if, for the future, you defile neither the flesh nor the spirit; for both are in communion, and neither can be defiled without the other. Keep, therefore, both pure, and you shall live to God.This is directed against the Gnostic tendency to divide flesh and spirit, and to regard the acts of the flesh as unimportant. Against this the church insisted on purity of life now, and on the hope of a resurrection of the flesh hereafter.

While I was seated in my house, and wasIntroduction glorifying the Lord for all that I had seen, and enquiring about the commandments because they were beautiful and joyful and glorious, and able to save the soul, of man, I said in myself: I shall be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and whoever shall walk in them shall be blessed.

While I said this in myself I suddenly saw him seated by me, and saying this: Why are you double-minded concerning the commandments which I commanded you? They are beautiful. Be not double-minded at all, but put on the faith of the Lord, and you shall walk in them, for I will strengthen you in them.

These commandments are helpful to those who are going to repent, for if they do not walk in them their repentance is in vain.

Do you, therefore, who repent, put away the wickednesses of this world which lead you astray, but if you put on all the virtue of righteousness, you shall be able to keep these commandments, and no longer add to your sins. Therefore walk in these commandments of mine, and you shall live to God. All these things have been spoken to you by me.

And after he spoke theseThe vision of the Shepherds things with me, he said to me: Let us go into the country, and I will show you the shepherds of the sheep. Let us go, sir, said I. And we came into a plain, and he showed me a young shepherd, clothed with a suit of garments of yellow colour.

And he was feeding very many sheep, and these sheep were well fed and very frisky, and were glad as they skipped here and there. And the shepherd himself was very joyful over his flock, and the face of the shepherd was very joyful, and he ran about among the sheep.