Also from:
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1211&context=jams
Why Muslims Should Reject The Gospel of Barnabas
One of the major complaints that even Muslims should recognize is
that The Gospel of Barnabas contains too many errors and problems for an
author who claimed to have been a witness to the acts of Jesus, and thus a
citizen of first century Palestine. For example, a noticeable Islamic spin has
been placed on the book, indicating that it was written after Mohammad.
The Qur’an was based upon a rendition of the four Gospels (the Injil) and
not the GB. Thus, if a Muslim holds faith in the Gospel of Barnabas, then
he must ignore major segments of the Qur’an since both books cannot be
correct. Many of the errors and problems in the GB fall into seven major
classifications.
Historical Errors
A legitimate Jewish Barnabas would have a sound knowledge of the
biblical record, the identity of the various authors of the Scriptures, and
would have been unfamiliar with future events and customs. Notice a
comparison of the Gospel of Barnabas, chapter 160 with 2 Chronicles 18:1-3.
Then said he who writes: “Daniel the prophet, describing the history
of the kings of Israel and their tyrants, writes thus: ‘The king of Israel
joined himself with the king of Judah to fight against the sons of Be-
lial (that is, reprobates) who were the Ammonites’. Now Jehoshaphat,
king of Judah, and Ahab, king of Israel, being seated both on a throne
in Samaria, there stood before them four hundred false prophets, who
said to the king of Israel: ‘Go up against the Ammonites, for God will
give them into your hands, and you shall scatter Ammon.’” (Ragg and
Ragg 1907:373)
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined
affinity with Ahab. And after certain years he went down to Ahab to
Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and
for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with
him to Ramothgilead. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat
king of Judah, “Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead?” And he an-
swered him, “I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we
will be with thee in the war.” (2 Chr 18:1-3 KJV)
It is interesting to note that nowhere in the biblical record of Daniel
the prophet does he mention Ahab, Jehoshaphat, or the Ammonites. Jan
Slomp comments that according to the GB, Daniel becomes the author of
2 Chronicles 18 (1978:78).
There is another discrepancy in GB 152 where it says, “Whereupon
straightway the soldiers were rolled out of the Temple as one rolleth casks
of wood when they are washed to refill them with wine” (Ragg and Ragg
1907:355). Jesus in his discourse speaks about new wine being placed in
old wine skins. Yet in GB chapter 152, ‘Barnabas’ references wooden casks;
wooden wine casks suggest medieval Europe (Kritzinger 1980:49).
Notice one more example in GB chapter 80. “Daniel as a child, with
Ananias, Azarias, and Misaell, were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in
such wise that they were by two years old when they were taken; and
they were nurtured among the multitude of idolatrous servants” (Ragg
and Ragg 1907: 185). A two-year-old Daniel as mentioned in GB 80 is not
supported by the Bible. Would a two-year-old Daniel be inclined to say,
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to
eat, and water to drink?” (Dan 1:12).
Geographical Errors
An author who walked with Jesus would certainly be familiar with
the conditions around Nazareth and Jerusalem. However in GB chapter
20 it says, “Jesus went to the Sea of Galilee, and having embarked in a
ship sailed to his city of Nazareth; whereupon there was a great tempest
in the sea, insomuch that the ship was nigh unto sinking. And Jesus was
sleeping upon the prow of the ship. Then drew near to him his disciples,
and awoke him, saying: ‘O master, save thyself, for we perish!’. . . Hav-
ing arrived at the city of Nazareth the seamen spread through the city
all that Jesus had wrought, whereupon the house where Jesus was, was
surrounded by as many people who dwelt in the city” (Ragg and Ragg
1907:41). There is no way one can sail to Nazareth—it is located on a high
plateau far above the Sea of Galillee.
Then in GB chapter 21, ‘Barnabas’ reports Jesus traveling from Naza-
reth up to Capernaum. “Jesus went up to Capernaum, and as he drew near
the city behold there came out of the tombs one that was possessed of a
devil” (Ragg and Ragg 1907:43). Again, the Sea of Galilee is down from
Nazareth, not up.
Jesus returns to Nazareth in GB chapter 143, followed in the narrative
in chapter 151 by this statement: “Jesus then embarked on a ship.” In
chapter 152, it says, “Jesus having come to Jerusalem.”
Summarizing these verses, the author has Jesus and the disciples sail
by ship in and out of Nazareth, and arrive by ship at Jerusalem. This
would be a very difficult journey no doubt, because neither Nazareth nor
Jerusalem is a port city; Nazareth is twenty-five miles from navigable wa-
ter at an elevation of 1,830 feet, whereas Capernaum is located nearly 700
feet below sea level (See Luke 4:31, John 2:12.).
It may not be possible to know who wrote this hoax, but it is clear that
he knew nothing of the geography of the Holy Land.