Shepherd of Hermas, Chapter 94
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 94 in the continuous (Whittaker) numbering used by the Codex Sinaiticus Project is Similitude 9, chapter 17 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)
1νυν φημι κε περι των ορεων μοι δηλωϲον διατι αλλη και αλλη ειδεα̣ ε̣ι̣ϲ̣ιν · και ποικιλα ακουε φηϲι τα ορη ταυτα · ιβ φυλε ειϲιν αι κατοικουϲε ειϲ ολον τον κοϲμον εκηρυχθη ουν ειϲ ταυταϲ ο ϋϊοϲ του θυ δια των αποϲτολων 2διατι δε̣ πο̣ι̣κιλα και α̣λλη και αλλη ιδεα εϲτιν φυλαι αυτε ε κατοικουϲε ολον τον κοϲμον · ιβ · εθνη εϲτι ποικιλα τη φρονηϲι και τω νοϊ οια ου τα ορη ϊδεϲ ποικιλα τοιαυτε ειϲιν κ(αι) ε τουτων των εθρων φρονηϲειϲ και ποικιλαι του νο̣οϲ αυτω δηλωϲω δε ϲοι ενοϲ εκαϲτου την πραξειν · 3πρωτον μοι φημι κε τουτο δηλωϲον διατι ουτω ποικιλα οντα οταν ειϲ την οικοδομην ετεθηϲαν οι λιθοι αυτων μια χροα εγεινοντο λαμπ̣ρ̣οι̣ ω̣ϲ και οι εκ του βυθου ειλκυϲμενοι 4οτι φη̣ϲιν̣ παντα τα̣ εθνη ακουϲαντα̣ του τα ϋπο τον ουρανο̣ν κατοικουντα και̣ π̣ιϲτ̣ε̣υ̣ϲ̣αν̣τα ε̣π̣ι τω̣ ονοματι εκληθηϲαν ϋϊου θυ λαβοντεϲ ουν τη̣ν̣ ϲφραγιδα νυτου του θυ μιαν φ̣ρονηϲιν εχον και εαν ουν και μ̣ια πιϲτιϲ αυτων εγενετο̣ και μια αγ̣α̣πη και τα πνευματα των παρθενων̣ μετα του ονομα 5ϲελθεν αυτουϲ επι το αυτο και γενεϲθε εν ϲωμα τινεϲ εξ αυτων εμιαναν εαυτουϲ και εξεβληθηϲαν εκ του γενουϲ τον δικαιων και παλιν εγεν̣οντο οιοι προτερ̣ον ηϲαν μαλλον δε και χιρονεϲ
1"Now then, Sir, explain to me concerning the mountains. Wherefore are their forms diverse the one from the other, and various?" "Listen," saith he. "These twelve mountains are [twelve] tribes that inhabit the whole world. To these (tribes) then the Son of God was preached by the Apostles." 2But explain to me, Sir, why they are various--these mountains--and each has a different appearance." "Listen," saith he. "These twelve tribes which inhabit the whole world are twelve nations; and they are various in understanding and in mind. As various, then, as thou sawest these mountains to be, such also are the varieties in the mind of these nations, and such their understanding. And I will show unto thee the conduct of each." 3"First, Sir," say I, "show me this, why the mountains being so various, yet, when their stones were set into the building, became bright and of one color, just like the stones that had come up from the deep." 4"Because," saith he, "all the nations that dwell under heaven, when they heard and believed, were called by the one name of [the Son of] God. So having received the seal, they had one understanding and one mind, and one faith became theirs and [one] love, and they bore the spirits of the virgins along with the Name; therefore the building of the tower became of one color, even bright as the sun. 5But after they entered in together, and became one body, some of them defiled themselves, and were cast out from the society of the righteous, and became again such as they were before, or rather even worse."
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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