Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 11
Introduction
This entry meets the strict three-criteria standard of the Theosis Library:
- Manuscript scan: The actual folio(s) of Codex Sinaiticus containing this chapter, from the Codex Sinaiticus Project (codexsinaiticus.org). Each section links to the specific folio holding its verses.
- Original text: The Codex Sinaiticus Project's verbatim transcription of the folio shown (uncial letters, lunate sigma, nomina sacra preserved).
- English translation: J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers (1891), public domain, retrieved verbatim from Lightfoot 1891 via earlychristianwritings.com transcription.
Numbering: Chapter 11 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 3, chapter 3 in Lightfoot's traditional division, which the English column follows.
Why this is here: Codex Sinaiticus binds this text after Revelation, alongside the canonical books. Reading it on the same parchment as the Gospels is primary evidence for how a 4th-century Christian community treated it.
How was this verified? (Provenance)
1διξαϲα μοι ταυτα ηθελεν αποτρεχειν λεγω αυτη κυρια τι μοι ωφελοϲ ταυτα εωρακοτι και μη γινωϲκοτι τι εϲτιν τα πραγματα αποκριθιϲα μοι λεγει · πανουργοϲ ι ανε̣ θελων γεινωϲκι τα περι τον πυργο ναι φημι κυρια ϊνα τοιϲ αδελφοιϲ αναγγειλω και ακουϲαντεϲ γεινωϲκουϲιν τον κν εν πολλη δοξη 2εφη ακουϲοντε με πολλοι · ακουϲαντεϲ δε τινεϲ εξ αυτων χαριϲονται τινεϲ δε κλαυϲοται αλλα και αυτοι εαν ακουϲωϲιν κ(αι) μετανοηϲωϲιν χαρηϲονται · ακουαι ουν ταϲ παραβολαϲ του πυργου αποκαλυψω γαρ ϲοι παντα και μηκαιτι μοι κοπουϲ παρεχε περι αποκαλυψεωϲ αι γαρ αποκαλυψειϲ αυται τελοϲ εχουϲιν επληρωμενε γαρ ειϲιν αλλ ου παυϲη αιτουμενοϲ αποκαλυψειν ανεδη γαρ ει 3ο μεν πυργοϲ ον βλεπειϲ οικοδομουμενον εγω ειμι η εκκληϲια η οφθιϲα ϲοι και νυν και το προτερον · ο αν ουν θεληϲηϲ επερωτα περι του πυργου και αποκαλυψω ϲοι εινα χαρηϲ με των αγιω 4λεγω αυτη κυρια επι απαξ αξιον με ηγηϲω του παντα μοι αποκαλυψαι αποκαλυψον η δε λεγει ο εαν δεχητε ϲοι αποκαλυφθηναι αποκαλυφθηϲεται μονον η καρδια ϲου περι τον θν ητω και μη διψυχηϲειϲ ο αν ειδηϲ 5επηρωτηϲα αυτη διατι ο πυργοϲ επι υδατων ωκοδομιται κυρια ειπα ϲοι φηϲιν και το προτερον και εκζητιϲ επιμελωϲ εκζητων ουν ευριϲκειϲ την αληθιαν διατι ουν επι ϋδατων ωκοδομηται ο πυργοϲ ακουε οτι η ζωη ϋμων δια ϋδατοϲ εϲωθη και ϲωθηϲεται · τεθεμελιωται δε ο πυργοϲ τω ρηματι του πατοκρατοροϲ και εδοξου ονοματοϲ κρατιτε δε υπο τηϲ αωρατου δυναμεωϲ του δεϲποτου
1When she had shown me these things, she wished to hurry away. I say to her, "Lady, what advantage is it to me to have seen these things, and yet not to know what the things mean? "She answered and said unto me, "Thou art an over-curious fellow, in desiring to know all that concerns the tower." "Yea, lady," I said, "that I may announce it to my brethren, and that they [may be the more gladdened and] when they hear [these things] they may know the Lord in great glory." Then said she, 2"Many shall hear; but when they hear, some of them shall be glad, and others shall weep. Yet even these latter, if they hear and repent, shall likewise be glad. Hear thou therefore the parables of the tower; for I will reveal all things unto thee. And trouble me no more about revelation; for these revelations have an end, seeing that they have been completed. Nevertheless thou wilt not cease asking for revelations; for thou art shameless." 3The tower, which thou seest building, is myself, the Church, which was seen of thee both now and aforetime. Ask, therefore, what thou willest concerning the tower, and I will reveal it unto thee, that thou mayest rejoice with the saints." 4I say unto her, "Lady, since thou didst hold me worthy once for all, that thou shouldest reveal all things to me, reveal them." Then she saith to me, "Whatsoever is possible to be revealed to thee, shall be revealed. Only let thy heart be with God, and doubt not in thy mind about that which thou seest." 5I asked her, "Wherefore is the tower builded upon waters, lady?" "I told thee so before," said she, "and indeed thou dost enquire diligently. So by thy enquiry thou discoverest the truth. Hear then why the tower is builded upon waters; it is because your life is saved and shall be saved by water. But the tower has been founded by the word of the Almighty and Glorious Name, and is strengthened by the unseen power of the Master."
Cite
Source & Cross-References
- Source text: Codex Sinaiticus folio + transcription (codexsinaiticus.org) + J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers (1891) — view original
- Critical edition: Tischendorf 8th edition (1869) / Codex Sinaiticus transcription
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