Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 8
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 8 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Vision 2, chapter 4 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)
1απεκαλυφθη δε μοι αδελφοι κοιμωμενω υπο νεανιϲκου ευειδεϲτατου λεγοτοϲ μοι την πρεϲβυτεραν παρ ηϲ ελαβεϲ το βιβλδ̣ιον τινα δοκιϲ ειναι εγω φηϲιν την ϲιβυλλα πλαναϲε φηϲιν ουκ εϲτιν τι ουν εϲτιν φημη η εκκληϲια φηϲιν παντω πρωτη εκτιϲθη δια τουτο πρεϲβυτερα και δια ταυτην ο κοϲμοϲ κατηρτιϲθη 2μετεπιτα δε οραϲι ειδον εν τω οικω μου ηλθεν η πρεϲβυτερα και ηρωτηϲεν με ει ηδη · το βιβλιον δεδωκα τοιϲ πρεϲβυτεροιϲ ηρνηϲαμην δεδωκαινε καλωϲ φηϲιν εποιηκαϲ εχω γαρ ρηματα προϲθιναι οταν ουν επιτελεϲω τα ρηματα ντα · δια ϲου γνωριϲθηϲεται τοιϲ εκλεκτοιϲ παϲιν 3γραψειϲ δυο βιβλαριδια και πεμψηϲ εν κλημεντι και εν γαρπτη πεμψι ουν κλημηϲ ειϲ ταϲ εξω πολιϲ εκινω γαρ επετρεπται γραπτη δε νουθετηϲει ταϲ χηραϲ και τουϲ ορφανουϲ ϲυ δε αναγνωϲη ειϲ ταυτην την πολιν μετα των πρεϲβυτερων τω προϊϲταμενων τηϲ εκκληϲιαϲ
1Now, brethren, a revelation was made unto me in my sleep by a youth of exceeding fair form, who said to me, "Whom thinkest thou the aged woman, from whom thou receivedst the book, to be?" I say, "The Sibyl" "Thou art wrong," saith he, "she is not." "Who then is she?" I say. "The Church," saith he. I said unto him, "Wherefore then is she aged?" "Because," saith he, "she was created before all things; therefore is she aged; and for her sake the world was framed." 2And afterwards I saw a vision in my house. The aged woman came, and asked me, if I had already given the book to the elders. I said that I had not given it. "Thou hast done well," she said, "for I have words to add. When then I shall have finished all the words, it shall be made known by thy means to all the elect. 3Thou shalt therefore write two little books, and shalt send one to Clement, and one to Grapte. So Clement shall send to the foreign cities, for this is his duty; while Grapte shall instruct the widows and the orphans. But thou shalt read (the book) to this city along with the elders that preside over the Church.
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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