The Shepherd of Hermas

Then the shepherd came and said to the maidens: Have you done him any despite? Ask him, said they. I said to him: Sir, I rejoiced at remaining with them. On what, said he, did you sup? I supped, Sir, said I, on the words of the Lord the whole night. Did they receive you well? said he, Yes, Sir, said I.

Now-, said he, what do you wish to hear first? Even as, Sir, said I, you showed me from the beginning; I ask you, Sir, to declare things to me even as I ask them of you. Even as you desire, said he, so I will interpret to you, and hide from you nothing at all.

First of all, Sir, said I, tell me this: What is the rock and the door? This rock and the[*](The explanation of the parable) door, said he, is the Son of God. How is it, said I, Sir, that the rock is old, but the gate is new? Listen, said he, and understand, foolish man.

The Son of God is older than all his creation, so that he was the counsellor of his Creation to the Father, therefore the rock is also old.But why is the gate new, Sir? said I.

Because, said he, He was manifested in the last days of the end[*](The Greek means the consummation, the time when this age or world-period is finished, and a new age will begin. (Cf. Mt. 13,40.))

Do you see, said he, the stones which entered through the gate, were put into the building of the tower, but those which did not enter through it were put back again into their own place? I see, Sir, said I. So, said he, no man shall enter into the Kingdom of God, except he take his holy name.

For if you wish to enter into a city, and that city has been walled round, and has one gate, can you enter into that city except through the gate which it has?No, Sir, said I, for how is it possible otherwise? If then you are not able to enter into the city except through the gate which it has, so, said he, a man cannot, otherwise enter into the kingdom of God, except through the name of his Son, who was beloved by him.