The Shepherd of Hermas

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.

Do you see, said he, the crowd which is building the tower? Yes, Sir, said I, I see it. They, said he, are all glorious angels; by these then the Lord[*](It is noteworthy that here the Lord is for the moment identified with the tower.) has been walled round. But the gate is the Son of God, this is the only entrance to the Lord. No man can enter in to him otherwise, than through his Son.

So[*](The six men) you see, said he, the six men, and the glorious and great man in their midst, who is walking round the tower and rejected the stones from the building? Yes, Sir, said I, I see him.

The glorious man, said he, is the Son of God, and[*](The glorious man)