An early Christian apocalyptic work in three parts, Visions, Mandates and Similitudes (Parables), narrated by a former slave named Hermas who receives revelation first from a personified elderly woman, the Church, and then from an angelic figure appearing as a shepherd, from whom the whole work takes its title. Its central theme is a single, non-repeatable opportunity for post-baptismal repentance, addressed to a church community anxious about sin committed after conversion. It was widely read and, in some early manuscript lists and canon discussions, treated as scripture or near-scripture, appearing bound with New Testament books in Codex Sinaiticus, though it was ultimately excluded from the settled Christian canon.
Facts
Origins
Era of Compositionis a Christian literary work of the late first half of the second century 1 Era of CompositionMost scholarship dates its composition to the first half of the second century CE, in Rome; the Muratorian Fragment claims it was written by a Hermas who was brother to Pius, bishop of Rome, which if accurate would place it around the 140s, though this attribution is itself debated. 2 Status
Canonical StatusNever settled into the New Testament canon but read as edifying and, by some early witnesses including Irenaeus and Codex Sinaiticus, treated as close to scriptural standing before that question was closed. Text
Literary Form Structure
StructureThree parts: five Visions, twelve Mandates (moral commandments), and ten Similitudes (Parables), generally read as composite, written in stages over time rather than as a single sitting. 2 Connections
Attributed To
Source Shepherd of Hermas (Wikipedia)
Authored By
Source Shepherd of Hermas (Wikipedia)
Belongs to Tradition
Source The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 2 (Loeb Classical Library, Ehrman)Bart D. Ehrman (editor and translator)
In Language
Originates in Language
Source The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 2 (Loeb Classical Library, Ehrman)Bart D. Ehrman (editor and translator)
Sources
1. Shepherd of Hermas (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia: Shepherd of Hermas, lead section
is a Christian literary work of the late first half of the second century, considered a valuable book by many Christians, but not considered canonical scripture by the early Church Fathers such as Irenaeus.
- In Group: Apostolic Fathers, lead paragraph identifies it as a work of the Apostolic Fathers
Attributed To: Hermas the Freedman, Lead section
The Muratorian fragment identifies the author of The Shepherd as Hermas, the brother of Pope Pius I.
Authored By: Hermas the Freedman, Lead section
The Muratorian fragment identifies the author of The Shepherd as Hermas, the brother of Pope Pius I.
View the Source2. The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 2 (Loeb Classical Library, Ehrman)
Bart D. Ehrman (editor and translator), Harvard University Press, Loeb Classical Library 25, 2003Originates in Language: Koine Greek, Stored language property on this entity, cited to this source: koine-greek
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