Stromata Editions · The Shepherd of Hermas
Similitude IX · chapters 9–16
Sim. 9.9.1–9.16.7
Complete audiobook →Chapter 9
Greek source
Εἶτα ἦλθε κατανοῆσαι τοὺς λευκοὺς καὶ στρογγύλους λίθους, καὶ λέγει μοι· Τί ποιοῦμεν περὶ τούτων τῶν λίθων; Τί, φημί, ἐγὼ γινώσκω, κύριε;
Translation
Then he came to examine the white, round stones. He said to me, “What shall we do with these stones?” “How should I know, sir?” I said.
Greek source
Οὐδὲν οὖν ἐπινοεῖς περὶ αὐτῶν; Ἐγώ, φημί, κύριε, ταύτην τὴν τέχνην οὐκ ἔχω, οὐδὲ λατόμος εἰμί, οὐδὲ δύναμαι νοῆσαι. Οὐ βλέπεις αὐτούς, φησί, λίαν στρογγύλους ὄντας; καὶ ἐὰν αὐτοὺς θελήσω τετραγώνους ποιῆσαι, πολὺ δεῖ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ἀποκοπῆναι· δεῖ δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐξ ἀνάγκης τινὰς εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τεθῆναι.
Translation
“Can you think of nothing to do with them?” “Sir,” I said, “I do not have this skill. I am no stonecutter and cannot work it out.” “Do you not see,” he said, “that they are very round? If I want to make them square, much must be cut off them. Yet some of them must necessarily be placed in the building.”
Greek source
Εἰ οὖν, φημί, κύριε, ἀνάγκη ἐστί, τί σεαυτὸν βασανίζεις καὶ οὐκ ἐκλέγῃ εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν οὓς θέλεις, καὶ ἁρμόζεις εἰς αὐτήν; ἐξελέξατο ἐξ αὐτῶν τοὺς μείζονας καὶ λαμπρούς, καὶ ἐλατόμησεν αὐτούς· αἱ δὲ παρθένοι ἄρασαι ἥρμοσαν εἰς τὰ ἐξώτερα μέρη τῆς οἰκοδομῆς.
Translation
“If it is necessary, sir,” I said, “why torment yourself? Why not choose the ones you want for the building and fit them into it?” He chose the larger and brighter ones and cut them to shape. The virgins lifted them and fitted them into the outer parts of the building.
Greek source
οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ οἱ περισσεύσαντες ἤρθησαν καὶ ἀπετέθησαν εἰς τὸ πεδίον, ὅθεν ἠνέχθησαν· οὐκ ἀπεβλήθησαν δέ, Ὅτι, φησί, λείπει τῷ πύργῳ ἔτι μικρὸν οἰκοδομηθῆναι. πάντως δὲ θέλει ὁ δεσπότης τοῦ πύργου τούτους ἁρμοσθῆναι τοὺς λίθους εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν, ὅτι λαμπροί εἰσι λίαν.
Translation
The remainder were lifted and put back on the plain from which they had been brought. They were not rejected, “Because,” he said, “the tower still needs a little more building. The tower's master certainly wants these stones fitted into the building, for they are very bright.”
Greek source
ἐκλήθησαν δὲ γυναῖκες δώδεκα, εὐειδέσταται τῷ χαρακτῆρι, μέλανα ἐνδεδυμέναι, περιεζωσμέναι καὶ ἔξω τοὺς ὤμους ἔχουσαι, καὶ τὰς τρίχας λελυμέναι. ἐδοκοῦσαν δέ μοι αἱ γυναῖκες αὗται ἄγριαι εἶναι. ἐκέλευσε δὲ αὐτὰς ὁ ποιμὴν ἆραι τοὺς λίθους τοὺς ἀποβεβλημένους ἐκ τῆς οἰκοδομῆς καὶ ἀπενεγκεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰ ὄρη, ὅθεν καὶ ἠνέχθησαν.
Translation
Twelve women were called, exceedingly beautiful in their features, dressed in black, with their clothes gathered at the waist and their shoulders bare, and their hair loose. These women seemed savage to me. The shepherd ordered them to lift the stones rejected from the building and take them to the mountains from which they had been brought.
Greek source
αἱ δὲ ἱλαραὶ ἦραν καὶ ἀπήνεγκαν πάντας τοὺς λίθους καὶ ἔθηκαν, ὅθεν ἐλήφθησαν. καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀρθῆναι πάντας τοὺς λίθους καὶ μηκέτι κεῖσθαι λίθον κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου, λέγει μοι ὁ ποιμήν· Κυκλώσωμεν τὸν πύργον καὶ ἴδωμεν, μή τι ἐλάττωμά ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῷ.
Translation
Cheerfully they lifted and carried away all the stones, putting them where they had been taken from. After all the stones had been removed and none lay around the tower any longer, the shepherd said to me, “Let us go around the tower and see whether there is any defect in it.”
Greek source
καὶ ἐκύκλευον ἐγὼ μετ’ αὐτοῦ. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ποιμὴν τὸν πύργον εὐπρεπῆ ὄντα τῇ οἰκοδομῇ, λίαν ἱλαρὸς ἦν· ὁ γὰρ πύργος οὕτως ἦν ᾠκοδομημένος, ὥστε με ἰδόντα ἐπιθυμεῖν τὴν οἰκοδομὴν αὐτοῦ· οὕτω γὰρ ἦν ᾠκοδομημένος, ὡσὰν ἐξ ἑνὸς λίθου, μὴ ἔχων μίαν ἁρμογὴν ἐν ἑαυτῷ. ἐφαίνετο δὲ ὁ λίθος ὡς ἐκ τῆς πέτρας ἐκκεκολαμμένος· μονόλιθος γάρ μοι ἐδόκει εἶναι.
Translation
I went around with him. The shepherd was very cheerful when he saw how beautifully the tower was built. It was built in such a way that seeing it made me long for the building. It was as though built from a single stone, without even one joint in it. The stone seemed carved out of the rock: it looked like one solid stone to me.
Chapter 10
Greek source
Κἀγὼ περιπατῶν μετ’ αὐτοῦ ἱλαρὸς ἤμην τοιαῦτα ἀγαθὰ βλέπων. λέγει δέ μοι ὁ ποιμήν· Ὕπαγε καὶ φέρε ἄσβεστον καὶ ὄστρακον λεπτόν, ἵνα τοὺς τύπους τῶν λίθων τῶν ἠρμένων καὶ εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν βεβλημένων ἀναπληρώσω· δεῖ γὰρ τοῦ πύργου τὰ κύκλῳ πάντα ὁμαλὰ γενέσθαι.
Translation
As I walked with him, I too was cheerful at seeing such good things. The shepherd said to me, “Go and bring lime and fine pottery fragments, so that I may fill the impressions of the stones that were removed and then placed in the building. Everything around the tower must become smooth.”
Greek source
καὶ ἐποίησα καθὼς ἐκέλευσε, καὶ ἤνεγκα πρὸς αὐτόν. Ὑπηρέτει μοι, φησί, καὶ [ἐγγὺς τὸ ἔργον τελεσθήσεται]. ἐπλήρωσεν οὖν τοὺς τύπους τῶν λίθων τῶν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν ἀπεληλυθότων καὶ ἐκέλευσε σαρωθῆναι τὰ κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου καὶ καθαρὰ γενέσθαι·
Translation
I did as he commanded and brought them to him. “Assist me,” he said, “and [the work will soon be finished].” He filled the impressions of the stones that had gone into the building and ordered the surroundings of the tower to be swept and made clean.
Greek source
αἱ δὲ παρθένοι λαβοῦσαι σάρους ἐσάρωσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ κόπρια ἦραν ἐκ τοῦ πύργου, καὶ ἔρραναν ὕδωρ, καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ τόπος ἱλαρὸς καὶ εὐπρεπέστατος τοῦ πύργου.
Translation
The virgins took brooms, swept, and removed all the rubbish from the tower. They sprinkled water, and the tower's surroundings became cheerful and exceedingly beautiful.
Greek source
λέγει μοι ὁ ποιμήν· Πάντα, φησί, κεκάθαρται· ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος ἐπισκέψασθαι τὸν πύργον, οὐκ ἔχει ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν μέμψασθαι.
Translation
The shepherd said to me, “Everything has been cleaned. If the lord comes to inspect the tower, he has nothing to blame us for.”
Greek source
ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἤθελεν ὑπάγειν· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπελαβόμην αὐτοῦ τῆς πήρας καὶ ἠρξάμην αὐτὸν ὁρκίζειν κατὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ἵνα μοι ἐπιλύσῃ, ἃ ἔδειξέ μοι. λέγει μοι· Μικρὸν ἔχω ἀκαιρεθῆναι καὶ πάντα σοι ἐπιλύσω· ἔκδεξαί με ὧδε ἕως ἔρχομαι.
Translation
After saying this, he wanted to leave. I caught hold of his bag and began to implore him by the Lord to explain what he had shown me. He said to me, “I must be occupied for a little while, and then I will explain everything to you. Wait for me here until I return.”
Greek source
λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε, μόνος ὢν ὧδε ἐγὼ τί ποιήσω; Οὐκ εἶ, φησί, μόνος· αἱ γὰρ παρθένοι αὗται μετὰ σοῦ εἰσι. Παράδος οὖν, φημί, αὐταῖς με. προσκαλεῖται αὐτὰς ὁ ποιμὴν καὶ λέγει αὐταῖς· Παρατίθεμαι ὑμῖν τοῦτον ἕως ἔρχομαι· καὶ ἀπῆλθεν.
Translation
I said to him, “Sir, what will I do here alone?” “You are not alone,” he said, “for these virgins are with you.” “Then entrust me to them,” I said. The shepherd called them and said, “I entrust this man to you until I return.” Then he departed.
Greek source
ἐγὼ δὲ ἤμην μόνος μετὰ τῶν παρθένων· ἦσαν δὲ ἱλαρώτεραι καὶ πρὸς ἐμὲ εὖ εἶχον· μάλιστα [δὲ] αἱ δʹ αἱ ἐνδοξότεραι αὐτῶν.
Translation
I was alone with the virgins. They were very cheerful and friendly toward me—[and] especially the four most glorious among them.
Chapter 11
Greek source
Λέγουσί μοι αἱ παρθένοι· Σήμερον ὁ ποιμὴν ὧδε οὐκ ἔρχεται. Τί οὖν, φημί, ποιήσω ἐγώ; Μέχρις ὀψέ, [φασίν,] περίμεινον αὐτόν. καὶ ἐὰν ἔλθῃ, λαλήσει μετὰ σοῦ, ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἔλθῃ, μενεῖς μεθ’ ἡμῶν ὧδε ἕως [ἔρχεται.]
Translation
The virgins said to me, “The shepherd is not coming here today.” “What shall I do, then?” I asked. “Wait for him until evening,” [they said]. “If he comes, he will speak with you. If he does not come, you will stay here with us until [he comes.]”
Greek source
λέγω αὐταῖς· Ἐκδέξομαι αὐτὸν ἕως ὀψέ· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἔλθῃ, ἀπελεύσομαι εἰς τὸν οἶκον καὶ πρωῒ ἐπανήξω. αἱ δὲ ἀποκριθεῖσαι λέγουσί μοι· Ἡμῖν παρεδόθης· οὐ δύνασαι ἀφ’ ἡμῶν ἀναχωρῆσαι.
Translation
I said to them, “I will wait for him until evening. If he does not come, I will go home and return early in the morning.” They answered, “You have been entrusted to us. You cannot leave us.”
Greek source
Ποῦ οὖν, φημί, μενῶ; Μεθ’ ἡμῶν, φασί, κοιμηθήσῃ ὡς ἀδελφός, καὶ οὐχ ὡς ἀνήρ. ἡμέτερος γὰρ ἀδελφὸς εἶ, καὶ τοῦ λοιποῦ μέλλομεν μετὰ σοῦ κατοικεῖν· λίαν γάρ σε ἀγαπῶμεν.
Translation
“Where, then, will I stay?” I asked. “You will sleep with us,” they said, “as a brother, not as a husband. You are our brother, and from now on we are going to live with you, for we love you very much.”
Greek source
ἐγὼ δὲ ᾐσχυνόμην μετ’ αὐτῶν μένειν. καὶ ἡ δοκοῦσα πρώτη αὐτῶν εἶναι ἤρξατό με καταφιλεῖν καὶ περιπλέκεσθαι· αἱ δὲ [ἄλλαι] ὁρῶσαι ἐκείνην περιπλεκομένην μοι καὶ αὐταὶ ἤρξαντό με καταφιλεῖν καὶ περιάγειν κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου καὶ παίζειν μετ’ ἐμοῦ.
Translation
I was embarrassed to stay with them. The one who seemed foremost among them began kissing and embracing me. When the [others] saw her embracing me, they too began kissing me, leading me around the tower, and playing with me.
Greek source
κἀγὼ ὡσεὶ νεώτερος ἐγεγόνειν καὶ ἠρξάμην καὶ αὐτὸς παίζειν μετ’ αὐτῶν· αἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐχόρευον, αἱ δὲ ὠρχοῦντο, αἱ δὲ ᾖδον· ἐγὼ δὲ σιγὴν ἔχων μετ’ αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου περιεπάτουν καὶ ἱλαρὸς ἤμην μετ’ αὐτῶν.
Translation
I became as though younger and began playing with them myself. Some danced in a circle, some danced, and some sang. I walked silently with them around the tower and was cheerful with them.
Greek source
[ὀψίας] δὲ γενομένης ἤθελον εἰς τὸν οἶκον ὑπάγειν· αἱ δὲ οὐκ ἀφῆκαν, ἀλλὰ κατέσχον με. καὶ ἔμεινα μετ’ αὐτῶν τὴν νύκτα, καὶ ἐκοιμήθην παρὰ τὸν πύργον.
Translation
When [evening] came, I wanted to go home, but they did not let me: they held me there. I stayed with them that night and slept beside the tower.
Greek source
ἔστρωσαν γὰρ αἱ παρθένοι τοὺς λινοῦς χιτῶνας ἑαυτῶν χαμαί, καὶ ἐμὲ ἀνέκλιναν εἰς [τὸ μέσον αὐτ]ῶν, καὶ οὐδὲν ὅλως ἐποίουν εἰ μὴ προσηύχοντο· κἀγὼ μετ’ αὐτῶν ἀδιαλείπτως προσηυχόμην καὶ οὐκ ἔλασσον ἐκείνων. καὶ [ἔχαιρον] αἱ παρθένοι οὕτω μου προσευχομένου. καὶ ἔμεινα ἐκεῖ μέχρι τῆς αὔριον ἕως ὥρας δευτέρας μετὰ τῶν παρθένων.
Translation
The virgins spread their linen tunics on the ground and laid me down [in their midst]. They did nothing at all but pray. I too prayed with them without ceasing, no less than they did. The virgins [rejoiced] to see me praying like this. I stayed there with the virgins until the second hour the next morning.
Greek source
εἶτα παρῆν ὁ ποιμήν, καὶ λέγει ταῖς παρθένοις· Μή τινα αὐτῷ ὕβριν πεποιήκατε; Ἐρώτα, φασίν, αὐτόν. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε, εὐφράνθην μετ’ αὐτῶν μείνας. Τί, φησίν, ἐδείπνησας; Ἐδείπνησα, φημί, κύριε, ῥήματα κυρίου ὅλην τὴν νύκτα. Καλῶς, φησίν, ἔλαβόν σε; Ναί, φημί, κύριε.
Translation
Then the shepherd arrived. He said to the virgins, “Have you done him any harm?” “Ask him,” they said. I said to him, “Sir, I was glad to stay with them.” “What did you have for dinner?” he asked. “Sir,” I said, “I dined on the Lord's words all night.” “Did they receive you well?” he asked. “Yes, sir,” I said.
Greek source
Νῦν, φησί, τί θέλεις πρῶτον ἀκοῦσαι; Καθώς, φημί, κύριε, ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς ἔδειξας· ἐρωτῶ σε, κύριε, ἵνα καθὼς ἄν σε ἐπερωτήσω, οὕτω μοι καὶ δηλώσῃς. Καθὼς βούλει, φησίν, οὕτω σοι καὶ ἐπιλύσω, καὶ οὐδὲν ὅλως ἀποκρύψω ἀπὸ σοῦ.
Translation
“Now,” he said, “what do you want to hear first?” “In the order you showed me from the beginning, sir,” I said. “I ask you to explain things as I ask about them.” “As you wish,” he said, “I will explain them to you and hide nothing at all from you.”
Chapter 12
Greek source
Πρῶτον, φημί, πάντων, κύριε, τοῦτό μοι δήλωσον· ἡ πέτρα καὶ ἡ πύλη τίς ἐστιν; Ἡ πέτρα, φησίν, αὕτη καὶ ἡ πύλη ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστι. Πῶς, φημί, κύριε, ἡ πέτρα παλαιά ἐστιν, ἡ δὲ πύλη καινή; Ἄκουε, φησί, καὶ σύνιε, ἀσύνετε.
Translation
“First of all, sir,” I said, “explain this to me: what are the rock and the gate?” “This rock and the gate,” he said, “are the Son of God.” “How is the rock ancient, sir,” I asked, “but the gate new?” “Listen and understand, you who lack understanding,” he said.
Greek source
ὁ μὲν υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ πάσης τῆς κτίσεως αὐτοῦ προγενέστερός ἐστιν, ὥστε σύμβουλον αὐτὸν γενέσθαι τῷ πατρὶ τῆς κτίσεως αὐτοῦ· διὰ τοῦτο καὶ παλαιὰ ἡ πέτρα. Ἡ δὲ πύλη, φημί, διατί καινή, κύριε;
Translation
“The Son of God is older than all his creation, so that he became his Father's adviser concerning his creation. That is why the rock is ancient.” “Why, then, is the gate new, sir?” I asked.
Greek source
Ὅτι, φησίν, ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν τῆς συντελείας φανερὸς ἐγένετο, διὰ τοῦτο καινὴ ἐγένετο ἡ πύλη, ἵνα οἱ μέλλοντες σώζεσθαι δι’ αὐτῆς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν εἰσέλθωσι τοῦ θεοῦ.
Translation
“Because,” he said, “he became visible in the last days of the fulfilment. That is why the gate became new: so that those who are to be saved may enter God's kingdom through it.
Greek source
εἶδες, φησίν, τοὺς λίθους τοὺς διὰ τῆς πύλης εἰσεληλυθότας εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου βεβλημένους, τοὺς δὲ μὴ εἰσεληλυθότας πάλιν ἀποβεβλημένους εἰς τὸν ἴδιον τόπον; Εἶδον, φημί, κύριε. Οὕτω, φησίν, εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ οὐδεὶς εἰσελεύσεται, εἰ μὴ λάβοι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ.
Translation
“Did you see the stones that had entered through the gate placed in the tower's construction, while those that had not entered were thrown back to their own place?” “I did, sir,” I said. “In the same way,” he said, “no one will enter God's kingdom unless they receive the name of his Son.
Greek source
ἐὰν γὰρ εἰς πόλιν θελήσῃς εἰσελθεῖν τινα, κἀκείνη ἡ πόλις περιτετειχισμένη κύκλῳ καὶ μίαν ἔχῃ πύλην, μήτι δύνῃ εἰς ἐκείνην τὴν πόλιν εἰσελθεῖν, εἰ μὴ διὰ τῆς πύλης ἧς ἔχει; Πῶς γάρ, φημί, κύριε, δύναται γενέσθαι ἄλλως; Εἰ οὖν εἰς τὴν πόλιν οὐ δύνῃ εἰσελθεῖν εἰ μὴ διὰ τῆς πύλης ἧς ἔχει, οὕτω, φησί, καὶ εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἄλλως εἰσελθεῖν οὐ δύναται ἄνθρωπος εἰ μὴ διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἠγαπημένου ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ.
Translation
“If you want to enter a city surrounded by walls and having only one gate, can you enter that city except through its gate?” “How could it happen otherwise, sir?” I said. “Just as you cannot enter the city except through its gate,” he said, “so a person cannot enter God's kingdom in any other way than through the name of his Son, whom he loves.
Greek source
εἶδες, φησί, τὸν ὄχλον τὸν οἰκοδομοῦντα τὸν πύργον; Εἶδον, φημί, κύριε. Ἐκεῖνοι, φησί, πάντες ἄγγελοι ἔνδοξοί εἰσι· τούτοις οὖν περιτετείχισται ὁ κύριος. ἡ δὲ πύλη ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν· αὕτη μία εἴσοδός ἐστι πρὸς τὸν κύριον. ἄλλως οὖν οὐδεὶς εἰσελεύσεται πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰ μὴ διὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ.
Translation
“Did you see the crowd building the tower?” “I did, sir,” I said. “They are all glorious angels,” he said. “The Lord is surrounded by them as by a wall. The gate is the Son of God. This is the one entrance to the Lord. No one will enter his presence otherwise than through his Son.
Greek source
εἶδες, φησί, τοὺς ἓξ ἄνδρας καὶ τὸν μέσον αὐτῶν ἔνδοξον καὶ μέγαν ἄνδρα τὸν περιπατοῦντα περὶ τὸν πύργον καὶ τοὺς λίθους ἀποδοκιμάσαντα ἐκ τῆς οἰκοδομῆς; Εἶδον, φημί, κύριε.
Translation
“Did you see the six men, and the great and glorious man in their midst, who walked around the tower and rejected stones from the building?” “I did, sir,” I said.
Greek source
Ὁ ἔνδοξος, φησίν, ἀνὴρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστι, κἀκεῖνοι οἱ ἓξ οἱ ἔνδοξοι ἄγγελοί εἰσι δεξιὰ καὶ εὐώνυμα συγκρατοῦντες αὐτόν. τούτων, φησί, τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἐνδόξων οὐδεὶς εἰσελεύσεται πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἄτερ αὐτοῦ· ὃς ἂν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μὴ λάβῃ, οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ.
Translation
“The glorious man,” he said, “is the Son of God. Those six are the glorious angels supporting him on his right and left. None of these glorious angels will enter God's presence without him. Anyone who does not receive his name will not enter God's kingdom.”
Chapter 13
Greek source
Ὁ δὲ πύργος, φημί, τίς ἐστιν; Ὁ πύργος, φησίν, οὗτος ἡ ἐκκλησία ἐστίν.
Translation
“What is the tower, then?” I asked. “This tower,” he said, “is the assembly.”
Greek source
Αἱ δὲ παρθένοι αὗται τίνες εἰσίν; Αὗται, φησίν, ἅγια πνεύματά εἰσι· καὶ ἄλλως ἄνθρωπος οὐ δύναται εὑρεθῆναι εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐὰν μὴ αὗται αὐτὸν ἐνδύσωσι τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτῶν· ἐὰν γὰρ τὸ ὄνομα μόνον λάβῃς, τὸ δὲ ἔνδυμα παρὰ τούτων μὴ λάβῃς, οὐδὲν ὠφελήσῃ· αὗται γὰρ αἱ παρθένοι δυνάμεις εἰσὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ. ἐὰν τὸ ὄνομα φορῇς, τὴν δὲ δύναμιν μὴ φορῇς αὐτοῦ, εἰς μάτην ἔσῃ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ φορῶν.
Translation
“And who are these virgins?” “They are holy spirits,” he said. “A person cannot be found in God's kingdom unless they clothe that person in their own garment. If you receive only the name but do not receive the garment from them, you will gain nothing. These virgins are powers of the Son of God. If you bear his name but do not bear his power, you will bear his name in vain.
Greek source
τοὺς δὲ λίθους, φησίν, οὓς εἶδες ἀποβεβλημένους, οὗτοι τὸ μὲν ὄνομα ἐφόρεσαν, τὸν δὲ ἱματισμὸν τῶν παρθένων οὐκ ἐνεδύσαντο. Ποῖος, φημί, ἱματισμὸς αὐτῶν ἐστι, κύριε; Αὐτὰ τὰ ὀνόματα, φησίν, ἱματισμός ἐστιν αὐτῶν. ὃς ἂν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ φορῇ, καὶ τούτων ὀφείλει τὰ ὀνόματα φορεῖν· καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ὁ υἱὸς τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν παρθένων τούτων φορεῖ.
Translation
“The stones you saw rejected,” he said, “bore the name, but did not put on the virgins' clothing.” “What is their clothing, sir?” I asked. “Their very names are their clothing,” he said. “Anyone who bears the Son of God's name must also bear their names, for the Son himself bears the names of these virgins.
Greek source
ὅσους, φησί, λίθους εἶδες εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου εἰσεληλυθότας, ἐπιδεδομένους διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ μείναντας εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν, τούτων τῶν παρθένων τὴν δύναμιν ἐνδεδυμένοι εἰσί.
Translation
“All the stones you saw enter the building of the tower, handed over through their hands and remaining in the building, have been clothed in the power of these virgins.
Greek source
διὰ τοῦτο βλέπεις τὸν πύργον μονόλιθον γεγονότα μετὰ τῆς πέτρας· οὕτω καὶ οἱ πιστεύσαντες τῷ κυρίῳ διὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνδιδυσκόμενοι τὰ πνεύματα ταῦτα, ἔσονται εἰς ἓν πνεῦμα, ἓν σῶμα, καὶ μία χρόα τῶν ἱματίων αὐτῶν. τῶν τοιούτων δὲ τῶν φορούντων τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν παρθένων ἐστὶν ἡ κατοικία εἰς τὸν πύργον.
Translation
“That is why you see the tower become one solid stone with the rock. In the same way, those who believe in the Lord through his Son and put on these spirits will become one spirit, one body, and their clothing will have one colour. Those who bear the virgins' names have their dwelling in the tower.”
Greek source
Οἱ οὖν, φημί, κύριε, ἀποβεβλημένοι λίθοι διατί ἀπεβλήθησαν; διῆλθον γὰρ διὰ τῆς πύλης, καὶ διὰ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν παρθένων ἐτέθησαν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου. Ἐπειδὴ πάντα σοι, φησί, μέλει, καὶ ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάζεις, ἄκουε περὶ τῶν ἀποβεβλημένων λίθων.
Translation
“Why, then, sir,” I asked, “were the rejected stones rejected? They passed through the gate and were placed in the tower's construction through the virgins' hands.” “Since you care about everything and examine it closely,” he said, “listen about the rejected stones.
Greek source
οὗτοι, φησί, πάντες τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ ἔλαβον, ἔλαβον δὲ καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τῶν παρθένων τούτων. λαβόντες οὖν τὰ πνεύματα ταῦτα ἐνεδυναμώθησαν καὶ ἦσαν μετὰ τῶν δούλων τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἦν αὐτῶν ἓν πνεῦμα καὶ ἓν σῶμα καὶ ἓν ἔνδυμα· τὰ γὰρ αὐτὰ ἐφρόνουν καὶ δικαιοσύνην εἰργάζοντο.
Translation
“All these received the name of the Son of God, and also the power of these virgins. On receiving these spirits, they were strengthened and lived among God's servants. They had one spirit, one body, and one garment, for they thought the same things and practised righteousness.
Greek source
μετὰ οὖν χρόνον τινὰ ἀνεπείσθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν γυναικῶν ὧν εἶδες μέλανα ἱμάτια ἐνδεδυμένων, τοὺς ὤμους ἔξω ἐχουσῶν καὶ τὰς τρίχας λελυμένας καὶ εὐμόρφων. ταύτας ἰδόντες ἐπεθύμησαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐνεδύσαντο τὴν δύναμιν αὐτῶν, τῶν δὲ παρθένων ἀπεδύσαντο τὸ ἔνδυμα καὶ τὴν δύναμιν.
Translation
“After some time, they were persuaded by the women you saw dressed in black, with bare shoulders, loose hair, and beautiful forms. Seeing these women, they desired them and put on their power, but took off the virgins' garment and power.
Greek source
οὗτοι οὖν ἀπεβλήθησαν ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐκείναις παρεδόθησαν· οἱ δὲ μὴ ἀπατηθέντες τῷ κάλλει τῶν γυναικῶν τούτων ἔμειναν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ θεοῦ. ἔχεις, φησί, τὴν ἐπίλυσιν τῶν ἀποβεβλημένων.
Translation
“So they were rejected from God's house and handed over to those women. But those not deceived by these women's beauty remained in God's house. You have the explanation of the rejected stones.”
Chapter 14
Greek source
Τί οὖν, φημί, κύριε, ἐὰν οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι, τοιοῦτοι ὄντες, μετανοήσωσι καὶ ἀποβάλωσι τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῶν γυναικῶν τούτων, καὶ ἐπανακάμψωσιν ἐπὶ τὰς παρθένους καὶ ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτῶν πορευθῶσιν, οὐκ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ;
Translation
“What, then, sir,” I asked, “if these people, being as they are, repent, cast away their desires for these women, return to the virgins, and live by their power and deeds? Will they not enter God's house?”
Greek source
Εἰσελεύσονται, φησίν, ἐὰν τούτων τῶν γυναικῶν ἀποβάλωσι τὰ ἔργα, τῶν δὲ παρθένων ἀναλάβωσι τὴν δύναμιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτῶν πορευθῶσι. διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ τῆς οἰκοδομῆς ἀνοχὴ ἐγένετο, ἵνα, ἐὰν μετανοήσωσιν οὗτοι, ἀπέλθωσιν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ μετανοήσωσι, τότε ἄλλοι εἰσελεύσονται, καὶ οὗτοι εἰς τέλος ἐκβληθήσονται.
Translation
“They will enter,” he said, “if they cast away these women's deeds, take up the virgins' power, and live by their deeds. The construction was paused for this very reason: if these people repent, they may enter the tower's construction. If they do not repent, others will enter instead, and these people will be thrown out completely.”
Greek source
ἐπὶ τούτοις πᾶσιν ηὐχαρίστησα τῷ κυρίῳ, ὅτι ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξαπέστειλε τὸν ἄγγελον τῆς μετανοίας εἰς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἁμαρτήσαντας εἰς αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνεκαίνισεν ἡμῶν τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ ἤδη κατεφθαρμένων ἡμῶν καὶ μὴ ἐχόντων ἐλπίδα τοῦ ζῆν ἀνενέωσε τὴν ζωὴν ἡμῶν.
Translation
For all these things I thanked the Lord, because he had compassion on all who call upon his name. He sent the angel of repentance to us who had sinned against him and renewed our spirit. When we were already corrupted and had no hope of living, he renewed our life.
Greek source
Νῦν, φημί, κύριε, δήλωσόν μοι, διατί ὁ πύργος χαμαὶ οὐκ ᾠκοδόμηται, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην. Ἔτι, φησίν, ἄφρων εἶ καὶ ἀσύνετος; Ἀνάγκην ἔχω, φημί, κύριε, πάντα ἐπερωτᾶν σε, ὅτι οὐδ’ ὅλως οὐδὲν δύναμαι νοῆσαι· τὰ γὰρ πάντα μεγάλα καὶ ἔνδοξά ἐστι καὶ δυσνόητα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.
Translation
“Now, sir,” I said, “explain why the tower is not built on the ground, but on the rock and the gate.” “Are you still foolish and lacking understanding?” he asked. “Sir,” I said, “I must ask you about everything, because I cannot understand anything at all. Everything is great and glorious, and hard for people to understand.”
Greek source
Ἄκουε, φησί· τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ μέγα ἐστὶ καὶ ἀχώρητον, καὶ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον βαστάζει. εἰ οὖν πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις διὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ βαστάζεται, τί δοκεῖς τοὺς κεκλημένους ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ ὄνομα φοροῦντας τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πορευομένους ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ;
Translation
“Listen,” he said. “The name of the Son of God is great and cannot be contained, and it supports the entire world. If all creation is supported through the Son of God, what do you think of those called by him, who bear the Son of God's name and live by his commandments?
Greek source
βλέπεις οὖν ποίους βαστάζει; τοὺς ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας φοροῦντας τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. αὐτὸς οὖν θεμέλιος αὐτοῖς ἐγένετο καὶ ἡδέως αὐτοὺς βαστάζει, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπαισχύνονται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ φορεῖν.
Translation
“Do you see, then, whom he supports? Those who bear his name with all their heart. He became their foundation and gladly supports them, because they are not ashamed to bear his name.”
Chapter 15
Greek source
Δήλ[ωσόν μοι,] φημί, κύριε, τῶν παρθέ[νων τ]ὰ ὀνόματα καὶ τῶν γυναικῶν τῶν τὰ μέλανα ἱμάτια ἐνδεδυμένων. Ἄκουε, φησί, τῶν παρθένων τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἰσχυροτέρων, τῶν εἰς τὰς γωνίας σταθεισῶν.
Translation
“[Tell me], sir,” I said, “the names of the [virgins] and of the women dressed in black.” “Listen,” he said, “to the names of the virgins who are stronger, those stationed at the corners.
Greek source
ἡ μὲν πρώτη Πίστις, ἡ δὲ δευτέρα Ἐγκράτεια, ἡ δὲ τρίτη Δύναμις, ἡ δὲ τετάρτη Μακροθυμία· αἱ δὲ ἕτεραι ἀνὰ μέσον τούτων σταθεῖσαι ταῦτα ἔχουσι τὰ ὀνόματα· Ἁπλότης, Ἀκακία, Ἁγνεία, Ἱλαρότης, Ἀλήθεια, Σύνεσις, Ὁμόνοια, Ἀγάπη. ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα ὁ φορῶν καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ δυνήσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν.
Translation
“The first is Faith, the second Self-control, the third Power, and the fourth Patience. The others standing between them have these names: Simplicity, Innocence, Purity, Cheerfulness, Truth, Understanding, Concord, and Love. Anyone who bears these names and the name of the Son of God will be able to enter God's kingdom.
Greek source
ἄκουε, φησί, καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν γυναικῶν τῶν τὰ ἱμάτια μέλανα ἐχουσῶν. καὶ ἐκ τούτων τέσσαρές εἰσι δυνατώτεραι· ἡ πρώτη Ἀπιστία, ἡ δευτέρα Ἀκρασία, ἡ δὲ τρίτη Ἀπείθεια, ἡ δὲ τετάρτη Ἀπάτη. αἱ δὲ ἀκόλουθοι αὐτῶν καλοῦνται Λύπη, Πονηρία, Ἀσέλγεια, Ὀξυχολία, Ψεῦδος, Ἀφροσύνη, Καταλαλία, Μῖσος. ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα ὁ φορῶν τοῦ θεοῦ δοῦλος τὴν βασιλείαν μὲν ὄψεται τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς αὐτὴν δὲ οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται.
Translation
“Listen also to the names of the women dressed in black. Four among these too are more powerful. The first is Unbelief, the second Lack of Self-control, the third Disobedience, and the fourth Deception. Their followers are called Grief, Wickedness, Licentiousness, Quick Temper, Falsehood, Foolishness, Slander, and Hatred. God's servant who bears these names will see God's kingdom, but will not enter it.”
Greek source
Οἱ λίθοι δέ, φημί, κύριε, οἱ ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ ἡρμοσμένοι εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τίνες εἰσίν; Οἱ μὲν πρῶτοι, φησίν, οἱ ιʹ οἱ εἰς τὰ θεμέλια τεθειμένοι, πρώτη γενεά· οἱ δὲ κεʹ δευτέρα γενεὰ ἀνδρῶν δικαίων· οἱ δὲ λεʹ προφῆται τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ διάκονοι αὐτοῦ· οἱ δὲ μʹ ἀπόστολοι καὶ διδάσκαλοι τοῦ κηρύγματος τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ.
Translation
“Sir,” I asked, “who are the stones from the deep that were fitted into the building?” “The first ten placed in the foundations,” he said, “are the first generation. The twenty-five are the second generation of righteous men. The thirty-five are God's prophets and his ministers. The forty are apostles and teachers of the proclamation of the Son of God.”
Greek source
Διατί οὖν, φημί, κύριε, αἱ παρθένοι καὶ τούτους τοὺς λίθους ἐπέδωκαν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου, διενέγκασαι διὰ τῆς πύλης;
Translation
“Why, then, sir,” I asked, “did the virgins hand these stones over for the tower's construction too, carrying them through the gate?”
Greek source
Οὗτοι γάρ, φησί, πρῶτοι ταῦτα τὰ πνεύματα ἐφόρεσαν, καὶ ὅλως ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων οὐκ ἀπέστησαν, οὔτε τὰ πνεύματα ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὔτε οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀπὸ τῶν πνευμάτων, ἀλλὰ παρέμειναν τὰ πνεύματα αὐτοῖς μέχρι τῆς κοιμήσεως αὐτῶν. καὶ εἰ μὴ ταῦτα τὰ πνεύματα μετ’ αὐτῶν ἐσχήκεισαν, ο[ὐκ ἂν] εὔχρηστοι γεγόνεισαν τῇ οἰκοδομῇ τοῦ πύργου τούτου.
Translation
“Because these were the first to bear these spirits,” he said. “They never parted from one another at all: neither the spirits from the people nor the people from the spirits. The spirits remained with them until they fell asleep. If they had not had these spirits with them, they [would not] have become useful for this tower's construction.”
Chapter 16
Greek source
Ἔτι μοι, φημί, κύριε, δήλωσον. Τί, φησίν, ἐπιζητεῖς; Διατί, φημί, κύριε, οἱ λίθοι ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ ἀνέβησαν καὶ εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου ἐτέθησαν, πεφορηκότες τὰ πνεύματα ταῦτα;
Translation
“Explain something else to me, sir,” I said. “What are you asking about?” he said. “Why, sir,” I asked, “did the stones come up from the deep and get placed in the construction of the tower, when they had borne these spirits?”
Greek source
Ἀνάγκην, φησίν, εἶχον δι’ ὕδατος ἀναβῆναι, ἵνα ζωοποιηθῶσιν· οὐκ ἠδύναντο γὰρ ἄλλως εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰ μὴ τὴν νέκρωσιν ἀπέθεντο τῆς ζωῆς αὐτῶν τῆς προτέρας.
Translation
“They had to come up through water,” he said, “so that they might be made alive. They could not otherwise enter God's kingdom unless they put aside the deadness of their earlier life.
Greek source
ἔλαβον οὖν καὶ οὗτοι οἱ κεκοιμημένοι τὴν σφραγῖδα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ· πρὶν γάρ, φησί, φορέσαι τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, νεκρός ἐστιν· ὅταν δὲ λάβῃ τὴν σφραγῖδα, ἀποτίθεται τὴν νέκρωσιν καὶ ἀναλαμβάνει τὴν ζωήν.
Translation
“So these who had fallen asleep also received the seal of the Son of God and entered God's kingdom. Before a person bears the name of the Son of God,” he said, “that person is dead. But on receiving the seal, they put aside deadness and take up life.
Greek source
ἡ σφραγὶς οὖν τὸ ὕδωρ ἐστίν· εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ οὖν καταβαίνουσι νεκροὶ καὶ ἀναβαίνουσι ζῶντες. κἀκείνοις οὖν ἐκηρύχθη ἡ σφραγὶς αὕτη καὶ ἐχρήσαντο αὐτῇ, ἵνα εἰσέλθωσιν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ.
Translation
“The seal, then, is water. They go down into the water dead and come up alive. This seal was proclaimed to those people too, and they made use of it to enter God's kingdom.”
Greek source
Διατί, φημί, κύριε, καὶ οἱ μʹ λίθοι μετ’ αὐτῶν ἀνέβησαν ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ, ἤδη ἐσχηκότες τὴν σφραγῖδα; Ὅτι, φησίν, οὗτοι οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ διδάσκαλοι οἱ κηρύξαντες τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, κοιμηθέντες ἐν δυνάμει καὶ πίστει τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐκήρυξαν καὶ τοῖς προκεκοιμημένοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτοῖς τὴν σφραγῖδα τοῦ κηρύγματος.
Translation
“Why, sir,” I asked, “did the forty stones also come up from the deep with them, when they already had the seal?” “Because,” he said, “these apostles and teachers, who proclaimed the Son of God's name, fell asleep in the power and faith of the Son of God. They proclaimed it also to those who had fallen asleep before them, and themselves gave them the seal of the proclamation.
Greek source
κατέβησαν οὖν μετ’ αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ πάλιν ἀνέβησαν· ἀλλ’ οὗτοι μὲν ζῶντες κατέβησαν καὶ ζῶντες ἀνέβησαν· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ οἱ προκεκοιμημένοι νεκροὶ κατέβησαν, ζῶντες δὲ ἀνέβησαν.
Translation
“They went down into the water with them and came up again. But these went down alive and came up alive, while those who had fallen asleep before went down dead and came up alive.
Greek source
διὰ τούτων οὖν ἐζωοποιήθησαν καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ· διὰ τοῦτο καὶ συνανέβησαν μετ’ αὐτῶν, καὶ συνηρμόσθησαν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου, καὶ ἀλατόμητοι συνῳκοδομήθησαν· ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ γὰρ ἐκοιμήθησαν καὶ ἐν μεγάλῃ ἁγνείᾳ· μόνον δὲ τὴν σφραγῖδα ταύτην οὐκ εἶχον. ἔχεις οὖν καὶ τὴν τούτων ἐπίλυσιν. Ἔχω, φημί, κύριε.
Translation
“Through these, then, they were made alive and came to know the name of the Son of God. That is why they came up with them and were fitted together into the tower's construction, built in without being cut to shape. For they had fallen asleep in righteousness and great purity. They lacked only this seal. You now have their explanation too.” “I do, sir,” I said.
Reader’s notes
1. 9.1.1–3; 9.12.1–8
The holy spirit that spoke in the form of the Assembly is identified with the Son of God. The ancient rock, the new gate, and the great man are also identified with him. These identifications remain the author's statements; they have not been harmonized with a later account of distinct divine persons. The sequence in 9.1.2 is difficult: even after Hermas has gained strength to see an angel, the account says that the tower was explained through the Assembly. That sequence has not been silently reversed. “His creation” in 9.12.2 retains a pronoun whose precise reference deserves review.
2. 9.3–9
The six overseers, the crowd of builders, the virgins, the tower's lord, and the shepherd have different tasks. The four courses contain ten, twenty-five, thirty-five, and forty stones. In 9.4.3 and 9.5.4 only the five in the Greek numeral for twenty-five is supplied. The partly supplied numeral is marked as an affected English expression, not as an entirely restored number. Interior and exterior placement, strength, defects, trimming, and rejection remain distinct. The round stones set aside for later use are not treated as definitively rejected.
↑ Sim. 9.3.1↑ Sim. 9.3.2↑ Sim. 9.3.3↑ Sim. 9.3.4↑ Sim. 9.3.5↑ Sim. 9.4.1↑ Sim. 9.4.2↑ Sim. 9.4.3↑ Sim. 9.4.4↑ Sim. 9.4.5↑ Sim. 9.4.6↑ Sim. 9.4.7↑ Sim. 9.4.8↑ Sim. 9.5.1↑ Sim. 9.5.2↑ Sim. 9.5.3↑ Sim. 9.5.4↑ Sim. 9.5.5↑ Sim. 9.5.6↑ Sim. 9.5.7↑ Sim. 9.6.1↑ Sim. 9.6.2↑ Sim. 9.6.3↑ Sim. 9.6.4↑ Sim. 9.6.5↑ Sim. 9.6.6↑ Sim. 9.6.7↑ Sim. 9.6.8↑ Sim. 9.7.1↑ Sim. 9.7.2↑ Sim. 9.7.3↑ Sim. 9.7.4↑ Sim. 9.7.5↑ Sim. 9.7.6↑ Sim. 9.7.7↑ Sim. 9.8.1↑ Sim. 9.8.2↑ Sim. 9.8.3↑ Sim. 9.8.4↑ Sim. 9.8.5↑ Sim. 9.8.6↑ Sim. 9.8.7↑ Sim. 9.9.1↑ Sim. 9.9.2↑ Sim. 9.9.3↑ Sim. 9.9.4↑ Sim. 9.9.5↑ Sim. 9.9.6↑ Sim. 9.9.73. 9.9.7; 9.10.1–3; 9.33.2–3
The apparently single-stone tower and the filling of the stones' impressions are separate stages. “Fine pottery fragments” renders ὄστρακον λεπτόν alongside lime in 9.10.1. The material's precise form and use require lexical review; the text does not specify a modern plastering product. The later Latin formae is likewise rendered “impressions,” preserving the marks that are filled and then explained as sins.
4. 9.11.3–8
The virgins call Hermas their brother, contrasting this with ἀνήρ, rendered “husband” in this relational context; “man” or male partner is also within the word's range. Kissing, embracing, playing, dancing, the spread tunics, sleeping, and continuous prayer all remain in the narrative. They have neither been eroticized beyond the source nor removed for propriety. The second hour is an ancient time designation, not an exact modern clock time.
5. 9.13.2–9; 9.15.1–3
The virgins are called holy spirits and powers; bearing the Son's name alone is insufficient without their garment and power. Their twelve names and the twelve names of the women in black remain in source order. “Power” names Δύναμις, and “Concord” names Ὁμόνοια. The wording does not identify every occurrence of πνεῦμα with one doctrinal entity. Seeing the kingdom and entering it are explicitly distinguished in 9.15.3.
6. 9.15.4–9.16.7
The first generation, righteous men, prophets and ministers, and apostles and teachers are different groups. “Fell asleep” is the ancient image for death. The apostles and teachers who already possess the seal go down alive and return alive; those who died before them go down dead and return alive. The seal is explicitly identified with water. The text's account of proclamation and receiving the seal after death is not replaced by a familiar later doctrine or by a claim about a modern ritual for the dead.
7. Partial supplied spans in the final Greek section
supplied:partialmarks an affected English expression when only part of a Greek word or numeral lies inside the original supplied span. English phrases may also change order for normal syntax. These markers do not claim that all corresponding Greek letters were supplied. Where two supplied spans fall within one Greek word or expression (9.23.5 and 9.28.7), two markers remain in English. The Greek supplied portions for these partial cases are listed below; ordinary supplied spans remain separately marked in the translation. Square brackets present in the source are retained.8. Sim. 9.11.7
Partial spans: 1 · Greek portions inside supplied:
[τὸ μέσον αὐτ]9. Sim. 9.15.1
Partial spans: 2 · Greek portions inside supplied:
[ωσόν μοι,];[νων τ]10. Sim. 9.15.6
Partial spans: 1 · Greek portions inside supplied:
[ὐκ ἂν]
About this edition
English translation v02. Greek source v01: Molly Whittaker, second revised edition, 1967; Patristic Text Archive (2018), Annette von Stockhausen — conversion to CTS-compliant PTA TEI and markup of places and persons. Technical derivative: Stromata Editions, 2026-09-29. Fixed version ef861ab3.
Dotted underlining marks editorial supplied spans in the selected source and the corresponding translation, including partial spans. The sign alone does not establish the intervention’s nature or necessarily indicate a conjecture. Original square brackets are preserved.
Latin ending: the ancient Vulgata edited by Adolphus Hilgenfeld, Hermae Pastor (Leipzig, 1873), pp. 155–164; project source HER-ENDING-SOURCE-v01. Hilgenfeld took the insertion in Sim. 10.2.4 from the Palatina and added habet himself. The Greek digital source’s license does not automatically cover the Latin edition or the translations.
The translation is a reviewed working version following an AI editorial pass; human philological review is not claimed.
The reproduced Greek source and its technical derivative: CC BY-SA 4.0. Whitespace adapted for reading; words and diacritics preserved. Attribution does not imply endorsement of Stromata by PTA contributors.
Vulgata · Hilgenfeld 1873 · StromataPTA · ef861ab3CC BY-SA 4.0
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