I had already cited the Epistle of Barnbas's interest in Eliezer and the number 318 as well as that of Clement of Alexandria (Strom. 6.11). Yet I couldn't help wondering - was the interest in all of this just some historical curiosity or something fundamental to Christianity? I discovered the obvious clue that Lazarus's role was indeed that significant in a number of books I looked up on line:
The early Christian poet Prudentius refers to this number of Abraham's servants in his Psychomachia, and adds that we, too, may be rich in servants, and successful in our conflicts if we only comprehend the mystica figura of the number 318 ... [we may] conclude that the Council of Nicaea and its 318 bishops there assembled was the reference intended, and that the Nicene Creed was the mystica figura which should so greatly avail us ; being that whereby the great opponent Arius was routed by the 318 bishops, and whereby we should prevail also if we held it fast to the end. [Biblical Cabalistica p. 10]
Why did the Council of Nicaea choose to identify itself as being a body of 318 members when the reality was the number of was actually much closer to 200? I suspect that Barnbas and Clement would tell us that the Eliezer the slave of Abraham was the original symbol of the Church?
How can it be that Eliezer would symbolize the whole body of Christianity? Well, when you really think about it Eliezer is identified as a 'body' made up of many men. In Genesis 14:14 Eliezer isn't even mentioned by name. He is simply identified as 318 trained men. In this way you can see that there is an obvious parallel with what is said in the Apostolikon (the 'writings of Paul') where a collection of men are described as one man 'Christ.' I am fairly certain that the apostle developed his idea of the ἐκκλησία might have developed from the mystical significance of Eliezer in the baptism ritual.
I have cited the important reference from Barnabas many times now. Yet for the first time I think I actually understand it:
For the scripture saith; And Abraham circumcised of his household eighteen males and three hundred. What then was the knowledge given unto him? Understand ye that He saith the eighteen first, and then after an interval three hundred. In the eighteen 'I' stands for ten, 'H' for eight. Here thou hast JESUS (IHSOYS). And because the cross in the 'T' was to have grace, He saith also three hundred. So He revealeth Jesus in the two letters, and in the remaining one the cross. He who placed within us the innate gift of His covenant knoweth; no man hath ever learnt from me a more genuine word; but I know that ye are worthy [Barnabas 9:7 -9]
As the Jewish Encyclopedia notes, Barnabas is referencing the ritual washing and circumcision of the 318 men of Abraham's household, the same 318 men that together are the angelic hypostasis Eliezer (i.e. Lazarus).
Indeed, the Jewish Encyclopedia also points us to Genesis 17:27 and says that the ancient sages understood this to be a second reference to the 318 that are Eliezer:
Also on that day all the men in Abraham's camp were circumcised, including all those born in his camp and all the slaves he had bought from other nations. [Gen 17:27]
Clearly then the assumption is that Eliezer is the the one being baptized here. The fact that this is immediately followed by God's promise to Abraham regarding the birth of his son is indeed quite significant.
