
Wow absolutely amazing answer!
August 22, 2023 @ 1:46 am
But yet the gospel if barnabas was made before *islam* became a religion the oldest gospel of barnabas is more that 1500 years old
August 22, 2023 @ 9:25 am
Yes… about 500 years after a lot of New Testament and the accounts about Jesus.
December 29, 2024 @ 10:02 am
No, 250 years before new testament and the accounts about jesus.
September 10, 2018 @ 12:04 pm
I found this extremely informative. I have a class essay on the subject and didn’t have much information so I went researching and your article was the first to come up. I look forward to doing more research on my own.
My only critic, and perhaps I just don’t see it provided, is not having the resources from which you pulled your research. Could those be provided or could you point me to them if they are?
Again appreciate your writing!
August 1, 2013 @ 5:25 pm
According to your argument, the gospel of Luke should be rejected for being historically inaccurate as well, for Luke 3:1 talks of a time when Herod was tetrarch of Galilee while Pilate was governer of Judea.
August 4, 2013 @ 7:29 am
You’re opinion is not supported by history or historical research. There is archeological evidence that agrees with the historical accounts. You’re agreeing with opinion from lack of evidence from over 70 years ago.
October 5, 2025 @ 3:56 am
Luke doesn’t confuse Herod the Great with Pilate; he refers to Herod Antipas, and places them in different regions (Galilee vs. Judea).
The comparison is not valid, because:
Aspect Gospel of Barnabas Gospel of Luke
Time referred to Jesus’ birth (~6–4 BCE) Start of John’s ministry (~27 CE)
Herod mentioned Herod the Great (died 4 BCE) Herod Antipas (ruled 4 BCE – 39 CE)
Pontius Pilate Also mentioned (ruled 26–36 CE) Also mentioned (ruled 26–36 CE)
May 29, 2013 @ 8:15 am
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
galathians 1:8
May 31, 2013 @ 4:21 pm
Amen
May 9, 2013 @ 12:38 am
Can I ask you what does Quran has to do with Gospel of Barnabas?. Why are both related when Islam has nothing to do with Barnabas?. He being a contemporary to Jesus(pbuh) has no place in Christianity (as it doesn’t serve your purpose of misleading people to falsehood), then why is it you are trying to relate him with Quran?.
May 10, 2013 @ 8:45 am
I’m not really the one to answer a question that needs to come from a Muslim. I’ve discovered so many different opinions about this I can’t even say with certainty what is going on. To me, it was written to connect with history. We have ample examples of this in early Christian history. Those books aren’t in the Bible. They have historical significance, but not authority for the time they are supposed to be written in.
July 13, 2025 @ 5:51 am
Is Allah Satan and Mohammed the antichrist?
July 16, 2025 @ 10:14 am
I stay seeking God. I seek Him always, I seek Him and find Him, I seek Him and live. I don’t have time for labels. I’m not going to agree with anyone who thinks they can prove labels–except to agree with Jesus that you tell a tree by its fruit and you tell people by their fruit.
May 17, 2012 @ 3:20 am
This was a very informative article and very well researched. You have brought up some key issues between both religious groups and the gospel of Barnabas’ contradictions. I thank you for the moment of education my brother.
May 17, 2012 @ 5:51 am
Thanks Rev Collins. I took a lot of time to research, but it’s something I greatly enjoy. I’m praying it helps us all to have deeper discussion around our similarities.