Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 17
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 17 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 3, chapter 9 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)
1ακουϲατε μου τεκνα εγω ϋμαϲ εξεθρεψα εν πολλη απλοτητι και ακακια και ϲεμνοτητι δια το ελεοϲ του κυ του εφ υμαϲ ϲτεναξατεϲ την δικαιοϲυνην ϊνα δικαιωθηται και αγιαϲθητε απο παϲηϲ πονηριαϲ και απο παϲηϲ ϲκολιοτητοϲ ϋμιϲ δε ου θελεται παηνε απο τηϲ πονηριαϲ υμων 2νυν ουν ακουϲατε μ(ου) και ειρηνευεται εν αυτοιϲ και επιϲκεπτεϲθαι αλληλουϲ και αντιλαμβανεϲθαι αλληλω και μη μονοι τα κτιϲματα του θυ μεταλαμβανετε εκ καταχυματοϲ αλλα μεταδιδοται και τοιϲ ϋϲτερημενοιϲ 3οι μεν γαρ απο των πολλω εδεϲματων αϲθενιαν τη ϲαρκι επιετωνται και λυμενι την ϲαρκαν αυτων των δε μη εχοντων εδεϲματα λυμενεται η ϲαρξ δια το μη εχειν το αρκετον τηϲ τροφηϲ και διαφθειρετε το ϲωμα αυτων 4αυτη ουν η αϲυνκραϲια βλαβερα ϋμιν τοιϲ εχουϲι και μη μεταδιδουϲιν τοιϲ ϋϲτερουμενοιϲ · 5βλεπετε την κριϲιν την επερχομενην οι ϋπερεχοντεϲ ουν εκζητιται τουϲ πινωνταϲ εωϲ ουπω ο πυργοϲ τελεϲθη μετα γαρ το τελεϲθηναι τον πυργον θεληϲεται αγαθοποιειν και ουκ εξετε τοπον
1"Hear me, my children. I brought you up in much simplicity and guilelessness and reverence, through the mercy of the Lord, Who instilled righteousness into you, that ye might be justified and sanctified from all wickedness and all crookedness. But ye will not to cease from your wickedness. 2Now then hear me and be at peace among yourselves, and have regard one to another, and assist one another, and do not partake of the creatures of God alone in abundance, but share them also with those that are in want. 3For some men through their much eating bring weakness on the flesh, and injure their flesh: whereas the flesh of those who have nought to eat is injured by their not having sufficient nourishment, and their body is ruined. 4This exclusiveness therefore is hurtful to you that have and do not share with them that are in want. 5Look ye to the judgment that cometh. Ye then that have more than enough, seek out them that are hungry, while the tower is still unfinished; for after the tower is finished, ye will desire to do good, and will find no place for it.
6βλεπετε ουν ϋμειϲ οι γαυριωμενοι εν τω πλουτω υμων μηποτε ϲτεναξουϲιν οι ϋϲτερουμενοι και ο ϲτεναγμοϲ αυτω αναβηϲεται προϲ τον κν και εκκλιϲθηϲεϲθαι μετα των αγαθων ϋμω εξω τηϲ θυραϲ του πυργου · 7νυν ουν ϋμειν λεγω τοιϲ προηγουμενοιϲ τηϲ εκκληϲιαϲ κ(αι) τοιϲ πρωτοκαθεδριειϲ · μη γεινεϲθαι ομοιοι τοιϲ φαρμακοιϲ ˙ οι φαρμακοι με μεν ου τα φαρμακα εαυτω ειϲ ταϲ πυξιδαϲ βαϲταζουϲιν υμιϲ δε το φαρμακον ϋμων και τον ϊο ειϲ την καρδιαν 8ενεϲκιρωμενοι εϲτε και ου θελεται καθαριϲαι ταϲ καρδιαϲ υμων κ(αι) την φρονηϲειν επι το αυτο εν καθαρα καρδια ϊνα ϲχητε ελεοϲ παρα του βαϲιλεωϲ του μεγαλου 9βλεπετε ουν τεκνα μηποται αυται ε διχοϲταϲιαι αυται αποϲτερηϲουϲι την ζωην ϋμω 10πωϲ ϋμιϲ παιδευειν θελεται τουϲ εκλεκτουϲ κυ αυτοι μη εχοντεϲ πεδιαν παιδευετε ουν αλληλουϲ κ(αι) ειρηνευεται εν αυτοιϲ ϊνα καγω κατεναντι του πατροϲ ϊλαρα ϲταθιϲα λογον αποδω ϋπερ ημων παντω τω κω ημων ·
6Look ye therefore, ye that exult in your wealth, lest they that are in want shall moan, and their moaning shall go up unto the Lord, and ye with your [abundance of good things be shut outside the door of the tower. 7Now therefore I say unto you that are rulers of the Church, and that occupy the chief seats; be not ye like unto the sorcerers. The sorcerers indeed carry their drugs in boxes, but ye carry your drug and your poison in your heart. 8Ye are case-hardened, and ye will not cleanse your hearts and mix your wisdom together in a clean heart, that ye may obtain mercy from the Great King. 9Look ye therefore, children, lest these divisions of yours deprive you of your life. 10How is it that ye wish to instruct the elect of the Lord, while ye yourselves have no instruction? Instruct one another therefore, and have peace among yourselves, that I also may stand gladsome before the Father, and give an account concerning you all to your Lord."
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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