The Shepherd of Hermas

Hermas

Hermas. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913

When she had showed me these things she[*](The explanation of the vision) wished to hasten away. I said to her: Lady, what does it benefit me to have seen these things, if I do not know what they mean? She answered me and said: You are a persistent man, wanting to know about the tower. Yes, I said, Lady, in order that I may report to my brethren, and that they may be made more joyful, and when they hear these

things may know the Lord in great glory.

And she said: Many indeed shall hear, but some of them shall rejoice when they hear, and some shall mourn. But these also, if they hear and repent, even they shall rejoice. Hear then, the parables of the tower, for I will reveal everything to you. And no longer trouble me about revelation, for these revelations are finished, for they have been fulfilled. Yet you will not cease asking for revelations, for you are shameless.

The tower which you see being built is myself, the Church, who have appeared to you both now and formerly. Ask, therefore, what you will about the tower, and I[*](The tower) will reveal it to you, that you may rejoice with the saints.

I said to her: Lady, since you have once thought me worthy to reveal everything to me, proceed with the revelation. And she said to me: What is permitted to be revealed to you shall be revealed; only let your heart be turned towards God and do not be double-minded as to what you see.

I asked her: Why has the tower been built on the water. Lady? As I told you before, you are seeking diligently, said she, and so by seeking you are finding out the truth. Hear, then, why the tower has been built upon the water: because your life was saved and shall be saved through water, and the tower has been founded by the utterance of the almighty and glorious Name, and is maintained bv the unseen power of the Master.

I answered and said to her: Lady, great and[*](The six young men) wonderful is this thing. But, Lady, who are the six

young men who are building? These are the holy angels of God, who were first created, to whom the Lord delivered all his creation to make it increase, and to build it up, and to rule the whole creation. Through them, therefore, the building of the tower shall be completed.

But who are the others, who are bringing the stones?They also are holy angels of God, but these six are greater than they. Therefore the building of the tower shall be completed, and all shall rejoice together around the tower, and shall glorify God because the building of the tower has been completed.

I asked her saying: Lady, I would like to know the end of the stones, and what kind of force[*](Here almost the equivalent of meaning .—What is their meaning in the vision? ) they have. She answered me and said: It is not because you are more worthy than all others that a revelation should be made to you, for there were others before you and better than you, to whom these visions ought to have been revealed. But in order that the name of God might be glorified, they have been, and shall be, revealed to you because of the double-minded who dispute in their heart whether these things are so or not. Tell them, that all these things are true, and that there is nothing beyond the truth, but that all things are strong and certain and well-founded.

Listen then concerning the stones which go[*](The stones) into the building. The stones which are square and

white and which fit into their joins are the Apostles and bishops and teachers and deacons who walked according to the majesty of God, and served the elect of God in holiness and reverence as bishops and teachers and deacons; some of them are fallen asleep and some are still alive. And they always agreed among themselves, and had peace among themselves, and listened to one another; for which cause their joins fit in the building of the tower.