Evening star., 1923-08-25

Every mountain range has lofty
peaks whose great heights are not
realized because of their close prox-
unity to some higher mountain. His
tory's pages record how many heroic
souls have been overshadowed be-
cause of their fellowship with somo
one of Gods great men. Barnabas
was such a man. Probably no other
personality in the history of the early
church has been more misunderstood
than Joseph, the Levite from Cyprus.
whom the apostles named Barnabas
the son of exhortation," though the
Greek covers the idea of consolation
and of encouragement.
While there Is a day set apart to
his memory in the church calendar,
it is doubtful if he is honored as he
deserves to be by modern Christians.
The failure to give Barnabas mis-
proper place is probably due 10 the
fact that he was associated with the
brilliant apostle to the Gentiles 1t
is the irony of fate that this great
hearted soul. who gave Paul his OPP
portunity. should have been eclipsed
by his Collea cues greatness. Another
reason probably is the fact that we
nabas that can throw light upon his
character. Some have tried to find
material in the Epistle of Barnabas.
which, while written by one of that
name. was in all probability not in
srribed by Joseph Barnabas. It's hos
tilitY to the Mosaic law indicates that
fact. The suggestion of Tertuliian
and others that he was the author OF
the Epistlc ta the Hebrews has much
in its favor, while the claim. made by
d modern scholar that Barnabas was
the author of Peter has apparently
no foundation.
While We have no personal writings
OF Barnabas to help US appreciate his
worth, the records given US by Luke
and Paul reveal that he was one of
New Testament. While one might
hesitate 10 place him, as did Renan.
next to Faul. there can be no doubt
but that Barnabas was one of the
foremost and most potent factors of
the early church.
He gained distinction in the Mother
Church by his generosity. While
originally the Levites were not al
| lowed to hold land. the regulation
was not always enforced as they were
permitted to purchase or inherit real
estate. Joseph, the Cyprian Levite.
owned farm. This would indica te
that he was man Of wealth. He
revealed his great heart by selling all
his property and donating the entire
proceeds toward the support of the
poor. who were found in great num-
! berS in the Jerusalem church The
socialism that marked the life of the
church at that period was not of d
compulsory nature for each had a
right to keep his own. Love prompted
his generous gifts for the relief fund
of the church.
He met the acid test OF fellowship by
giving his all To relieve the pressing
needs of those who were suffering the
pangs of poverty. because of their loyal
~ 10 the Christ. The apostles rccog
nized his generous personality when
they called him Barnabas While
scholars differ as TO the real meaning
of his name, whether it is son OF exhor-
tation, consolation or announcement.
there is no question Of the fact that the
nioneer philanthropiSt proved his
worthiness of the title given. 1t was hIs
heart power that made him generous.
II was the source of his success as d
prophet, preacher and apostle.
Renan says that ''after ST. Paul he
was the most active missionary of the
first century" His entrance upon q mis-
sionary career grew out of the persecu-
ton that followed the death of stephen.
The disciples. who were scattered
abroad. went everywhere preaching the
gospel. Men of Cyprus and CSrene
carried the doctrines of Christianity 10
Antioch. There they "spake unto the
Greeks also. preaching the Lord Jesus
The establishing of Greek Church in
Antioch created delicate situation II
demanded an investiga tion by the
Jerusalem church. The man chosen 10
look into the affairs of the Antioch
church was Barnabas. He was "gooc
man for the task. He came from
Cyprus and probably knew many of the
leaders in the movement that resultec
in the organizing of the Greek Church
in Antioch. 1t was tribute to the
character and capacity OF Barnabas
when all the various elements of the