Guest Author - Serkan Tufan

In this article, we will talk about a very important sacred text, Gospels of Barnabas, which is a very different version of Bible, written at the very early ages of Christianity. In that Bible, many interesting verses declares interesting conflicts with the rewritten Bibles that we have today.

So why is it important to Islam? since Islam came to prove that both Christianity and Judaism have been religions that God instructed to certain nations at certain times, and with Islam, the religion is complete now (Maide Chapter, verse 3). When we compare scriptures from three religions today, New Testament makes the most deviant remarks about the issues of faith such as trinity, Jesus' being dead and buried, and more details that in general Judaism and Islam scriptures and scholars agree. Now, Barnaba Gospel is very different in that it actually connects with both Islam and Judaism beliefs and I need to say that this gospel was discovered recently compared to the other texts, was not appreciated by offical new doctrins of Christianity, and yet, it carried a pure form compared to the other versions written, re-written, and edited for years.

Some aspects of its importance, we touched, yet, a lot of other essential topics in Gospels of Barnabas makes it very interesting to explore for many people of book. Here is a link to read the Barnabas Gospel.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/gbar/index.htm

A sample of the verses from the link:
221.
And Jesus turned himself to him who writeth, and said: 'See, Barnabas, that by all means thou write my gospel concerning all that hath happened through my dwelling in the world. And write in like manner that which hath befallen Judas, in order that the faithful may be undeceived, and every one may believe the truth.'

Then answered he who writeth: 'All will I do, if God will, O Master; but how it happened unto Judas, I know not, for I saw not all.'

Jesus answered: 'Here are John and Peter who have seen all, and they will tell you all that has passed.'

And then Jesus commanded us to call his faithful disciples that they might see him. Then did James and John call together the seven disciples with Nicodemus and Joseph, and many other of the seventy-two, and they ate with Jesus.

The third day Jesus said: 'Go to the Mount of Olives with my mother, for there will I ascend again unto heaven, and ye will see who shall bear me up.'

So there went all, saving twenty-five of the seventy-two disciples, who for fear had fled to Damascus. And as they all stood in prayer, at mid-day came Jesus with a great multitude of angels who were praising God: and the splendour of his face made them sore afraid, and they fell with their faces to the ground. But Jesus lifted them up, comforting them, and saying: 'Be not afraid, I am your master.'

And he reproved many who believed him to have died and risen again, saying: 'Do ye then hold me and God for liars? For God hath granted to me to live almost unto the end of the world, even as I said unto you. Verily I say unto you, I died not, but Judas the traitor. Beware, for Satan will make every effort to deceive you, but be ye my witnesses in all Israel, and throughout the world, of all things that ye have heard and seen.'

And having thus spoken, he prayed God for the salvation of the faithful, and the conversion of sinners. And, his prayer ended, he embraced his mother, saying: 'Peace be unto thee, my mother, rest thou in God who created thee and me.' And having thus spoken, he turned to his disciples, saying: 'May God's grace and mercy be with you.'

Then before their eyes the four angels carried him up into heaven.