Shepherd of Hermas: Similitudes

Contents

1. 1.1Christians live as foreigners; why build up possessions here?
2. 1.2Investing here prevents return to the true city.
3. 1.3The lord of this world's city will expel those who do not keep his laws.
4. 1.4What will you do with your property when expelled?
5. 1.5Do not deny God's law for the sake of property.
6. 1.6Keep only what is sufficient and be ready to leave.
7. 1.7Do God's works and trust his promises.
8. 1.8Instead of fields, buy afflicted souls; care for widows and orphans.
9. 1.9God made you rich to serve the needy; such property awaits you in heaven.
10. 1.10Generosity is the good extravagance.
11. 1.11Do not covet; do your own work and be saved.
12. 2.1Hermas looks at a vine growing on an elm.
13. 2.2The two trees are a type.
14. 2.3The vine bears good fruit only when it climbs the elm.
15. 2.4The parable concerns rich and poor.
16. 2.5The rich is poor in prayer; the poor is rich in prayer. The rich support the poor.
17. 2.6The poor pray for the rich who support them.
18. 2.7Rich and poor each serve God with what they have.
19. 2.8In drought the elm waters the vine: each completes the other.
20. 2.9Such partners will be written in the book of life.
21. 2.10Blessed are the rich who know their wealth is from God.
22. 3.1Leafless trees are the people of this world.
23. 3.2In this world the righteous and sinners look alike; it is winter.
24. 3.3As in winter, dead and living trees look the same.
25. 4.1Now some trees bud and some are withered.
26. 4.2In the age to come, summer for the righteous, the servants of God will be revealed.
27. 4.3Their fruits will show in the coming summer.
28. 4.4Sinners and pagans, like withered trees, will be burned.
29. 4.5Bear fruit; avoid too many business affairs.
30. 4.6Those who serve God receive what they ask.
31. 4.7One occupation leaves room to serve God.
32. 4.8Do these things and bear fruit.
33. 5.1.1Hermas is keeping a “station,” a fast.
34. 5.1.2Hermas fasts as he is used to.
35. 5.1.3The Shepherd says this is not a true fast.
36. 5.1.4God does not want an empty fast.
37. 5.1.5The true fast is to avoid evil and keep God's commands.
38. 5.2.1A parable about fasting.
39. 5.2.2A master tells a faithful slave to fence his vineyard, promising freedom.
40. 5.2.3The slave fences the vineyard and sees the weeds.
41. 5.2.4Doing more than commanded, he also weeds the vineyard.
42. 5.2.5The master rejoices at the slave's work.
43. 5.2.6The master tells his son and counselors.
44. 5.2.7The master makes the slave joint heir with his son.
45. 5.2.8The son agrees.
46. 5.2.9The slave shares the master's food with his fellow slaves.
47. 5.2.10His fellow slaves pray for him.
48. 5.2.11The master and his counselors confirm the slave as joint heir.
49. 5.3.1Hermas asks for an explanation.
50. 5.3.2The Shepherd promises to explain.
51. 5.3.3Doing good beyond the commandments brings greater glory.
52. 5.3.4The Shepherd will be with all who are eager to do good.
53. 5.3.5How to keep the fast.
54. 5.3.6First avoid evil words and desires.
55. 5.3.7On a fast day eat only bread and water, and give the money saved to widows, orphans, or the needy.
56. 5.3.8Such a fast is an acceptable sacrifice.
57. 5.3.9Those who keep this fast will be blessed.
58. 5.4.1Hermas asks for the meaning of the vineyard parable.
59. 5.4.2Hermas insists that unexplained parables are useless to him.
60. 5.4.3Those who have the Lord in their hearts receive understanding by asking.
61. 5.4.4God gives freely; why not ask him for understanding?
62. 5.4.5Hermas asks the Shepherd because he is present.
63. 5.5.1The Shepherd explains the vineyard parable.
64. 5.5.2The field is the world, the master is God, the slave is the Son of God, the vines are the people.
65. 5.5.3The fences are angels, the weeds are sins, the food is the commandments, the journey is the time until his coming.
66. 5.5.4Hermas marvels and asks one more question.
67. 5.5.5Why is the Son of God shown as a slave?
68. 5.6.1The Son of God is not a slave but has great authority.
69. 5.6.2The Son cleansed the people's sins through great labor.
70. 5.6.3The Son gave the people the law received from the Father.
71. 5.6.4Why the Son and angels were counselors.
72. 5.6.5God made the pre-existent Holy Spirit dwell in chosen flesh, which served the Spirit purely.
73. 5.6.6Because this flesh stayed pure, God made it a partner of the Holy Spirit.
74. 5.6.7All flesh that keeps the Spirit pure will receive a reward.
75. 5.6.8The parable is explained.
76. 5.7.1Keep your flesh pure so that the Spirit may bear witness to it.
77. 5.7.2Defiling the flesh defiles the Spirit.
78. 5.7.3God alone can heal sins committed in ignorance.
79. 5.7.4Flesh and spirit are defiled together; keep both pure.
80. 6.1.1Hermas reflects that the commandments can save.
81. 6.1.2The Shepherd tells him not to doubt the commandments.
82. 6.1.3Repentance is vain without keeping the commandments.
83. 6.1.4Cast off wickedness and keep the commandments.
84. 6.1.5The Shepherd shows him a young shepherd in yellow.
85. 6.1.6His sheep are pampered and frisking.
86. 6.2.1He is the angel of luxury and deceit.
87. 6.2.2His followers go to death or to corruption.
88. 6.2.3Those who blaspheme God are given to death, without repentance.
89. 6.2.4Those corrupted but not blasphemous can still repent.
90. 6.2.5A fierce shepherd with staff and whip appears.
91. 6.2.6He drives the sheep into thorns.
92. 6.2.7The sheep suffer among the thorns without rest.
93. 6.3.1Hermas grieves for them.
94. 6.3.2He is the angel of punishment, a righteous angel.
95. 6.3.3He punishes those who stray.
96. 6.3.4The punishments are the troubles of this life: loss, want, sickness, insult.
97. 6.3.5Many blame God for failures caused by their own sins.
98. 6.3.6After affliction they are handed to the Shepherd, repent, and prosper.
99. 6.4.1Are they punished as long as they indulged?
100. 6.4.2Hermas thinks the punishment too light.
101. 6.4.3The Shepherd will explain.
102. 6.4.4A day of pleasure is paid for with a year of suffering.
103. 6.5.1Hermas still does not understand.
104. 6.5.2The Shepherd rebukes him and explains again.
105. 6.5.3Pleasure is quickly forgotten; suffering is long remembered.
106. 6.5.4The suffering makes them remember their indulgence.
107. 6.5.5Every indulged vice is a harmful luxury.
108. 6.5.6These luxuries bring suffering.
109. 6.5.7Delight in doing good is a saving luxury.
110. 7.1Hermas is afflicted by the angel of punishment and asks why.
111. 7.2Hermas suffers so that his household may repent.
112. 7.3The head of the household must suffer for the family to feel it.
113. 7.4Repentance must be proved by humility and endurance of affliction.
114. 7.5The affliction is for his good; he should give thanks for the warning.
115. 7.6The Shepherd will be with him; the affliction will be short.
116. 7.7Affliction departs from those who keep the commandments.
117. 8.1.1A great willow shades all who are called by the Lord's name.
118. 8.1.2An angel cuts sticks from the willow and gives one to each.
119. 8.1.3The tree remains whole.
120. 8.1.4Hermas marvels that the tree is unharmed.
121. 8.1.5The angel collects and examines the sticks.
122. 8.1.6Some sticks are dry and moth-eaten.
123. 8.1.7Some are dry but not eaten.
124. 8.1.8Some half-dry.
125. 8.1.9Some half-dry and cracked.
126. 8.1.10Some green but cracked.
127. 8.1.11Some half dry, half green.
128. 8.1.12Some two-thirds green.
129. 8.1.13Some two-thirds dry.
130. 8.1.14Some nearly green but cracked.
131. 8.1.15Some nearly all dry.
132. 8.1.16Most return their sticks green, and the angel rejoices.
133. 8.1.17Some return them green and budding.
134. 8.1.18Some sticks even bear fruit, and all rejoice.
135. 8.2.1Those with fruit-bearing sticks are crowned and sent into the tower.
136. 8.2.2Those with budding sticks are sealed and sent into the tower.
137. 8.2.3All in the tower wear white.
138. 8.2.4Those who kept their sticks green are also sealed and clothed.
139. 8.2.5The angel leaves the Shepherd to examine the rest.
140. 8.2.6The Shepherd plants the sticks to see if they will live.
141. 8.2.7Willows are hardy; many may live.
142. 8.2.8He plants and waters the sticks group by group.
143. 8.2.9God wishes all to live; most will revive.
144. 8.3.1Hermas asks what the tree is.
145. 8.3.2The tree is God's law, which is the Son of God preached to all the earth.
146. 8.3.3The great angel is Michael, guardian of the people.
147. 8.3.4The sticks stand for how each kept the law.
148. 8.3.5Transgressors are left to the Shepherd for repentance.
149. 8.3.6The crowned are those who suffered for the law: the martyrs.
150. 8.3.7Those afflicted but not killed, who did not deny, are sealed.
151. 8.3.8Those who kept their sticks green are the righteous.
152. 8.4.1The Shepherd sits in the angel's place; Hermas serves him.
153. 8.4.2Hermas calls the people in their groups.
154. 8.4.3Each is told to bring his stick.
155. 8.4.4Those whose sticks were dry and cut stand apart.
156. 8.4.5Some revive; others stand with the first group.
157. 8.4.6The half-dry vary: some revive, some bear fruit, some decay.
158. 8.5.1Those with cracks are healed.
159. 8.5.2The half-green vary in their outcome.
160. 8.5.3The two-thirds green vary.
161. 8.5.4The two-thirds dry vary.
162. 8.5.5Those nearly green revive.
163. 8.5.6The nearly dry are found green and fruitful; the Shepherd rejoices.
164. 8.6.1Many have repented, showing God's great compassion.
165. 8.6.2Repentance is given to the sincere, not to the hypocrites.
166. 8.6.3Hermas asks for the meaning, so that those who broke their baptismal seal may repent.
167. 8.6.4The dry, moth-eaten sticks are apostates and traitors who will not repent.
168. 8.6.5Hypocrites and false teachers who hindered repentance may still repent.
169. 8.6.6Repentance brings life; refusing it brings death.
170. 8.7.1Half-dry sticks are the double-minded.
171. 8.7.2Doubting slanderers may still repent.
172. 8.7.3Quick repentance leads to the tower, slower to the walls.
173. 8.7.4Green but cracked sticks are good people jealous for first place.
174. 8.7.5They repented quickly; relapse into division would cost them life.
175. 8.7.6God's commandments concern humility, not rank.
176. 8.8.1Half-green, half-dry sticks are those absorbed in business.
177. 8.8.2Some repented; others denied the Lord for business and are lost.
178. 8.8.3The doubters may still repent.
179. 8.8.4Two-thirds green sticks are those who denied in various ways.
180. 8.8.5Some repented, some fell away, some still may repent.
181. 8.9.1Two-thirds dry sticks are believers who grew rich and proud and lived like pagans.
182. 8.9.2Many repented.
183. 8.9.3Others became pagans.
184. 8.9.4Doubters may still repent quickly; for the unrepentant, death is near.
185. 8.10.1Good people with small faults repented quickly.
186. 8.10.2Even their doubters have hope.
187. 8.10.3Those who believed but sinned, yet were hospitable, repented at once.
188. 8.10.4They will dwell in the tower.
189. 8.11.1Tell everyone to repent; God, being patient, wills all the called to be saved.
190. 8.11.2Hermas hopes all will repent.
191. 8.11.3The wholehearted penitent are healed; those who keep sinning condemn themselves.
192. 8.11.4Walk in the commandments and live.
193. 8.11.5More will be shown later.
194. 9.1.1The Spirit who spoke as the church is the Son of God.
195. 9.1.2Hermas, now strengthened, sees through an angel what he saw before through the church.
196. 9.1.3The Shepherd will teach him everything more exactly.
197. 9.1.4In Arcadia he sees a plain surrounded by twelve mountains.
198. 9.1.5The first three mountains: black, bare, and thorny.
199. 9.1.6The fourth has half-dry plants.
200. 9.1.7The fifth is rugged; the sixth is full of cracks.
201. 9.1.8The seventh flourishes; the eighth is full of springs.
202. 9.1.9The ninth is a desert with deadly beasts; the tenth is shady, with resting sheep.
203. 9.1.10The eleventh is full of fruit trees; the twelfth is white and beautiful.
204. 9.2.1A great white square rock rises in the middle of the plain.
205. 9.2.2The ancient rock has a newly cut, shining gate.
206. 9.2.3Twelve virgins stand around the gate.
207. 9.2.4The virgins are ready to carry loads.
208. 9.2.5Hermas marvels at the strong, delicate virgins.
209. 9.2.6Do not strain to understand; ask the Lord.
210. 9.2.7Master what you see; the Shepherd will explain.
211. 9.3.1Six glorious men order a multitude to build a tower on the rock.
212. 9.3.2The virgins urge on the builders.
213. 9.3.3Ten shining stones rise from the deep.
214. 9.3.4The virgins must carry every stone through the gate.
215. 9.3.5The virgins carry the first stones together.
216. 9.4.1The virgins carry the stones through the gate to the builders.
217. 9.4.2The ten stones form the foundation; the rock and gate bear the whole tower.
218. 9.4.3Twenty, thirty-five, and forty more stones make four foundation courses.
219. 9.4.4Now stones are brought from the mountains.
220. 9.4.5Stones of many colors, carried through the gate, all become white.
221. 9.4.6Stones not carried through the gate by the virgins stay unsightly.
222. 9.4.7The unsightly stones are removed.
223. 9.4.8Only stones carried by the virgins through the gate can change.
224. 9.5.1The building pauses; the virgins guard the tower.
225. 9.5.2The tower awaits its lord's inspection.
226. 9.5.3Hermas asks the meaning of everything.
227. 9.5.4He asks about the foundation stones and the rejected stones.
228. 9.5.5He will show him more in a few days.
229. 9.5.6They return to the tower for the owner's inspection.
230. 9.5.7The master is about to come.
231. 9.6.1A man taller than the tower comes with a great company.
232. 9.6.2The builders attend him; the virgins greet him.
233. 9.6.3He inspects every stone by striking it with a rod.
234. 9.6.4The struck stones reveal their flaws.
235. 9.6.5The flawed stones are removed and replaced.
236. 9.6.6New stones come from a nearby plain.
237. 9.6.7Square and round stones are dug from the plain.
238. 9.6.8The round stones are set aside to be hewn later.
239. 9.7.1The lord of the tower hands the rejected stones to the Shepherd.
240. 9.7.2The Shepherd must cleanse the stones and use those that fit.
241. 9.7.3The lord leaves; the virgins keep guard.
242. 9.7.4The Shepherd will reshape most of the rejected stones.
243. 9.7.5Smaller stones go inside, larger outside.
244. 9.7.6The stones must be cleansed before the master returns unexpectedly.
245. 9.7.7They examine the stones.
246. 9.8.1The black stones are unchanged and set apart.
247. 9.8.2Many rough stones are hewn and used; the rest are black.
248. 9.8.3Some cracked stones are used; the badly cracked are rejected.
249. 9.8.4Some shortened stones are rejected; the rest are used inside.
250. 9.8.5The white ones are placed on the outside for strength.
251. 9.8.6Most rough stones are hewn and used inside.
252. 9.8.7Most spotted stones are sound and placed outside.
253. 9.9.1The Shepherd asks about the round stones.
254. 9.9.2The round stones need much cutting, but some must be used.
255. 9.9.3He chooses and hews the larger round stones.
256. 9.9.4The remaining round stones are kept for the rest of the tower.
257. 9.9.5Twelve women in black carry away the rejected stones.
258. 9.9.6They inspect the finished tower.
259. 9.9.7The tower looks like a single stone carved from the rock.
260. 9.10.1The Shepherd fills the holes left by the removed stones.
261. 9.10.2The area around the tower is cleaned.
262. 9.10.3The virgins sweep and sprinkle water.
263. 9.10.4All is clean; the Shepherd prepares to leave.
264. 9.10.5Hermas holds him back and begs for an explanation.
265. 9.10.6The Shepherd entrusts Hermas to the virgins.
266. 9.10.7The virgins are kind to him.
267. 9.11.1The virgins tell him to wait.
268. 9.11.2They will not let him leave.
269. 9.11.3They invite him to stay with them as a brother.
270. 9.11.4The virgins welcome him warmly.
271. 9.11.5Made young again, he walks joyfully with them.
272. 9.11.6He stays the night beside the tower.
273. 9.11.7They spend the night in prayer.
274. 9.11.8Hermas feasted all night on the words of the Lord.
275. 9.11.9The Shepherd will explain everything in order.
276. 9.12.1The rock and the gate are the Son of God.
277. 9.12.2The rock is old because the Son is older than all creation and was the Father's counselor in creating.
278. 9.12.3The gate is new because the Son was revealed in the last days.
279. 9.12.4No one enters God's kingdom without receiving the name of the Son.
280. 9.12.5As a walled city has one gate, so the only way into God's kingdom is the name of his beloved Son.
281. 9.12.6The Son of God is the one entrance to the Lord.
282. 9.12.7The great man among the six.
283. 9.12.8The great man is the Son of God; even angels come to God only through him.
284. 9.13.1The tower is the church.
285. 9.13.2The virgins are holy spirits, powers of the Son of God; the name without their garment is useless.
286. 9.13.3The rejected bore the Son's name but not the virtues' names.
287. 9.13.4Those who stay in the building have put on the virtues' power.
288. 9.13.5Believers clothed with the virtues become one spirit and one body.
289. 9.13.6Why were some stones, once built in, rejected?
290. 9.13.7They once had the name and the virtues, and lived in unity.
291. 9.13.8They were seduced by the women in black and stripped off the virtues.
292. 9.13.9They were cast out; those not deceived remained.
293. 9.14.1Can they return if they repent?
294. 9.14.2They may return if they repent; the building paused to give them time.
295. 9.14.3Hermas thanks God for sending the angel of repentance.
296. 9.14.4Why is the tower built on the rock and gate?
297. 9.14.5The Son's name sustains all creation.
298. 9.14.6The Son is the foundation of those who bear his name wholeheartedly.
299. 9.15.1Hermas asks the names of the virgins and the women.
300. 9.15.2The twelve virgins are Faith, Self-control, Power, Patience, Simplicity, Innocence, Purity, Cheerfulness, Truth, Understanding, Concord, and Love.
301. 9.15.3The twelve women are Unbelief, Incontinence, Disobedience, Deceit, and eight other vices.
302. 9.15.4The foundation stones are the first and second generations of the righteous, the prophets, and the apostles and teachers.
303. 9.15.5Why did the virgins carry even these stones?
304. 9.15.6They bore the virtues all their lives.
305. 9.16.1Why did the righteous of old have to come up from the deep?
306. 9.16.2They had to come up through water to be made alive.
307. 9.16.3Before receiving the seal a person is dead; with it he receives life.
308. 9.16.4The seal is the water of baptism: they go down dead and come up alive.
309. 9.16.5The apostles, after death, preached to those who had died before and gave them the seal.
310. 9.16.6The apostles went down alive; the earlier dead went down dead and came up alive.
311. 9.16.7The righteous dead, now sealed, were built in without hewing.
312. 9.17.1The twelve mountains are the twelve tribes of the whole world, to whom the apostles preached.
313. 9.17.2The tribes are nations of varied minds.
314. 9.17.3Why did all the stones become one color?
315. 9.17.4Sealed by baptism, all nations became one in mind, faith, and love.
316. 9.17.5Some defiled themselves and became worse than before.
317. 9.18.1Those who know God are more accountable.
318. 9.18.2Those who knew God and still do evil will be punished doubly.
319. 9.18.3The church will be cleansed of the wicked and become one body.
320. 9.18.4The cleansed church will be one body, and the Son will rejoice in it.
321. 9.18.5He will explain each mountain.
322. 9.19.1The black mountain: apostates and betrayers, without repentance.
323. 9.19.2The bare mountain: hypocrites and false teachers, who may still repent quickly.
324. 9.19.3They did not blaspheme or betray, so they may repent, though they will be punished.
325. 9.20.1The thorny mountain: the rich and the overbusy.
326. 9.20.2The rich avoid fellow believers for fear of being asked for help.
327. 9.20.3It is hard for the rich to enter God's kingdom.
328. 9.20.4They can still repent if they do good quickly.
329. 9.21.1The fourth mountain: the double-minded and those who honor God only with their lips.
330. 9.21.2Their words live but their works are dead.
331. 9.21.3In persecution the doubters give way to idolatry.
332. 9.21.4They can live if they repent quickly.
333. 9.22.1The rugged mountain: self-willed believers who think they know everything.
334. 9.22.2They want to be teachers but lack understanding.
335. 9.22.3Some repented and submitted to those with understanding.
336. 9.22.4Their fault is folly, not wickedness; they may repent.
337. 9.23.1The cracked mountain.
338. 9.23.2Small cracks: minor grudges and slander; they will repent.
339. 9.23.3Great cracks: persistent slanderers, rejected from the tower.
340. 9.23.4If God forgives those who confess, how can a sinner hold a grudge?
341. 9.23.5Put away grudges, and the Lord will heal your sins.
342. 9.24.1The flourishing seventh mountain.
343. 9.24.2The simple and generous who share with all without hesitation.
344. 9.24.3God blessed their work.
345. 9.24.4The simple and generous are enrolled with the angels and will dwell with the Son of God.
346. 9.25.1The mountain of springs.
347. 9.25.2The springs are the apostles and teachers who taught purely; their place is with the angels.
348. 9.26.1The desert mountain with deadly beasts.
349. 9.26.2Spotted stones are deacons who embezzled from widows and orphans.
350. 9.26.3Rough stones are deniers who live alone apart from the church.
351. 9.26.4Like a neglected vine, they grow wild.
352. 9.26.5Those who did not deny from the heart may repent.
353. 9.26.6Repentance is offered for past denials, not for those who deny now.
354. 9.26.7The beasts are slanderers whose words kill.
355. 9.26.8Slanderers can still be saved by repentance.
356. 9.27.1The mountain of sheltering trees.
357. 9.27.2Sheltering trees are hospitable bishops who cared for the needy and widows.
358. 9.27.3They will be sheltered by the Lord forever.
359. 9.28.1The mountain of fruit trees.
360. 9.28.2Fruit trees are the martyrs.
361. 9.28.3All martyrs have their sins taken away.
362. 9.28.4Martyrs who did not hesitate have the greater glory.
363. 9.28.5Sufferers should glorify God, who counts them worthy.
364. 9.28.6Suffering for the name is God's gift of life, not the believer's great deed.
365. 9.28.7Confess your Lord rather than deny him.
366. 9.28.8If masters punish disloyal slaves, how much more will the Lord?
367. 9.29.1The white mountain: those innocent as babies.
368. 9.29.2The childlike will surely dwell in God's kingdom.
369. 9.29.3Those like babies will be the most glorious.
370. 9.29.4Hermas asks about the stones from the plain.
371. 9.30.1The plain's stones are the roots of the white mountain.
372. 9.30.2The innocent were chosen because they would stay bright.
373. 9.30.3Believers present and future are of one innocent race.
374. 9.30.4The round stones are believers whose wealth dimmed them but who stayed faithful.
375. 9.30.5God trimmed their wealth, leaving enough to do good.
376. 9.31.1Those still round have not yet received the seal of baptism.
377. 9.31.2Their worldliness must be cut away; none of this innocent race will perish.
378. 9.31.3Blessed are those innocent as infants.
379. 9.31.4The baptized must keep simplicity, forgive offenses, and heal divisions.
380. 9.31.5Woe to the shepherds if any sheep is lost.
381. 9.31.6Shepherds of the church cannot blame the flock; they will give an account.
382. 9.32.1Repent while the tower is being built.
383. 9.32.2Return your spirit to God whole, as you received it.
384. 9.32.3Parable: you would not accept a torn garment back from a cleaner.
385. 9.32.4God gave a whole spirit; he will punish those who ruin it.
386. 9.32.5Do not trample God's patience; repent.
387. 9.33.1The Shepherd's message: repent and live.
388. 9.33.2Hermas forgot to ask about the filled-in marks.
389. 9.33.3The filled marks are the sins of the repentant, blotted out.
390. 10.1.1The glorious angel comes with the Shepherd.
391. 10.1.2Walk in the Shepherd's commandments and be protected.
392. 10.1.3The Shepherd alone has authority over repentance in the whole world.
393. 10.2.1Hermas asks whether he has offended the Shepherd.
394. 10.2.2The angel knows Hermas has done well; he must tell others.
395. 10.2.3Hermas proclaims God's works and hopes all will repent.
396. 10.2.4Those who keep the commandments have life; others bring death on themselves.
397. 10.3.1The virgins (the virtues) will live with Hermas to help him keep the commandments.
398. 10.3.2The virtues remain only in a pure house.
399. 10.3.3Hermas hopes to please them.
400. 10.3.4The angel trusts Hermas.
401. 10.3.5The angel entrusts Hermas and his house to the virgins.
402. 10.4.1Hermas must proclaim God's works boldly.
403. 10.4.2Everyone should be rescued from hardship.
404. 10.4.3Failing to rescue the desperate makes one guilty of their blood.
405. 10.4.4Do good now, before the tower is completed and you are shut out.
406. 10.4.5The angel departs, promising to send back the Shepherd and the virgins.