An Elderly Woman
1.2
2 As soon as she had spoken these words the heavens were closed, and I was terribly shaken and upset. And I thought to myself, “If even this sin is recorded against me, how can I be saved? Or how will I propitiate God for my conscious sins? Or with what words will I ask the Lord to be gracious to me?” 2 While I was debating and discussing these things in my heart, I saw before me a great white chair made of snow-white wool, and there came an elderly woman in a shining garment with a book in her hands, and she sat down by herself and greeted me: “Hello, Hermas.” And I, upset and weeping, said, “Hello, lady.” 3 And she said to me, “Why are you so gloomy, Hermas? You who are patient and good-natured, always laughing, why do you look so depressed and unhappy?” And I said to her, “Because of a very good woman who says that I sinned against her.” 4 And she said, “May such a thing by no means happen to God’s servant! But certainly the thought did arise in your heart concerning her. To God’s servants, an intent such as this brings sin, for with respect to a devout and already approved spirit it is an evil and shocking decision if it should desire to do an evil deed, especially if it is Hermas the self-controlled, who abstains from every evil desire and is full of all sincerity and great innocence.”
1.7 In what way? Some ancient authorities read Where have I done so?
1.3
3 “Yet this is not why God is angry at you. Rather it is in order that you may convert your family, which has sinned against the Lord and against you, their parents. But you are so fond of your children that you have not corrected your family, but have allowed it to become terribly corrupt. This is why the Lord is angry at you. But he will heal all your past evil deeds that have been done by your family, for because of their sins and transgressions you have been corrupted by the cares of this life. 2 But the great compassion of the Lord has had mercy on you and your family, and will strengthen you and establish you in his glory. Only do not be careless, but be courageous and strengthen your family. For just as the blacksmith by hammering at his work completes the task he wants to do, so also does the daily righteous word conquer all evil. Do not cease, therefore, instructing your children, for I know that if they repent with all their heart, they will be enrolled with the saints in the books of life.” 3 After these words of hers ceased, she said to me, “Do you wish to hear me read?” And I said, “Yes I do, lady.” She said to me, “Pay attention, and hear about the glories of God.” I listened with care and amazement to things that I did not have the strength to remember, for all the words were terrifying, words that a human being cannot endure. The last words, however, I remembered, for they were beneficial to us and reassuring: 4 “Behold, the God of hosts, who by his invisible and mighty power and by his great wisdom created the world, and by his glorious purpose clothed his creation with beauty, and by his mighty word fixed the heaven and set the earth’s foundations 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 keep the promise that he promised to them with great glory and joy, if they keep God’s commandments, which they received with great faith.”
1.4
4 When she finished reading and rose from her chair, four young men came and took away the chair and went away toward the east. 2 Then 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 words please me, but the former were difficult and hard.” And she responded, saying to me: “These last words are for the righteous, but the former are for the outsiders and the apostate.” 3 As she was speaking, two men appeared and took her by the arms and went away toward the east, where the chair had also gone. And she smiled as she went away, and as she was going she said to me, “Be courageous, Hermas.”
Vision 2
The Woman and the Command to Copy the Message
2.1
5 When I was on the way to Cumae, about the same time as the previous year, as I walked along I remembered the vision of the previous year, and again a spirit took me and carried me away to the same place as the year before. 2 So when I reached the place, I fell to my knees and began to pray to the Lord and to glorify his name because he had considered me worthy and had made known to me my former sins. 3 And after I had risen from prayer, I saw before me the elderly woman whom I had seen the year before, walking and reading a little book. And she said to me, “Can you report these things to God’s elect?” I said to her, “Lady, I cannot remember so many things, but give me the little book, so that I can copy it.” “Take it,” she said, “and return it to me.” 4 I took it, and going away to some spot in the field I copied it all, letter by letter, for I could not make out the syllables. After I finished the letters of the little book, suddenly the little book was snatched out of my hand, but by whom I did not see.
The Meaning of the Written Message
2.2
6 Fifteen days later, after I had fasted and earnestly asked the Lord, the meaning of the writing was revealed to me. And this is what was written: 2 “Your children, Hermas, have rejected God and blasphemed the Lord and by their great evil they have betrayed their parents, and are called betrayers of parents, yet they have not profited from their betrayal. But still they have added licentiousness and orgies of evil to their sins, and so the limit of their transgressions has been reached. 3 But make these words known to all your children, and to your wife, who is about to become like a sister to you, for she does not control her tongue, with which she does evil. But when she hears these words she will control it, and will find mercy. 4 After you have made known to them all these words, which the Master ordered me to reveal to you, then all the sins that they have previously committed will be forgiven them. Indeed, all the saints who have sinned up to this day will be forgiven, if they repent with all their heart and drive away double-mindedness from their heart. 5 For the Master has sworn by his own glory regarding his elect, that if sin still occurs, now that this day has been set as a limit, they will not find salvation, for repentance for the righteous is at an end; the days of repentance for all the saints are over, although for the outsiders there is the possibility of repentance until the last day. 6 So speak, therefore, to the officials of the church, in order that they may direct their ways in righteousness, in order that they may receive the promises in full with much glory. 7 You, therefore, who work righteousness must be steadfast, and do not be double-minded, in order that you may gain entrance with the holy angels. Blessed are those of you who patiently endure the coming great tribulation and who will not deny their life. 8 For the Lord has sworn by his Son that those who have denied their Lord have been rejected from their life, that is, those who now are about to deny him in the coming days. But to those who formerly denied him, mercy has been granted because of his great compassion.”
4.3 Be courageous Or Act like a man.
2.3
7 “But you, Hermas, must no longer bear a grudge against your children, nor allow your sister to have her way, in order that they may be cleansed from their former sins. For they will be disciplined with a righteous discipline if you do not bear a grudge against them. Bearing a grudge produces death. But you, Hermas, have had great tribulations of your own because of the transgressions of your family, because you were not concerned about them. Instead you neglected them and became entangled in your own evil transgressions. 2 But your sincerity and great self-control, and the fact that you have not fallen away from the living God, saves you. These things have saved you, if you remain steadfast, and they save all who practice such things and walk in innocence and sincerity. These people prevail over all evil and will endure to eternal life. 3 Blessed are all those who practice righteousness; they will never be destroyed. 4 But 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 the boo
k of Eldad and Modat, who prophesied to the people in the wilderness.”
6.8 Lord (2nd) One ancient authority reads Christ; another reads son.
The Identity of the Elderly Woman
2.4
8 As I slept, brothers and sisters, a revelation was given to me by a very handsome young man, who said to me, “Who do you think the elderly woman from whom you received the little book was?” I said: “The Sibyl.” “You are wrong,” he said. “She is not.” “Then who is she?” I said. “The church,” he replied. I said to him, “Why, then is she elderly?” “Because,” he said, “she was created before all things; therefore she is elderly, and for her sake the world was formed.” 2 Afterwards I saw a vision in my house. The elderly woman came and asked me if I had already given the little book to the elders. I said that I had not given it. “You have done well,” she said, “for I have words to add. So when I finish all the words, they will be made known to all the elect through you. 3 Therefore you will write two little books, and you will send one to Clement and one to Grapte. Then Clement will send it to the cities abroad, because that is his job. But Grapte will instruct the widows and orphans. But you yourself will read it to this city, along with the elders who preside over the church.”
Vision 3
The Woman and the Tower
3.1
9 What I saw, brothers and sisters, was this. 2 After fasting often and begging the Lord to reveal to me the revelation that he promised to show me through the mouth of the elderly woman, that very night the elderly woman appeared to me and said, “Since you are so poorly instructed and eager to know everything, go into the field where you are farming, and about the fifth hour I will appear to you and show you what you must see.” 3 I asked her, saying: “Lady, to what part of the field?” “Wherever you wish,” she replied. I selected a beautiful secluded spot. But before I could speak to her and describe the place, she said to me: “I will go wherever you wish.” 4 So I went, brothers and sisters, to the field, and I counted up the hours and went to the place where I had instructed her to come, and I saw an ivory couch placed there, and on the couch there was a linen cushion, and on it was spread out a cloth covering of flaxen linen. 5 When I saw these things sitting there and no one in the area, I was astonished and a fit of trembling seized me and my hair stood on end and I shuddered in panic, as it were, because I was alone. Then I recovered myself and remembered the glory of God and took heart; I knelt down and once more confessed my sins to the Lord, as I had done before. 6 And she came with six young men, whom I had seen before, and she stood by me and listened attentively as I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. And she touched me and said, “Hermas, stop saying all these prayers for your sins. Ask also for righteousness, so that you may take some part of it to your family.” 7 Then she raised me by the hand and led me to the couch, and said to the young men, “Go and build.” 8 And after the young men had gone and we were alone, she said to me, “Sit here.” I said to her, “Lady, let the elders sit down first.” “Do as I say,” she said. “Sit down.” 9 Then when I wanted to sit down on the right side, she would not let me, but indicated to me with her hand that I should sit on the left side. Then as I thought about this and was sad because she would not permit me to sit on the right side, she said to me, “Are you sad, Hermas? The place on the right side is for others, who have already pleased God and have suffered for the sake of the Name. But you fall far short of sitting with them. But persevere in your sincerity, as you are now doing, and you will sit with them, as will all who do what they have done and endure what they have endured.”
8.1 brothers and sisters Gk adelphoi. 9.1 brothers and sisters Gk adelphoi. 9.2 are farming Some ancient authorities read live. 9.4 brothers and sisters Gk adelphoi.
3.2
10 “What,” I asked, “have they endured?” “Listen,” she said: “scourgings, imprisonments, severe persecutions, crosses, wild beasts, for the sake of the Name. This is why the right side of holiness belongs to them, and to anyone who suffers because of the Name. The left side belongs to the rest. But to both, to those sitting on the right and to those sitting on the left, belong the same gifts and the same promises; the only difference is the former sit on the right and have a certain glory. 2 And you are very eager to sit on the right with them, but your shortcomings are many. Nevertheless you will be cleansed of your shortcomings; indeed, all those who are not double-minded will be cleansed of all their sins to this day.” 3 Having said these things, she wished to depart. But falling at her feet I asked her by the Lord to show me the vision that she had promised. 4 So again she took me by the hand and raised me up and seated me on the couch on the left, while she herself sat on the right. And lifting up a shining rod she said to me, “Do you see something great?” I said to her, “Lady, I do not see anything.” She said to me, “Look! Do you not see right in front of you a great tower being built upon the waters out of shining square stones?” 5 And the tower was being built in a square by the six young men who had come with her, and countless other men were bringing stones, some of them from the deep and some from the land, and they were giving them to the six young men. And they were taking them and were building. 6 All the stones that were dragged from the deep they placed in the building just as they were, for they had been shaped and fit at the joints with the other stones. In fact, they fitted one another so closely that the joints were not visible, and the structure of the tower looked as if it were built of a single stone. 7 But of the other stones that were brought in from the dry land, some they threw away, and some they placed in the building, and others they broke in pieces and threw far away from the tower. 8 And many other stones were lying around the tower, and they were not using them for the building, for some of them were damaged and others had cracks in them, and others were too short and others were white and round, and did not fit into the building. 9 And I saw other stones thrown far from the tower and coming onto the road yet not staying on the road, but rolling to the wasteland; and others were falling into the fire and burning, and others were falling near the water, yet were not able to roll into the water, even though they wanted to roll and to come to the water.
The Explanation of the Tower
3.3
11 When she had shown me these things she wished to hurry away. I said to her, “Lady, what good does it do me to have seen these things and yet not know what they mean?” Answering me, she said, “You are a crafty fellow, wanting to know all about the tower.” “Yes, lady,” I replied, “so that I may report to my brothers and sisters, and so that they may be cheered, and that as a result of hearing these things they may know the Lord in much glory.” 2 Then she said, “Many will hear; but after hearing, some of them will rejoice, but others will weep. Yet even these, if they hear and repent, will also rejoice. Hear, therefore, the parables of the tower, for I will reveal everything to you. And do not bother me any more about a revelation, for these revelations have come to an end, for they have been completed. But you will never stop asking for revelations, for you are shameless. 3 The tower that you see being built is I, the church, who appeared to you now and previously. So ask whatever you want about the tower, and I will reveal it to you, so that you may rejoice with the saints.” 4 I said to her, “Lady, since you once considered 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 with God, and do not be double-minded about what you see.” 5 I asked her, “Why is the tower built upon water, lady?” “As I said to you before,” she said, “you do seek diligently. By seeking, therefore, you are finding the truth. Hear, then, why the tower is built upon water: it is because your life was saved and will be saved through water. But the tower has been set on a foundation by the word of the almighty and glorious Name, and is strengthened by the unseen power of the Master.”
11.1 brothers and sisters Gk adelphois. • and so that . . . cheered and these things Some ancient authorities omit. • Lord One ancient authority reads G
od.
3.4
12 I answered and said to her, “Lady, this thing is great and marvelous. But who are the six young men who are building, lady?” “These are the holy angels of God who were created first of all, to whom the Lord committed all his creation to increase and to build up, and to rule over all creation. Through them, therefore, the construction of the tower will be completed.” 2 “And who are the others who are bringing the stones?” “They too are holy angels of God, but these six are superior to them. The construction of the tower will be completed, and all will rejoice together around the tower and will glorify God because the construction of the tower was completed.” 3 I inquired of her, saying: “Lady, I wish to know about the destination of the stones, and what kind of meaning they have.” Answering me she said, “It is not because you are worthier than all others to have it revealed to you, for others are before you and are better than you, to whom these visions ought to have been revealed. But it has been revealed to you in order that the name of God might be glorified, and it will be revealed for the sake of the double-minded, who question in their hearts whether or not these things are so. Tell them that all these things are true, and that there is nothing besides the truth, but all are powerful and reliable and firmly established.”
The Apostolic Fathers in English Page 26