Shepherd of Hermas: Visions

Contents

1. 1.1.1Hermas, once a slave, meets again his former owner Rhoda.
2. 1.1.2Seeing Rhoda bathing, Hermas wishes he had such a wife.
3. 1.1.3On the road to Cumae a spirit carries Hermas away, and he prays.
4. 1.1.4Rhoda appears to Hermas from heaven.
5. 1.1.5Rhoda says she was taken up to accuse him.
6. 1.1.6God is angry with Hermas for sinning against Rhoda.
7. 1.1.7Hermas protests his innocence.
8. 1.1.8Even an evil desire in the heart is a great sin.
9. 1.1.9Pray to God, and he will heal your sins.
10. 1.2.1Hermas despairs of forgiveness.
11. 1.2.2An elderly woman with a book appears on a white chair.
12. 1.2.3The woman asks why Hermas is sad.
13. 1.2.4Such a thought is sinful even for a tested servant of God.
14. 1.3.1God is angry because Hermas failed to correct his family.
15. 1.3.2Keep admonishing your children; if they repent they will be written in the book of life.
16. 1.3.3The woman reads to Hermas from her book.
17. 1.3.4A hymn to God the Creator, who made the church and will fulfill his promise.
18. 1.4.1Four young men carry the chair away to the east.
19. 1.4.2The hard words are for pagans and apostates, the gentle for the righteous.
20. 1.4.3She is led away and tells Hermas to be brave.
21. 2.1.1A year later, Hermas is carried to the same place.
22. 2.1.2Hermas prays and thanks God.
23. 2.1.3The woman gives Hermas a little book to copy.
24. 2.1.4Hermas copies the book letter by letter; it is snatched away.
25. 2.2.1After fasting, Hermas understands the writing.
26. 2.2.2Hermas's children have rejected God and betrayed their parents.
27. 2.2.3Hermas must warn his children and his wife.
28. 2.2.4Sins committed until now will be forgiven if they repent fully.
29. 2.2.5For believers there is a limited time for repentance; for the Gentiles, until the last day.
30. 2.2.6The church's leaders must walk in righteousness.
31. 2.2.7Blessed are those who endure the coming tribulation.
32. 2.2.8Those who deny Christ in the coming days lose life; earlier deniers find mercy.
33. 2.3.1Hermas must forgive his family and stop neglecting them.
34. 2.3.2Faithfulness, simplicity, and self-control save Hermas.
35. 2.3.3Those who do right will never be destroyed.
36. 2.3.4A warning to Maximus, and a citation of the Book of Eldad and Modat.
37. 2.4.1The elderly woman is the church, created first of all.
38. 2.4.2The woman has more to add before the book is given to the presbyters.
39. 2.4.3Copies go to Clement for other cities and to Grapte for widows and orphans.
40. 3.1.1The third vision begins.
41. 3.1.2The woman tells Hermas to meet her in his field.
42. 3.1.3She knows the place Hermas has chosen.
43. 3.1.4Hermas finds an ivory couch prepared in the field.
44. 3.1.5Afraid, Hermas kneels and confesses his sins.
45. 3.1.6She tells him to pray also for righteousness.
46. 3.1.7She sends the young men to build.
47. 3.1.8Hermas defers to the presbyters, but she tells him to sit.
48. 3.1.9The right side is for those who suffered for the name.
49. 3.2.1The martyrs sit on the right, but all receive the same gifts.
50. 3.2.2Hermas and all who do not doubt will be cleansed of their sins.
51. 3.2.3Hermas begs to see the promised vision.
52. 3.2.4She shows him a great tower being built on the waters.
53. 3.2.5Six young men build the tower with stones brought by countless others.
54. 3.2.6The stones from the deep fit perfectly, like a single stone.
55. 3.2.7Some stones from the land are used, others rejected.
56. 3.2.8Flawed stones lie around the tower unused.
57. 3.2.9Other stones fall away, burn, or cannot reach the water.
58. 3.3.1Hermas asks for the meaning, to tell the brothers.
59. 3.3.2She will explain the tower, but warns him not to keep asking.
60. 3.3.3The tower is the church.
61. 3.3.4What may be revealed will be, if his heart is with God.
62. 3.3.5The tower stands on water because life is saved through the water of baptism.
63. 3.4.1The six builders are the first-created angels.
64. 3.4.2The stone-bearers are also angels; all will rejoice when the tower is complete.
65. 3.4.3The visions are given for the doubters' sake; tell them all is true.
66. 3.5.1The well-fitted stones are the apostles, bishops, teachers, and deacons who lived in harmony.
67. 3.5.2The stones from the deep are the martyrs.
68. 3.5.3Uncut stones are those who kept the Lord's commandments.
69. 3.5.4Other stones are new believers still being corrected.
70. 3.5.5Rejected stones near the tower are sinners who may still repent while the tower is being built.
71. 3.6.1Stones thrown far away are hypocrites without salvation.
72. 3.6.2Rough stones are those who knew the truth but did not remain in it.
73. 3.6.3Cracked stones are those who keep grudges behind a show of peace.
74. 3.6.4Shortened stones are believers with some lawlessness remaining.
75. 3.6.5Round stones are the rich, who deny the Lord in persecution to keep their wealth.
76. 3.6.6The rich become useful to God only when their wealth is cut away.
77. 3.6.7Hermas himself became useful once he lost his wealth.
78. 3.7.1Stones rolling off the road are doubters who leave the true way.
79. 3.7.2Stones in the fire are those who have finally abandoned God.
80. 3.7.3Stones that cannot reach the water are those who draw back from baptism.
81. 3.7.4The explanation of the tower ends.
82. 3.7.5The rejected stones can repent, but will not fit into this tower.
83. 3.7.6They will find a lesser place after a time of punishment, if they repent.
84. 3.8.1She offers to show him more.
85. 3.8.2Seven women support the tower.
86. 3.8.3The first woman is Faith.
87. 3.8.4The second is Self-control, daughter of Faith.
88. 3.8.5The others are Simplicity, Knowledge, Innocence, Reverence, and Love.
89. 3.8.6He asks about their powers.
90. 3.8.7Each virtue is born from the one before, from Faith to Love.
91. 3.8.8Those who serve these virtues will dwell in the tower.
92. 3.8.9The end will come when the tower is finished, and that will be soon.
93. 3.8.10The revelation is for everyone.
94. 3.8.11Hermas must speak these words to all the saints.
95. 3.9.1The church speaks as a mother: you have been nurtured in righteousness but will not stop sinning.
96. 3.9.2Share food with the needy; do not consume in excess alone.
97. 3.9.3Excess harms the rich, want harms the poor.
98. 3.9.4Not sharing harms those who have.
99. 3.9.5Help the hungry now, before it is too late.
100. 3.9.6The groans of the poor will rise to God against the proud rich.
101. 3.9.7Church leaders must not carry poison in their hearts.
102. 3.9.8Leaders must cleanse their hearts and be of one mind.
103. 3.9.9Divisions may cost you your life.
104. 3.9.10Discipline one another and keep peace, so that the church may give a good account.
105. 3.10.1The builders carry her back to the tower.
106. 3.10.2Hermas asks about her three forms; she refers him to another.
107. 3.10.3In the first vision she was very old and seated.
108. 3.10.4In the second she was younger in face, standing and more cheerful.
109. 3.10.5In the third she was young and beautiful, seated on a couch.
110. 3.10.6She tells him to fast and ask humbly.
111. 3.10.7A young man warns him not to harm his body by excessive fasting.
112. 3.10.8The revelations he has are enough.
113. 3.10.9Doubt keeps them from understanding.
114. 3.10.10Hermas asks him to explain.
115. 3.11.1The young man explains the three forms.
116. 3.11.2She was old because their spirit was weak and doubting.
117. 3.11.3Worn down by worldly cares, they grew old in spirit.
118. 3.11.4She sat because the weak need support.
119. 3.12.1The meaning of the second vision.
120. 3.12.2Like an old man who inherits a fortune, they were renewed by the revelation.
121. 3.12.3God rejoiced at their renewed strength and will show more if they keep peace.
122. 3.13.1The meaning of the third vision.
123. 3.13.2Good news renews a grieving person; so the visions renewed them.
124. 3.13.3The four-legged couch stands firm, like the world of four elements.
125. 3.13.4Those who fully repent will be young again; the revelation is complete.
126. 4.1.1The fourth vision: a type of the coming tribulation.
127. 4.1.2Hermas walks along the Via Campana.
128. 4.1.3Hermas prays for the completion of the revelations.
129. 4.1.4A voice tells him not to doubt.
130. 4.1.5Hermas sees a huge cloud of dust.
131. 4.1.6A monstrous beast appears, with fiery locusts from its mouth.
132. 4.1.7Hermas prays and remembers: do not doubt.
133. 4.1.8In faith, Hermas faces the beast.
134. 4.1.9The beast lies still and lets him pass.
135. 4.1.10The beast's head has four colors.
136. 4.2.1A virgin dressed as a bride meets him.
137. 4.2.2He recognizes the church.
138. 4.2.3He tells her he escaped the beast by God's power.
139. 4.2.4Faith saved him; an angel named Thegri shut the beast's mouth.
140. 4.2.5The beast is a type of the coming great tribulation; repentance and trust will bring escape.
141. 4.2.6Doubters must believe; woe to those who disobey.
142. 4.3.1He asks about the four colors.
143. 4.3.2Black is this world.
144. 4.3.3Red means the world will perish by blood and fire.
145. 4.3.4Gold stands for believers refined by trials.
146. 4.3.5White is the age to come, home of God's elect.
147. 4.3.6Tell the saints; the tribulation can be nothing if they are willing.
148. 4.3.7She vanishes in a cloud.
149. 5.1A glorious man dressed as a shepherd visits Hermas.
150. 5.2The Shepherd has been sent to live with Hermas.
151. 5.3He reveals he is the shepherd to whom Hermas was entrusted.
152. 5.4Hermas recognizes him and is ashamed.
153. 5.5The Shepherd tells Hermas to write down his commandments and parables.
154. 5.6Hermas writes them down.
155. 5.7Keeping the commandments brings God's promises; the Shepherd is the angel of repentance.