THE TWELVE DISCIPLES

 

Barnabas' list of the twelve disciples contains some significant variations on the canonical lists and makes a fascinating comparison with them. The most significant difference to the canonical accounts is in Barnabas listing himself as one of the twelve, evidently in place of Thomas. This is a highly suggestive choice in a docetic work since Thomas is the Twin - bringing into play the 'doppleganger' motif in Barnabas' docetic Passion narrative - and also the 'Doubter' - underlining the fact that our author was probably an apostate from orthodox Christianity. Otherwise, we see that our "Barnabas" lists himself "with Matthew". This is suggestive too. Throughout early sources there is a persistent configuration of associations involving the characters: Barnabas/Barabbas - Matthew/Matthias. According to tradition Barnabas communicated the ancient text of the Gospel of Matthew to the Middle Ages.

 

On close examination of Barnabas' list we discover that Barnabas' quarrel is with Luke, particularly regarding the so-called Zealot party among the Twelve. (Simon the Zealot is missing from Barnabas) Moreover, Barnabas wants to insist that Jude and Thaddeus are different people, not the same as Luke's list suggests. On yet closer examination we discover that the whole organising principle of Barnabas' list is contra-Luke. Working in couplets, or pairs of disciples, he inverts Luke's arrangement systematically. Thus Luke has Peter and Andrew: Barnabas has Andrew and Peter in the inverse order. Luke has James and John: Barnabas has John and James. Luke has Matthew and Thomas: Barnabas has Thomas (Barnabas) and Matthew.