Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 12
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 12 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 3, chapter 4 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)
1αποκριθειϲ λεγω αυτη κυρια μεγαλωϲ και θαυμαϲτωϲ εχει το πραγμα τουτο οι δε νεανιϲκοι οι εξηκοντα οι οικοδομουνταιϲ τινεϲ ειϲιν κυρια ουτοι ειϲιν οι αγιοι αγγελοι του θυ οι πρωτοι κτιϲθετεϲ οιϲ παρεδωκε ο κϲ παϲαν την κτιϲην αυτου αυξειν και οικοδομειν και δεϲποζειν τηϲ κτιϲεωϲ παϲηϲ δια τουτων τελεϲθηϲεται η οικοδομη του πυργου 2οι δε ετεροι οι παραφερον τουϲ λιθουϲ τινεϲ ειϲιν και αυτοι αγιοι αγγελοι του θυ ουτοι δε οι εξ ϋπερεχοντεϲ αυτουϲ ειϲιν ϲυντελεϲθηϲετε ου η οικοδομη του πυργου και παντεϲ ομου ευφρανθηϲεται κυκλω του πυργου και δοξαϲουϲιν τον θν οτι ετελεϲθη η οικοδομη του πυργου · 3επηρωτηϲα αυτην λεγων κυρια ηθελον γνωνε των λιθων την εξοδον και την δυναμιν αυτων ποταπη εϲτι αποκριθιϲα μοι λεγει ουχ οτι ϲυ εκ παντων αξιωτεροϲ ει ϊνα ϲοι αποκαλυφθη αλλοι γαρ προτεροι ειϲι και βελτιονεϲ ϲου οιϲ εδι αποκαλυφηναι τα οραματα ταυτα αλλ ϊνα δοξαϲθη το ονομα του θυ αποκαλυφθηϲεται δια τουϲ διψυχουϲ τουϲ διαλογειϲζομενουϲ εν τεϲ καρδιαιϲ αυτω λεγε αυτοιϲ οτι ταυτα παντα εϲτιν αληθη και ουθεν εξωθεν εϲτιν τηϲ αληθιαϲ αλʼλα παντα ϊϲυρα και βεβαια και τεθεμελιωμενα εϲτιν
1I answered and said unto her, "Lady, this thing is great and marvelous. But the six young men that build, who are they, lady?" "These are the holy angels of God, that were created first of all, unto whom the Lord delivered all His creation to increase and to build it, and to be masters of all creation. By their hands therefore the building of the tower will be accomplished." 2"And who are the others who are bringing the stones in?" "They also are holy angels of God; but these six are superior to them. The building of the tower then shall be accomplished, and all alike shall rejoice in the (completed) circle of the tower, and shall glorify God that the building of the tower was accomplished." 3I enquired of her, saying, "Lady, I could wish to know concerning the end of the stones, and their power, of what kind it is." She answered and said unto me, "It is not that thou of all men art especially worthy that it should be revealed to thee; for there are others before thee, and better than thou art, unto whom these visions ought to have been revealed. But that the name of God may be glorified, it hath been revealed to thee, all shall be revealed, for the sake of the doubtful-minded, who question in their hearts whether these things are so or not. Tell them that all these things are true, and that there is nothing beside the truth, but that all are steadfast, and valid, and established on a firm foundation.
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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