# Epistle of Barnabas 8.5

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Epistle of Barnabas](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/) (*Epistula Barnabae*)
- Date: ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:368–370; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 340–407 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912), digitized by the Perseus Digital Library and published by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/8/5/

Summary: The wool on the stick means Jesus reigns from the cross.

## Greek text

ὅτι δὲ τὸ ἔριον ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον; ὅτι ἡ βασιλεία Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ξύλου, καὶ ὅτι οἱ ἐλπίζοντες ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ζήσονται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

## English translation (Claude)

And why is the wool on the stick? Because the kingdom of Jesus is on the tree, and because those who hope in him will live forever.

## Citation (SBL)

Barn. 8.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/8/5/).