Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 13
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 13 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 3, chapter 5 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.
Numbering: English verses 6, 7 have no Greek under that number in the codex as transcribed. Compare by content.
How was this verified? (Provenance)
1ακουε νυν περι των λιθων των υπαγοτων ειϲ την οικοδομην οι μεν ου λιθοι οι τετραγωνοι και λευκοι κ(αι) ϲυμφωνουντεϲ ταιϲ αρμογαιϲ αυτω ουτοι ειϲιν οι αποϲτολοι και επιϲκοποι και διδαϲκαλοι και διακονοι οι πορευθεντεϲ κατα την ϲεμνοτητα του θυ και επιϲκοπηϲαντεϲ και διδαξαντεϲ και διακονηϲαντεϲ αγνωϲ και ϲεμνωϲ τοιϲ εκλεκτοιϲ του θυ οι με κεκοιμημενοι οι δε ετι οντεϲ και παντοται αυτοιϲ ϲυμφωνηϲαντεϲ και εν εαυτοιϲ ιρηνην εϲχαν το εν τη οικοδομη του πυργου ϲυμφωνουϲιν αι αρμογαι αυτων 2οι δε εκ του βυθου εκομενοι και επιτειθεμενοι και ϲυμφωνουντεϲ τεϲ αρμογεϲ αυτων μετα των αιτερων λιθων των ηδη οικοδομουμενων τινεϲ ειϲιν · ουτοι ειϲιν οι παθοντεϲ ενεκεν του ονοματοϲ του θυ · 3τουϲ δε ετερουϲ λιθουϲ τουϲ φερομενουϲ επι τηϲ ξηραϲ θελω γνωναι τινεϲ ειϲειν κυρια · εφη τουϲ μεν ειϲ την οικοδομην υπαγονταϲ και μη λατομουμενουϲ τουτουϲ ο κϲ εδοκιμαϲεν οτι επορευθηϲαν εν τη ευθυτητι του κυ και κατορθωϲαντο ταϲ εντολαϲ αυτου 4οι δε αγομενοι και τιθεμενοι ειϲ την οικοδομην τινεϲ ειϲιν νεοι ειϲιν εν τη πιϲτι και πιϲτοι νουθετουνται δε υπο των αγγελων ειϲ το αγαθοποιειν διοτι ευρεθη εν αυτοιϲ πονηρια 5ουϲ δε απεβαλλον και εριπτουν τινεϲ ειϲιν · ουτοι ειϲιν ημαρτηκοτεϲ και θελονταιϲ μετανοηϲαι δια τουτο μακραν ουκ απεριφηϲαν εξω του πυργου οτι εχρηϲτοι εϲονται ειϲ την οικοδομην εαν μετανοηϲωϲιν οι ου μελʼλοντεϲ μετανοει εαν μετανοηϲουϲιν ϊϲχυροι εϲονται εν τη πιϲτι · εαν νυν μετανοηϲωϲιν εν ω οικοδομιται ο πυργοϲ εαν δε τελεϲθη η οικοδομη ουκαιτι εχουϲιν τοπον αλλ εϲονται εκβολοι μονον δε τουτο εχουϲιν παρα τω πυργω κιϲθαι
1But wouldst thou know about them that are broken in pieces, and cast away far from the tower? These are the sons of lawlessness. They received the faith in hypocrisy, and no wickedness was absent from them. Therefore they have not salvation, for they are not useful for building by reason of their wickednesses. Therefore they were broken up and thrown far away by reason of the wrath of the Lord, for they excited Him to wrath. 2But the rest whom thou hast seen lying in great numbers, not going to the building, of these they that are mildewed are they that knew the truth, but did not abide in it, nor cleave to the saints. Therefore they are useless." 3"But they that have the cracks, who are they?" "These are they that have discord in their hearts against one another, and are not at peace among themselves; who have an appearance of peace, but when they depart from one another, their wickednesses abide in their hearts. These are the cracks which the stones have. 4But they that are broken off short, these have believed, and have their greater part in righteousness, but have some parts of lawlessness; therefore they are too short, and are not perfect." 5"But the white and round stones, which did not fit into the building, who are they, lady?" She answered and said to me, "How long art thou foolish and stupid, and enquirest everything, and understandest nothing? These are they that have faith, but have also riches of this world. When tribulation cometh, they deny their Lord by reason of their riches and their business affairs."
[Not present in Codex Sinaiticus as transcribed by the Codex Sinaiticus Project. The English is shown for reference.]
6And I answered and said unto her, "When then, lady, will they be useful for the building?" "When," she replied, "their wealth, which leadeth their souls astray, shall be cut away, then will they be useful for God. For just as the round stone, unless it be cut away, and lose some portion of itself, cannot become square, so also they that are rich in this world, unless their riches be cut away, cannot become useful to the Lord. 7Learn first from thyself When thou hadst riches, thou wast useless; but now thou art useful and profitable unto life. Be ye useful unto God, for thou thyself also art taken from the same stones.
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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