THE MIRROR

There are a number of interesting references to "mirrors" or things that are "like mirrors" in the Gospel of Barnabas.

Example One

10.1. Jesus, having come to the age of thirty years, as he himself said to me, went up to Mount Olives with his mother to gather olives. Then at midday as he was praying, when he came to these words: 'Lord, with mercy...' he was surrounded by an exceedingly bright light and by an infinite multitude of angels, who were saying: "Blessed be God."

2.The angel Gabriel presented to him, as it were, a shining mirror, a book, which descended into the heart of Jesus, in which he had knowledge of what God has done and what [God] has said and what God wills such that everything was laid bare and open to him as he said to me: "O Barnabas, believe that I know every prophet with every prophecy, and so whatever I say all of it has come forth from that book."

3.Jesus, having received this vision, and knowing that he was a prophet sent to the House of Israel, revealed everything to his mother Mary,

 

Example Two

168. Then said the disciples: "Truly God speaks in you, for never has man spoken as you speak." Jesus answered: "Believe me when God chose me to send me to the House of Israel, he gave me a book like to a clear mirror; which came down into my heart in such wise that all that I speak comes forth from that book. And when that book shall have finished coming forth from my mouth, I shall be taken up from the world."

Peter answered: "O master, is that which you now speak written in that book?"

Jesus replied: "All that I say for the knowledge of God and the service of God, for the knowledge of man and for the salvation of mankind all this comes forth from that book, which is my gospel;.

 

Example Three

179. 1. Then the angel Gabriel came to Jesus and showed him a mirror shining like the sun, in which he beheld these words written:

'As I live eternally, even as paradise is greater than all the heavens and the earth, and as the whole earth is greater than a grain of sand, even so am I greater than paradise; and as many times more as the sea has grains of sand, as there are drops of water upon the sea, as there are [blades of] grass upon the ground, as there are leaves upon the trees, as there are skins upon the beasts; and as many times more as the grains of sand that would go to fill the heavens and paradise and more.'

2. Then Jesus said: "Let us do reverence to our God, who is blessed for evermore." They bowed their heads a hundred times and prostrated themselves to earth upon their face in prayer.

 

Example Four

201. 1. Jesus having entered into the Temple, the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman taken in adultery. They said among themselves: 'If he save her, it is contrary to the Law of Moses, and so we have him as guilty, and if he condemn her it is contrary to his own doctrine, for he preaches mercy.' Wherefore they came to Jesus and said: 'Master, we have found this woman in adultery. Moses commanded that [such] should be stoned: what then say you?'

2. Thereupon Jesus stooped down and with his finger made a mirror on the ground wherein every one saw his own iniquities. They still pressed for the answer, Jesus lifted up himself As and, pointing to the mirror with his finger, said: 'He that is without sin among you, let him be first to stone her.' And again he stooped down, shaping the mirror.

The men, seeing this, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, for they were ashamed to see their abominations.

 

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