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Joseph Barnabas was identified in the early Church at Jerusalem as a “Son of Encouragement”. He helped the ministry of the Apostles in meeting the needs of the Church members by making funds available (Acts 4:36). He went on to be the co-worker with the Apostle Paul in missionary efforts that resulted in the swift expansion of the Church. In fact, he was the one instrumental in encouraging Paul into the teaching ministry in Antioch (Acts 11:26). When Paul did not want the deserter John Mark (Acts 15:37) to continue in their missionary efforts, Barnabas chose to work with John in a separate missionary effort. He chose the encouragement way for John rather than the discipline way in restoring John. He was truly a “Son of Encouragement” in the early Church.

For this reason, Tertullian (160 – 220 AD), a prolific early Christian writer, suggested that Joseph Barnabas must have written the book of Hebrews since the expressed purpose of the author was to write a “word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22). True enough, Hebrews is a letter of exhortation and encouragement to the earlier believers who were seriously considering leaving the Christian faith. He encouraged them to press on by “fixing their eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”. He informed them that there was a “great cloud of witnesses” cheering them on as they “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb. 12:1). He could have chosen the way of scolding and discipline (often used by Apostle Paul) but chose to be a “Son of Encouragement” to the persecuted and suffering “Hebrews” Christians. So perhaps, Barnabas did write the book of Hebrews.

Encouragement to fellow Christians is a much needed virtue for us to have as we live the Christian Life. We who are maturing well in our Christian faith can sometimes have little patience on those who are struggling and seem to be left behind. We tend to use the “scolding and discipline” way in meeting out a solution to such cases with our “Aiyoh, she always like that – cannot change lah”. We can learn from Barnabas that the better way is the way of encouragement. We go alongside the weaker person and lift him up – over and over again. Hebrews 10:25 teaches us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”. Let us practice the Barnabas way of encouragement and so build up Bethesda (Katong) Church to be a strong and united witness for God.