Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 14
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 14 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 3, chapter 6 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)
1τουϲ δε κατακοπτομενουϲ απο του πυργου θελιϲ γνωνε ουτοι ειϲιν οι υ̇ϊοι τηϲ ανομιαϲ · επιϲτευϲαν δε εν ϋποκριϲι και παϲα πονηρια ουκ απεϲτη απ αυτων δια τουτο ουκ εχουϲιν ϲωτηριαν οτι ουκ ειϲιν ευχρηϲτοι ειϲ οικοδομην δια ταϲ πονηριαϲ αυτων δια τουτο ϲυεκοπηϲαν και πορω απεριφηϲαν δια την οργην του κυ οτι παρωργιϲα αυτον 2τουϲ δε ετερουϲ ουϲ εωρακαϲ πολʼλουϲ κιμενουϲ υπαγονταϲ ειϲ την οικοδομην ουτοι οι με εψωριακοτεϲ ειϲι οι εγνωκοτεϲ την αληθιαν · μη επιμενοντεϲ δε εν αυτη 3οι δε ταϲ ϲχιϲμαϲ εχοντεϲ τινεϲ ειϲιν · ουτοι ειϲιν οι κατ αλληλων εν τεϲ καρδιαιϲ εχοντεϲ και μη ειρηνευονταιϲ εν εαυτοιϲ αλλα προϲωπον ϊρηνηϲ εχοντεϲ οταν δε απ αλληλων αποχωρηϲωϲιν αι πονηριαι αυτων εν ταιϲ καρδιαιϲ εμμενουϲιν αυται ουν αι ϲχιϲμαι ειϲιν αϲ εχουϲιν οι λιθοι 4οι δε κεκολοβωμενοι ουτοι ειϲιν πεπιϲτευκοτεϲ και το πλιον μεροϲ εχουϲι εν τη δικαιοϲυνη τινα δε μερη εχουϲιν τηϲ αναμιαϲ δια τουτο κολοβοι και ουχ ολοτελιϲ ειϲιν · 5οι δε λευκοι και ϲτρογγυλοι και μη αρμοζοντεϲ ειϲ την οικοδομην τινεϲ ειϲιν κυρια αποκριθιϲα μοι λεγει εωϲ ποτε μωροϲ ει και αϲυνετοϲ και παντα επερωταϲ και ουδεν νοειϲ ουτοι ειϲιν εχοντεϲ μεν πιϲτιν εχοντεϲ δε και πλουτον αυτων και δια ταϲ πραγματιαϲ απαρνουντε τον κν αυτων
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."
6και αποκριθειϲ αυτη λεγω κυρια ποτε ουν ευχρηϲτοι εϲονται ειϲ την οικοδομον οταν φηϲιν περικοπη αυτων ο πλουτοϲ ο ψυχαγωγων αυτουϲ τοτε ευχρηϲτοι εϲονται τω θω ωϲπερ ο λιθοϲ ο ϲτρογγυλοϲ εαν μη περικοπη και αποβαλη εξ αυτου τι ου δυναται τετραγωνοι γενεϲθαι ουτω κ(αι) οι πλουτουνταιϲ εν τουτω τω αιωνι εαν μη περικοπη αυτων ο πλουτοϲ ου δυνανται τω κω ευχρηϲτοι γενεϲθαι 7απο ϲεαυτου πρωτον γνωθι οτε επλουτιϲ αχρηϲτοϲ ε ηϲ νυν δε ευχρηϲτοϲ ει και ωφελιμοϲ τη ζωη · ευχρηϲτοι γεινεϲθε τω θω ·
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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