The apostle Barnabas says, “From the portion I have received, I have done my diligence to send to you little by little.” Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.354.
Barnabas says mystically, “May God, who rules the universe, also vouchsafe wisdom to you.” Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.366.
The apostolic Barnabas (he was one of the Seventy and a fellow-worker of Paul) speaks in these words: “Before we believed in God, the dwelling-place of our heart was unstable.” Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.372.
Barnabas, too, who in person preached the Word along with the apostle in the ministry of the Gentiles, says, “I write to you most simply, that you may understand.” Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.459.
The same is declared by Barnabas in his Epistle, where he says there are two ways—one of light and one of darkness. Origen (c. 225, E), 4.332.
In the general Epistle of Barnabas, from which perhaps Celsus took the statement that the apostles were notoriously wicked men, it is recorded that “Jesus elected his own apostles as persons who were more guilty of sin than all other evildoers.” And in the Gospel according to Luke, Peter says to Jesus, “Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Origen (c. 248, E), 4.424; see also 2.355, 2.362.