The Shepherd of Hermas - Revision history

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	* [http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/hermas.php Hermas' ''Shepherd'' on earlychurch.org.uk] Bibliography and links to on-line articles.		* [http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/hermas.php Hermas' ''Shepherd'' on earlychurch.org.uk] Bibliography and links to on-line articles.
	* [http://www.us.archive.org/GnuBook/?id=amherstpapyribei02grenuoft#213 Fragments of Hermas in Amherst Papyri]		* [http://www.us.archive.org/GnuBook/?id=amherstpapyribei02grenuoft#213 Fragments of Hermas in Amherst Papyri]
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Shepherd Of Hermas}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Shepherd Of Hermas}}

Nick at 11:36, 6 February 2016

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Nick at 14:05, 11 January 2014

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←Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 11 January 2014
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	[[Image:Good shepherd 02b close.jpg\|thumb\|207px\|right\|''The Shepherd of Hermas'', or the [[Good Shepherd]], 3rd century, [[Catacombs of Rome]].]]		[[Image:Good shepherd 02b close.jpg\|thumb\|207px\|right\|''The Shepherd of Hermas'', or the [[Good Shepherd]], 3rd century, [[Catacombs of Rome]].]]
-	~~{{Christianity}}~~	+	'''''The Shepherd of Hermas''''' (Ποιμὴν τοῦ Ἑρμᾶ; sometimes just called '''''The Shepherd''''') is a [[Christian]] [[Literature\|literary work]] of the 1st or 2nd century, considered a valuable book by many Christians, and considered [[biblical canon\|canonical scripture]] by some of the early [[Church fathers]] such as [[Irenaeus]].<sup>[]</sup> The Shepherd had great authority in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.<sup>[]</sup> It was bound as part of the [[New Testament]]<sup>[]</sup> in the ''[[Codex Sinaiticus]]'', and it was listed between the [[Acts of the Apostles]] and the [[Acts of Paul]] in the [[stichometry\|stichometrical]] list of the ''[[Codex Claromontanus]]''.
-	~~{{italic title}}~~	+
-	'''''The Shepherd of Hermas''''' (~~{{lang-el\|~~Ποιμὴν τοῦ Ἑρμᾶ}}; sometimes just called '''''The Shepherd''''') is a [[Christian]] [[Literature\|literary work]] of the 1st or 2nd century, considered a valuable book by many Christians, and considered [[biblical canon\|canonical scripture]] by some of the early [[Church fathers]] such as [[Irenaeus]].<~~ref name="newadvent.org"~~>[~~http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm Newadvent.org~~]</~~ref><ref>Davidson & Leaney, Biblical Criticism: p230</ref~~> The Shepherd had great authority in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.<~~ref~~>"The Pastor of Hermas was one of the most popular books, if not the most popular book, in the Christian Church during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries. It occupied a position analogous in some respects to Bunyan's ''Pilgrim's Progress'' in modern times." (F. Crombie, translator of Schaff, ''op. cit.'').</~~ref~~> It was bound as part of the [[New Testament]]<~~ref name="newadvent.org"~~/> in the ''[[Codex Sinaiticus]]'', and it was listed between the [[Acts of the Apostles]] and the [[Acts of Paul]] in the [[stichometry\|stichometrical]] list of the ''[[Codex Claromontanus]]''.	+

	The work comprises five visions, twelve mandates, and ten parables.		The work comprises five visions, twelve mandates, and ten parables.
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	===Christology===		===Christology===
-	In parable 5, the author mentions a ''Son of God'', as a virtuous man filled with a Holy "pre-existent spirit" and adopted as the Son.<~~ref~~>"The Holy Pre-existent Spirit. Which created the whole creation, God made to dwell in flesh that He desired. This flesh, therefore, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, was subject unto the Spirit, walking honorably in holiness and purity, without in any way defiling the Spirit. When then it had lived honorably in chastity, and had labored with the Spirit, and had cooperated with it in everything, behaving itself boldly and bravely, He chose it as a partner with the Holy Spirit; for the career of this flesh pleased [the Lord], seeing that, as possessing the Holy Spirit, it was not defiled upon the earth. He therefore took the son as adviser and the glorious angels also, that this flesh too, having served the Spirit unblamably, might have some place of sojourn, and might not seem to have lost the reward for its service; for all flesh, which is found undefiled and unspotted, wherein the Holy Spirit dwelt, shall receive a reward." [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/shepherd-lightfoot.html Earlychristianwritings.com]</~~ref~~> In the 2nd century, [[adoptionism]] (the view that [[Jesus Christ]] was only a mortal man) was one of two competing doctrines about Jesus' true nature, the other being that he pre-existed as a divine spirit ([[Logos]]); Christ's identity with the [[Logos]] (Jn 1:1) was affirmed in 325 at the [[First Council of Nicaea]].<~~ref~~>"Jesus was either regarded as the man whom God hath chosen, in whom the Deity or the Spirit of God dwelt, and who, after being tested, was adopted by God and invested with dominion, (Adoptian Christology); or Jesus was regarded as a heavenly spiritual being (the highest after God) who took flesh, and again returned to heaven after the completion of his work on earth (pneumatic Christology)." [~~[Adolf von Harnack]], History of Dogma, [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/harnack/dogma1.ii.iii.iii.html CCEL.org~~]</~~ref~~> Bogdan G. Bucur, however, notes how widely accepted the Shepherd of Hermas was among "orthodox" Christians, yet was never criticized for apparently exhibiting an adoptionistic Christology. He suggests that the passage in question should be understood as Jesus making his dwelling within those who submit to his spirit, so that the "adoption" that takes place is not of Jesus but of his followers.<sup>[]</sup>	+	In parable 5, the author mentions a ''Son of God'', as a virtuous man filled with a Holy "pre-existent spirit" and adopted as the Son.<sup>[]</sup> In the 2nd century, [[adoptionism]] (the view that [[Jesus Christ]] was only a mortal man) was one of two competing doctrines about Jesus' true nature, the other being that he pre-existed as a divine spirit ([[Logos]]); Christ's identity with the [[Logos]] (Jn 1:1) was affirmed in 325 at the [[First Council of Nicaea]].<sup>[]</sup> Bogdan G. Bucur, however, notes how widely accepted the Shepherd of Hermas was among "orthodox" Christians, yet was never criticized for apparently exhibiting an adoptionistic Christology. He suggests that the passage in question should be understood as Jesus making his dwelling within those who submit to his spirit, so that the "adoption" that takes place is not of Jesus but of his followers.<sup>[]</sup>

	==Authorship and date==		==Authorship and date==
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	Three ancient witnesses, one of whom claims to be contemporary, declare that Hermas was the [[Hermas (freedman)\|brother of]] [[Pope Pius I]], whose pontificate was not earlier than 140–155, which corresponds to the date range offered by [[Joseph Barber Lightfoot\|J. B. Lightfoot]] (Lightfoot 1891). These authorities may be citing the same source, perhaps [[Hegesippus (chronicler)\|Hegesippus]],<sup>[]</sup> whose lost history of the early Church provided material for [[Eusebius of Caesarea]]. The witnesses are the following:		Three ancient witnesses, one of whom claims to be contemporary, declare that Hermas was the [[Hermas (freedman)\|brother of]] [[Pope Pius I]], whose pontificate was not earlier than 140–155, which corresponds to the date range offered by [[Joseph Barber Lightfoot\|J. B. Lightfoot]] (Lightfoot 1891). These authorities may be citing the same source, perhaps [[Hegesippus (chronicler)\|Hegesippus]],<sup>[]</sup> whose lost history of the early Church provided material for [[Eusebius of Caesarea]]. The witnesses are the following:
-	* The [[Muratorian fragment]] is a list written c. 170 (although some scholars now question this date and prefer to assign the fragment to the 4th century.<~~ref~~>~~G. M. Hahneman, ''The Mutatorian Fragment and the Origins of the New Testament Canon'' in "The Canon Debate" (ed. L. M. McDonald and J. A. Sanders): pp. 405–415, 2002, Massachusetts: Hendrickson~~</~~ref~~>) that may be the earliest known [[biblical canon\|canon]] of New Testament writings. It identifies Hermas, the author of ''The Shepherd,'' as the brother of [[Pius I]], bishop of Rome:	+	* The [[Muratorian fragment]] is a list written c. 170 (although some scholars now question this date and prefer to assign the fragment to the 4th century.<sup>[]</sup>) that may be the earliest known [[biblical canon\|canon]] of New Testament writings. It identifies Hermas, the author of ''The Shepherd,'' as the brother of [[Pius I]], bishop of Rome:
	::But Hermas wrote The Shepherd very recently, in our times, in the city of Rome, while bishop Pius, his brother, was occupying the chair of the church of the city of Rome. And therefore it ought indeed to be read; but it cannot be read publicly to the people in church either among the Prophets, whose number is complete,<sup>[]</sup> or among the Apostles, for it is after their time.		::But Hermas wrote The Shepherd very recently, in our times, in the city of Rome, while bishop Pius, his brother, was occupying the chair of the church of the city of Rome. And therefore it ought indeed to be read; but it cannot be read publicly to the people in church either among the Prophets, whose number is complete,<sup>[]</sup> or among the Apostles, for it is after their time.
	* The [[Liberian Catalogue]] of Popes, a record that was later used in the writing of the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', states in a portion under the heading of 235: "Under his [Pius'] episcopate, his brother Ermes wrote a book in which are contained the precepts which the angel delivered to him, coming to him in the guise of a Shepherd."		* The [[Liberian Catalogue]] of Popes, a record that was later used in the writing of the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', states in a portion under the heading of 235: "Under his [Pius'] episcopate, his brother Ermes wrote a book in which are contained the precepts which the angel delivered to him, coming to him in the guise of a Shepherd."
	* A poem written against Marcion from the 3rd or 4th century, by a [[Pseudepigrapha\|writer adopting the name and ''persona'']] of [[Tertullian]] — and sometimes therefore referred to as "[[Pseudo-Tertullian]]" — states "Then, after him, Pius, whose brother according to the flesh was Hermas, the angelic shepherd, because he spoke the words given to him." Note that Pseudo-Tertullian quotes some details from this list which are absent from the Liberian Catalogue, which may mean that that he is independent of it.		* A poem written against Marcion from the 3rd or 4th century, by a [[Pseudepigrapha\|writer adopting the name and ''persona'']] of [[Tertullian]] — and sometimes therefore referred to as "[[Pseudo-Tertullian]]" — states "Then, after him, Pius, whose brother according to the flesh was Hermas, the angelic shepherd, because he spoke the words given to him." Note that Pseudo-Tertullian quotes some details from this list which are absent from the Liberian Catalogue, which may mean that that he is independent of it.

-	The scholar [[John Robinson (bishop of Woolwich)\|John A. T. Robinson]] <~~ref name="JATRobinson"~~>~~J.A.T.Robinson, ''Redating the New Testament'', 1976, London: SCM~~</~~ref~~> makes a detailed argument that in fact ''Shepherd'' was written ''before'' AD 85. This is because	+	The scholar [[John Robinson (bishop of Woolwich)\|John A. T. Robinson]] <sup>[]</sup> makes a detailed argument that in fact ''Shepherd'' was written ''before'' AD 85. This is because
	:a) ''All'' the canonical New Testament books predate the fall of Jerusalem in AD.70, according to Robinson's detailed prior thesis in his book.		:a) ''All'' the canonical New Testament books predate the fall of Jerusalem in AD.70, according to Robinson's detailed prior thesis in his book.
	:b) [[Irenaeus]] quotes it as ''scripture'' in [[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis\|"Against Heresy"]] (c. 180) thus undermining the testimony of the [[Muratorian fragment]], which, if believed, would place it during the bishopric in Rome of [[Pope Pius I\|Pius]] (140–155). Irenaeus would not count a 2nd-century text as scripture.		:b) [[Irenaeus]] quotes it as ''scripture'' in [[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis\|"Against Heresy"]] (c. 180) thus undermining the testimony of the [[Muratorian fragment]], which, if believed, would place it during the bishopric in Rome of [[Pope Pius I\|Pius]] (140–155). Irenaeus would not count a 2nd-century text as scripture.

Nick: New page: ''The Shepherd of Hermas'', or the [[Good Shepherd, 3rd century, Catacombs of Rome.]] {{Christianity}} {{italic title}} '''''The...

2014-01-11T14:00:04Z

New page: ''The Shepherd of Hermas'', or the [[Good Shepherd, 3rd century, Catacombs of Rome.]] {{Christianity}} {{italic title}} '''''The...

New page

[[Image:Good shepherd 02b close.jpg|thumb|207px|right|''The Shepherd of Hermas'', or the [[Good Shepherd]], 3rd century, [[Catacombs of Rome]].]]
{{Christianity}}
{{italic title}}
'''''The Shepherd of Hermas''''' ({{lang-el|Ποιμὴν τοῦ Ἑρμᾶ}}; sometimes just called '''''The Shepherd''''') is a [[Christian]] [[Literature|literary work]] of the 1st or 2nd century, considered a valuable book by many Christians, and considered [[biblical canon|canonical scripture]] by some of the early [[Church fathers]] such as [[Irenaeus]].<ref name="newadvent.org">[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm Newadvent.org]</ref><ref>Davidson & Leaney, Biblical Criticism: p230</ref> The Shepherd had great authority in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.<ref>"The Pastor of Hermas was one of the most popular books, if not the most popular book, in the Christian Church during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries. It occupied a position analogous in some respects to Bunyan's ''Pilgrim's Progress'' in modern times." (F. Crombie, translator of Schaff, ''op. cit.'').</ref> It was bound as part of the [[New Testament]]<ref name="newadvent.org"/> in the ''[[Codex Sinaiticus]]'', and it was listed between the [[Acts of the Apostles]] and the [[Acts of Paul]] in the [[stichometry|stichometrical]] list of the ''[[Codex Claromontanus]]''.

The work comprises five visions, twelve mandates, and ten parables.
It relies on allegory and pays special attention to the Church, calling the faithful to repent of the sins that have harmed it.

The book was originally written in [[Rome]], in the [[Greek language]], but a Latin translation was made very shortly afterwards. Only the Latin version has been preserved in full; of the Greek, the last fifth or so is missing.

The shepherd is one of the meanings that was probably attached to some figurines of the ''[[Good Shepherd]]'' as well as a symbol for [[Christ]], or a traditional [[pagan]] [[kriophoros]].

==Contents==
The book consists of five visions granted to [[Hermas (freedman)|Hermas]], a former slave. This is followed by twelve mandates or commandments, and ten similitudes, or [[parable]]s. It commences abruptly in the first person: "He who brought me up sold me to a certain Rhoda, who was at Rome. After many years I met her again, and began to love her as a sister." As Hermas was on the road to [[Cumae]], he had a vision of Rhoda. She told him that she was his accuser in heaven, on account of an unchaste thought the (married) narrator had once had concerning her, though only in passing. He was to pray for forgiveness for himself and all his house. He is consoled by a vision of the Church in the form of an aged woman, weak and helpless from the sins of the faithful, who tells him to do penance and to correct the sins of his children. Subsequently he sees her made younger through penance, yet wrinkled and with white hair; then again, as quite young but still with white hair; and lastly, she shows herself as glorious as a Bride.

This [[allegory|allegorical language]] continues through the other parts of the work. In the second vision she gives Hermas a book, which she afterwards takes back in order to add to it. The fifth vision, which is represented as taking place 20 days after the fourth, introduces "the Angel of repentance" in the guise of a shepherd, from whom the whole work takes its name. He delivers to Hermas a series of precepts (''mandata'', ''entolai''), which form an interesting development of early [[Ethics in religion|Christian ethics]]. One point which deserves special mention is the assertion of a husband's obligation to take back an adulterous wife on her repentance. The eleventh mandate, on humility, is concerned with false prophets who desire to occupy the first seats (that is to say, among the [[presbyter]]s). Some have seen here a reference to [[Marcion]], who came to Rome c. 140 and desired to be admitted among the priests (or possibly even to become [[bishop of Rome]]).

After the mandates come ten similitudes (''[[Parable|parabolai]]'') in the form of visions, which are explained by the angel. The longest of these (Similitude 9) is an elaboration of the parable of the building of a tower, which had formed the matter of the third vision. The tower is the Church, and the stones of which it is built are the faithful. But in the third vision it looked as though only the holy are a part of the Church; in Similitude 9 it is clearly pointed out that all the baptized are included, though they may be cast out for grave sins, and can be readmitted only after [[penance]].

In spite of the grave subjects, the book is written in a very optimistic and hopeful tone, like most early Christian works.

===Christology===
In parable 5, the author mentions a ''Son of God'', as a virtuous man filled with a Holy "pre-existent spirit" and adopted as the Son.<ref>"The Holy Pre-existent Spirit. Which created the whole creation, God made to dwell in flesh that He desired. This flesh, therefore, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, was subject unto the Spirit, walking honorably in holiness and purity, without in any way defiling the Spirit. When then it had lived honorably in chastity, and had labored with the Spirit, and had cooperated with it in everything, behaving itself boldly and bravely, He chose it as a partner with the Holy Spirit; for the career of this flesh pleased [the Lord], seeing that, as possessing the Holy Spirit, it was not defiled upon the earth. He therefore took the son as adviser and the glorious angels also, that this flesh too, having served the Spirit unblamably, might have some place of sojourn, and might not seem to have lost the reward for its service; for all flesh, which is found undefiled and unspotted, wherein the Holy Spirit dwelt, shall receive a reward." [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/shepherd-lightfoot.html Earlychristianwritings.com]</ref> In the 2nd century, [[adoptionism]] (the view that [[Jesus Christ]] was only a mortal man) was one of two competing doctrines about Jesus' true nature, the other being that he pre-existed as a divine spirit ([[Logos]]); Christ's identity with the [[Logos]] (Jn 1:1) was affirmed in 325 at the [[First Council of Nicaea]].<ref>"Jesus was either regarded as the man whom God hath chosen, in whom the Deity or the Spirit of God dwelt, and who, after being tested, was adopted by God and invested with dominion, (Adoptian Christology); or Jesus was regarded as a heavenly spiritual being (the highest after God) who took flesh, and again returned to heaven after the completion of his work on earth (pneumatic Christology)." [[Adolf von Harnack]], History of Dogma, [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/harnack/dogma1.ii.iii.iii.html CCEL.org]</ref> Bogdan G. Bucur, however, notes how widely accepted the Shepherd of Hermas was among "orthodox" Christians, yet was never criticized for apparently exhibiting an adoptionistic Christology. He suggests that the passage in question should be understood as Jesus making his dwelling within those who submit to his spirit, so that the "adoption" that takes place is not of Jesus but of his followers.[]

==Authorship and date==
[[Textual criticism]], the nature of the theology, and the author's apparent familiarity with the ''[[Book of Revelation]]'' and other Johannine texts, are thought to set the date of composition in the 2nd century.
However, several ancient witnesses support an early dating and there is internal evidence for the place and date of this work in the language and theology of the work. The reference to [[Pope Clement I|Clement of Rome]] suggests a date c. 90 for at least the historicised setting of the first two visions. Since [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] sent greetings to a Hermas, a Christian of Rome (''[[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]]'' 16:14), a minority have followed [[Origen of Alexandria]]'s opinion that he was the author of this religious [[allegory]].[]

Three ancient witnesses, one of whom claims to be contemporary, declare that Hermas was the [[Hermas (freedman)|brother of]] [[Pope Pius I]], whose pontificate was not earlier than 140–155, which corresponds to the date range offered by [[Joseph Barber Lightfoot|J. B. Lightfoot]] (Lightfoot 1891). These authorities may be citing the same source, perhaps [[Hegesippus (chronicler)|Hegesippus]],[] whose lost history of the early Church provided material for [[Eusebius of Caesarea]]. The witnesses are the following:
* The [[Muratorian fragment]] is a list written c. 170 (although some scholars now question this date and prefer to assign the fragment to the 4th century.<ref>G. M. Hahneman, ''The Mutatorian Fragment and the Origins of the New Testament Canon'' in "The Canon Debate" (ed. L. M. McDonald and J. A. Sanders): pp. 405–415, 2002, Massachusetts: Hendrickson</ref>) that may be the earliest known [[biblical canon|canon]] of New Testament writings. It identifies Hermas, the author of ''The Shepherd,'' as the brother of [[Pius I]], bishop of Rome:
::But Hermas wrote The Shepherd very recently, in our times, in the city of Rome, while bishop Pius, his brother, was occupying the chair of the church of the city of Rome. And therefore it ought indeed to be read; but it cannot be read publicly to the people in church either among the Prophets, whose number is complete,[] or among the Apostles, for it is after their time.
* The [[Liberian Catalogue]] of Popes, a record that was later used in the writing of the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', states in a portion under the heading of 235: "Under his [Pius'] episcopate, his brother Ermes wrote a book in which are contained the precepts which the angel delivered to him, coming to him in the guise of a Shepherd."
* A poem written against Marcion from the 3rd or 4th century, by a [[Pseudepigrapha|writer adopting the name and ''persona'']] of [[Tertullian]] — and sometimes therefore referred to as "[[Pseudo-Tertullian]]" — states "Then, after him, Pius, whose brother according to the flesh was Hermas, the angelic shepherd, because he spoke the words given to him." Note that Pseudo-Tertullian quotes some details from this list which are absent from the Liberian Catalogue, which may mean that that he is independent of it.

The scholar [[John Robinson (bishop of Woolwich)|John A. T. Robinson]] <ref name="JATRobinson">J.A.T.Robinson, ''Redating the New Testament'', 1976, London: SCM</ref> makes a detailed argument that in fact ''Shepherd'' was written ''before'' AD 85. This is because
:a) ''All'' the canonical New Testament books predate the fall of Jerusalem in AD.70, according to Robinson's detailed prior thesis in his book.
:b) [[Irenaeus]] quotes it as ''scripture'' in [[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis|"Against Heresy"]] (c. 180) thus undermining the testimony of the [[Muratorian fragment]], which, if believed, would place it during the bishopric in Rome of [[Pope Pius I|Pius]] (140–155). Irenaeus would not count a 2nd-century text as scripture.
:c) [[Tertullian]], in ''De Pudicitia'' (c. 215) strongly disparages ''Hermas'', but without mentioning the late composition which would have fatally undermined its canonicity.
:d) [[Origen]] freely cites ''Hermas'' as scripture, and in his ''Commentary on Romans'' attributes it to the Hermas of Rom.16:14 (an identification supported by Coleborne []).
:e) The internal evidence of Vision 2.4.2 refers to [[Pope Clement I|Clement]], apparently before he became Bishop of Rome, for which Robinson cites in support [[George Edmundson|G. Edmundson's]] Bampton lectures of 1913.[] Edmundson dates ''Hermas'' c. 90 on the basis that Clement became Bishop of Rome in 92. Robinson states that there is no reason to suppose that this reference is a ''pseudonymous fiction''.
:f) Robinson discounts the testimony of the Muratonian fragment[] saying that ''for no other book should its unsupported evidence be taken seriously, and it is full of palpable mistakes''.

==Sources==
''The Shepherd'' makes many allusions to [[Old Testament|the Old Testament]]. According to [[Henry Barclay Swete]], Hermas never cites the [[Septuagint]], but he uses a translation of ''[[Book of Daniel|Daniel]]'' akin to the one made by [[Theodotion]]. He shows acquaintance with one or another of the [[Synoptic Gospels]], and, since he also uses the ''[[Gospel of John]]'', he probably knew all four. He appears to employ [[Ephesians]] and other Epistles, including perhaps [[1 Peter]] and [[Epistle to the Hebrews|Hebrews]]. But the books he most certainly and most often uses are the ''[[Epistle of James]]'' and the ''[[Book of Revelation]]''.

== Place in Christian literature==
Remarks of Tertullian and [[Clement of Alexandria]] give a sense of resistance to the ''Shepherd'' among its hearers, and of a sense of controversy about it. Tertullian implies that [[Pope Callixtus I]] had quoted it as an authority (though evidently not as one of the [[books of the Bible]]), for he replies: "I would admit your argument, if the writing of the Shepherd had deserved to be included in the Divine Instrument, and if it were not judged by every council of the Churches, even of your own Churches, among the apocryphal and false." And again, he says that the ''[[Epistle of Barnabas]]'' is "more received among the Churches than that apocryphal Shepherd" (''De pudicitia'', 10 and 20). Though Clement of Alexandria constantly quotes with reverence a work that seems to him to be very useful, and inspired; yet he repeatedly apologizes, when he has occasion to quote it, on the ground that "many people despise it". Two controversies divided the mid-century Roman Christian communities. One was [[Montanism]], the ecstatic inspired outpourings of continuing [[pentecostal]] revelations, such as the visions recorded in the ''Shepherd'' may have appeared to encourage. The other was [[Docetism]] that taught that the Christ had existed since the beginning and the corporeal reality of [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Jesus the man]] was simply an apparition.

[[Cyprian]] makes no reference to this work, so it would seem to have gone out of use in Africa during the early decades of the 3rd century. Somewhat later it is quoted by the author of the pseudo-Cyprianic tract ''Adversus aleatores'' as "Scriptura divina", but in [[Jerome]]'s day it was "almost unknown to the Latins". Curiously, it went out of fashion in the East, so that the Greek manuscripts of it are but two in number; whereas in the West it became better known and was frequently copied in the Middle Ages.

== See also ==
*[[Hermes of Philippopolis]]
*[[Shoulder angel]]
*[[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)#From the beginning of the Church till the mid-2nd century|Confession in the first two centuries]]

==References==

==Publications==
The Greek text is edited by [[Oskar Leopold von Gebhardt|Gebhardt]] and [[Adolf von Harnack|Harnack]] (Leipzig, 1877), by [[Franz Xaver von Funk|Funk]] (Tübingen, 1901), and, with its [[English language|English]] translation, by [[Joseph Barber Lightfoot|Lightfoot]], ''Apostolic Fathers'', edited by Harmon (London, 1893); the ''Codex Sinaiticus'' of Hermas was edited by [[Kirsopp Lake|Lake]] (Oxford, 1911). An English translation is given in volume i of the American edition of ''Ante-Nicene Fathers'', edited by Roberts and Donaldson (Buffalo, 1886). In general, consult:
* Cruttwell, ''Literary History of Early Christianity'', volume ii (London, 1893).
* Krüger, ''History of Early Christian Literature'' (New York, 1897).
* [[Adolf von Harnack|Harnack]], ''Chronologie der altchristlichen Literatur'', volume i (Leipzig, 1897).
* Taylor, ''The Shepherd of Hermas'' (New York, 1901).

==Further reading==

* Carolyn Osiek, "Wealth and Poverty in the Shepherd of Hermas," ''[[Studia Patristica]]'', Vol 17, Pt 2, 1982, 725–730.
* Carolyn Osiek, "The Genre and Function of the Shepherd of Hermas," ''Semeia'', 36, 1986, 113–121.
* U. Neymeyr, ''Die christliche Lehrer im zweiten Jahrhundert. Ihre Lehrtätigkeit, ihr Selbsverständnis und ihre Geschichte'' (Leiden, 1989) (Vigiliae Christianae. Supplements, 4), 9–15.
* Carolyn Osiek, "The Second Century through the Eyes of Hermas: Continuity and Change," ''Biblical Theology Bulletin'', 20, 1990, 116–122.
* D. P. O'Brien, "The Cumaean Sibyl as the Revelation-bearer in the Shepherd of Hermas," ''Journal of Early Christian Studies'', 5, 1997, № 4.
* Carolyn Osiek, "The Shepherd of Hermas in Context," ''Acta Patristica et Byzantina'', 8, 1997, 115–134.
* Carolyn Osiek, "The Oral World of Early Christianity in Rome: The Case of Hermas.," in Karl P. Donfried and Peter Richardson (eds), ''Judaism and Christianity in First-Century Rome'' (Grand Rapids, 1998), 151–172.
* Carolyn Osiek, ''Shepherd of Hermas: A Commentary'' (Minneapolis, 1999).
* [[Jörg Rüpke]], "Apokalyptische Salzberge: Zum sozialen Ort und zur literarischen Strategie des 'Hirten des Hermas'," ''Archiv für Religionsgeschichte'', 1, 1999, 148–160.
* Jörg Rüpke, "Der Hirte des Hermas: Plausibilisierungs- und Legitimierungs strategien im Übergang von Antike und Christentum," ''Zeitschrift für antikes Christentum'', 7, 2003, 362–384.
* Marco Frenschkowski, "Vision als Imagination. Beobachtungen zum differenzierten Wirklichkeitsanspruch fruehchristlicher Visionsliteratur," in Nicola Hoemke, Manuel Baumbach (hrsg), ''Fremde Wirklichkeiten: Literarische Phantastik und antike Literatur'' (Heidelberg, 2006) (Studien zur griechischen und lateinischen Poesie, 6), 339–366.
* Joseph Verheyden, "The Shepherd of Hermas," in Paul Foster (ed), ''Writings of the Apostolic Fathers'' (London, 2007) (T & T Clark Biblical Studies).

==External links==
* [http://www.earlychurchtexts.com/public/apostfaths/hermas.html Complete Greek text (with dictionary lookup links) of ''The Shepherd of Hermas''] Early Church Texts website
* [http://www.ccel.org/l/lake/fathers/shepherd_a.htm Greek text of ''The Shepherd of Hermas'']
* [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf02.toc.html#P147_2378 Schaff, Philip, ''Fathers of the Second Century: Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria'']
* [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/shepherd.html ''The Shepherd of Hermas''] (English Translation) Early Christian Writings
* [http://www.biblicalaudio.com/hermas.html ''Shepherd of Hermas Critical Translation + Audio Dramatization''] Biblicalaudio
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080401170624rn_1/www.monachos.net/library/The_Shepherd_of_Hermas_%28sometimes_called_the_%27Pastor_of_Hermas%27%29 J.B. Lightfoot, introduction to ''The Shepherd of Hermas'']
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07268b.htm "Hermas"] article from the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]''
* [http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/hermas.php Hermas' ''Shepherd'' on earlychurch.org.uk] Bibliography and links to on-line articles.
* [http://www.us.archive.org/GnuBook/?id=amherstpapyribei02grenuoft#213 Fragments of Hermas in Amherst Papyri]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shepherd Of Hermas}}
[[Category:Apostolic Fathers]]
[[Category:New Testament apocrypha]]
[[Category:Anti-Gnosticism]]
[[Category:2nd-century Christian texts]]

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	[[Image:Good shepherd 02b close.jpg\|thumb\|207px\|right\|''The Shepherd of Hermas'', or the [[Good Shepherd]], 3rd century, [[Catacombs of Rome]].]]		[[Image:Good shepherd 02b close.jpg\|thumb\|207px\|right\|''The Shepherd of Hermas'', or the [[Good Shepherd]], 3rd century, [[Catacombs of Rome]].]]
-	'''''The Shepherd of Hermas''''' (Ποιμὴν τοῦ Ἑρμᾶ; sometimes just called '''''The Shepherd''''') is a [[Christian]] [[Literature\|literary work]] of the 1st or 2nd century, considered a valuable book by many Christians, and considered [[biblical canon\|canonical scripture]] by some of the early [[Church fathers]] such as [[Irenaeus]].~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ The Shepherd had great authority in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ It was bound as part of the [[New Testament]]~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ in the ''[[Codex Sinaiticus]]'', and it was listed between the [[Acts of the Apostles]] and the [[Acts of Paul]] in the [[stichometry\|stichometrical]] list of the ''[[Codex Claromontanus]]''.	+	'''''The Shepherd of Hermas''''' (Ποιμὴν τοῦ Ἑρμᾶ; sometimes just called '''''The Shepherd''''') is a [[Christian]] [[Literature\|literary work]] of the 1st or 2nd century, considered a valuable book by many Christians, and considered [[biblical canon\|canonical scripture]] by some of the early [[Church fathers]] such as [[Irenaeus]]. The Shepherd had great authority in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. It was bound as part of the [[New Testament]] in the ''[[Codex Sinaiticus]]'', and it was listed between the [[Acts of the Apostles]] and the [[Acts of Paul]] in the [[stichometry\|stichometrical]] list of the ''[[Codex Claromontanus]]''.

	The work comprises five visions, twelve mandates, and ten parables.		The work comprises five visions, twelve mandates, and ten parables.
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	===Christology===		===Christology===
-	In parable 5, the author mentions a ''Son of God'', as a virtuous man filled with a Holy "pre-existent spirit" and adopted as the Son.~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ In the 2nd century, [[adoptionism]] (the view that [[Jesus Christ]] was only a mortal man) was one of two competing doctrines about Jesus' true nature, the other being that he pre-existed as a divine spirit ([[Logos]]); Christ's identity with the [[Logos]] (Jn 1:1) was affirmed in 325 at the [[First Council of Nicaea]].~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ Bogdan G. Bucur, however, notes how widely accepted the Shepherd of Hermas was among "orthodox" Christians, yet was never criticized for apparently exhibiting an adoptionistic Christology. He suggests that the passage in question should be understood as Jesus making his dwelling within those who submit to his spirit, so that the "adoption" that takes place is not of Jesus but of his followers.~~<sup>[]</sup>~~	+	In parable 5, the author mentions a ''Son of God'', as a virtuous man filled with a Holy "pre-existent spirit" and adopted as the Son. In the 2nd century, [[adoptionism]] (the view that [[Jesus Christ]] was only a mortal man) was one of two competing doctrines about Jesus' true nature, the other being that he pre-existed as a divine spirit ([[Logos]]); Christ's identity with the [[Logos]] (Jn 1:1) was affirmed in 325 at the [[First Council of Nicaea]]. Bogdan G. Bucur, however, notes how widely accepted the Shepherd of Hermas was among "orthodox" Christians, yet was never criticized for apparently exhibiting an adoptionistic Christology. He suggests that the passage in question should be understood as Jesus making his dwelling within those who submit to his spirit, so that the "adoption" that takes place is not of Jesus but of his followers.

	==Authorship and date==		==Authorship and date==
	[[Textual criticism]], the nature of the theology, and the author's apparent familiarity with the ''[[Book of Revelation]]'' and other Johannine texts, are thought to set the date of composition in the 2nd century.		[[Textual criticism]], the nature of the theology, and the author's apparent familiarity with the ''[[Book of Revelation]]'' and other Johannine texts, are thought to set the date of composition in the 2nd century.
-	However, several ancient witnesses support an early dating and there is internal evidence for the place and date of this work in the language and theology of the work. The reference to [[Pope Clement I\|Clement of Rome]] suggests a date c. 90 for at least the historicised setting of the first two visions. Since [[Paul of Tarsus\|Paul]] sent greetings to a Hermas, a Christian of Rome (''[[Epistle to the Romans\|Romans]]'' 16:14), a minority have followed [[Origen of Alexandria]]'s opinion that he was the author of this religious [[allegory]].~~<sup>[]</sup>~~	+	However, several ancient witnesses support an early dating and there is internal evidence for the place and date of this work in the language and theology of the work. The reference to [[Pope Clement I\|Clement of Rome]] suggests a date c. 90 for at least the historicised setting of the first two visions. Since [[Paul of Tarsus\|Paul]] sent greetings to a Hermas, a Christian of Rome (''[[Epistle to the Romans\|Romans]]'' 16:14), a minority have followed [[Origen of Alexandria]]'s opinion that he was the author of this religious [[allegory]].

-	Three ancient witnesses, one of whom claims to be contemporary, declare that Hermas was the [[Hermas (freedman)\|brother of]] [[Pope Pius I]], whose pontificate was not earlier than 140–155, which corresponds to the date range offered by [[Joseph Barber Lightfoot\|J. B. Lightfoot]] (Lightfoot 1891). These authorities may be citing the same source, perhaps [[Hegesippus (chronicler)\|Hegesippus]],~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ whose lost history of the early Church provided material for [[Eusebius of Caesarea]]. The witnesses are the following:	+	Three ancient witnesses, one of whom claims to be contemporary, declare that Hermas was the [[Hermas (freedman)\|brother of]] [[Pope Pius I]], whose pontificate was not earlier than 140–155, which corresponds to the date range offered by [[Joseph Barber Lightfoot\|J. B. Lightfoot]] (Lightfoot 1891). These authorities may be citing the same source, perhaps [[Hegesippus (chronicler)\|Hegesippus]], whose lost history of the early Church provided material for [[Eusebius of Caesarea]]. The witnesses are the following:
-	* The [[Muratorian fragment]] is a list written c. 170 (although some scholars now question this date and prefer to assign the fragment to the 4th century.~~<sup>[]</sup>~~) that may be the earliest known [[biblical canon\|canon]] of New Testament writings. It identifies Hermas, the author of ''The Shepherd,'' as the brother of [[Pius I]], bishop of Rome:	+	* The [[Muratorian fragment]] is a list written c. 170 (although some scholars now question this date and prefer to assign the fragment to the 4th century.) that may be the earliest known [[biblical canon\|canon]] of New Testament writings. It identifies Hermas, the author of ''The Shepherd,'' as the brother of [[Pius I]], bishop of Rome:
-	::But Hermas wrote The Shepherd very recently, in our times, in the city of Rome, while bishop Pius, his brother, was occupying the chair of the church of the city of Rome. And therefore it ought indeed to be read; but it cannot be read publicly to the people in church either among the Prophets, whose number is complete,~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ or among the Apostles, for it is after their time.	+	::But Hermas wrote The Shepherd very recently, in our times, in the city of Rome, while bishop Pius, his brother, was occupying the chair of the church of the city of Rome. And therefore it ought indeed to be read; but it cannot be read publicly to the people in church either among the Prophets, whose number is complete, or among the Apostles, for it is after their time.
	* The [[Liberian Catalogue]] of Popes, a record that was later used in the writing of the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', states in a portion under the heading of 235: "Under his [Pius'] episcopate, his brother Ermes wrote a book in which are contained the precepts which the angel delivered to him, coming to him in the guise of a Shepherd."		* The [[Liberian Catalogue]] of Popes, a record that was later used in the writing of the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', states in a portion under the heading of 235: "Under his [Pius'] episcopate, his brother Ermes wrote a book in which are contained the precepts which the angel delivered to him, coming to him in the guise of a Shepherd."
	* A poem written against Marcion from the 3rd or 4th century, by a [[Pseudepigrapha\|writer adopting the name and ''persona'']] of [[Tertullian]] — and sometimes therefore referred to as "[[Pseudo-Tertullian]]" — states "Then, after him, Pius, whose brother according to the flesh was Hermas, the angelic shepherd, because he spoke the words given to him." Note that Pseudo-Tertullian quotes some details from this list which are absent from the Liberian Catalogue, which may mean that that he is independent of it.		* A poem written against Marcion from the 3rd or 4th century, by a [[Pseudepigrapha\|writer adopting the name and ''persona'']] of [[Tertullian]] — and sometimes therefore referred to as "[[Pseudo-Tertullian]]" — states "Then, after him, Pius, whose brother according to the flesh was Hermas, the angelic shepherd, because he spoke the words given to him." Note that Pseudo-Tertullian quotes some details from this list which are absent from the Liberian Catalogue, which may mean that that he is independent of it.

-	The scholar [[John Robinson (bishop of Woolwich)\|John A. T. Robinson]] ~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ makes a detailed argument that in fact ''Shepherd'' was written ''before'' AD 85. This is because	+	The scholar [[John Robinson (bishop of Woolwich)\|John A. T. Robinson]] makes a detailed argument that in fact ''Shepherd'' was written ''before'' AD 85. This is because
	:a) ''All'' the canonical New Testament books predate the fall of Jerusalem in AD.70, according to Robinson's detailed prior thesis in his book.		:a) ''All'' the canonical New Testament books predate the fall of Jerusalem in AD.70, according to Robinson's detailed prior thesis in his book.
	:b) [[Irenaeus]] quotes it as ''scripture'' in [[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis\|"Against Heresy"]] (c. 180) thus undermining the testimony of the [[Muratorian fragment]], which, if believed, would place it during the bishopric in Rome of [[Pope Pius I\|Pius]] (140–155). Irenaeus would not count a 2nd-century text as scripture.		:b) [[Irenaeus]] quotes it as ''scripture'' in [[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis\|"Against Heresy"]] (c. 180) thus undermining the testimony of the [[Muratorian fragment]], which, if believed, would place it during the bishopric in Rome of [[Pope Pius I\|Pius]] (140–155). Irenaeus would not count a 2nd-century text as scripture.
	:c) [[Tertullian]], in ''De Pudicitia'' (c. 215) strongly disparages ''Hermas'', but without mentioning the late composition which would have fatally undermined its canonicity.		:c) [[Tertullian]], in ''De Pudicitia'' (c. 215) strongly disparages ''Hermas'', but without mentioning the late composition which would have fatally undermined its canonicity.
-	:d) [[Origen]] freely cites ''Hermas'' as scripture, and in his ''Commentary on Romans'' attributes it to the Hermas of Rom.16:14 (an identification supported by Coleborne ~~<sup>[]</sup>~~).	+	:d) [[Origen]] freely cites ''Hermas'' as scripture, and in his ''Commentary on Romans'' attributes it to the Hermas of Rom.16:14 (an identification supported by Coleborne ).
-	:e) The internal evidence of Vision 2.4.2 refers to [[Pope Clement I\|Clement]], apparently before he became Bishop of Rome, for which Robinson cites in support [[George Edmundson\|G. Edmundson's]] Bampton lectures of 1913.~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ Edmundson dates ''Hermas'' c. 90 on the basis that Clement became Bishop of Rome in 92. Robinson states that there is no reason to suppose that this reference is a ''pseudonymous fiction''.	+	:e) The internal evidence of Vision 2.4.2 refers to [[Pope Clement I\|Clement]], apparently before he became Bishop of Rome, for which Robinson cites in support [[George Edmundson\|G. Edmundson's]] Bampton lectures of 1913. Edmundson dates ''Hermas'' c. 90 on the basis that Clement became Bishop of Rome in 92. Robinson states that there is no reason to suppose that this reference is a ''pseudonymous fiction''.
-	:f) Robinson discounts the testimony of the Muratonian fragment~~<sup>[]</sup>~~ saying that ''for no other book should its unsupported evidence be taken seriously, and it is full of palpable mistakes''.	+	:f) Robinson discounts the testimony of the Muratonian fragment saying that ''for no other book should its unsupported evidence be taken seriously, and it is full of palpable mistakes''.

	==Sources==		==Sources==