another important aspect about proto-orthodox christianity involves its views on jews and jewish practices. an important book for them was the epistle of barnabas, which taught that the jewish interpretation of the old testament was improperly literal, while the epistle offered metaphorical interpretations as the truth, such as on laws concerning diet, fasting, and the sabbath, moreover, that the old testament was specifically written to presage the coming of jesus, and that not only did christ's covenant supersede the mosaic covenant, but that "the jews had always adhered to a false religion".