Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 92
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 92 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Similitude 9, chapter 15 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: English verse 7 has no Greek under that number in the codex as transcribed. Compare by content.
How was this verified? (Provenance)
1δηλω̣ϲον ουν φημι κε των παρθενων τα ονοματα και των γυνεκω μελανα ιματια φηϲιν 2τερα ενκρατια η δε τριτη δυναμιϲ · η δε τεταρτη μακροθυμια · αι δε ετερε ε ανα μεϲον τουτων ϲταθιϲαι ταυτα τα ονοματα καλουται · απλοτηϲ · ακακια · αγνια ϊλαροτηϲ αληθια ϲυνεϲειϲ ομονοιαʼ αγαπη ταυτα τα ονοματα ο φορων και το ονομα του ϋϊου του θυ ειϲελθυϲετε ειϲ την̣ β̣αϲιλιαν του θυ ανω 3ακουε φηϲιν και τω γυνεκων των τα μελανα ϊματια φορουϲων και εκ τουτω τεϲϲαρεϲ ειϲιν δυναμικωτερε η μεν πρωτη απιϲτια · η δε δευτερα ακραϲια η δε τριτη απιθια · η δε τεταρτη απατη αι δε ακολουθοι αυτων καλουνται λυπη · πονηρια · α̣ϲελγια οξυχολια̣ · ψευϲμα αφροϲυνη καταλαλια μιϲοϲ · ταυτα τα πνευματα ο φορων θυ δουλοϲ την μεν βαϲιλιαν οψετε του θυ ειϲ αυτην δε ουκ ειϲελευϲεται · 4οι λιθοι φημι κε οι εκ του βυθου ειϲ τη οικοδομην τιν̣οϲ δικαιων οι δε λε προφητα του κυ και διακονοι αυτου οι δε μ αποϲτολοι και̣ διδαϲκαλοι του κηρυγματοϲ του ϋϊου του θυ · 5διατι ουν φημι κε ε παρθενοι και τουτουϲ τουϲ λιθουϲ επεδωκαν ειϲ τη οικοδομην του πυργου διενηγκαϲε δια τηϲ πυληϲ
1"Show me still further, Sir," say I. "What desirest thou to know besides?" saith he. "Wherefore, Sir," say I, "did the stones come up from the deep, and wherefore were they placed into the building, though they bore these spirits?" 2"It was necessary for them," saith he, "to rise up through water, that they might be made alive; for otherwise they could not enter into the kingdom of God, except they had put aside the deadness of their [former] life. 3So these likewise that had fallen asleep received the seal of the Son of God and entered into the kingdom of God. For before a man," saith he, "has borne the name of [the Son of] God, he is dead; but when he has received the seal, he layeth aside his deadness, and resumeth life. 4The seal then is the water: so they go down into the water dead, and they come up alive. "thus to them also this seal was preached, and they availed themselves of it that they might enter into the kingdom of God." 5"Wherefore, Sir," say I, "did the forty stones also come up with them from the deep, though they had already received the seal?" "Because," saith he, "these, the apostles and the teachers who preached the name of the Son of God, after they had fallen asleep in the power and faith of the Son of God, preached also to them that had fallen asleep before them, and themselves gave unto them the seal of the preaching.
6ουτοι γαρ φηϲιν πρωτοι ταυτα τα πνευματα εφορεϲαν και ολωϲ απ αλληλων ουκ απεϲτηϲαν ουτε τα πνα απο των ανων ουτε ο̣ι ανοι απο τω πνατων αλλα παρεμιναν τα πνευματα τουτοιϲ μεχρι τηϲ κοιμηϲεωϲ αυτω̣ν̣ κ̣α̣ι ε̣ι μη ταυτα τα πνα μετ αυτων̣ εϲχηκειϲαν ουκ αν ε̣υχρηϲοι γεγονιϲα τη οικοδομη του πυργου τουτου ·
6Therefore they went down with them into the water, and came up again. But these went down alive [and again came up alive]; whereas the others that had fallen asleep before them went down dead and came up alive. 7So by their means they were quickened into life, and came to the full knowledge of the name of the Son of God. For this cause also they came up with them, and were fitted with them into the building of the tower and were builded with them, without being shaped; for they fell asleep in righteousness and in great purity. Only they had not this seal. Thou hast then the interpretation of these things also." "I have, Sir," say I.
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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