Abortion Prohibited

"Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion, nor again shalt thou kill it when it is born." This is found in the epistle of Barnabas.

As Christians, we already know that abortion is murder and sin. But, there is nothing in the canon (Bible) that is as plain as this passage in Barnabas. And when I first saw this I was elated. Finally something in writing that confirms what I believe.

We do have Exodus 21.22-25, "If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But, if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." Can we infer from this that the penalty for abortion is death?

The passage in Barnabas is plain. Abortion is prohibited. This passage is found in the part of Barnabas where he is describing the "way of light." Later he describes the "way of darkness." One could surmise that not having and abortion is light, having an abortion is darkness, eventhough Barnabas doesn't come out and say that. He does say the penalty for being in the way of darkness is eternal death. Something the canon would concur with.

What do you think?

Just thinking of the millions of abortions that have happened in this country makes me very sad.