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 therefore, Sir, explain to me about[*](The mountains) the mountains. Why is their appearance different from one another and various?Listen, said he, these twelve mountains are the tribes which inhabit the whole world. The Son of God, then, was preached to them by the Apostles.

But tell me. Sir, said I, why the appearance of the mountains differs one from another and is various. Listen, said he, these twelve tribes which inhabit the whole world are twelve nations, but they are various in understanding and mind. Just as, then, you saw that the mountains are various, so also are there varieties in the mind and understanding of the nations. And I will explain to you the action of each one.

First of all, Sir, said I, explain this to me, why though these mountains were so various, when the stones from them were put into the building they became bright with a single colour, like the stones which had come up from the deep.

Because, said he, all the nations which dwell under heaven, when they heard and believed were called after the name of the Son of God. So then when they received the seal they

had one understanding and one mind, and their faith became one, and their love one, and they bore the spirits of the maidens together with the name. For this cause the building of the tower became bright with one colour like the sun.

But after they entered in together and became one body, some of them defiled themselves and were cast out from the family of the righteous, and became again what they had been before, or rather even worse.

How, Sir, said I, did they become worse, after they had attained to the knowledge of God? He who does not know God, said he, and does[*](Why the backsliders are worse than the unconverted) wickedly, incurs some punishment for his wickedness, but he who has knowledge of God, is bound no more to do wickedly, but to do good.

If then he who is bound to do good do wickedly, does he not seem to do more wickedly than he who does not know God? For this reason, those who have no knowledge of God and do wickedly, are condemned to death, but those who have knowledge of God and have seen his great deeds, and do wickedly, shall be punished doubly, and shall die for ever. Thus therefore the Church of God shall be cleansed.