Shepherd of Hermas: Visions 1.1.1–3.7.6
Greek text: Lake, LCL 25 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the Perseus Digital Library and published by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0). Compare: Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2 (1885).
Vision 1, chapter 1
1.1.1Lake, LCL 25:6
Ὁ θρέψας με πέπρακέν με Ῥόδῃ τινὶ εἰς Ῥώμην. μετὰ πολλὰ ἔτη ταύτην ἀνεγνωρισάμην καὶ ἠρξάμην αὐτὴν ἀγαπᾶν ὡς ἀδελφήν.
Ho threpsas me pepraken me Rhodę̄ tini eis Rhōmēn. meta polla etē tautēn anegnōrisamēn kai ērxamēn autēn agapan hōs adelphēn.
The man who brought me up sold me to a certain Rhoda in Rome. After many years I met her again and began to love her as a sister.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas, once a slave, meets again his former owner Rhoda.
- The Shepherd of Hermas is a long visionary work written in Rome by Hermas, a former slave. It is in three parts: Visions, Mandates (commandments), and Similitudes (parables). The Visions are narrated by Hermas himself.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.1 (Lake, LCL 25:6; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.2Lake, LCL 25:6
μετὰ χρόνον τινὰ λουομένην εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν τὸν Τίβεριν εἶδον καὶ ἐπέδωκα αὐτῇ τὴν χεῖρα καὶ ἐξήγαγον αὐτὴν ἐκ τοῦ ποταμοῦ. ταύτης οὖν ἰδὼν τὸ κάλλος διελογιζόμην ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου λέγων· Μακάριος ἤμην, εἰ τοιαύτην γυναῖκα εἶχον καὶ τῷ κάλλει καὶ τῷ τρόπῳ. μόνον τοῦτο ἐβουλευσάμην, ἕτερον δὲ οὐδὲ ἕν.
meta chronon tina louomenēn eis ton potamon ton Tiberin eidon kai epedōka autę̄ tēn cheira kai exēgagon autēn ek tou potamou. tautēs oun idōn to kallos dielogizomēn en tę̄ kardią mou legōn; Makarios ēmēn, ei toiautēn gynaika eichon kai tǭ kallei kai tǭ tropǭ. monon touto ebouleusamēn, heteron de oude hen.
After some time I saw her bathing in the river Tiber, and I gave her my hand and helped her out of the river. When I saw her beauty I reasoned in my heart, saying, “How happy I would be if I had a wife like this, both in beauty and in character.” This was all I thought, and nothing else at all.
Notes and citation
Summary: Seeing Rhoda bathing, Hermas wishes he had such a wife.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.2 (Lake, LCL 25:6; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.3Lake, LCL 25:6–8
μετὰ χρόνον τινὰ πορευομένου μου εἰς Κώμας καὶ δοξάζοντος τὰς κτίσεις τοῦ θεοῦ, ὡς μεγάλαι καὶ ἐκπρεπεῖς καὶ δυναταί εἰσιν, περιπατῶν ἀφύπνωσα. καὶ πνεῦμά με ἔλαβεν καὶ ἀπήνεγκέ με διʼ ἀνοδίας τινός, διʼ ἧς ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἐδύνατο ὁδεῦσαι· ἦν δὲ ὁ τόπος κρημνώδης καὶ ἀπερρηγὼς ἀπὸ τῶν ὑδάτων. διαβὰς οὖν τὸν ποταμὸν ἐκεῖνον ἦλθον εἰς τὰ ὁμαλὰ καὶ τιθῶ τὰ γόνατα καὶ ἠρξάμην προσεύχεσθαι τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἐξομολογεῖσθαί μου τὰς ἁμαρτίας.
meta chronon tina poreuomenou mou eis Kōmas kai doxazontos tas ktiseis tou theou, hōs megalai kai ekprepeis kai dynatai eisin, peripatōn aphypnōsa. kai pneuma me elaben kai apēnenke me diʼ anodias tinos, diʼ hēs anthrōpos ouk edynato hodeusai; ēn de ho topos krēmnōdēs kai aperrēgōs apo tōn hydatōn. diabas oun ton potamon ekeinon ēlthon eis ta homala kai tithō ta gonata kai ērxamēn proseuchesthai tǭ kyriǭ kai exomologeisthai mou tas hamartias.
After some time, as I was going to Cumae and glorifying God's creatures, how great and splendid and mighty they are, I fell asleep as I walked. And a spirit took me and carried me away through a pathless place, through which no one could walk; the place was steep and broken up by the waters. When I had crossed that river I came to level ground, and I knelt and began to pray to the Lord and to confess my sins.
Notes and citation
Summary: On the road to Cumae a spirit carries Hermas away, and he prays.
- “Cumae”: probably the town near Naples, or possibly a village near Rome; the name (Κῶμαι) can also mean “villages.”
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.3 (Lake, LCL 25:6–8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.4Lake, LCL 25:8
προσευχομένου δέ μου ἠνοίγη ὁ οὐρανός, καὶ βλέπω τὴν γυναῖκα ἐκείνην, ἣν ἐπεθύμησα, ἀσπαζομένην με ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, λέγουσαν· Ἑρμᾶ χαῖρε.
proseuchomenou de mou ēnoigē ho ouranos, kai blepō tēn gynaika ekeinēn, hēn epethymēsa, aspazomenēn me ek tou ouranou, legousan; Herma chaire.
As I was praying, the heaven opened, and I saw that woman whom I had desired greeting me from heaven, saying, “Hermas, greetings.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Rhoda appears to Hermas from heaven.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.4 (Lake, LCL 25:8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.5Lake, LCL 25:8
βλέψας δὲ εἰς αὐτὴν λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, τί σὺ ὧδε ποιεῖς; ἡ δὲ ἀπεκρίθη μοι· Ἀνελήμφθην, ἵνα σοῦ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἐλέγξω πρὸς τὸν κύριον.
blepsas de eis autēn legō autę̄; Kyria, ti sy hōde poieis? hē de apekrithē moi; Anelēmphthēn, hina sou tas hamartias elenxō pros ton kyrion.
Looking at her, I said to her, “Lady, what are you doing here?” She answered me, “I was taken up to accuse you of your sins before the Lord.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Rhoda says she was taken up to accuse him.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.5 (Lake, LCL 25:8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.6Lake, LCL 25:8
λέγω αὐτῇ· Νῦν σύ μου ἔλεγχος εἶ; Οὔ, φησίν, ἀλλὰ ἄκουσον τὰ ῥήματα, ἅ σοι μέλλω λέγειν. ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς κατοικῶν καὶ κτίσας ἐκ τοῦ μὴ ὄντος τὰ ὄντα καὶ πληθύνας καὶ αὐξήσας ἕνεκεν τῆς ἁγίας ἐκκλησίας αὐτοῦ ὀργίζεταί σοι, ὅτι ἥμαρτες εἰς ἐμέ.
legō autę̄; Nyn sy mou elenchos ei? Ou, phēsin, alla akouson ta rhēmata, ha soi mellō legein. ho theos ho en tois ouranois katoikōn kai ktisas ek tou mē ontos ta onta kai plēthynas kai auxēsas heneken tēs hagias ekklēsias autou orgizetai soi, hoti hēmartes eis eme.
I said to her, “Are you now my accuser?” “No,” she said, “but listen to the words I am going to say to you. God, who dwells in the heavens and created out of what does not exist the things that exist, and increased and multiplied them for the sake of his holy church, is angry with you because you sinned against me.”
Rom 4:17 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God is angry with Hermas for sinning against Rhoda.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.6 (Lake, LCL 25:8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-6).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.7Lake, LCL 25:8
ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῇ λέγω· Εἰς σὲ ἥμαρτον; ποίῳ τόπῳ ἢ πότε σοι αἰσχρὸν ῥῆμα ἐλάλησα; οὐ πάντοτέ σε ὡς θεὰν ἡγησάμην; οὐ πάντοτέ σε ἐνετράπην ὡς ἀδελφήν; τί μου καταψεύδῃ, ὦ γύναι, τὰ πονηρὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἀκάθαρτα;
apokritheis autę̄ legō; Eis se hēmarton? poiǭ topǭ ē pote soi aischron rhēma elalēsa? ou pantote se hōs thean hēgēsamēn? ou pantote se enetrapēn hōs adelphēn? ti mou katapseudę̄, ō gynai, ta ponēra tauta kai akatharta?
I answered her, “I sinned against you? In what place, or when, did I ever speak a shameful word to you? Did I not always regard you as a goddess? Did I not always respect you as a sister? Why do you falsely accuse me, lady, of these evil and impure things?”
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas protests his innocence.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.7 (Lake, LCL 25:8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-7).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.8Lake, LCL 25:8–10
γελάσασά μοι λέγει· Ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου ἀνέβη ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς πονηρίας. ἢ οὐ δοκεῖ σοι ἀνδρὶ δικαίῳ πονηρὸν πρᾶγμα εἶναι, ἐὰν ἀναβῇ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν ἡ πονηρὰ ἐπιθυμία; ἁμαρτία γέ ἐστιν, καὶ μεγάλη, φησίν. ὁ γὰρ δίκαιος ἀνὴρ δίκαια βουλεύεται. ἐν τῷ οὖν δίκαια βουλεύεσθαι αὐτὸν κατορθοῦται ἡ δόξα αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ εὐκατάλλακτον ἔχει τὸν κύριον ἐν παντὶ πράγματι αὐτοῦ· οἱ δὲ πονηρὰ βουλευόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν θάνατον καὶ αἰχμαλωτισμὸν ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισπῶνται, μάλιστα οἱ τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦτον περιποιούμενοι καὶ γαυριῶντες ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτῶν καὶ μὴ ἀντεχόμενοι τῶν ἀγαθῶν τῶν μελλόντων.
gelasasa moi legei; Epi tēn kardian sou anebē hē epithymia tēs ponērias. ē ou dokei soi andri dikaiǭ ponēron pragma einai, ean anabę̄ autou epi tēn kardian hē ponēra epithymia? hamartia ge estin, kai megalē, phēsin. ho gar dikaios anēr dikaia bouleuetai. en tǭ oun dikaia bouleuesthai auton katorthoutai hē doxa autou en tois ouranois kai eukatallakton echei ton kyrion en panti pragmati autou; hoi de ponēra bouleuomenoi en tais kardiais autōn thanaton kai aichmalōtismon heautois epispōntai, malista hoi ton aiōna touton peripoioumenoi kai gauriōntes en tǭ ploutǭ autōn kai mē antechomenoi tōn agathōn tōn mellontōn.
She laughed and said to me, “The desire for wickedness rose up in your heart. Or do you not think it an evil thing for a righteous man if an evil desire rises up in his heart? It is indeed a sin,” she said, “and a great one. For the righteous man plans righteous things. By planning righteous things his glory is established in the heavens, and he finds the Lord easily reconciled in everything he does. But those who plan evil in their hearts bring death and captivity upon themselves, especially those who acquire this world for themselves and pride themselves in their wealth and do not hold fast to the good things to come.
Matt 5:28 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Even an evil desire in the heart is a great sin.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.8 (Lake, LCL 25:8–10; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-8).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-8
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.1.9Lake, LCL 25:10
μετανοήσουσιν αἱ ψυχαὶ αὐτῶν, οἵτινες οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἐλπίδα, ἀλλὰ ἑαυτοὺς ἀπεγνώκασιν καὶ τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν. ἀλλὰ σὺ προσεύχου πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ ἰάσεται τὰ ἁμαρτήματά σου καὶ ὅλου τοῦ οἴκου σου καὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων.
metanoēsousin hai psychai autōn, hoitines ouk echousin elpida, alla heautous apegnōkasin kai tēn zōēn autōn. alla sy proseuchou pros ton theon, kai iasetai ta hamartēmata sou kai holou tou oikou sou kai pantōn tōn hagiōn.
Their souls will regret it, for they have no hope but have despaired of themselves and their life. But you, pray to God, and he will heal your sins and those of your whole household and of all the saints.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Pray to God, and he will heal your sins.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.1.9 (Lake, LCL 25:10; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-9).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-1-9
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 1, chapter 2
1.2.1Lake, LCL 25:10
Μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι αὐτὴν τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἐκλείσθησαν οἱ οὐρανοί· κἀγὼ ὅλος ἤμην πεφρικὼς καὶ λυπούμενος. ἔλεγον δὲ ἐν ἐμαυτῷ· Εἰ αὕτη μοι ἡ ἁμαρτία ἀναγράφεται, πῶς δυνήσομαι σωθῆναι; ἢ πῶς ἐξιλάσομαι τὸν θεὸν περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου τῶν τελείων; ἢ ποίοις ῥήμασιν ἐρωτήσω τὸν κύριον, ἵνα ἱλατεύσηταί μοι;
Meta to lalēsai autēn ta rhēmata tauta ekleisthēsan hoi ouranoi; kagō holos ēmēn pephrikōs kai lypoumenos. elegon de en emautǭ; Ei hautē moi hē hamartia anagraphetai, pōs dynēsomai sōthēnai? ē pōs exilasomai ton theon peri tōn hamartiōn mou tōn teleiōn? ē poiois rhēmasin erōtēsō ton kyrion, hina hilateusētai moi?
After she had spoken these words the heavens were shut; and I was all shuddering and grieving. And I said to myself, “If this sin is recorded against me, how can I be saved? Or how shall I appease God for my sins that are complete? Or with what words shall I ask the Lord to be merciful to me?”
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas despairs of forgiveness.
Topics: Forgiveness of sins
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.2.1 (Lake, LCL 25:10; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.2.2Lake, LCL 25:10
ταῦτά μου συμβουλευομένου καὶ διακρίνοντος ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου, βλέπω κατέναντί μου καθέδραν λευκὴν ἐξ ἐρίων χιονίνων γεγονυῖαν μεγάλην· καὶ ἦλθεν γυνὴ πρεσβῦτις ἐν ἱματισμῷ λαμπροτάτῳ, ἔχουσα βιβλίον εἰς τὰς χεῖρας, καὶ ἐκάθισεν μόνη καὶ ἀσπάζεταί με· Ἑρμᾶ, χαῖρε. κἀγὼ λυπούμενος καὶ κλαίων εἶπον· Κυρία, χαῖρε.
tauta mou symbouleuomenou kai diakrinontos en tę̄ kardią mou, blepō katenanti mou kathedran leukēn ex eriōn chioninōn gegonuian megalēn; kai ēlthen gynē presbytis en himatismǭ lamprotatǭ, echousa biblion eis tas cheiras, kai ekathisen monē kai aspazetai me; Herma, chaire. kagō lypoumenos kai klaiōn eipon; Kyria, chaire.
While I was pondering and weighing these things in my heart, I saw in front of me a great white chair made of snow-white wool; and an elderly woman came in a very bright garment, with a book in her hands, and sat down alone and greeted me: “Hermas, greetings.” And I, grieving and weeping, said, “Lady, greetings.”
Notes and citation
Summary: An elderly woman with a book appears on a white chair.
- The elderly woman is later revealed to be the church (Vis. 2.4.1).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (extra accent)): τῇ κάρδίᾳ μου → τῇ καρδίᾳ μου.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.2.2 (Lake, LCL 25:10; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.2.3Lake, LCL 25:10
καὶ εἶπέν μοι· Τί στυγνός, Ἑρμᾶ; ὁ μακρόθυμος καὶ ἀστομάχητος, ὁ πάντοτε γελῶν, τί οὕτω κατηφὴς τῇ ἰδέᾳ καὶ οὐχ ἱλαρός; κἀγὼ εἶπον αὐτῇ· Ὑπὸ γυναικὸς ἀγαθωτάτης λεγούσης, ὅτι ἥμαρτον εἰς αὐτήν.
kai eipen moi; Ti stygnos, Herma? ho makrothymos kai astomachētos, ho pantote gelōn, ti houtō katēphēs tę̄ ideą kai ouch hilaros? kagō eipon autę̄; Hypo gynaikos agathōtatēs legousēs, hoti hēmarton eis autēn.
And she said to me, “Why so gloomy, Hermas? You who are patient and even-tempered, who are always laughing, why is your face so downcast and not cheerful?” And I said to her, “Because of a most excellent woman, who says that I sinned against her.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The woman asks why Hermas is sad.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.2.3 (Lake, LCL 25:10; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.2.4Lake, LCL 25:10–12
ἡ δὲ ἔφη· Μηδαμῶς ἐπὶ τὸν δοῦλον τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο. ἀλλὰ πάντως ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου ἀνέβη περὶ αὐτῆς. ἔστιν μὲν τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ τοιαύτη βουλὴ ἁμαρτίαν ἐπιφέρουσα· πονηρὰ γὰρ βουλὴ καὶ ἔκπληκτος εἰς πάνσεμνον πνεῦμα καὶ ἤδη δεδοκιμασμένον, ἐὰν ἐπιθυμήσῃ πονηρὸν ἔργον, καὶ μάλιστα Ἑρμᾶς ὁ ἐγκρατής, ὁ ἀπεχόμενος πάσης ἐπιθυμίας πονηρᾶς καὶ πλήρης πάσης ἁπλότητος καὶ ἀκακίας μεγάλης.
hē de ephē; Mēdamōs epi ton doulon tou theou to pragma touto. alla pantōs epi tēn kardian sou anebē peri autēs. estin men tois doulois tou theou hē toiautē boulē hamartian epipherousa; ponēra gar boulē kai ekplēktos eis pansemnon pneuma kai ēdē dedokimasmenon, ean epithymēsę̄ ponēron ergon, kai malista Hermas ho enkratēs, ho apechomenos pasēs epithymias ponēras kai plērēs pasēs haplotētos kai akakias megalēs.
And she said, “Far be this thing from the servant of God! But certainly it rose up in your heart about her. For God's servants such a thought brings sin; for it is an evil and shocking thought for a most reverent spirit, already tested, to desire an evil deed, and especially for Hermas the self-controlled, who abstains from every evil desire and is full of all simplicity and great innocence.
Notes and citation
Summary: Such a thought is sinful even for a tested servant of God.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.2.4 (Lake, LCL 25:10–12; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-2-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 1, chapter 3
1.3.1Lake, LCL 25:12
Ἀλλʼ οὐχ ἕνεκα τούτου ὀργίζεταί σοι ὁ θεός, ἀλλʼ ἵνα τὸν οἶκόν σου τὸν ἀνομήσαντα εἰς τὸν κύριον καὶ εἰς ὑμᾶς τοὺς γονεῖς αὐτῶν ἐπιστρέψῃς. ἀλλὰ φιλότεκνος ὢν οὐκ ἐνουθέτεις σου τὸν οἶκον, ἀλλὰ ἀφῆκες αὐτὸν καταφθαρῆναι, διὰ τοῦτό σοι ὀργίζεται ὁ κύριος· ἀλλὰ ἰάσεταί σου πάντα τὰ προγεγονότα πονηρὰ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου· διὰ γὰρ τὰς ἐκείνων ἁμαρτίας καὶ ἀνομήματα σὺ κατεφθάρης ἀπὸ τῶν βιωτικῶν πράξεων.
Allʼ ouch heneka toutou orgizetai soi ho theos, allʼ hina ton oikon sou ton anomēsanta eis ton kyrion kai eis hymas tous goneis autōn epistrepsę̄s. alla philoteknos ōn ouk enoutheteis sou ton oikon, alla aphēkes auton kataphtharēnai, dia touto soi orgizetai ho kyrios; alla iasetai sou panta ta progegonota ponēra en tǭ oikǭ sou; dia gar tas ekeinōn hamartias kai anomēmata sy katephtharēs apo tōn biōtikōn praxeōn.
But it is not for this that God is angry with you, but so that you may turn your household, which has sinned against the Lord and against you, their parents. But being fond of your children you did not admonish your household, but let it become thoroughly corrupt. For this reason the Lord is angry with you; but he will heal all the past evils in your household. For because of their sins and transgressions you have been corrupted by the affairs of this life.
Notes and citation
Summary: God is angry because Hermas failed to correct his family.
Topics: Ethics, Parents and children
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.3.1 (Lake, LCL 25:12; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.3.2Lake, LCL 25:12–14
ἀλλʼ ἡ πολυσπλαγχνία τοῦ κυρίου ἠλέησέν σε καὶ τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ ἰσχυροποιήσει σε καὶ θεμελιώσει σε ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ. σὺ μόνον μὴ ῥᾳθυμήσῃς, ἀλλὰ εὐψύχει καὶ ἰσχυροποίει σου τὸν οἶκον. ὡς γὰρ ὁ χαλκεὺς σφυροκοπῶν τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ περιγίνεται τοῦ πράγματος οὗ θέλει, οὕτω καὶ ὁ λόγος ὁ καθημερινὸς ὁ δίκαιος περιγίνεται πάσης πονηρίας. μὴ διαλίπῃς οὖν νουθετῶν σου τὰ τέκνα. οἶδα γάρ, ὅτι, ἐὰν μετανοήσουσιν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας αὐτῶν, ἐνγραφήσονται εἰς τὰς βίβλους τῆς ζωῆς μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων.
allʼ hē polysplanchnia tou kyriou ēleēsen se kai ton oikon sou kai ischyropoiēsei se kai themeliōsei se en tę̄ doxę̄ autou. sy monon mē rhąthymēsę̄s, alla eupsychei kai ischyropoiei sou ton oikon. hōs gar ho chalkeus sphyrokopōn to ergon autou periginetai tou pragmatos hou thelei, houtō kai ho logos ho kathēmerinos ho dikaios periginetai pasēs ponērias. mē dialipę̄s oun nouthetōn sou ta tekna. oida gar, hoti, ean metanoēsousin ex holēs kardias autōn, engraphēsontai eis tas biblous tēs zōēs meta tōn hagiōn.
But the great mercy of the Lord has had pity on you and your household, and will strengthen you and establish you in his glory. Only do not be careless, but take courage and strengthen your household. For as the smith hammering his work masters the thing he wants, so also the daily righteous word masters all wickedness. Do not stop admonishing your children. For I know that if they repent with all their heart, they will be enrolled in the books of life with the saints.”
Phil 4:3 (echo, low confidence) · Rev 3:5 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Keep admonishing your children; if they repent they will be written in the book of life.
Topics: Parents and children
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.3.2 (Lake, LCL 25:12–14; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.3.3Lake, LCL 25:14
μετὰ τὸ παῆναι αὐτῆς τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα λέγει μοι· Θέλεις ἀκοῦσαί μου ἀναγινωσκούσης; λέγω κἀγώ· Θέλω, κυρία. λέγει μοι· Γενοῦ ἀκροατὴς καὶ ἄκουε τὰς δόξας τοῦ θεοῦ. ἤκουσα μεγάλως καὶ θαυμαστῶς, ὃ οὐκ ἴσχυσα μνημονεῦσαι· πάντα γὰρ τὰ ῥήματα ἔκφρικτα, ἃ οὐ δύναται ἄνθρωπος βαστάσαι. τὰ οὖν ἔσχατα ῥήματα ἐμνημόνευσα· ἦν γὰρ ἡμῖν σύμφορα καὶ ἥμερα·
meta to paēnai autēs ta rhēmata tauta legei moi; Theleis akousai mou anaginōskousēs? legō kagō; Thelō, kyria. legei moi; Genou akroatēs kai akoue tas doxas tou theou. ēkousa megalōs kai thaumastōs, ho ouk ischysa mnēmoneusai; panta gar ta rhēmata ekphrikta, ha ou dynatai anthrōpos bastasai. ta oun eschata rhēmata emnēmoneusa; ēn gar hēmin symphora kai hēmera;
When she had finished these words she said to me, “Do you want to hear me read?” And I said, “I do, lady.” She said to me, “Listen, then, and hear the glories of God.” I heard great and marvelous things, which I could not remember; for all the words were terrifying, such as a man cannot bear. But I remembered the last words, for they were helpful to us and gentle:
Notes and citation
Summary: The woman reads to Hermas from her book.
- “Finished” (παῆναι): Hermas uses the late, non-classical aorist of παύω, “stop”; it is not a slip.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.3.3 (Lake, LCL 25:14; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.3.4Lake, LCL 25:14
Ἰδού, ὁ θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων, ὃν ἀγαπῶ, δυνάμει κραταιᾷ καὶ τῇ μεγάλῃ συνέσει αὐτοῦ κτίσας τὸν κόσμον καὶ τῇ ἐνδόξῳ βουλῇ περιθεὶς τὴν εὐπρέπειαν τῇ κτίσει αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ ἰσχυρῷ ῥήματι πήξας τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ θεμελιώσας τὴν γῆν ἐπὶ ὑδάτων καὶ τῇ ἰδίᾳ σοφίᾳ καὶ προνοίᾳ κτίσας τὴν ἁγίαν ἐκκλησίαν αὐτοῦ, ἣν καὶ ηὐλόγησεν, ἰδού, μεθιστάνει τοὺς οὐρανούς, καὶ τὰ ὄρη καὶ τοὺς βουνοὺς καὶ τὰς θαλάσσας, καὶ πάντα ὁμαλὰ γίνεται τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἀποδῷ αὐτοῖς τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, ἣν ἐπηγγείλατο μετὰ πολλῆς δόξης καὶ χαρᾶς, ἐὰν τηρήσωσιν τὰ νόμιμα τοῦ θεοῦ, ἃ παρέλαβον ἐν μεγάλῃ πίστει.
Idou, ho theos tōn dynameōn, hon agapō, dynamei krataią kai tę̄ megalę̄ synesei autou ktisas ton kosmon kai tę̄ endoxǭ boulę̄ peritheis tēn euprepeian tę̄ ktisei autou kai tǭ ischyrǭ rhēmati pēxas ton ouranon kai themeliōsas tēn gēn epi hydatōn kai tę̄ idią sophią kai pronoią ktisas tēn hagian ekklēsian autou, hēn kai ēulogēsen, idou, methistanei tous ouranous, kai ta orē kai tous bounous kai tas thalassas, kai panta homala ginetai tois eklektois autou, hina apodǭ autois tēn epangelian, hēn epēngeilato meta pollēs doxēs kai charas, ean tērēsōsin ta nomima tou theou, ha parelabon en megalę̄ pistei.
“Behold, the God of powers, whom I love, who by his mighty power and great understanding created the world, and by his glorious counsel clothed his creation with beauty, and by his strong word fixed the heaven and founded the earth upon the waters, and by his own wisdom and providence created his holy church, which he also blessed: behold, he is removing the heavens and the mountains and the hills and the seas, and all things are becoming level for his elect, so that he may give them the promise that he promised with much glory and joy, if they keep the ordinances of God that they received in great faith.”
Ps 24:2 (23:2 LXX) (echo, medium confidence) · Ps 136:6 (135:6 LXX) (echo, low confidence) · Isa 40:4 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A hymn to God the Creator, who made the church and will fulfill his promise.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.3.4 (Lake, LCL 25:14; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-3-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 1, chapter 4
1.4.1Lake, LCL 25:14
Ὅτε οὖν ἐτέλεσεν ἀναγινώσκουσα καὶ ἠγέρθη ἀπὸ τῆς καθέδρας, ἦλθαν τέσσαρες νεανίαι καὶ ἦραν τὴν καθέδραν καὶ ἀπῆλθον πρὸς τὴν ἀνατολήν.
Hote oun etelesen anaginōskousa kai ēgerthē apo tēs kathedras, ēlthan tessares neaniai kai ēran tēn kathedran kai apēlthon pros tēn anatolēn.
When she had finished reading and rose from the chair, four young men came and took up the chair and went away toward the east.
Notes and citation
Summary: Four young men carry the chair away to the east.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.4.1 (Lake, LCL 25:14; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-4-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-4-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.4.2Lake, LCL 25:14–16
προσκαλεῖται δέ με καὶ ἥψατο τοῦ στήθους μου καὶ λέγει μοι· Ἤρεσέν σοι ἡ ἀνάγνωσίς μου; καὶ λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, ταῦτά μοι τὰ ἔσχατα ἀρέσκει, τὰ δὲ πρῶτα χαλεπὰ καὶ σκληρά. ἡ δὲ ἔφη μοι λέγουσα· Ταῦτα τὰ ἔσχατα τοῖς δικαίοις, τὰ δὲ πρῶτα τοῖς ἔθνεσιν καὶ τοῖς ἀποστάταις.
proskaleitai de me kai hēpsato tou stēthous mou kai legei moi; Ēresen soi hē anagnōsis mou? kai legō autę̄; Kyria, tauta moi ta eschata areskei, ta de prōta chalepa kai sklēra. hē de ephē moi legousa; Tauta ta eschata tois dikaiois, ta de prōta tois ethnesin kai tois apostatais.
And she called me to her and touched my breast and said to me, “Did my reading please you?” And I said to her, “Lady, these last things please me, but the first were hard and harsh.” And she said to me, “These last things are for the righteous, but the first for the Gentiles and the apostates.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The hard words are for pagans and apostates, the gentle for the righteous.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.4.2 (Lake, LCL 25:14–16; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-4-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-4-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
1.4.3Lake, LCL 25:16
λαλούσης αὐτῆς μετʼ ἐμοῦ δύο τινὲς ἄνδρες ἐφάνησαν καὶ ἦραν αὐτὴν τῶν ἀγκώνων καὶ ἀπῆλθαν, ὅπου ἡ καθέδρα, πρὸς τὴν ἀνατολήν. ἱλαρὰ δὲ ἀπῆλθεν καὶ ὑπάγουσα λέγει μοι· Ἀνδρίζου, Ἑρμᾶ.
lalousēs autēs metʼ emou dyo tines andres ephanēsan kai ēran autēn tōn ankōnōn kai apēlthan, hopou hē kathedra, pros tēn anatolēn. hilara de apēlthen kai hypagousa legei moi; Andrizou, Herma.
While she was speaking with me, two men appeared and took her by the arms and went away toward the east, where the chair had gone. She went away cheerfully, and as she went she said to me, “Be a man, Hermas.”
1 Cor 16:13 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: She is led away and tells Hermas to be brave.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 1.4.3 (Lake, LCL 25:16; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-4-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/1-4-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 2, chapter 1
2.1.1Lake, LCL 25:16
Πορευομένου μου εἰς Κώμας κατὰ τὸν καιρόν, ὃν καὶ πέρυσι, περιπατῶν ἀνεμνήσθην τῆς περυσινῆς ὁράσεως, καὶ πάλιν με αἵρει πνεῦμα καὶ ἀποφέρει εἰς τὸν αὐτὸν τόπον, ὅπου καὶ πέρυσι.
Poreuomenou mou eis Kōmas kata ton kairon, hon kai perysi, peripatōn anemnēsthēn tēs perysinēs horaseōs, kai palin me hairei pneuma kai apopherei eis ton auton topon, hopou kai perysi.
As I was going to Cumae at the same time as the year before, I remembered last year's vision as I walked; and again a spirit took me and carried me away to the same place as the year before.
Notes and citation
Summary: A year later, Hermas is carried to the same place.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.1.1 (Lake, LCL 25:16; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.1.2Lake, LCL 25:16
ἐλθὼν οὖν εἰς τὸν τόπον τιθῶ τὰ γόνατα καὶ ἠρξάμην προσεύχεσθαι τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ δοξάζειν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὄνομα, ὅτι με ἄξιον ἡγήσατο καὶ ἐγνώρισέν μοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου τὰς πρότερον.
elthōn oun eis ton topon tithō ta gonata kai ērxamēn proseuchesthai tǭ kyriǭ kai doxazein autou to onoma, hoti me axion hēgēsato kai egnōrisen moi tas hamartias mou tas proteron.
When I came to the place, I knelt and began to pray to the Lord and to glorify his name, because he had counted me worthy and had made known to me my former sins.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas prays and thanks God.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.1.2 (Lake, LCL 25:16; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.1.3Lake, LCL 25:16–18
μετὰ δὲ τὸ ἐγερθῆναί με ἀπὸ τῆς προσευχῆς βλέπω ἀπέναντί μου τὴν πρεσβυτέραν, ἣν καὶ πέρυσιν ἑωράκειν, περιπατοῦσαν καὶ ἀναγινώσκουσαν βιβλαρίδιον, καὶ λέγει μοι· Δύνῃ ταῦτα τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ ἀναγγεῖλαι; λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, τοσαῦτα μνημονεῦσαι οὐ δύναμαι· δὸς δέ μοι τὸ βιβλίδιον, ἵνα μεταγράψωμαι αὐτό. Λάβε, φησίν, καὶ ἀποδώσεις μοι.
meta de to egerthēnai me apo tēs proseuchēs blepō apenanti mou tēn presbyteran, hēn kai perysin heōrakein, peripatousan kai anaginōskousan biblaridion, kai legei moi; Dynę̄ tauta tois eklektois tou theou anangeilai? legō autę̄; Kyria, tosauta mnēmoneusai ou dynamai; dos de moi to biblidion, hina metagrapsōmai auto. Labe, phēsin, kai apodōseis moi.
After I rose from prayer I saw in front of me the elderly woman whom I had seen the year before, walking and reading a little book. And she said to me, “Can you announce these things to God's elect?” I said to her, “Lady, I cannot remember so much; but give me the little book, so that I may copy it.” “Take it,” she said, “and give it back to me.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The woman gives Hermas a little book to copy.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.1.3 (Lake, LCL 25:16–18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.1.4Lake, LCL 25:18
ἔλαβον ἐγώ, καὶ εἴς τινα τόπον τοῦ ἀγροῦ ἀναχωρήσας μετεγραψάμην πάντα πρὸς γράμμα· οὐχ ηὕρισκον γὰρ τὰς συλλαβάς. τελέσαντος οὖν τὰ γράμματα τοῦ βιβλιδίου ἐξαίφνης ἡρπάγη μου ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς τὸ βιβλίδιον· ὑπὸ τίνος δὲ οὐκ εἶδον.
elabon egō, kai eis tina topon tou agrou anachōrēsas metegrapsamēn panta pros gramma; ouch hēuriskon gar tas syllabas. telesantos oun ta grammata tou biblidiou exaiphnēs hērpagē mou ek tēs cheiros to biblidion; hypo tinos de ouk eidon.
I took it, and withdrawing to a certain place in the field I copied it all letter by letter, for I could not make out the syllables. When I had finished the letters of the little book, suddenly the little book was snatched out of my hand; but by whom I did not see.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas copies the book letter by letter; it is snatched away.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.1.4 (Lake, LCL 25:18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-1-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 2, chapter 2
2.2.1Lake, LCL 25:18
Μετὰ δὲ δέκα καὶ πέντε ἡμέρας νηστεύσαντός μου καὶ πολλὰ ἐρωτήσαντος τὸν κύριον ἀπεκαλύφθη μοι ἡ γνῶσις τῆς γραφῆς. ἦν δὲ γεγραμμένα ταῦτα·
Meta de deka kai pente hēmeras nēsteusantos mou kai polla erōtēsantos ton kyrion apekalyphthē moi hē gnōsis tēs graphēs. ēn de gegrammena tauta;
After fifteen days, when I had fasted and prayed much to the Lord, the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me. And this is what was written:
Notes and citation
Summary: After fasting, Hermas understands the writing.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.1 (Lake, LCL 25:18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2.2Lake, LCL 25:18
Τὸ σπέρμα σου, Ἑρμᾶ, ἠθέτησαν εἰς τὸν θεὸν καὶ ἐβλασφήμησαν εἰς τὸν κύριον καὶ προέδωκαν τοὺς γονεῖς αὐτῶν ἐν πονηρίᾳ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἤκουσαν προδόται γονέων καὶ προδόντες οὐκ ὠφελήθησαν, ἀλλὰ ἔτι προσέθηκαν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν τὰς ἀσελγείας καὶ συμφυρμοὺς πονηρίας, καὶ οὕτως ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἀνομίαι αὐτῶν.
To sperma sou, Herma, ēthetēsan eis ton theon kai eblasphēmēsan eis ton kyrion kai proedōkan tous goneis autōn en ponērią megalę̄ kai ēkousan prodotai goneōn kai prodontes ouk ōphelēthēsan, alla eti prosethēkan tais hamartiais autōn tas aselgeias kai symphyrmous ponērias, kai houtōs eplēsthēsan hai anomiai autōn.
“Your offspring, Hermas, have rejected God and blasphemed the Lord and betrayed their parents in great wickedness, and they have been called betrayers of parents, and in betraying they did not profit, but they have added to their sins acts of licentiousness and heaps of wickedness, and so their lawless deeds have been filled up.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas's children have rejected God and betrayed their parents.
- “Betrayed their parents”: perhaps by informing against them in a persecution; the circumstances are not explained.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.2 (Lake, LCL 25:18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2.3Lake, LCL 25:18
ἀλλὰ γνώρισον ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα τοῖς τέκνοις σου πᾶσιν καὶ τῇ συμβίῳ σου τῇ μελλούσῃ ἀδελφῇ· καὶ γὰρ αὕτη οὐκ ἀπέχεται τῆς γλώσσης, ἐν ᾗ πονηρεύεται· ἀλλὰ ἀκούσασα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἀφέξεται καὶ ἕξει ἔλεος.
alla gnōrison tauta ta rhēmata tois teknois sou pasin kai tę̄ symbiǭ sou tę̄ mellousę̄ adelphę̄; kai gar hautē ouk apechetai tēs glōssēs, en hę̄ ponēreuetai; alla akousasa ta rhēmata tauta aphexetai kai hexei eleos.
But make known these words to all your children, and to your wife, who is to be as your sister; for she too does not restrain her tongue, with which she does evil. But when she hears these words she will restrain it and will find mercy.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas must warn his children and his wife.
- “Your wife, who is to be as your sister”: probably a call for Hermas and his wife to live in continence from now on; the sense is debated.
Topics: Marriage
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.3 (Lake, LCL 25:18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2.4Lake, LCL 25:18–20
μετὰ τὸ γνωρίσαι σε ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα αὐτοῖς, ἃ ἐνετείλατό μοι ὁ δεσπότης ἵνα σοι ἀποκαλυφθῇ, τότε ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς αἱ ἁμαρτίαι πᾶσαι, ἃς πρότερον ἥμαρτον, καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς ἁμαρτήσασιν μέχρι ταύτης τῆς ἡμέρας, ἐὰν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας μετανοήσωσιν καὶ ἄρωσιν ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν τὰς διψυχίας.
meta to gnōrisai se tauta ta rhēmata autois, ha eneteilato moi ho despotēs hina soi apokalyphthę̄, tote aphientai autois hai hamartiai pasai, has proteron hēmarton, kai pasin tois hagiois tois hamartēsasin mechri tautēs tēs hēmeras, ean ex holēs tēs kardias metanoēsōsin kai arōsin apo tēs kardias autōn tas dipsychias.
After you have made these words known to them, which the Master commanded me to reveal to you, then all the sins they have committed before will be forgiven them, and to all the saints who have sinned up to this day, if they repent with their whole heart and remove double-mindedness from their hearts.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sins committed until now will be forgiven if they repent fully.
- “Double-mindedness” (διψυχία): doubting, divided loyalty to God; a key word of Hermas.
Topics: Forgiveness of sins
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.4 (Lake, LCL 25:18–20; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2.5Lake, LCL 25:20
ὤμοσεν γὰρ ὁ δεσπότης κατὰ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν ὡρισμένης τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἔτι ἁμάρτησις γένηται, μὴ ἔχειν αὐτοὺς σωτηρίαν· ἡ γὰρ μετάνοια τοῖς δικαίοις ἔχει τέλος· πεπλήρωνται αἱ ἡμέραι μετανοίας πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις· καὶ τοῖς δὲ ἔθνεσιν μετάνοιά ἐστιν ἕως ἐσχάτης ἡμέρας.
ōmosen gar ho despotēs kata tēs doxēs autou epi tous eklektous autou; ean hōrismenēs tēs hēmeras tautēs eti hamartēsis genētai, mē echein autous sōtērian; hē gar metanoia tois dikaiois echei telos; peplērōntai hai hēmerai metanoias pasin tois hagiois; kai tois de ethnesin metanoia estin heōs eschatēs hēmeras.
For the Master has sworn by his glory concerning his elect: if, now that this day has been set, there is still sin, they shall not have salvation; for repentance for the righteous has an end; the days of repentance are fulfilled for all the saints; but for the Gentiles there is repentance until the last day.
Notes and citation
Summary: For believers there is a limited time for repentance; for the Gentiles, until the last day.
- A central and much-discussed teaching of Hermas: a single, final opportunity for repentance after baptism is being offered now (compare Mand. 4.3.1–6).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong letter)): μενανοίας → μετανοίας.
Topics: Baptism, Repentance
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.5 (Lake, LCL 25:20; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2.6Lake, LCL 25:20
ἐρεῖς οὖν τοῖς προηγουμένοις τῆς ἐκκλησίας, ἵνα κατορθώσωνται τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, ἵνα ἀπολάβωσιν ἐκ πλήρους τὰς ἐπαγγελίας μετὰ πολλῆς δόξης.
ereis oun tois proēgoumenois tēs ekklēsias, hina katorthōsōntai tas hodous autōn en dikaiosynę̄, hina apolabōsin ek plērous tas epangelias meta pollēs doxēs.
You shall say, then, to the leaders of the church that they should set their ways straight in righteousness, so that they may receive the promises in full with much glory.
Notes and citation
Summary: The church's leaders must walk in righteousness.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.6 (Lake, LCL 25:20; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-6).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2.7Lake, LCL 25:20
ἐμμείνατε οὖν οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν δικαιοσύνην καὶ μὴ διψυχήσητε, ἵνα γένηται ὑμῶν ἡ πάροδος μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. μακάριοι ὑμεῖς, ὅσοι ὑπομένετε τὴν θλῖψιν τὴν ἐρχομένην τὴν μεγάλην καὶ ὅσοι οὐκ ἀρνήσονται τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν.
emmeinate oun hoi ergazomenoi tēn dikaiosynēn kai mē dipsychēsēte, hina genētai hymōn hē parodos meta tōn angelōn tōn hagiōn. makarioi hymeis, hosoi hypomenete tēn thlipsin tēn erchomenēn tēn megalēn kai hosoi ouk arnēsontai tēn zōēn autōn.
Stand fast, then, you who work righteousness, and do not be double-minded, so that your passage may be with the holy angels. Blessed are you, all who endure the great tribulation that is coming, and all who will not deny their life.
Notes and citation
Summary: Blessed are those who endure the coming tribulation.
Topics: Persecution, Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.7 (Lake, LCL 25:20; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-7).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.2.8Lake, LCL 25:20–22
ὤμοσεν γὰρ κύριος κατὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, τοὺς ἀρνησαμένους τὸν Χριστὸν αὐτῶν ἀπεγνωρίσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς ζωῆς αὐτῶν, τοὺς νῦν μέλλοντας ἀρνεῖσθαι ταῖς ἐρχομέναις ἡμέραις· τοῖς δὲ πρότερον ἀρνησαμένοις, διὰ τὴν πολυσπλαγχνίαν ἵλεως ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς.
ōmosen gar kyrios kata tou huiou autou, tous arnēsamenous ton Christon autōn apegnōristhai apo tēs zōēs autōn, tous nyn mellontas arneisthai tais erchomenais hēmerais; tois de proteron arnēsamenois, dia tēn polysplanchnian hileōs egeneto autois.
For the Lord has sworn by his Son that those who have denied their Christ have been rejected from their life, that is, those who are now going to deny him in the days to come; but to those who denied him before, he has become merciful because of his great compassion.
Notes and citation
Summary: Those who deny Christ in the coming days lose life; earlier deniers find mercy.
- “Their life”: Christ, or their own salvation; the Greek allows both.
Topics: Persecution, Christology
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.2.8 (Lake, LCL 25:20–22; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-8).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-2-8
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 2, chapter 3
2.3.1Lake, LCL 25:22
Σὺ δέ, Ἑρμᾶ, μηκέτι μνησικακήσῃς τοῖς τέκνοις σου μηδὲ τὴν ἀδελφήν σου ἐάσῃς, ἵνα καθαρισθῶσιν ἀπὸ τῶν προτέρων ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν. παιδευθήσονται γὰρ παιδείᾳ δικαίᾳ, ἐὰν σὺ μὴ μνησικακήσῃς αὐτοῖς. μνησικακία θάνατον κατεργάζεται. σὺ δέ, Ἑρμᾶ, μεγάλας θλίψεις ἔσχες ἰδιωτικὰς διὰ τὰς παραβάσεις τοῦ οἴκου σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐμέλησέν σοι περὶ αὐτῶν· ἀλλὰ παρενεθυμήθης καὶ ταῖς πραγματείαις σου συνανεφύρης ταῖς πονηραῖς·
Sy de, Herma, mēketi mnēsikakēsę̄s tois teknois sou mēde tēn adelphēn sou easę̄s, hina katharisthōsin apo tōn proterōn hamartiōn autōn. paideuthēsontai gar paideią dikaią, ean sy mē mnēsikakēsę̄s autois. mnēsikakia thanaton katergazetai. sy de, Herma, megalas thlipseis esches idiōtikas dia tas parabaseis tou oikou sou, hoti ouk emelēsen soi peri autōn; alla parenethymēthēs kai tais pragmateiais sou synanephyrēs tais ponērais;
But you, Hermas, no longer bear a grudge against your children, nor neglect your sister, so that they may be cleansed from their former sins. For they will be disciplined with righteous discipline, if you do not bear a grudge against them. Bearing a grudge works death. But you, Hermas, have had great troubles of your own because of the transgressions of your household, because you did not care about them; but you were negligent and got entangled in your evil business dealings.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas must forgive his family and stop neglecting them.
Topics: Ethics, Parents and children
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.3.1 (Lake, LCL 25:22; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.3.2Lake, LCL 25:22
ἀλλὰ σώζει σε τὸ μὴ ἀποστῆναί σε ἀπὸ θεοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἡ ἁπλότης σου καὶ ἡ πολλὴ ἐγκράτεια· ταῦτα σέσωκέν σε, ἐὰν ἐμμείνῃς, καὶ πάντας σώζει τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐργαζομένους καὶ πορευομένους ἐν ἀκακίᾳ καὶ ἁπλότητι. οὗτοι κατισχύσουσιν πάσης πονηρίας καὶ παραμενοῦσιν εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
alla sōzei se to mē apostēnai se apo theou zōntos kai hē haplotēs sou kai hē pollē enkrateia; tauta sesōken se, ean emmeinę̄s, kai pantas sōzei tous ta toiauta ergazomenous kai poreuomenous en akakią kai haplotēti. houtoi katischysousin pasēs ponērias kai paramenousin eis zōēn aiōnion.
But what saves you is that you did not depart from the living God, and your simplicity and great self-control; these have saved you, if you remain in them, and they save all who do such things and walk in innocence and simplicity. These will prevail over all wickedness and will continue to eternal life.
Notes and citation
Summary: Faithfulness, simplicity, and self-control save Hermas.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.3.2 (Lake, LCL 25:22; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.3.3Lake, LCL 25:22
μακάριοι πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν δικαιοσύνην. οὐ διαφθαρήσονται ἕως αἰῶνος.
makarioi pantes hoi ergazomenoi tēn dikaiosynēn. ou diaphtharēsontai heōs aiōnos.
Blessed are all who work righteousness. They will not be destroyed forever.
Notes and citation
Summary: Those who do right will never be destroyed.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.3.3 (Lake, LCL 25:22; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.3.4Lake, LCL 25:22–24
ἐρεῖς δὲ Μαξίμῳ· Ἰδού, θλῖψις ἔρχεται· ἐάν σοι φανῇ, πάλιν ἄρνησαι. Ἐγγὺς κύριος τοῖς ἐπιστρεφομένοις, ὡς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἐλδὰδ καὶ Μωδάτ, τοῖς προφητεύσασιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῷ λαῷ.
ereis de Maximǭ; Idou, thlipsis erchetai; ean soi phanę̄, palin arnēsai. Engys kyrios tois epistrephomenois, hōs gegraptai en tǭ Eldad kai Mōdat, tois prophēteusasin en tę̄ erēmǭ tǭ laǭ.
And you shall say to Maximus: Behold, tribulation is coming; if it seems good to you, deny again. The Lord is near to those who turn to him, as it is written in Eldad and Modat, who prophesied to the people in the wilderness.”
Num 11:26 (allusion, medium confidence) · Ps 34:18 (33:19 LXX) (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A warning to Maximus, and a citation of the Book of Eldad and Modat.
- “Maximus”: evidently a believer who had denied the faith in an earlier persecution; the words are ironic.
- Eldad and Modat (Medad) prophesied in the camp (Num 11:26–29). The book cited here, attributed to them, is lost; this is its only surviving quotation.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong accent)): Ἰδοῦ, θλῖψις → Ἰδού, θλῖψις.
Extrabiblical texts: Eld. Mod. (Eldad and Modad; quotation)
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.3.4 (Lake, LCL 25:22–24; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-3-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 2, chapter 4
2.4.1Lake, LCL 25:24
Ἀπεκαλύφθη δέ μοι, ἀδελφοί, κοιμωμένῳ ὑπὸ νεανίσκου εὐειδεστάτου λέγοντός μοι· Τὴν πρεσβυτέραν, παρʼ ἧς ἔλαβες τὸ βιβλίδιον, τίνα δοκεῖς εἶναι; ἐγώ φημι· Τὴν Σίβυλλαν. Πλανᾶσαι, φησίν, οὐκ ἔστιν. Τίς οὖν ἐστιν; φημί. Ἡ Ἐκκλησία, φησίν. εἶπον αὐτῷ· Διατί οὖν πρεσβυτέρα; Ὅτι, φησίν, πάντων πρώτη ἐκτίσθη· διὰ τοῦτο πρεσβυτέρα· καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὁ κόσμος κατηρτίσθη.
Apekalyphthē de moi, adelphoi, koimōmenǭ hypo neaniskou eueidestatou legontos moi; Tēn presbyteran, parʼ hēs elabes to biblidion, tina dokeis einai? egō phēmi; Tēn Sibyllan. Planasai, phēsin, ouk estin. Tis oun estin? phēmi. Hē Ekklēsia, phēsin. eipon autǭ; Diati oun presbytera? Hoti, phēsin, pantōn prōtē ektisthē; dia touto presbytera; kai dia tautēn ho kosmos katērtisthē.
And it was revealed to me, brothers, while I slept, by a very handsome young man who said to me, “The elderly woman from whom you received the little book: who do you think she is?” I said, “The Sibyl.” “You are wrong,” he said, “she is not.” “Who is she, then?” I said. “The church,” he said. I said to him, “Why, then, is she elderly?” “Because,” he said, “she was created first of all; that is why she is elderly; and for her sake the world was formed.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The elderly woman is the church, created first of all.
- “The Sibyl”: a legendary prophetess of Greek and Roman tradition, associated with Cumae.
- “Created first of all”: compare 2 Clem. 14.1, the church “created before the sun and moon.”
Topics: The church
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.4.1 (Lake, LCL 25:24; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-4-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-4-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.4.2Lake, LCL 25:24
μετέπειτα δὲ ὅρασιν εἶδον ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου. ἦλθεν ἡ πρεσβυτέρα καὶ ἠρώτησέν με, εἰ ἤδη τὸ βιβλίον δέδωκα τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις. ἠρνησάμην δεδωκέναι. Καλῶς, φησίν, πεποίηκας· ἔχω γὰρ ῥήματα προσθεῖναι. ὅταν οὖν ἀποτελέσω τὰ ῥήματα πάντα, διὰ σοῦ γνωρισθήσεται τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς πᾶσιν.
metepeita de horasin eidon en tǭ oikǭ mou. ēlthen hē presbytera kai ērōtēsen me, ei ēdē to biblion dedōka tois presbyterois. ērnēsamēn dedōkenai. Kalōs, phēsin, pepoiēkas; echō gar rhēmata prostheinai. hotan oun apotelesō ta rhēmata panta, dia sou gnōristhēsetai tois eklektois pasin.
Afterward I saw a vision in my house. The elderly woman came and asked me whether I had already given the book to the presbyters. I said I had not given it. “You have done well,” she said, “for I have words to add. When I have finished all the words, they will be made known through you to all the elect.
Notes and citation
Summary: The woman has more to add before the book is given to the presbyters.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.4.2 (Lake, LCL 25:24; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-4-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-4-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
2.4.3Lake, LCL 25:24
γράψεις οὖν δύο βιβλαρίδια καὶ πέμψεις ἓν Κλήμεντι καὶ ἓν Γραπτῇ. πέμψει οὖν Κλήμης εἰς τὰς ἔξω πόλεις, ἐκείνῳ γὰρ ἐπιτέτραπται· Γραπτὴ δὲ νουθετήσει τὰς χήρας καὶ τοὺς ὀρφανούς. σὺ δὲ ἀναγνώσῃ εἰς ταύτην τὴν πόλιν μετὰ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τῶν προϊσταμένων τῆς ἐκκλησίας.
grapseis oun dyo biblaridia kai pempseis hen Klēmenti kai hen Graptę̄. pempsei oun Klēmēs eis tas exō poleis, ekeinǭ gar epitetraptai; Graptē de nouthetēsei tas chēras kai tous orphanous. sy de anagnōsę̄ eis tautēn tēn polin meta tōn presbyterōn tōn proïstamenōn tēs ekklēsias.
So you shall write two little books, and send one to Clement and one to Grapte. Clement will send it to the cities abroad, for that is his task; and Grapte will admonish the widows and the orphans. But you shall read it in this city with the presbyters who preside over the church.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Copies go to Clement for other cities and to Grapte for widows and orphans.
- “Clement”: probably the Clement associated with 1 Clement, who wrote on behalf of the Roman church to other churches.
- “Grapte”: evidently a woman with a ministry to widows and orphans.
- “The presbyters who preside over the church”: in Rome at this time the church seems to have been led by a group of presbyters.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 2.4.3 (Lake, LCL 25:24; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-4-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/2-4-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 3, chapter 1
3.1.1Lake, LCL 25:24
Ἣν εἶδον, ἀδελφοί, τοιαύτη.
Hēn eidon, adelphoi, toiautē.
What I saw, brothers, was this.
Notes and citation
Summary: The third vision begins.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.1 (Lake, LCL 25:24; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.2Lake, LCL 25:24–26
νηστεύσας πολλάκις καὶ δεηθεὶς τοῦ κυρίου, ἵνα μοι φανερώσῃ τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν, ἥν μοι ἐπηγγείλατο δεῖξαι διὰ τῆς πρεσβυτέρας ἐκείνης, αὐτῇ τῇ νυκτί μοι ὦπται ἡ πρεσβυτέρα καὶ εἶπέν μοι· Ἐπεὶ οὕτως ἐνδεὴς εἶ καὶ σπουδαῖος εἰς τὸ γνῶναι πάντα, ἐλθὲ εἰς τὸν ἀγρόν, ὅπου χονδρίζεις, καὶ περὶ ὥραν πέμπτην ἐμφανισθήσομαί σοι καὶ δείξω σοι, ἃ δεῖ σε ἰδεῖν.
nēsteusas pollakis kai deētheis tou kyriou, hina moi phanerōsę̄ tēn apokalypsin, hēn moi epēngeilato deixai dia tēs presbyteras ekeinēs, autę̄ tę̄ nykti moi ōptai hē presbytera kai eipen moi; Epei houtōs endeēs ei kai spoudaios eis to gnōnai panta, elthe eis ton agron, hopou chondrizeis, kai peri hōran pemptēn emphanisthēsomai soi kai deixō soi, ha dei se idein.
After fasting often and asking the Lord to show me the revelation that he had promised to show me through that elderly woman, that very night the elderly woman appeared to me and said, “Since you are so needy and eager to know everything, come into the field where you farm, and at about the fifth hour I will appear to you and show you what you must see.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The woman tells Hermas to meet her in his field.
- “Where you farm” (ὅπου χονδρίζεις): literally “where you grow grain”; the meaning is not certain.
Topics: Fasting
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.2 (Lake, LCL 25:24–26; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.3Lake, LCL 25:26
ἠρώτησα αὐτὴν λέγων· Κυρία, εἰς ποῖον τόπον τοῦ ἀγροῦ; Ὅπου, φησίν, θέλεις. ἐξελεξάμην τόπον καλὸν ἀνακεχωρηκότα. πρὶν δὲ λαλῆσαι αὐτῇ καὶ εἰπεῖν τὸν τόπον, λέγει μοι· Ἥξω ἐκεῖ, ὅπου θέλεις.
ērōtēsa autēn legōn; Kyria, eis poion topon tou agrou? Hopou, phēsin, theleis. exelexamēn topon kalon anakechōrēkota. prin de lalēsai autę̄ kai eipein ton topon, legei moi; Hēxō ekei, hopou theleis.
I asked her, saying, “Lady, in what part of the field?” “Wherever you wish,” she said. I chose a beautiful, secluded spot. But before I could speak to her and name the place, she said to me, “I will come there, where you wish.”
Notes and citation
Summary: She knows the place Hermas has chosen.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.3 (Lake, LCL 25:26; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.4Lake, LCL 25:26
ἐγενόμην οὖν, ἀδελφοί, εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ συνεψήφισα τὰς ὥρας καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὸν τόπον, ὅπου διεταξάμην αὐτῇ ἐλθεῖν, καὶ βλέπω συμψέλιον κείμενον ἐλεφάντινον, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ συμψελίου ἔκειτο κερβικάριον λινοῦν καὶ ἐπάνω λέντιον ἐξηπλωμένον λινοῦν καρπάσιον.
egenomēn oun, adelphoi, eis ton agron kai synepsēphisa tas hōras kai ēlthon eis ton topon, hopou dietaxamēn autę̄ elthein, kai blepō sympselion keimenon elephantinon, kai epi tou sympseliou ekeito kerbikarion linoun kai epanō lention exēplōmenon linoun karpasion.
So, brothers, I went to the field and counted the hours, and came to the place where I had arranged for her to come; and I saw an ivory couch set there, and on the couch lay a linen cushion, and over it a covering of fine linen spread out.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas finds an ivory couch prepared in the field.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.4 (Lake, LCL 25:26; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.5Lake, LCL 25:26
ἰδὼν ταῦτα κείμενα καὶ μηδένα ὄντα ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἔκθαμβος ἐγενόμην, καὶ ὡσεὶ τρόμος με ἔλαβεν καὶ αἱ τρίχες μου ὀρθαί· καὶ ὡσεὶ φρίκη μοι προσῆλθεν μόνου μου ὄντος. ἐν ἐμαυτῷ οὖν γενόμενος καὶ μνησθεὶς τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ λαβὼν θάρσος, θεὶς τὰ γόνατα ἐξωμολογούμην τῷ κυρίῳ πάλιν τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου ὡς καὶ πρότερον.
idōn tauta keimena kai mēdena onta en tǭ topǭ ekthambos egenomēn, kai hōsei tromos me elaben kai hai triches mou orthai; kai hōsei phrikē moi prosēlthen monou mou ontos. en emautǭ oun genomenos kai mnēstheis tēs doxēs tou theou kai labōn tharsos, theis ta gonata exōmologoumēn tǭ kyriǭ palin tas hamartias mou hōs kai proteron.
When I saw these things lying there and no one in the place, I was amazed, and a kind of trembling seized me and my hair stood on end; and a kind of shuddering came over me, since I was alone. But when I came to myself and remembered the glory of God and took courage, I knelt and again confessed my sins to the Lord as before.
Notes and citation
Summary: Afraid, Hermas kneels and confesses his sins.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.5 (Lake, LCL 25:26; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.6Lake, LCL 25:26–28
ἡ δὲ ἦλθεν μετὰ νεανίσκων ἕξ, οὓς καὶ πρότερον ἑωράκειν, καὶ ἐστάθη μοι καὶ κατηκροᾶτο προσευχομένου καὶ ἐξομολογουμένου τῷ κυρίῳ τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου. καὶ ἁψαμένη μου λέγει· Ἑρμᾶ, παῦσαι περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν σου πάντα ἐρωτῶν· ἐρώτα καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης, ἵνα λάβῃς μέρος τι ἐξ αὐτῆς εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου.
hē de ēlthen meta neaniskōn hex, hous kai proteron heōrakein, kai estathē moi kai katēkroato proseuchomenou kai exomologoumenou tǭ kyriǭ tas hamartias mou. kai hapsamenē mou legei; Herma, pausai peri tōn hamartiōn sou panta erōtōn; erōta kai peri dikaiosynēs, hina labę̄s meros ti ex autēs eis ton oikon sou.
And she came with six young men, whom I had seen before, and stood beside me and listened to me as I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. And she touched me and said, “Hermas, stop asking only about your sins; ask also about righteousness, so that you may take some part of it to your household.”
Notes and citation
Summary: She tells him to pray also for righteousness.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.6 (Lake, LCL 25:26–28; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-6).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.7Lake, LCL 25:28
καὶ ἐξεγείρει με τῆς χειρὸς καὶ ἄγει με πρὸς τὸ συμψέλιον καὶ λέγει τοῖς νεανίσκοις· Ὑπάγετε καὶ οἰκοδομεῖτε.
kai exegeirei me tēs cheiros kai agei me pros to sympselion kai legei tois neaniskois; Hypagete kai oikodomeite.
And she raised me by the hand and led me to the couch and said to the young men, “Go and build.”
Notes and citation
Summary: She sends the young men to build.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.7 (Lake, LCL 25:28; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-7).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.8Lake, LCL 25:28
καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀναχωρῆσαι τοὺς νεανίσκους καὶ μόνων ἡμῶν γεγονότων λέγει μοι· Κάθισον ὧδε. λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, ἄφες τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους πρῶτον καθίσαι. Ὅ σοι λέγω, φησίν, κάθισον.
kai meta to anachōrēsai tous neaniskous kai monōn hēmōn gegonotōn legei moi; Kathison hōde. legō autę̄; Kyria, aphes tous presbyterous prōton kathisai. Ho soi legō, phēsin, kathison.
And after the young men had gone away and we were alone, she said to me, “Sit here.” I said to her, “Lady, let the presbyters sit first.” “Do what I tell you,” she said; “sit.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas defers to the presbyters, but she tells him to sit.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.8 (Lake, LCL 25:28; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-8).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-8
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.1.9Lake, LCL 25:28
θέλοντος οὖν μου καθίσαι εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη οὐκ εἴασέ με, ἀλλʼ ἐννεύει μοι τῇ χειρί, ἵνα εἰς τὰ ἀριστερὰ μέρη καθίσω. διαλογιζομένου μου οὖν καὶ λυπουμένου, ὅτι οὐκ εἴασέ με εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη καθίσαι, λέγει μοι· Λυπῇ, Ἑρμᾶ; ὁ εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τόπος ἄλλων ἐστίν, τῶν ἤδη εὐαρεστηκότων τῷ θεῷ καὶ παθόντων εἵνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματος· σοὶ δὲ πολλὰ λείπει ἵνα μετʼ αὐτῶν καθίσῃς· ἀλλὰ ὡς μένεις τῇ ἁπλότητί σου, μεῖνον, καὶ καθιῇ μετʼ αὐτῶν καὶ ὅσοι ἐὰν ἐργάσωνται τὰ ἐκείνων ἔργα καὶ ὑπενέγκωσιν, ἃ καὶ ἐκεῖνοι ὑπήνεγκαν.
thelontos oun mou kathisai eis ta dexia merē ouk eiase me, allʼ enneuei moi tę̄ cheiri, hina eis ta aristera merē kathisō. dialogizomenou mou oun kai lypoumenou, hoti ouk eiase me eis ta dexia merē kathisai, legei moi; Lypę̄, Herma? ho eis ta dexia merē topos allōn estin, tōn ēdē euarestēkotōn tǭ theǭ kai pathontōn heineka tou onomatos; soi de polla leipei hina metʼ autōn kathisę̄s; alla hōs meneis tę̄ haplotēti sou, meinon, kai kathię̄ metʼ autōn kai hosoi ean ergasōntai ta ekeinōn erga kai hypenenkōsin, ha kai ekeinoi hypēnenkan.
When I wished to sit on the right side, she did not let me, but motioned to me with her hand to sit on the left side. As I was pondering this and grieving because she did not let me sit on the right, she said to me, “Are you grieved, Hermas? The place on the right belongs to others, to those who have already pleased God and suffered for the sake of the name. But you lack much before you can sit with them. But as you remain in your simplicity, remain so, and you will sit with them, and so will all who do their works and endure what they endured.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The right side is for those who suffered for the name.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.1.9 (Lake, LCL 25:28; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-9).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-1-9
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 3, chapter 2
3.2.1Lake, LCL 25:28–30
Τί, φημί, ὑπήνεγκαν; Ἄκουε, φησίν· μάστιγας, φυλακάς, θλίψεις μεγάλας, σταυρούς, θηρία εἵνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκείνων ἐστὶν τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ ἁγιάσματος καὶ ὃς ἐὰν πάθῃ διὰ τὸ ὄνομα· τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν τὰ ἀριστερὰ μέρη ἐστίν. ἀλλὰ ἀμφοτέρων, καὶ τῶν ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ τῶν ἀριστερῶν καθημένων, τὰ αὐτὰ δῶρα καὶ αἱ αὐταὶ ἐπαγγελίαι· μόνον ἐκεῖνοι ἐκ δεξιῶν κάθηνται καὶ ἔχουσιν δόξαν τινά.
Ti, phēmi, hypēnenkan? Akoue, phēsin; mastigas, phylakas, thlipseis megalas, staurous, thēria heineken tou onomatos; dia touto ekeinōn estin ta dexia merē tou hagiasmatos kai hos ean pathę̄ dia to onoma; tōn de loipōn ta aristera merē estin. alla amphoterōn, kai tōn ek dexiōn kai tōn aristerōn kathēmenōn, ta auta dōra kai hai autai epangeliai; monon ekeinoi ek dexiōn kathēntai kai echousin doxan tina.
“What,” I said, “did they endure?” “Listen,” she said: “scourges, prisons, great tribulations, crosses, wild beasts, for the sake of the name. For this reason the right side of holiness belongs to them, and to anyone who suffers for the name; the left side belongs to the rest. But both, those sitting on the right and on the left, have the same gifts and the same promises; only they sit on the right and have a certain glory.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The martyrs sit on the right, but all receive the same gifts.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.1 (Lake, LCL 25:28–30; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.2Lake, LCL 25:30
σὺ δὲ κατεπιθυμεῖς καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μετʼ αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ τὰ ὑστερήματά σου πολλά. καθαρισθήσῃ δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ὑστερημάτων σου· καὶ πάντες οἱ μὴ διψυχοῦντες καθαρισθήσονται ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων εἰς ταύτην τὴν ἡμέραν.
sy de katepithymeis kathisai ek dexiōn metʼ autōn, alla ta hysterēmata sou polla. katharisthēsę̄ de apo tōn hysterēmatōn sou; kai pantes hoi mē dipsychountes katharisthēsontai apo pantōn tōn hamartēmatōn eis tautēn tēn hēmeran.
But you long to sit on the right with them, but your shortcomings are many. But you will be cleansed from your shortcomings; and all who are not double-minded will be cleansed from all their sins up to this day.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas and all who do not doubt will be cleansed of their sins.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.2 (Lake, LCL 25:30; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.3Lake, LCL 25:30
ταῦτα εἴπασα ἤθελεν ἀπελθεῖν· πεσὼν δὲ αὐτῆς πρὸς τοὺς πόδας ἠρώτησα αὐτὴν κατὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ἵνα μοι ἐπιδείξῃ ὃ ἐπηγγείλατο ὅραμα.
tauta eipasa ēthelen apelthein; pesōn de autēs pros tous podas ērōtēsa autēn kata tou kyriou, hina moi epideixę̄ ho epēngeilato horama.
When she had said this she wished to go away; but I fell at her feet and begged her by the Lord to show me the vision she had promised.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas begs to see the promised vision.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.3 (Lake, LCL 25:30; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.4Lake, LCL 25:30
ἡ δὲ πάλιν ἐπελάβετό μου τῆς χειρὸς καὶ ἐγείρει με καὶ καθίζει ἐπὶ τὸ συμψέλιον ἐξ εὐωνύμων· ἐκαθέζετο δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ ἐκ δεξιῶν. καὶ ἐπάρασα ῥάβδον τινὰ λαμπρὰν λέγει μοι· Βλέπεις μέγα πρᾶγμα; λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, οὐδὲν βλέπω. λέγει μοι· Σύ, ἰδού, οὐχ ὁρᾷς κατέναντί σου πύργον μέγαν οἰκοδομούμενον ἐπὶ ὑδάτων λίθοις τετραγώνοις λαμπροῖς;
hē de palin epelabeto mou tēs cheiros kai egeirei me kai kathizei epi to sympselion ex euōnymōn; ekathezeto de kai autē ek dexiōn. kai eparasa rhabdon tina lampran legei moi; Blepeis mega pragma? legō autę̄; Kyria, ouden blepō. legei moi; Sy, idou, ouch horąs katenanti sou pyrgon megan oikodomoumenon epi hydatōn lithois tetragōnois lamprois?
And again she took me by the hand and raised me up and seated me on the couch on the left; and she herself sat on the right. And raising a shining rod, she said to me, “Do you see a great thing?” I said to her, “Lady, I see nothing.” She said to me, “Look: do you not see in front of you a great tower being built upon the waters with shining square stones?”
Notes and citation
Summary: She shows him a great tower being built on the waters.
- The tower is the church (3.3.3); the vision of the tower is developed at length in Similitude 9.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.4 (Lake, LCL 25:30; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.5Lake, LCL 25:30
ἐν τετραγώνῳ δὲ ᾠκοδομεῖτο ὁ πύργος ὑπὸ τῶν ἓξ νεανίσκων τῶν ἐληλυθότων μετʼ αὐτῆς· ἄλλαι δὲ μυριάδες ἀνδρῶν παρέφερον λίθους, οἱ μὲν ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ, οἱ δὲ ἐκ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἐπεδίδουν τοῖς ἓξ νεανίσκοις· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐλάμβανον καὶ ᾠκοδόμουν.
en tetragōnǭ de ǭkodomeito ho pyrgos hypo tōn hex neaniskōn tōn elēlythotōn metʼ autēs; allai de myriades andrōn parepheron lithous, hoi men ek tou bythou, hoi de ek tēs gēs, kai epedidoun tois hex neaniskois; ekeinoi de elambanon kai ǭkodomoun.
The tower was being built foursquare by the six young men who had come with her; and countless thousands of other men were bringing stones, some from the deep and some from the land, and handing them to the six young men; and they took them and built.
Notes and citation
Summary: Six young men build the tower with stones brought by countless others.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (dropped letter)): ἄλαι δὲ μυριάδες → ἄλλαι δὲ μυριάδες.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.5 (Lake, LCL 25:30; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.6Lake, LCL 25:30–32
τοὺς μὲν ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ λίθους ἑλκομένους πάντας οὕτως ἐτίθεσαν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν· ἡρμοσμένοι γὰρ ἦσαν καὶ συνεφώνουν τῇ ἁρμογῇ μετὰ τῶν ἑτέρων· καὶ οὕτως ἐκολλῶντο ἀλλήλοις, ὥστε τὴν ἁρμογὴν αὐτῶν μὴ φαίνεσθαι. ἐφαίνετο δὲ ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργου ὡς ἐξ ἑνὸς λίθου ᾠκοδομημένη.
tous men ek tou bythou lithous helkomenous pantas houtōs etithesan eis tēn oikodomēn; hērmosmenoi gar ēsan kai synephōnoun tę̄ harmogę̄ meta tōn heterōn; kai houtōs ekollōnto allēlois, hōste tēn harmogēn autōn mē phainesthai. ephaineto de hē oikodomē tou pyrgou hōs ex henos lithou ǭkodomēmenē.
All the stones dragged from the deep they placed as they were into the building; for they were shaped and fitted in their joining with the others; and they fitted together so closely that their joints could not be seen. And the building of the tower looked as if it were built of a single stone.
Notes and citation
Summary: The stones from the deep fit perfectly, like a single stone.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.6 (Lake, LCL 25:30–32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-6).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.7Lake, LCL 25:32
τοὺς δὲ ἑτέρους λίθους τοὺς φερομένους ἀπὸ τῆς ξηρᾶς τοὺς μὲν ἀπέβαλλον, τοὺς δὲ ἐτίθουν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν· ἄλλους δὲ κατέκοπτον καὶ ἔρριπτον μακρὰν ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου.
tous de heterous lithous tous pheromenous apo tēs xēras tous men apeballon, tous de etithoun eis tēn oikodomēn; allous de katekopton kai erripton makran apo tou pyrgou.
But of the other stones brought from the dry land, some they threw away, some they put into the building, and others they broke up and threw far from the tower.
Notes and citation
Summary: Some stones from the land are used, others rejected.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.7 (Lake, LCL 25:32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-7).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.8Lake, LCL 25:32
ἄλλοι δὲ λίθοι πολλοὶ κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου ἔκειντο, καὶ οὐκ ἐχρῶντο αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκοδομήν· ἦσαν γάρ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐψωριακότες, ἕτεροι δὲ σχισμὰς ἔχοντες, ἄλλοι δὲ κεκολοβωμένοι, ἄλλοι δὲ λευκοὶ καὶ στρογγύλοι, μὴ ἁρμόζοντες εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν.
alloi de lithoi polloi kyklǭ tou pyrgou ekeinto, kai ouk echrōnto autois epi tēn oikodomēn; ēsan gar tines ex autōn epsōriakotes, heteroi de schismas echontes, alloi de kekolobōmenoi, alloi de leukoi kai strongyloi, mē harmozontes eis tēn oikodomēn.
And many other stones lay around the tower, and they did not use them for the building; for some of them were rough, others had cracks, others were cut short, and others were white and round, not fitting into the building.
Notes and citation
Summary: Flawed stones lie around the tower unused.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.8 (Lake, LCL 25:32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-8).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-8
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.2.9Lake, LCL 25:32
ἔβλεπον δὲ ἑτέρους λίθους ῥιπτομένους μακρὰν ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου καὶ ἐρχομένους εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ μὴ μένοντας ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ἀλλὰ κυλιομένους ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ εἰς τὴν ἀνοδίαν· ἑτέρους δὲ ἐπὶ πῦρ ἐμπίπτοντας καὶ καιομένους· ἑτέρους δὲ πίπτοντας ἐγγὺς ὑδάτων καὶ μὴ δυναμένους κυλισθῆναι εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ, καίπερ θελόντων κυλισθῆναι καὶ ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ.
eblepon de heterous lithous rhiptomenous makran apo tou pyrgou kai erchomenous eis tēn hodon kai mē menontas en tę̄ hodǭ, alla kyliomenous ek tēs hodou eis tēn anodian; heterous de epi pyr empiptontas kai kaiomenous; heterous de piptontas engys hydatōn kai mē dynamenous kylisthēnai eis to hydōr, kaiper thelontōn kylisthēnai kai elthein eis to hydōr.
And I saw other stones thrown far from the tower, coming to the road and not staying on the road, but rolling from the road into the pathless ground; others falling into fire and burning; others falling near waters and unable to roll into the water, though they wished to roll and come to the water.
Notes and citation
Summary: Other stones fall away, burn, or cannot reach the water.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.2.9 (Lake, LCL 25:32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-9).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-2-9
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 3, chapter 3
3.3.1Lake, LCL 25:32–34
Δείξασά μοι ταῦτα ἤθελεν ἀποτρέχειν. λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, τί μοι ὄφελος ταῦτα ἑωρακότι καὶ μὴ γινώσκοντι, τί ἐστιν τὰ πράγματα; ἀποκριθεῖσά μοι λέγει· Πανοῦργος εἶ ἄνθρωπος, θέλων γινώσκειν τὰ περὶ τὸν πύργον. Ναί, φημί, κυρία, ἵνα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἀναγγείλω καὶ ἱλαρώτεροι γένωνται καὶ ταῦτα ἀκούσαντες γινώσκωσιν τὸν κύριον ἐν πολλῇ δόξῃ.
Deixasa moi tauta ēthelen apotrechein. legō autę̄; Kyria, ti moi ophelos tauta heōrakoti kai mē ginōskonti, ti estin ta pragmata? apokritheisa moi legei; Panourgos ei anthrōpos, thelōn ginōskein ta peri ton pyrgon. Nai, phēmi, kyria, hina tois adelphois anangeilō kai hilarōteroi genōntai kai tauta akousantes ginōskōsin ton kyrion en pollę̄ doxę̄.
When she had shown me these things she wished to hurry away. I said to her, “Lady, what use is it to me to have seen these things and not to know what they mean?” She answered me, “You are a cunning man, wanting to know about the tower.” “Yes, lady,” I said, “so that I may announce it to the brothers and they may become more cheerful, and when they hear these things may know the Lord in great glory.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas asks for the meaning, to tell the brothers.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.3.1 (Lake, LCL 25:32–34; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.3.2Lake, LCL 25:34
ἡ δὲ ἔφη· Ἀκούσονται μὲν πολλοί· ἀκούσαντες δέ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν χαρήσονται, τινὲς δὲ κλαύσονται· ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτοι, ἐὰν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ μετανοήσωσιν, καὶ αὐτοὶ χαρήσονται. ἄκουε οὖν τὰς παραβολὰς τοῦ πύργου· ἀποκαλύψω γάρ σοι πάντα. καὶ μηκέτι μοι κόπους πάρεχε περὶ ἀποκαλύψεως· αἱ γὰρ ἀποκαλύψεις αὗται τέλος ἔχουσιν· πεπληρωμέναι γάρ εἰσιν. ἀλλʼ οὐ παύσῃ αἰτούμενος ἀποκαλύψεις· ἀναιδὴς γὰρ εἶ.
hē de ephē; Akousontai men polloi; akousantes de tines ex autōn charēsontai, tines de klausontai; alla kai houtoi, ean akousōsin kai metanoēsōsin, kai autoi charēsontai. akoue oun tas parabolas tou pyrgou; apokalypsō gar soi panta. kai mēketi moi kopous pareche peri apokalypseōs; hai gar apokalypseis hautai telos echousin; peplērōmenai gar eisin. allʼ ou pausę̄ aitoumenos apokalypseis; anaidēs gar ei.
And she said, “Many will hear; and when they hear, some of them will rejoice, and some will weep; but even these, if they hear and repent, will themselves rejoice. Listen, then, to the parables of the tower; for I will reveal everything to you. And do not trouble me any longer about revelation; for these revelations have an end, for they are completed. But you will not stop asking for revelations, for you are shameless.”
Notes and citation
Summary: She will explain the tower, but warns him not to keep asking.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.3.2 (Lake, LCL 25:34; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.3.3Lake, LCL 25:34
ὁ μὲν πύργος, ὃν βλέπεις οἰκοδομούμενον, ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ Ἐκκλησία, ἡ ὀφθεῖσά σοι καὶ νῦν καὶ τὸ πρότερον· ὃ ἂν οὖν θελήσῃς, ἐπερώτα περὶ τοῦ πύργου, καὶ ἀποκαλύψω σοι, ἵνα χαρῇς μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων.
ho men pyrgos, hon blepeis oikodomoumenon, egō eimi hē Ekklēsia, hē ophtheisa soi kai nyn kai to proteron; ho an oun thelēsę̄s, eperōta peri tou pyrgou, kai apokalypsō soi, hina charę̄s meta tōn hagiōn.
The tower that you see being built is I, the church, who appeared to you both now and before. Ask, then, whatever you wish about the tower, and I will reveal it to you, so that you may rejoice with the saints.
Notes and citation
Summary: The tower is the church.
Topics: The church
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.3.3 (Lake, LCL 25:34; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.3.4Lake, LCL 25:34
λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, ἐπεὶ ἅπαξ ἄξιόν με ἡγήσω τοῦ πάντα μοι ἀποκαλύψαι, ἀποκάλυψον. ἡ δὲ λέγει μοι· Ὃ ἐὰν ἐνδέχηταί σοι ἀποκαλυφθῆναι, ἀποκαλυφθήσεται. μόνον ἡ καρδία σου πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἤτω καὶ μὴ διψυχήσεις, ὃ ἂν ἴδῃς.
legō autę̄; Kyria, epei hapax axion me hēgēsō tou panta moi apokalypsai, apokalypson. hē de legei moi; Ho ean endechētai soi apokalyphthēnai, apokalyphthēsetai. monon hē kardia sou pros ton theon ētō kai mē dipsychēseis, ho an idę̄s.
I said to her, “Lady, since you have once counted me worthy to reveal everything to me, reveal it.” And she said to me, “Whatever can be revealed to you will be revealed. Only let your heart be toward God, and do not be double-minded about whatever you see.”
Notes and citation
Summary: What may be revealed will be, if his heart is with God.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.3.4 (Lake, LCL 25:34; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.3.5Lake, LCL 25:34
ἐπηρώτησα αὐτήν· Διατί ὁ πύργος ἐπὶ ὑδάτων ᾠκοδόμηται, κυρία; Εἶπά σοι, φησίν, καὶ τὸ πρότερον, καὶ ἐκζητεῖς ἐπιμελῶς· ἐκζητῶν οὖν εὑρίσκεις τὴν ἀλήθειαν. διατί οὖν ἐπὶ ὑδάτων ᾠκοδόμηται ὁ πύργος, ἄκουε· ὅτι ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν διὰ ὕδατος ἐσώθη καὶ σωθήσεται. τεθεμελίωται δὲ ὁ πύργος τῷ ῥήματι τοῦ παντοκράτορος καὶ ἐνδόξου ὀνόματος, κρατεῖται δὲ ὑπὸ τῆς ἀοράτου δυνάμεως τοῦ δεσπότου.
epērōtēsa autēn; Diati ho pyrgos epi hydatōn ǭkodomētai, kyria? Eipa soi, phēsin, kai to proteron, kai ekzēteis epimelōs; ekzētōn oun heuriskeis tēn alētheian. diati oun epi hydatōn ǭkodomētai ho pyrgos, akoue; hoti hē zōē hymōn dia hydatos esōthē kai sōthēsetai. tethemeliōtai de ho pyrgos tǭ rhēmati tou pantokratoros kai endoxou onomatos, krateitai de hypo tēs aoratou dynameōs tou despotou.
I asked her, “Why is the tower built upon waters, lady?” “I told you before,” she said, “and you seek carefully; so by seeking you find the truth. Hear, then, why the tower is built upon waters: because your life was saved through water, and will be saved. And the tower has been founded by the word of the almighty and glorious name, and it is held together by the invisible power of the Master.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The tower stands on water because life is saved through the water of baptism.
Topics: Baptism
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.3.5 (Lake, LCL 25:34; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-3-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 3, chapter 4
3.4.1Lake, LCL 25:34–36
Ἀποκριθεὶς λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, μεγάλως καὶ θαυμαστῶς ἔχει τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο· οἱ δὲ νεανίσκοι οἱ ἓξ οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, τίνες εἰσίν, κυρία; Οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ οἱ πρῶτοι κτισθέντες, οἷς παρέδωκεν ὁ κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν κτίσιν αὐτοῦ αὔξειν καὶ οἰκοδομεῖν καὶ δεσπόζειν τῆς κτίσεως πάσης· διὰ τούτων οὖν τελεσθήσεται ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργου.
Apokritheis legō autę̄; Kyria, megalōs kai thaumastōs echei to pragma touto; hoi de neaniskoi hoi hex hoi oikodomountes, tines eisin, kyria? Houtoi eisin hoi hagioi angeloi tou theou hoi prōtoi ktisthentes, hois paredōken ho kyrios pasan tēn ktisin autou auxein kai oikodomein kai despozein tēs ktiseōs pasēs; dia toutōn oun telesthēsetai hē oikodomē tou pyrgou.
I answered her, “Lady, this thing is great and marvelous. But the six young men who are building, who are they, lady?” “These are the holy angels of God who were created first, to whom the Lord handed over all his creation to increase and build up and rule over all creation. Through them, then, the building of the tower will be completed.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The six builders are the first-created angels.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (punctuation slip in the digital text): τίνες εἰσίν. κυρία; → τίνες εἰσίν, κυρία;.
Topics: Angels
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.4.1 (Lake, LCL 25:34–36; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-4-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-4-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.4.2Lake, LCL 25:36
Οἱ δὲ ἕτεροι οἱ παραφέροντες τοὺς λίθους, τίνες εἰσίν; Καὶ αὐτοὶ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ· οὗτοι δὲ οἱ ἓξ ὑπερέχοντες αὐτούς εἰσιν· συντελεσθήσεται οὖν ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργου, καὶ πάντες ὁμοῦ εὐφρανθήσονται κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου καὶ δοξάσουσιν τὸν θεόν, ὅτι ἐτελέσθη ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργου.
Hoi de heteroi hoi parapherontes tous lithous, tines eisin? Kai autoi hagioi angeloi tou theou; houtoi de hoi hex hyperechontes autous eisin; syntelesthēsetai oun hē oikodomē tou pyrgou, kai pantes homou euphranthēsontai kyklǭ tou pyrgou kai doxasousin ton theon, hoti etelesthē hē oikodomē tou pyrgou.
“And the others who are bringing the stones, who are they?” “They too are holy angels of God; but these six are superior to them. So the building of the tower will be completed, and all together will rejoice around the tower and glorify God that the building of the tower has been completed.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The stone-bearers are also angels; all will rejoice when the tower is complete.
Topics: Eschatology, Angels
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.4.2 (Lake, LCL 25:36; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-4-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-4-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.4.3Lake, LCL 25:36
ἐπηρώτησα αὐτὴν λέγων· Κυρία, ἤθελον γνῶναι τῶν λίθων τὴν ἔξοδον καὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὐτῶν, ποταπή ἐστιν. ἀποκριθεῖσά μοι λέγει· Οὐχ ὅτι σὺ ἐκ πάντων ἀξιώτερος εἶ, ἵνα σοι ἀποκαλυφθῇ. ἄλλοι γάρ σου πρότεροί εἰσιν καὶ βελτίονές σου, οἷς ἔδει ἀποκαλυφθῆναι τὰ ὁράματα ταῦτα· ἀλλʼ ἵνα δοξασθῇ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ, σοὶ ἀπεκαλύφθη καὶ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται διὰ τοὺς διψύχους, τοὺς διαλογιζομένους ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, εἰ ἄρα ἔστιν ταῦτα ἢ οὐκ ἔστιν. λέγε αὐτοῖς, ὅτι ταῦτα πάντα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ καὶ οὐθὲν ἔξωθέν ἐστιν τῆς ἀληθείας, ἀλλὰ πάντα ἰσχυρὰ καὶ βέβαια καὶ τεθεμελιωμένα ἐστίν.
epērōtēsa autēn legōn; Kyria, ēthelon gnōnai tōn lithōn tēn exodon kai tēn dynamin autōn, potapē estin. apokritheisa moi legei; Ouch hoti sy ek pantōn axiōteros ei, hina soi apokalyphthę̄. alloi gar sou proteroi eisin kai beltiones sou, hois edei apokalyphthēnai ta horamata tauta; allʼ hina doxasthę̄ to onoma tou theou, soi apekalyphthē kai apokalyphthēsetai dia tous dipsychous, tous dialogizomenous en tais kardiais autōn, ei ara estin tauta ē ouk estin. lege autois, hoti tauta panta estin alēthē kai outhen exōthen estin tēs alētheias, alla panta ischyra kai bebaia kai tethemeliōmena estin.
I asked her, saying, “Lady, I would like to know the outcome of the stones and their meaning, what it is.” She answered me, “It is not that you are more worthy than all others that this should be revealed to you. For there are others before you and better than you, to whom these visions should have been revealed; but so that the name of God may be glorified, it has been revealed to you and will be revealed, because of the double-minded, who debate in their hearts whether these things are so or not. Tell them that all these things are true, and nothing is outside the truth, but everything is strong and sure and well founded.
Notes and citation
Summary: The visions are given for the doubters' sake; tell them all is true.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.4.3 (Lake, LCL 25:36; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-4-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-4-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 3, chapter 5
3.5.1Lake, LCL 25:36–38
Ἄκουε νῦν περὶ τῶν λίθων τῶν ὑπαγόντων εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν. οἱ μὲν οὖν λίθοι οἱ τετράγωνοι καὶ λευκοὶ καὶ συμφωνοῦντες ταῖς ἁρμογαῖς αὐτῶν, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ ἐπίσκοποι καὶ διδάσκαλοι καὶ διάκονοι οἱ πορευθέντες κατὰ τὴν σεμνότητα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπισκοπήσαντες καὶ διδάξαντες καὶ διακονήσαντες ἁγνῶς καὶ σεμνῶς τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ, οἱ μὲν κεκοιμημένοι, οἱ δὲ ἔτι ὄντες· καὶ πάντοτε ἑαυτοῖς συνεφώνησαν καὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς εἰρήνην ἔσχον καὶ ἀλλήλων ἤκουον· διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τῇ οἰκοδομῇ τοῦ πύργου συμφωνοῦσιν αἱ ἁρμογαὶ αὐτῶν.
Akoue nyn peri tōn lithōn tōn hypagontōn eis tēn oikodomēn. hoi men oun lithoi hoi tetragōnoi kai leukoi kai symphōnountes tais harmogais autōn, houtoi eisin hoi apostoloi kai episkopoi kai didaskaloi kai diakonoi hoi poreuthentes kata tēn semnotēta tou theou kai episkopēsantes kai didaxantes kai diakonēsantes hagnōs kai semnōs tois eklektois tou theou, hoi men kekoimēmenoi, hoi de eti ontes; kai pantote heautois synephōnēsan kai en heautois eirēnēn eschon kai allēlōn ēkouon; dia touto en tę̄ oikodomę̄ tou pyrgou symphōnousin hai harmogai autōn.
Hear now about the stones that go into the building. The stones that are square and white and fit together in their joints are the apostles and bishops and teachers and deacons who have walked in the holiness of God, and have served as bishops and taught and served as deacons purely and reverently for God's elect: some have fallen asleep, and some are still living. And they always agreed with one another, and had peace among themselves, and listened to one another; for this reason their joints fit together in the building of the tower.
Notes and citation
Summary: The well-fitted stones are the apostles, bishops, teachers, and deacons who lived in harmony.
- The ministries named (apostles, bishops, teachers, deacons) reflect the Roman church of Hermas's time; presbyters are named elsewhere (Vis. 2.4.2–3). “Bishops” here is plural, as in 1 Clement.
Topics: Church office
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.5.1 (Lake, LCL 25:36–38; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.5.2Lake, LCL 25:38
Οἱ δὲ ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ ἑλκόμενοι καὶ ἐπιτιθέμενοι εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν καὶ συμφωνοῦντες ταῖς ἁρμογαῖς αὐτῶν μετὰ τῶν ἑτέρων λίθων τῶν ἤδη ᾠκοδομημένων, τίνες εἰσίν; Οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ παθόντες ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου.
Hoi de ek tou bythou helkomenoi kai epitithemenoi eis tēn oikodomēn kai symphōnountes tais harmogais autōn meta tōn heterōn lithōn tōn ēdē ǭkodomēmenōn, tines eisin? Houtoi eisin hoi pathontes heneken tou onomatos tou kyriou.
“And those that are dragged from the deep and placed into the building and fit in their joints with the other stones already built in, who are they?” “These are those who suffered for the name of the Lord.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The stones from the deep are the martyrs.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.5.2 (Lake, LCL 25:38; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.5.3Lake, LCL 25:38
Τοὺς δὲ ἑτέρους λίθους τοὺς φερομένους ἀπὸ τῆς ξηρᾶς θέλω γνῶναι, τίνες εἰσίν, κυρία. ἔφη· Τοὺς μὲν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν ὑπάγοντας καὶ μὴ λατομουμένους, τούτους ὁ κύριος ἐδοκίμασεν, ὅτι ἐπορεύθησαν ἐν τῇ εὐθύτητι τοῦ κυρίου καὶ κατωρθώσαντο τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ.
Tous de heterous lithous tous pheromenous apo tēs xēras thelō gnōnai, tines eisin, kyria. ephē; Tous men eis tēn oikodomēn hypagontas kai mē latomoumenous, toutous ho kyrios edokimasen, hoti eporeuthēsan en tę̄ euthytēti tou kyriou kai katōrthōsanto tas entolas autou.
“And the other stones brought from the dry land, I wish to know who they are, lady.” She said, “Those that go into the building without being cut, these the Lord has approved, because they walked in the uprightness of the Lord and carried out his commandments.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Uncut stones are those who kept the Lord's commandments.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.5.3 (Lake, LCL 25:38; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.5.4Lake, LCL 25:38
Οἱ δὲ ἀγόμενοι καὶ τιθέμενοι εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν, τίνες εἰσίν; Νέοι εἰσὶν ἐν τῇ πίστει καὶ πιστοί. νουθετοῦνται δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἰς τὸ ἀγαθοποιεῖν, διότι εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτοῖς πονηρία.
Hoi de agomenoi kai tithemenoi eis tēn oikodomēn, tines eisin? Neoi eisin en tę̄ pistei kai pistoi. nouthetountai de hypo tōn angelōn eis to agathopoiein, dioti heurethē en autois ponēria.
“And those that are brought and placed in the building, who are they?” “They are young in the faith, and faithful. But they are admonished by the angels to do good, because some wickedness was found in them.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Other stones are new believers still being corrected.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.5.4 (Lake, LCL 25:38; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.5.5Lake, LCL 25:38–40
Οὓς δὲ ἀπέβαλλον καὶ ἐρίπτουν, τίνες εἰσίν; Οὗτοί εἰσιν ἡμαρτηκότες καὶ θέλοντες μετανοῆσαι· διὰ τοῦτο μακρὰν οὐκ ἀπερίφησαν ἔξω τοῦ πύργου, ὅτι εὔχρηστοι ἔσονται εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν, ἐὰν μετανοήσωσιν. οἱ οὖν μέλλοντες μετανοεῖν, ἐὰν μετανοήσωσιν, ἰσχυροὶ ἔσονται ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἐὰν νῦν μετανοήσωσιν, ἐν ᾧ οἰκοδομεῖται ὁ πύργος. ἐὰν δὲ τελεσθῇ ἡ οἰκοδομή, οὐκέτι ἔχουσιν τόπον, ἀλλʼ ἔσονται ἔκβολοι· μόνον δὲ τοῦτο ἔχουσιν, παρὰ τῷ πύργῳ κεῖσθαι.
Hous de apeballon kai eriptoun, tines eisin? Houtoi eisin hēmartēkotes kai thelontes metanoēsai; dia touto makran ouk aperiphēsan exō tou pyrgou, hoti euchrēstoi esontai eis tēn oikodomēn, ean metanoēsōsin. hoi oun mellontes metanoein, ean metanoēsōsin, ischyroi esontai en tę̄ pistei, ean nyn metanoēsōsin, en hǭ oikodomeitai ho pyrgos. ean de telesthę̄ hē oikodomē, ouketi echousin topon, allʼ esontai ekboloi; monon de touto echousin, para tǭ pyrgǭ keisthai.
“And those they rejected and threw away, who are they?” “These are those who have sinned and wish to repent; for this reason they were not thrown far from the tower, because they will be useful for the building if they repent. Those, then, who are going to repent, if they repent, will be strong in the faith, if they repent now, while the tower is being built. But if the building is finished, they no longer have a place, but will be castaways; they have only this, to lie beside the tower.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Rejected stones near the tower are sinners who may still repent while the tower is being built.
Topics: Repentance
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.5.5 (Lake, LCL 25:38–40; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-5-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 3, chapter 6
3.6.1Lake, LCL 25:40
Τοὺς δὲ κατακοπτομένους καὶ μακρὰν ῥιπτομένους ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου θέλεις γνῶναι; οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοὶ τῆς ἀνομίας· ἐπίστευσαν δὲ ἐν ὑποκρίσει, καὶ πᾶσα πονηρία οὐκ ἀπέστη ἀπʼ αὐτῶν· διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔχουσιν σωτηρίαν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν εὔχρηστοι εἰς οἰκοδομὴν διὰ τὰς πονηρίας αὐτῶν. διὰ τοῦτο συνεκόπησαν καὶ πόρρω ἀπερίφησαν διὰ τὴν ὀργὴν τοῦ κυρίου, ὅτι παρώργισαν αὐτόν.
Tous de katakoptomenous kai makran rhiptomenous apo tou pyrgou theleis gnōnai? houtoi eisin hoi huioi tēs anomias; episteusan de en hypokrisei, kai pasa ponēria ouk apestē apʼ autōn; dia touto ouk echousin sōtērian, hoti ouk eisin euchrēstoi eis oikodomēn dia tas ponērias autōn. dia touto synekopēsan kai porrō aperiphēsan dia tēn orgēn tou kyriou, hoti parōrgisan auton.
“Do you wish to know about those that are broken up and thrown far from the tower? These are the sons of lawlessness; they believed in hypocrisy, and no wickedness departed from them. For this reason they have no salvation, because they are not useful for building because of their wickedness. Therefore they were broken up and thrown far away because of the anger of the Lord, because they provoked him to anger.
Notes and citation
Summary: Stones thrown far away are hypocrites without salvation.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (wrong breathing)): πονηρἱας → πονηρίας.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.6.1 (Lake, LCL 25:40; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.6.2Lake, LCL 25:40
τοὺς δὲ ἑτέρους, οὓς ἑώρακας πολλοὺς κειμένους, μὴ ὑπάγοντας εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν, οὗτοι οἱ μὲν ἐψωριακότες εἰσίν, οἱ ἐγνωκότες τὴν ἀλήθειαν, μὴ ἐπιμένοντας δὲ ἐν αὐτῇ.
tous de heterous, hous heōrakas pollous keimenous, mē hypagontas eis tēn oikodomēn, houtoi hoi men epsōriakotes eisin, hoi egnōkotes tēn alētheian, mē epimenontas de en autę̄.
And the others, which you have seen lying in great numbers and not going into the building: those that are rough are those who have known the truth but did not remain in it.
Notes and citation
Summary: Rough stones are those who knew the truth but did not remain in it.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.6.2 (Lake, LCL 25:40; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.6.3Lake, LCL 25:40
Οἱ δὲ τὰς σχισμὰς ἔχοντες, τίνες εἰσίν; Οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ κατʼ ἀλλήλων ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἔχοντες καὶ μὴ εἰρηνεύοντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ἀλλὰ πρόσωπον εἰρήνης ἔχοντες, ὅταν δὲ ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων ἀποχωρήσωσιν, αἱ πονηρίαι αὐτῶν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἐμμένουσιν· αὗται οὖν αἱ σχισμαί εἰσιν, ἃς ἔχουσιν οἱ λίθοι.
Hoi de tas schismas echontes, tines eisin? Houtoi eisin hoi katʼ allēlōn en tais kardiais echontes kai mē eirēneuontes en heautois, alla prosōpon eirēnēs echontes, hotan de apʼ allēlōn apochōrēsōsin, hai ponēriai autōn en tais kardiais emmenousin; hautai oun hai schismai eisin, has echousin hoi lithoi.
“And those that have cracks, who are they?” “These are those who hold things against one another in their hearts and are not at peace among themselves, but have an appearance of peace; and when they leave one another, their wickedness remains in their hearts. These are the cracks that the stones have.
Notes and citation
Summary: Cracked stones are those who keep grudges behind a show of peace.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.6.3 (Lake, LCL 25:40; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.6.4Lake, LCL 25:40
οἱ δὲ κεκολοβωμένοι, οὗτοί εἰσιν πεπιστευκότες μὲν καὶ τὸ πλεῖον μέρος ἔχουσιν ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ, τινὰ δὲ μέρη ἔχουσιν τῆς ἀνομίας· διὰ τοῦτο κολοβοὶ καὶ οὐχ ὁλοτελεῖς εἰσιν.
hoi de kekolobōmenoi, houtoi eisin pepisteukotes men kai to pleion meros echousin en tę̄ dikaiosynę̄, tina de merē echousin tēs anomias; dia touto koloboi kai ouch holoteleis eisin.
And those that are cut short are those who have believed and have most of their part in righteousness, but have some parts of lawlessness; for this reason they are cut short and not complete.
Notes and citation
Summary: Shortened stones are believers with some lawlessness remaining.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.6.4 (Lake, LCL 25:40; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.6.5Lake, LCL 25:40–42
Οἱ δὲ λευκοὶ καὶ στρογγύλοι καὶ μὴ ἁρμόζοντες εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν, τίνες εἰσίν, κυρία; ἀποκριθεῖσά μοι λέγει· Ἕως πότε μωρὸς εἶ καὶ ἀσύνετος, καὶ πάντα ἐπερωτᾷς καὶ οὐδὲν νοεῖς; οὗτοί εἰσιν ἔχοντες μὲν πίστιν, ἔχοντες δὲ καὶ πλοῦτον τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου· ὅταν γένηται θλῖψις, διὰ τὸν πλοῦτον αὐτῶν καὶ διὰ τὰς πραγματείας ἀπαρνοῦνται τὸν κύριον αὐτῶν.
Hoi de leukoi kai strongyloi kai mē harmozontes eis tēn oikodomēn, tines eisin, kyria? apokritheisa moi legei; Heōs pote mōros ei kai asynetos, kai panta eperōtąs kai ouden noeis? houtoi eisin echontes men pistin, echontes de kai plouton tou aiōnos toutou; hotan genētai thlipsis, dia ton plouton autōn kai dia tas pragmateias aparnountai ton kyrion autōn.
“And the white and round ones that do not fit into the building, who are they, lady?” She answered me, “How long will you be foolish and without understanding, asking about everything and understanding nothing? These are those who have faith, but also have the wealth of this world; when tribulation comes, because of their wealth and their business affairs they deny their Lord.”
Notes and citation
Summary: Round stones are the rich, who deny the Lord in persecution to keep their wealth.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (missing accent)): τίνες εἰσιν, κυρία → τίνες εἰσίν, κυρία.
Topics: Persecution, Ethics, Wealth and poverty
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.6.5 (Lake, LCL 25:40–42; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.6.6Lake, LCL 25:42
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῇ λέγω· Κυρία, πότε οὖν εὔχρηστοι ἔσονται εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν; Ὅταν, φησίν, περικοπῇ αὐτῶν ὁ πλοῦτος ὁ ψυχαγωγῶν αὐτούς, τότε εὔχρηστοι ἔσονται τῷ θεῷ. ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ λίθος ὁ στρογγύλος, ἐὰν μὴ περικοπῇ καὶ ἀποβάλῃ ἐξ αὐτοῦ τι, οὐ δύναται τετράγωνος γενέσθαι, οὕτω καὶ οἱ πλουτοῦντες ἐν τούτῳ τῷ αἰῶνι, ἐὰν μὴ περικοπῇ αὐτῶν ὁ πλοῦτος, οὐ δύνανται τῷ κυρίῳ εὔχρηστοι γενέσθαι.
kai apokritheis autę̄ legō; Kyria, pote oun euchrēstoi esontai eis tēn oikodomēn? Hotan, phēsin, perikopę̄ autōn ho ploutos ho psychagōgōn autous, tote euchrēstoi esontai tǭ theǭ. hōsper gar ho lithos ho strongylos, ean mē perikopę̄ kai apobalę̄ ex autou ti, ou dynatai tetragōnos genesthai, houtō kai hoi ploutountes en toutǭ tǭ aiōni, ean mē perikopę̄ autōn ho ploutos, ou dynantai tǭ kyriǭ euchrēstoi genesthai.
And I answered her, “Lady, when, then, will they be useful for the building?” “When,” she said, “the wealth that leads their souls astray is cut away from them, then they will be useful to God. For just as the round stone cannot become square unless it is cut and loses something of itself, so also those who are rich in this world cannot become useful to the Lord unless their wealth is cut away from them.
Notes and citation
Summary: The rich become useful to God only when their wealth is cut away.
Topics: Ethics, Wealth and poverty
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.6.6 (Lake, LCL 25:42; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-6).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.6.7Lake, LCL 25:42
ἀπὸ σεαυτοῦ πρῶτον. γνῶθι· ὅτε ἐπλούτεις, ἄχρηστος ἦς, νῦν δὲ εὔχρηστος εἶ καὶ ὠφέλιμος τῇ ζωῇ. εὔχρηστοι γίνεσθε τῷ θεῷ· καὶ γὰρ σὺ αὐτὸς χρᾶσαι ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν λίθων.
apo seautou prōton. gnōthi; hote eplouteis, achrēstos ēs, nyn de euchrēstos ei kai ōphelimos tę̄ zōę̄. euchrēstoi ginesthe tǭ theǭ; kai gar sy autos chrasai ek tōn autōn lithōn.
Learn first from yourself: when you were rich, you were useless, but now you are useful and profitable for life. Become useful to God; for you yourself also are made from the same stones.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hermas himself became useful once he lost his wealth.
- “Useless… useful” (ἄχρηστος… εὔχρηστος): a play on words, as in Phlm 11.
Topics: Wealth and poverty
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.6.7 (Lake, LCL 25:42; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-7).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-6-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
Vision 3, chapter 7
3.7.1Lake, LCL 25:42–44
Τοὺς δὲ ἑτέρους λίθους, οὓς εἶδες μακρὰν ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου ῥιπτομένους καὶ πίπτοντας εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ κυλιομένους ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ εἰς τὰς ἀνοδίας· οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ πεπιστευκότες μέν, ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς διψυχίας αὐτῶν ἀφίουσιν τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῶν τὴν ἀληθινήν· δοκοῦντες οὖν βελτίονα ὁδὸν δύνασθαι εὑρεῖν, πλανῶνται καὶ ταλαιπωροῦσιν περιπατοῦντες ἐν ταῖς ἀνοδίαις.
Tous de heterous lithous, hous eides makran apo tou pyrgou rhiptomenous kai piptontas eis tēn hodon kai kyliomenous ek tēs hodou eis tas anodias; houtoi eisin hoi pepisteukotes men, apo de tēs dipsychias autōn aphiousin tēn hodon autōn tēn alēthinēn; dokountes oun beltiona hodon dynasthai heurein, planōntai kai talaipōrousin peripatountes en tais anodiais.
And the other stones, which you saw thrown far from the tower and falling onto the road and rolling from the road into the pathless places: these are those who have believed, but because of their double-mindedness they abandon their true way; thinking, then, that they can find a better way, they go astray and are miserable, walking in pathless places.
Notes and citation
Summary: Stones rolling off the road are doubters who leave the true way.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.7.1 (Lake, LCL 25:42–44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-1).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.7.2Lake, LCL 25:44
οἱ δὲ πίπτοντες εἰς τὸ πῦρ καὶ καιόμενοι, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ εἰς τέλος ἀποστάντες τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος, καὶ οὐκέτι αὐτοῖς ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ μετανοῆσαι διὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀσελγείας αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν πονηριῶν ὧν εἰργάσαντο.
hoi de piptontes eis to pyr kai kaiomenoi, houtoi eisin hoi eis telos apostantes tou theou tou zōntos, kai ouketi autois anebē epi tēn kardian tou metanoēsai dia tas epithymias tēs aselgeias autōn kai tōn ponēriōn hōn eirgasanto.
And those falling into the fire and burning are those who have finally departed from the living God, and it no longer enters their heart to repent because of the desires of their licentiousness and the wicked deeds they have done.
Notes and citation
Summary: Stones in the fire are those who have finally abandoned God.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.7.2 (Lake, LCL 25:44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-2).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.7.3Lake, LCL 25:44
τοὺς δὲ ἑτέρους τοὺς πίπτοντας ἐγγὺς τῶν ὑδάτων καὶ μὴ δυναμένους κυλισθῆναι εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ θέλεις γνῶναι, τίνες εἰσίν; οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ τὸν λόγον ἀκούσαντες καὶ θέλοντες βαπτισθῆναι εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου· εἶτα ὅταν αὐτοῖς ἔλθῃ εἰς μνείαν ἡ ἁγνότης τῆς ἀληθείας, μετανοοῦσιν καὶ πορεύονται πάλιν ὀπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν αὐτῶν τῶν πονηρῶν.
tous de heterous tous piptontas engys tōn hydatōn kai mē dynamenous kylisthēnai eis to hydōr theleis gnōnai, tines eisin? houtoi eisin hoi ton logon akousantes kai thelontes baptisthēnai eis to onoma tou kyriou; eita hotan autois elthę̄ eis mneian hē hagnotēs tēs alētheias, metanoousin kai poreuontai palin opisō tōn epithymiōn autōn tōn ponērōn.
Do you wish to know who the others are, those falling near the waters and unable to roll into the water? These are those who have heard the word and wish to be baptized in the name of the Lord; then, when the purity of the truth comes to their mind, they change their minds and go back again after their evil desires.
Acts 19:5 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Stones that cannot reach the water are those who draw back from baptism.
Topics: Baptism
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.7.3 (Lake, LCL 25:44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-3).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.7.4Lake, LCL 25:44
ἐτέλεσεν οὖν τὴν ἐξήγησιν τοῦ πύργου.
etelesen oun tēn exēgēsin tou pyrgou.
So she finished the explanation of the tower.
Notes and citation
Summary: The explanation of the tower ends.
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.7.4 (Lake, LCL 25:44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-4).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.7.5Lake, LCL 25:44
ἀναιδευσάμενος ἔτι αὐτὴν ἐπηρώτησα, εἰ ἄρα πάντες οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι οἱ ἀποβεβλημένοι καὶ μὴ ἁρμόζοντες εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου, εἰ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς μετάνοια καὶ ἔχουσιν τόπον εἰς τὸν πύργον τοῦτον. Ἔχουσιν, φησίν, μετάνοιαν, ἀλλὰ εἰς τοῦτον τὸν πύργον οὐ δύνανται ἁρμόσαι·
anaideusamenos eti autēn epērōtēsa, ei ara pantes hoi lithoi houtoi hoi apobeblēmenoi kai mē harmozontes eis tēn oikodomēn tou pyrgou, ei estin autois metanoia kai echousin topon eis ton pyrgon touton. Echousin, phēsin, metanoian, alla eis touton ton pyrgon ou dynantai harmosai;
Being still shameless, I asked her whether all these stones that had been rejected and did not fit into the building of the tower have repentance and a place in this tower. “They have repentance,” she said, “but they cannot fit into this tower.
Notes and citation
Summary: The rejected stones can repent, but will not fit into this tower.
Topics: Repentance
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.7.5 (Lake, LCL 25:44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-5).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.
3.7.6Lake, LCL 25:44–46
ἑτέρῳ δὲ τόπῳ ἁρμόσουσιν πολὺ ἐλάττονι, καὶ τοῦτο ὅταν βασανισθῶσιν καὶ ἐκπληρώσωσιν τὰς ἡμέρας τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μετατεθήσονται, ὅτι μετέλαβον τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ δικαίου. καὶ τότε αὐτοῖς συμβήσεται μετατεθῆναι ἐκ τῶν βασάνων αὐτῶν, διὰ τὰ ἔργα ἃ εἰργάσαντο πονηρά. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν, οὐ σώζονται διὰ τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν αὐτῶν.
heterǭ de topǭ harmosousin poly elattoni, kai touto hotan basanisthōsin kai ekplērōsōsin tas hēmeras tōn hamartiōn autōn. kai dia touto metatethēsontai, hoti metelabon tou rhēmatos tou dikaiou. kai tote autois symbēsetai metatethēnai ek tōn basanōn autōn, dia ta erga ha eirgasanto ponēra. ean de mē anabę̄ epi tēn kardian autōn, ou sōzontai dia tēn sklērokardian autōn.
But they will fit into another, much lesser place, and that only when they have been tormented and have fulfilled the days of their sins. And they will be moved for this reason, that they shared in the righteous word. And then it will happen that they are moved out of their torments, because of the evil deeds they have done. But if it does not enter their heart, they are not saved, because of their hardness of heart.”
Notes and citation
Summary: They will find a lesser place after a time of punishment, if they repent.
- The sense of this sentence is uncertain; it appears to describe a lesser place of salvation after a period of suffering for sin.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (digitization slip against Lake's printed text (missing accent)): βασανισθωσιν → βασανισθῶσιν.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Herm. Vis. 3.7.6 (Lake, LCL 25:44–46; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-6).
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/herm-vis/3-7-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Lake (LCL 25, 1913); made independently of existing English translations.