Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 6
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 6 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 2, 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 δε δεκα και πεντε ημαιραϲ νηϲτευϲαντοϲ μου και πολλα ερωτηϲαντοϲ το κν απεκαλυφθη μοι η γνωϲειϲ τηϲ γραφηϲ ην δε γεγραμμενα ταυτα 2το ϲπερμα ϲου ερμα ηθετηϲαν ειϲ τον θν και εβλαϲφημηϲαν ειϲ το κν και προεδωκαν τουϲ γονειϲ αυτων εν πονηρια μεγαλη και ηκουϲαν προδοτε γονεων και προδοντεϲ ουκ ωφεληθηϲαν αλλα ετι προϲεθηκαν ταιϲ αμαρτιεϲ αυτων ταϲ αϲελγιαϲ και ϲυφυρμουϲ πονηριαϲ και ουτωϲ επληϲθηϲαν αι ανομιαι αυτων 3αλλα γνωριϲον ταυτα τα ρηματα τοιϲ τεκνοιϲ ϲου παϲιν και τη ϲυμβιω ϲου τη μελλουϲη αδελφη και γαρ αυτη ουκ απεχεται τηϲ γλωϲϲηϲ εν η πονηρευεται αλλα ακουϲαϲα τα ρηματα ταυτα αφεξετε και εξειϲ ελεοϲ 4μετα το γνωριϲε ϲαι ταυτα τα ρηματα αυτοιϲ α ενετιλατο μοι ο δεϲποτηϲ ϊνα ϲοι αποκαλυφθη ποτε αφιεται αυτοιϲ αι αμαρτιαι παϲε αϲ προτερον ημαρτον και παϲι τοιϲ αγιοιϲ τοιϲ αμαρτηϲαϲιν μεχι ταυτηϲ τηϲ ημαιραϲ εαν εξ οληϲ τηϲ καρδιαϲ μετανοηϲουϲιν και αρωϲιν απο τηϲ καρδιαϲ αυτων ταϲ διψυχιαϲ 5ωμοϲεν γαρ ο δεϲποτηϲ κατα τηϲ δοξηϲ αυτου επι τουϲ εκλεκτουϲ αυτου εαν ωριϲμενηϲ τηϲ ημεραϲ ταυτηϲ επι αμαρτηϲειϲ γενηται μη εχειν αυτουϲ ϲωτηριαν η γαρ μαιτανοια τοιϲ δικαιοιϲ εχι τελοϲ πεπλωρωνται αι ημερε μετανοιαϲ παϲιν τοιϲ αγιοιϲ και τοιϲ δε εθνεϲιν μετανοια εϲτιν εωϲ εϲχατηϲ ημαιραϲ
1Now after fifteen days, when I had fasted and entreated the Lord earnestly, the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me. And this is what was written:-- 2"Thy seed, Hermas, have sinned against God, and have blasphemed the Lord, and have betrayed their parents through great wickedness, yea, they have got the name of betrayers of parents, and yet they did not profit by their betrayal; and they still further added to their sins wanton deeds and reckless wickedness; and so the measure of their transgressions was filled up. 3But make these words known to all thy children, and to thy wife who shall be as thy sister; for she too refraineth not from using her tongue, wherewith she doeth evil. But, when she hears these words, she will refrain, and will find mercy. 4After that thou hast made known unto them all these words, which the Master commanded me that they should be revealed unto thee, then all their sins which they sinned aforetime are forgiven to them; yea, and to all the saints that have sinned unto this day, if they repent with their whole heart, and remove double-mindedness from their heart. 5For the Master sware by His own glory, as concerning His elect; that if, now that this day has been set as a limit, sin shall hereafter be committed, they shall not find salvation; for repentance for the righteous hath an end; the days of repentance are accomplished for all the saints; whereas for the Gentiles there is repentance until the last day.
6ερειϲ ουν τοιϲ προηγουμενοιϲ τηϲ εκκληϲιαϲ ϊνα κατορθωϲωνται ταϲ οδουϲ αυτων ε δικαιοϲυνη ϊνα απολαβωϲιν εκ πληρουϲ ταϲ επαγ̣γελιαϲ μετα πολληϲ δοξηϲ 7ενμινατε ουν οι εργαζομενοι την δικαιοϲυνην και μη διψυχηϲιτε εινα γενηται ϋμω η παροδοϲ μετα των αγγελων τω αγιων μακαριοι ϋμιϲ οϲοι ϋπομενεται την θλιψι την ερχομενην την μεγαλην κ(αι) οϲοι ουκ αρνηϲοται την ζωην αυτων 8ωμοϲεν γαρ κϲ κατα του ϋϊου αυτου τουϲ αρνηϲαμενουϲ το χν αυτων απεγνωριϲθαι απο τηϲ ζωηϲ αυτων τουϲ νυν μελλονταϲ αρνιϲθαι ταιϲ ερχομεναιϲ ημερεϲ τοιϲ δε προτερον αρνηϲαμενοιϲ δια την πολυϲπλαγχνιαν ιλεωϲ εγενετο αυτοιϲ
6Thou shalt therefore say unto the elders of the Church, that they direct their paths in righteousness, that they may receive in full the promises with abundant glory. 7Ye therefore that work righteousness be steadfast, and be not double-minded, that ye may have admission with the holy angels. Blessed are ye, as many as endure patiently the great tribulation that cometh, and as many as shall not deny their life. 8For the Lord swear concerning His Son, that those who denied their Lord should be rejected from their life, even they that are now about to deny Him in the coming days; but to those who denied Him aforetime, to them mercy was given of His great loving kindness.
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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