Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 16
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 16 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 3, chapter 8 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)
1οτε ου επαυϲαμην ερωτων αυτην περι παντων τουτω λεγει μοι θελιϲ αλλο ϊδειν κατεπιθυμοϲ ων του θεαϲαϲθαι περιχαρηϲ εγενομην του ϊδιν 2βλεψαϲα μοι επεμιδιαϲεν κ(αι) λεγει μοι βλεπιϲ επτα γυναικαϲ κυκλω του πυργου βλεπω φημι κυρια ο πυργοϲ ϋπο τουτων βαϲταζεται κατ επιταγην του κυ 3ακουε νυν ταϲ ενεργιαϲ αυτων η μεν πρωτη αυτων η κραταουϲα ταϲ χιραϲ πιϲτιϲ κρατιται δια ταυτην ϲωζονται οι εκλεκτοι του θυ 4η δε ετερα η περιεϲζωϲμενη και αδριζομενη ενκρατια καλιται αυτη θυγατηρ εϲτιν τηϲ πιϲτεωϲ οϲ αν ουν ακολουθηϲη αυτη μακαριοϲ γεινεται εν τη ζωη αυτου οτι παντων τω πονηρων εργω αφεξεται και παϲηϲ επιθυμιαϲ πονηραϲ και κληρονομηϲη ζωην ανιωνιον 5αι δε ετερε κυρια τινεϲ ειϲιν θυγατερεϲ αλληλων ειϲιν καλουνται δε η μεν απλοτηϲ η δε επιϲτημη η δε ακακια η δε ϲεμνοτηϲ η δε αγαπη οταν ουν τα εργα τηϲ μητροϲ μητροϲ αυτων παντα ποιηϲ δυναϲθαι ζηϲαι
1When then I ceased asking her concerning all these things, she saith to me; "Wouldest thou see something else?" Being very desirous of beholding, I was greatly rejoiced that I should see it. 2She looked upon me, and smiled, and she saith to me, "Seest thou seven women round the tower?" "I see them, lady," say I. "This tower is supported by them by commandment of the Lord. 3Hear now their employments. The first of them, the woman with the strong hands, is called Faith; through her are saved the elect of God. 4And the second, that is girded about and looketh like a man, is called Continence; she is the daughter of Faith. Whosoever then shall follow her, becometh happy in his life, for he shall refrain from all evil deeds, believing that, if he refrain from every evil desire, he shall inherit eternal life." 5"And the others, lady, who be they?" "They are daughters one of the other. The name of the one is Simplicity, of the next, Knowledge, of the next, Guilelessness, of the next, Reverence, of the next, Love. When then thou shalt do all the works of their mother, thou canst live."
6ηθελον φημι γνωναι κυρια τιϲ τινα δυναμι εχει αυτων ακουε φηϲιν ταϲ δυναμιϲ αϲ εχουϲιν · 7κρατουνται δε απ αλληλων αι δυναμιϲ αυτων κ(αι) ακολουθουϲιν αλληλαιϲ καθωϲ και γεγεννημαιναι ειϲιν εκ τηϲ πιϲτεωϲ γενναται ενκρατια εκ τηϲ ενκατιαϲ απλοτηϲ εκ τηϲ απλοτηϲ εκ τηϲ τοϲ ακακια · εκ τηϲ ακακιαϲ ϲεμνοτηϲ εκ τηϲ ϲεμνοτητοϲ επιϲτημη εκ τηϲ επιϲτημηϲ αγαπη τουτων τα εργα αγνα και ϲεμνα και θια εϲτιν 8οϲ αν ου δουλευϲη ταυταιϲ και ϊϲχυϲη κρατηϲαι των εργων αυτων εν τω πυργω εξι την κατοικηϲιν μετα τω αγιων του θυ 9επηρωτων δε αυτην περι των κ(αι)ρων ει ηδη ϲυντελια εϲτιν η δε ανεκραγε φω>νη μεγαιλη λεγουϲα αϲυνεται ανθρωπαι ουχ οραϲ τον πυργον ετι οικοδομουμενον οϲ εαν ϲυντελεϲθη ο πυργοϲ οικοδομουμενον οϲ εαν ουν τελεϲ̣θ̣η̣ ο πυργοϲ χι τελοϲ αλλα ταχυ εποικοδομηθηϲεται μηκαιτι μαι επερωτα μηδεν αρκετοι η υπομνηϲιϲ αυτη και τοιϲ αγιοιϲ και η ανακαινωϲειϲ των πνευματω ϋμων 10αλλ ου ϲοι μονω απεκαλυφθη αλλ ϊνα παϲιν δηλωϲειϲ αυτα
6"I would fain know, lady," I say, "what power each of them possesseth." "Listen then," saith she, "to the powers which they have. 7Their powers are mastered each by the other, and they follow each other, in the order in which they were born. From Faith is born Continence, from Continence Simplicity, from Simplicity Guilelessness, from Guilelessness Reverence, from Reverence Knowledge, from Knowledge Love. Their works then are pure and reverent and divine. 8Whosoever therefore shall serve these women, and shall have strength to master their works, shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God." 9Then I asked her concerning the seasons, whether the consummation is even now. But she cried aloud, saying, "Foolish man, seest thou not that the tower is still a-building? Whensoever therefore the tower shall be finished building, the end cometh; but it shall be built up quickly. Ask me no more questions: this reminder is sufficient for you and for the saints, and is the renewal of your spirits. 10But it was not revealed to thyself alone, but in order that thou mightest show these things unto all. After three days--
11μετα τριϲ ημαιραϲ νοηϲετε γαρ δει πρωτον ερμα τα ρηματα ταυτα α ϲοι μελλω λεγειν λαληϲε αυτα ειϲ τα ωτα τω αγιων εινα ακουϲαντεϲ αυτα και ποιηϲανταιϲ καθαριϲωϲιν απο των πονηριων αυτω και ϲυ δε μετ αυτω
11for thou must understand first, and I charge thee, Hermas, first with these words, which I am about to speak to thee--(I charge thee to) tell all these things into the ears of the saints, that hearing them and doing them they may be purified from their wickednesses, and thyself also with them."
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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