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

He answered me and said, I am set over repentance, and I give understanding to all those

who repent. Or do you not think, said he, that this very repentance is itself understanding? To repent, said he, is great understanding. For the sinner understands that he has done wickedly before the Lord, and the deed which he wrought comes into his heart, and he repents and no longer does wickedly, but does good abundantly, and humbles his soul and punishes it because he sinned. You see, therefore, that repentance is great understanding.

For this reason then, sir, said I, I enquire accurately from you as to all things. First, because I am a sinner, that I may know what I must do to live, because my sins are many and manifold.

You shall live, he said, if you keep my commandments and walk in them, and whosoever shall hear and keep these commandments shall live to God.

I will yet, sir, said I, continue to ask.[*](Repentance for sin after baptism) Say on, said he. I have heard, sir, said I, from some teachers[*](Possibly a reference to Heb. 6, 4 ff.) that there is no second repentance beyond the one given when we went down into the water and received remission of our former sins.

He said to me, You have heard correctly, for that is so. For he who has received remission of sin ought never to sin again, but to live in purity.

But since you ask accurately concerning all things, I will explain this also to you without giving an excuse to those who in the future shall believe or to

those who have already believed on the Lord. For those who have already believed or shall believe in the future, have no repentance of sins, but have remission of their former sin.

For those, then, who were called before these days, did the Lord appoint repentance, for the Lord knows the heart, and knowing all things beforehand he knew the weakness of man and the subtlety of the devil, that he will do some evil to the servants of God, and will do them mischief.