Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 2
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 2 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 1, chapter 2 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)
1μετα το λαληϲαι αυτην τα ρηματα ταυτα εκλιϲθηϲαν οι ουρανοι καγω ολοϲ ημην πεφρικωϲ και λυπουμενοϲ ελεγον δε εν εμαυτω η αυτη μοι η αμαρτια αναγραφεται πωϲ δυνηϲομαι ϲωθηναι η πωϲ εξϊλαϲομαι τον θν περι των αμαρτιω μου των τελιων ποιοιϲ ρημαϲιν ερωτηϲω τον κν ϊνα ϊλατευϲητε μοι 2ταυτα μου ϲυμβουλευομενου και διακρινοντοϲ εν καρδια μου βλεπω κατεναντι μου καθεδραν λευκη εξ εριων γενγονυϊαν μεγαλην και ηλθεν γυνη πρεϲβυτειϲ εν ϊματιϲμα λαμπρωτατω εχουϲα βιβλιον ειϲ ταϲ χιραϲ και εκαθιϲε μονη και αϲπαζεται μαι ερμα χεραι καγω λυπουμενοϲ και χαιρω ειπον κυρια χαιρε 3και ειπεν μοι τι ϲτυγνοϲ ερμαϲ ο μακροθυμοϲ ο αϲτομαχητοϲ ο παντοτε γελω τι ουτω κατιφηϲ τη ϊδεα και ουχ ϊλαροϲ · καγω ειπο αυτη υπο γυνεκοϲ αγαθωτατηϲ λεγουϲηϲ οτι ημαρτον ειϲ αυτην 4η δε εφη · μηδαμωϲ επι τον δουλον του θυ το πραγμα τουτο αλλα παντωϲ επι την καρδιαν ϲου ανεβη περι αυτηϲ · εϲτιν μεν τοιϲ δουλοιϲ του θυ η τοιαυτη βουλη αμαρτιαν επιφερουϲα πονηρα γαρ βουλη και εκπληκτοϲ ειϲ πανϲεμνον πνευμα και ηδη δεδοκιμαϲμενο εαν επιθυμηϲη πονηρον εργον και μαλιϲτα ερμαϲ ο ενκρατηϲ ο απεχομενοϲ παϲηϲ επιθυμιαϲ πονηραϲ και πληρηϲ παϲηϲ απλοτητοϲ και ακακιαϲ μεγαληϲ
1As soon as she had spoken these words the heavens were shut and I was given over to horror and grief Then I said within myself "If this sin is recorded against me, how can I be saved? Or how shall I propitiate God for my sins which are full-blown? Or with which words shall I entreat the Lord that He may be propitious unto me? 2While I was advising and discussing these matters in my heart, I see, before me a great white chair of snow-white wool; and there came an aged lady in glistening raiment, having a book in her hands, and she sat down alone, and she saluted me, "Good morrow, Hermas." Then I grieved and weeping, said, "Good morrow, lady." 3And she said to me "Why so gloomy, Hermas, thou that art patient and good-tempered and art always smiling? Why so downcast in thy looks, and far from cheerful?" And I said to her, "Because of an excellent lady's saying that I had sinned against her." 4Then she said, "Far be this thing from the servant of God! Nevertheless the thought did enter into thy heart concerning her. Now to the servants of God such a purpose bringeth sin. For it is an evil and mad purpose to overtake a devout spirit that hath been already approved, that it should desire an evil deed, and especially if it be Hermas the temperate, who abstaineth from every evil desire, and is full of all simplicity and of great guilelessness.
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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