I've just been thinking about the math of your pseudepigrapha, Kenneth.
Since dating the chronology of the New Testament is based on a stone inscription tht was uncovered at Delphi, which speaks of Gallio being the proconsul in Corinth from July of 51 to July of 52 AD. This name appears in Acts 18:12, when Paul had to appear before Gallio in Corinth.
Acts 12:25-14:28 suggest that Paul's first missionary journey followed relatively soon after Paul and Barnabas' return from Jerusalem to deliver famine relief for the poor.
Since Paul was already a member of the Sanhedrin when he watched Stephen being stoned in Acts 7, he was a minimum of 30 years older, perhaps even older. Barnabas means "encourager" and as he encouraged Paul in the faith, it could possibly point to an older man mentoring the "younger Paul" who was probably somewhere between 40-50 when he traveled with Paul.
Since in Gal. 1:18 ;and 2:1 Paul describes intervals of three and fourteen years respectively between his first two trips to Jerusalem, they likely correspond to Acts 9:28 and 11:30. Even if Paul's famine relief mission in 11:30 were as late as 47 AD, this would push his conversion back to AD 30, a full 17 years earlier. But that doesn't leave much time for the events in Acts 1-8 to occur. Thus, by the time Paul and Barnabas had their trip together, Paul was likely in his early 50's. It is unlikey that Barnabas was any younger, but we could scale back his age to between 40 -50, just to err on the safe side.
So by the 2nd century AD, Barnabas would have been between 90-100, just at the turn of the century. I find it highly unlikely that he would be writing his manuscript that late in his life. And of course, they could have been copied from earlier manuscripts, but then why would there not be more extant manuscripts if what he wrote was truly inspired? Like the rest of the New Testament? Or more likely the 5th century date is the best option of all!
In fact, this pseudographepigrapha of the epistle or acts of Barnabas is a forgery and a scam. This is born out by the mistakes in the document.
Dates come primarily from:
** Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts Through Revelation.
Since dating the chronology of the New Testament is based on a stone inscription tht was uncovered at Delphi, which speaks of Gallio being the proconsul in Corinth from July of 51 to July of 52 AD. This name appears in Acts 18:12, when Paul had to appear before Gallio in Corinth.
Acts 12:25-14:28 suggest that Paul's first missionary journey followed relatively soon after Paul and Barnabas' return from Jerusalem to deliver famine relief for the poor.
Since Paul was already a member of the Sanhedrin when he watched Stephen being stoned in Acts 7, he was a minimum of 30 years older, perhaps even older. Barnabas means "encourager" and as he encouraged Paul in the faith, it could possibly point to an older man mentoring the "younger Paul" who was probably somewhere between 40-50 when he traveled with Paul.
Since in Gal. 1:18 ;and 2:1 Paul describes intervals of three and fourteen years respectively between his first two trips to Jerusalem, they likely correspond to Acts 9:28 and 11:30. Even if Paul's famine relief mission in 11:30 were as late as 47 AD, this would push his conversion back to AD 30, a full 17 years earlier. But that doesn't leave much time for the events in Acts 1-8 to occur. Thus, by the time Paul and Barnabas had their trip together, Paul was likely in his early 50's. It is unlikey that Barnabas was any younger, but we could scale back his age to between 40 -50, just to err on the safe side.
So by the 2nd century AD, Barnabas would have been between 90-100, just at the turn of the century. I find it highly unlikely that he would be writing his manuscript that late in his life. And of course, they could have been copied from earlier manuscripts, but then why would there not be more extant manuscripts if what he wrote was truly inspired? Like the rest of the New Testament? Or more likely the 5th century date is the best option of all!
In fact, this pseudographepigrapha of the epistle or acts of Barnabas is a forgery and a scam. This is born out by the mistakes in the document.
Dates come primarily from:
** Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts Through Revelation.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.