Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 3
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 3 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 1, chapter 3 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)
1αλʼλ ουκ ινεκα τουτου οργειζεται ο θϲ αλʼλ ϊνα τον οικον ϲου το ανομηϲαντα ειϲ τον κν η αυτουϲ η τουϲ γονειϲ αυτων επιϲτρεψη αλλα φιλοτεκνοϲ ων ουκ ενουθετιϲ ϲου τον οικο αλλα αφηκεϲ αυτον καταφθαρηναι δια τουτο ϲοι οργειζεται ο κϲ αλλα ϊαϲεται ϲου πατα τα προγεγονοτα τα πονηρα εν τω οικω δια γαρ ταϲ εκεινων αμαρτιαϲ και ανομηματα ϲυ κατεφθαρηϲ απο των ϊδιωτικων πραξεων 2αλλ η πολυϲπλαγχια του κυ ηλεηϲεν ϲε και τον οικον ϲου και ϊϲχυροποιηϲι ϲαι και θεμελιωϲι ϲαι εν τη δοξη αυτου ϲυ μονο μη ραθυμηϲηϲ αλλα ευψυχει και ειϲχυροποιει ϲου τον οικον ωϲ γαρ ο χαλκειϲ ϲφυροκοπων το εργο αυτου περιγεινετε του πραγματοϲ ου θελι ουτω και ο λογοϲ ο καθημερινοϲ ο δικαιοϲ περιγεινεται παϲηϲ πονηριαϲ ˙ μη διαλιπηϲ ου νουθετων ϲου και τα τεκνα οιδα γαρ οτι εαν μετανοηϲουϲιν εξ οληϲ καρδιαϲ αυτω ενγραφηϲονται ειϲ ταϲ βιβλουϲ τηϲ ζωηϲ μετα των αγιων 3μετα το παηναι αυτηϲ τα ρηματα ταυτα λεγει μοι θελιϲ ακουϲε μου αναγεινωϲκουϲηϲ λεγω καγω θελω κυρια λεγει μοι γενου ακροατηϲ και ακουε ταϲ δοξαϲ του ι θυ ηκουϲα μεγαλωϲ και θαυμαϲτωϲ ο ουκ ϊϲχυϲα μνημονευϲαι παντα γαρ τα ρηματα εκφρικτα α ου δυνατε ανοϲ βαϲταϲαι τα ουν εϲχατα ρηματα εμνημονευϲα ην γαρ ημι ϲμφορα και ημερα · 4ιδου ο θϲ τω δυναμαιων ον αγαπω δυναμει κρατα και τη μεγαλη ϲυνεϲει αυτου κτιϲαϲ τον κοϲμον και τη ενδοξω βουλη περιθειϲ την ευπρεπιαν τη κτιϲι αυτου και τω ϊϲχυρω ρηματι πηξαϲ τον ουρανον και θεμελιωϲαϲ την γην επι ϋδατων και τη ϊδια ϲοφια και προνοια κτιϲαϲ την αγιαν εκκληϲιαν αυτου η και ηυλογηϲεν ϊδου μεθϊϲτανι τουϲ ουρανουϲ και τα ορη και τουϲ βουνουϲ και ταϲ θαλαϲϲαϲ και παντα ομαλα γεινεται τοιϲ εκλεκτοιϲ αυτου ϊνα αποδοι αυτου τη επαγγελιαν ην επηγγειλατο μετα πολληϲ δοξηϲ και χαραϲ εαν τηρηϲωϲιν τα νομιμα του θυ α παρελαβον ε μεγαλη πιϲτι ·
1"Yet it is not for this that God is wroth with thee, but that thou mayest convert thy family, that hath done wrong against the Lord and against you their parents. But out of fondness for thy children thou didst not admonish thy family, but didst suffer it to become fearfully corrupt. Therefore the Lord is wroth with thee. But He will heal all thy past sins, which have been committed in thy family; for by reason of their sins and iniquities thou hast been corrupted by the affairs of this world. 2But the great mercy of the Lord had pity on thee and thy family, and will strengthen thee, and establish thee in His glory. Only be not thou careless, but take courage, and strengthen thy family. For as the smith hammering his work conquers the task which he wills, so also doth righteous discourse repeated daily conquer all evil. Cease not therefore to reprove thy children; for I know that if they shall repent with all their heart, they shall be written in the books of life with the saints." 3After these words of hers had ceased, she saith unto me, "Wilt thou listen to me as I read?" Then say I, "Yes, lady." She saith to me, "Be attentive, and hear the glories of God" I listened with attention and with wonder to that which I had no power to remember; for all the words were terrible, such as man cannot bear. The last words however I remembered, for they were suitable for us and gentle. 4"Behold, the God of Hosts, Who by His invisible and mighty power and by His great wisdom created the world, and by His glorious purpose clothed His creation with comeliness, and by His strong word fixed the heaven, and founded the earth upon the waters, and by His own wisdom and providence formed His holy Church, which also He blessed-behold, He removeth the heavens and the mountains and the hills and the seas, and all things are made level for His elect, that He may fulfill to them the promise which He promised with great glory and rejoicing, if so be that they shall keep the ordinances of God, which they received, with great faith."
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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