Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 15
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 15 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 3, chapter 7 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 ετερουϲ λιθουϲ ουϲ ειδεϲ μακραν απο του πυργου ριπτομενουϲ και πιπτοταϲ ειϲ την οδον και κυλιομενουϲ εκ τηϲ οδου ειϲ ταϲ ανοδιαϲ ουτοι ειϲιν οι πεπειϲτευκοτεϲ μεν απο δε τηϲ διψυχιαϲ αυτω αφιουϲιν την οδον αυτων την αληθινην δοκουτεϲ ουν βελτιονα οδον δυναϲθε ευριν πλανωντεϲ και ταλεπωρουϲι περιπατουνταιϲ εν ταιϲ ανομιαιϲ 2οι δε πιπτονταιϲ ειϲ το πυρ και κεομενοι ουτοι ειϲ τελοϲ αποϲταντεϲ του θυ του ζωτοϲ και ουκαιτι αυτοιϲ ανεβη επι την καρδιαν του μετανοηϲαι δια ταϲ επιθυμιαϲ τηϲ αϲελγιαϲ αυτων και των πονηριων ων ηργαϲαντο · 3τουϲ δε ετερουϲ τουϲ πιπτονταϲ εγγυϲ των υδατων και μη δυναμενουϲ κυλιϲθηναι ειϲ το ϋδωρ τινεϲ ειϲιν ουτοι ειϲειν οι τον λογον ακουϲανταιϲ και θελοτεϲ βαπτιϲθηναι ειϲ το ονομα του κυ ειτα οταν αυτοιϲ ελθη ειϲ μνιαν η αγνοτηϲ τηϲ αληθιαϲ μετανοουϲιν και πορευονται παλιν οπιϲω των επιθυμιων αυτων τω πονηρων · 4ετελεϲεν ουν τη εξηγηϲιν του πυργου 5ανεδευϲαμενοϲ ετι αυτην επηρωτηϲα ει αρα παντεϲ οι λιθοι ουτοι οι αποβεβλημενοι και μη αρμοζοντεϲ ειϲ τη οικοδομην του πυργου ει εϲτιν αυτοιϲ μετανοια και εχουϲιν τοπον ειϲ τον πυργον τουτον εχουϲιν φηϲιν μετανοιαν αλλα ειϲ τουτον τον πυργον ου δυνανται αρμοϲαι
1"But the other stones which thou sawest cast far away from the tower and falling into the way and rolling out of the way into the regions where there is no way, these are they that have believed, but by reason of their double heart they abandon their true way. Thus thinking that they can find a better way, they go astray and are sore distressed, as they walk about in the regions where there is no way. 2But they that fall into the fire and are burned, these are they that finally rebelled from the living God, and it no more entered into their hearts to repent by reason of the lusts of their wantonness and of the wickednesses which they wrought. 3But the others, which are near the waters and yet cannot roll into the water, wouldest thou know who are they? These are they that heard the word, and would be baptized unto the name of the Lord. Then, when they call to their remembrance the purity of the truth, they change their minds, and go back again after their evil desires." 4So she finished the explanation of the tower. 5Still importunate, I asked her further, whether for all these stones that were rejected and would not fit into the building of the tower that was repentance, and they had a place in this tower. "They can repent," she said, "but they cannot be fitted into this tower.
6ετερω δε τοπω αρμοϲουϲι πολυ ελατʼτονι κ(αι) τουτοʼ οταν βαϲανιϲθωϲιν και εκπληρωϲωϲειν ταϲ ημαιραϲ των αμαρτιων και δια τουτο μετατεθηϲονται οτι μετελαβον του ρηματοϲ του δικαιου και τοτε αυτοιϲ ϲυμβηϲεται μετατεθηναι εκ των βαϲανων αυτων δια τα εργα α ηρπαϲαντο πονηρα αιαν δε μη αναβη επι την καρδιαν αυτω ου ϲωζονται δια την ϲκηροκαρδιαν αυτων
6Yet they shall be fitted into another place much more humble, but not until they have undergone torments, and have fulfilled the days of their sins. And they shall be changed for this reason, because they participated in the Righteous Word; and then shall it befall them to be relieved from their torments, if the evil deeds, that they have done, come into their heart; but if these come not into their heart, they are not saved by reason of the hardness of their hearts."
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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