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

Now, Sir, said I, explain to me why the tower was not built on the ground but on the rock and on the gate. Are you still, said he, silly and foolish? I need, Sir, said I, to ask everything from you, because I am wholly without power of understanding anything. For all things great and glorious are also difficult for men to understand.

Listen, said he, the name of the Son of God is great and incomprehensible, and supports the whole world. If

then the whole creation is supported by the Son of God, what do you think of those who are called by him, and bear the name of the Son of God, and walk in his commandments?

Do you see then whom he supports? Those who bear his name with their whole heart. He then was their foundation and he supports them joyfully, because they are not ashamed to bear his name.

Explain to me. Sir, said I, the names of the maidens, and of the women who are clothed in[*](The Maidens and the women clothed in black) black raiment. Listen, said he, to the names of the stronger maidens who stand at the corners.

The first is Faith, the second is Temperance, the third is Power, the fourth is Long-suffering, and the others who stand between them have these names:—Simplicity, Guilelessness, Holiness, Joyfulness, Truth, Understanding, Concord, Love. He who bears these names and the name of the Son of God, shall be able to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Hear, also, said he, the names of the women who have black raiment. Of these also four are more powerful. The first is Unbelief, the second Impurity, the third Disobedience, and the fourth Deceit; and those who follow them are called Grief, Wickedness, Licentiousness, Bitterness, Lying, Foolishness, Evil-speaking, Hate. The servant of God who bears

these names shall see the Kingdom of God, but shall not enter into it.

But, Sir, said I, what are the stones which were fitted into the building from[*](The stones of the foundation) the deep? The first, said he, the ten which were placed in the foundation, are the first generation; and the twenty-five are the second generation of righteous men; and the thirty-five are the prophets of God and his servants, and the forty[*](It must be noted that the numbers given here do not quite agree with those in Sim. ix. 4 and no satisfactory hypothesis has ever been suggested as to any hidden meaning which the numbers may conceal.) are prophets and teachers of the preaching of the Son of God.

Why, then, Sir, said I, did the maidens give these stones also for the building of the tower, and brought them through the gate?