Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 22
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 22 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 4, chapter 1 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.
Numbering: Greek verse 0 has no English counterpart under that number. Compare by content.
How was this verified? (Provenance)
0οραϲιϲ δ 1ην ειδον αδελφοι μετα ημεραϲ εικοϲι τηϲ προτεραϲ οραϲεωϲ τηϲ γενομενηϲ 2υπηγον ειϲ α̣γ̣ρ̣ο̣ν̣ τ̣η̣ οδω τη καμπανη απο τηϲ οδου τηϲ δημοϲιαϲ εϲτιν δε ωϲει ϲταδια τεϲϲεραδιωϲ δε οδευεται ο τοποϲ 3μονοϲ περιπατων και αξιων τον κν ϊνα ταϲ αποκαλυψειϲ και τα οραματαʼ α μοι εδειξεν δια τηϲ αγιαϲ εκκληϲιαϲ αυτου τελιωϲη ϊνα μοι ϊϲχυροποιηϲη κ(αι) δω την μετανοιαν τοιϲ δουλοιϲ αυτου τοιϲ εϲκανδαλιϲμενοιϲ ϊνα δοξαϲθη το ονομα αυτου το μεγα και ενδοξον οτι με αξιον ηγηϲατο του διξε μοι τα θαυμαϲια αυτου 4και δοξαζοντοϲ μου και ευχαριϲτουντοϲ αυτω ωϲ ηχοϲ φωνηϲ μοι απεκριθη μη διψυχηϲειϲ ερμα · εμαυτω ηρξαμην διαλογειζεϲθαι και λεγειν εγω τι εχω διψυχηϲαιω τω τεθεμελιωμενοϲ ϋπο του κυ και ϊδων εδοξα πραγματα
1The fourth vision which I saw, brethren, twenty days after the former vision which came unto me, for a type of the impending tribulation. 2I was going into the country by the Companion Way. From the high road, it is about ten stades; and the place is easy for traveling. 3While then I am walking alone, I entreat the Lord that He will accomplish the revelations and the visions which He showed me through His holy Church, that He may strengthen me and may give repentance to His servants which have stumbled, that His great and glorious Name may be glorified, for that He held me worthy that He should show me His marvels. 4And as I gave glory and thanksgiving to Him, there answered me as it were the sound of a voice, "Be not of doubtful mind, Hermas." I began to question in myself and to say, "How can I be of doubtful mind, seeing that I am so firmly founded by the Lord, and have seen glorious things?"
5και προϲεβην μικρο αδελφοι και ϊδου βλεπω κονιορτο ωϲ ειϲ τον ουρανο και ηρξαμην λεγει εν εαυτω μηποτε κτηνη ερχοντε και κονιαρτον εγιρωϲιν ουτω γαρ ην απ εμου ωϲ απο ϲταδιου 6γεινομενου μιζονοϲ και μιζονοϲ κονιορτου υπενοηϲα ειναι τι θειον μικρον εξελαμψε ο ηλιοϲ και ϊδου βλεπω θηριον μεγιϲτον ωϲει κητοϲ τι και εκ του ϲτοματοϲ αυτου ακριδεϲ πυριναι εξοπορευοντο ην δε το θηριον τω μηκι ωϲει ποδων ρ την δε καιφαλην ειχεν ωϲ καιραμου 7και ηρξαμην κλιναι τα γονατα και ερωτα τον κν εινα με λυτρωϲηται εξ αυτου και επανεμνηϲθη του ρηματοϲ ου ακηκοειν μη διψυχηϲειϲ ερμα 8ενδυϲαμενοϲ ουν αδελφοι την πιτιν του κυ και μνηϲθειϲ ων εδιδαξεν με μεγαλιω θαρϲηϲαϲ ειϲ το θηριον εματω εδωκα ουτω δε ηρχετο το θηριο ροιζω ωϲ δε δυναϲθαι αυτο πολιν λοιμαναι 9ερχομε εγγυϲ αυτου και το τηλικουτο κητοϲ · εκινι αυτο χαμαι και ουδεν ει μη την γλωϲϲα προεβαλλεν και ολωϲ ουκ ακινηθη μεχρειϲ οται παρηλθον αυτο
5And I went on a little, brethren, and behold, I see a cloud of dust rising as it were to heaven, and I began to say within myself, "Can it be that cattle are coming, and raising a cloud of dust?" for it was just about a stade from me. 6As the cloud of dust waxed greater and greater, I suspected that it was something supernatural. Then the sun shone out a little, and behold, I see a huge beast like some sea-monster, and from its mouth fiery locusts issued forth. And the beast was about a hundred feet in length, and its head was as it were of pottery. 7And I began to weep, and to entreat the Lord that He would rescue me from it. And I remembered the word which I had heard, "Be not of doubtful mind, Hermas." 8Having therefore, brethren, put on the faith of the Lord and called to mind the mighty works that He had taught me, I took courage and gave myself up to the beast. Now the beast was coming on with such a rush, that it might have ruined a city. 9I come near it, and, huge monster as it was, it stretcheth itself on the ground, and merely put forth its tongue, and stirred not at all until I had passed by it.
10ειχεν δε το θηριον επι τηϲ καιφαληϲ χρωματα τεϲϲερα μελαν · ειτα πυρο ειδεϲ · και εματωδεϲ ειτα χρυϲουν ειτα λευκον
10And the beast had on its head four colors; black then fire and blood color, then gold, then white.
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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