Read Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament Online
Authors: [edited by] Bart D. Ehrman
Tags: #Biblical Reference, #Bible Study Guides, #Bibles, #Other Translations, #Apocryphal books (New Testament), #New Testament, #Christianity, #Religion, #Biblical Commentary, #Biblical Studies, #General, #History
further repentance for their sins, but have
repentance,” he said, “and I give underreceived forgiveness for the sins they prestanding to all those who repent. Or do viously committed.
you not realize,” he said, “that repentance
4
And so the Lord has given those who
is itself a form of understanding? Repenwere called before these days an opportance,” he said, “is indeed a great undertunity to repent. For the Lord knows the standing. For the one who sins underheart, and knowing all things in advance stands that he has done something evil
he recognized the weakness of humans
before the Lord, and what he has done
and the intricate plots of the devil—that
rises up in his heart; then he repents and
he will do some harm to the slaves of
no longer does what is evil, but lavishly
God and will reek havoc among them.
does what is good; and he humbles and
5
And so, since the Lord is full of
torments himself, because he has sinned.
compassion, he had mercy on his creation
So you see that repentance is a great
and provided this opportunity to repent;
understanding.”
and the authority for this repentance was
3
I replied, “This is why, Lord, I am
given to me.
carefully inquiring about everything
6
But this also I say to you,” he said:
from you—chiefly because I am a sinner,
“whoever is tempted by the devil and sins
and I need to know what sorts of things
after that great and reverend calling has
I must do to live; for my sins are many
one repentance. But if he should sin and
and various.”
repent repeatedly it is of no benefit to
4
“You will live,” he said, “if you guard
him. For he will find it difficult to live.”
my commandments and proceed in them.
7
I said to him, “I have been made alive
And whoever guards these commandby hearing these things from you so ac
268
NON-CANONICAL APOCALYPSES AND REVELATORY TREATISES
curately. For I know that if I no longer
sitive, feels cramped; and not having a
increase my sins, I will be saved.” “You
pure place it seeks to leave. For it is
will be saved,” he replied, “as will everysuffocated by the evil spirit, not having a one else who does these things.”
place to serve the Lord as it wishes, being
polluted by the irascibility. For the Lord
(IV,
4)
dwells in patience, but the devil in
32 I asked him again, “Lord, since irascibility.
you have borne with me once,
4
And so, when both spirits dwell in
reveal this to me as well.” “Speak,” he
the same place, it is unprofitable and evil
said. “Lord,” I said, “if a wife or, again,
for that person in whom they dwell.
a husband, should die and the survivor
5
For if you take a very small portion
marry, does the one who marries commit
of wormwood and pour it into a jar of
a sin?”
honey, is not all the honey spoiled? A
2
“That one does not sin,” he said, “but
great deal of honey is ruined by the least
anyone who remains alone has provided
bit of wormwood. It destroys the sweeta superior honor for himself and a great ness of the honey, which is no longer
glory to the Lord. But if such a one does
pleasing to the master, because it has
marry, it is not a sin.
become bitter and lost its value. But if
3
And so, maintain your purity and
the wormwood is not put into the honey,
reverence, and you will live to God. From
the honey is found to be sweet and is
now on, from this day in which you have
valuable to the master.
been entrusted to me, guard all these
6
You see that patience is sweeter than
things that I say and am about to say to
honey and is valuable to the Lord, and
you, and I will reside in your house.
he dwells in it. But irascibility is bitter
4
For your former transgressions will
and useless. And so, if irascibility is
be forgiven if you guard my commandmixed with patience, the patience is dements. And everyone will be forgiven, if filed and its prayer is of no use to God.”
they guard these my commandments and
7
“I wish to know, Lord,” I said, “the
proceed in this purity.”
inner workings of irascibility, that I may
guard against it.” “Yes indeed,” he replied, “if you and your household do not
Fifth
Commandment
guard against it, you destroy your entire
hope. But guard against it, for I am with
(V,
1)
you. And all those who repent from their
33 “Be patient,” he said, “and un whole heart will abstain from it; for I will derstanding, and you will rule
be with them and protect them. For all
over every evil work and do all that is
have been made upright by the most revrighteous.
erend angel.”
2
For if you are patient, the holy spirit
that dwells in you will be pure and will
(V,
2)
not be overshadowed by another, evil
34
spirit; but dwelling in a broad place it
“Hear, now,” he said, “the inner
workings of irascibility, how it
will rejoice and be glad with the vessel it
is evil and brings ruin on the slaves of
inhabits, and it will serve God with great
God by the way it works, and misleads
cheerfulness, flourishing in itself.
them away from righteousness. It does
3
But if any irascibility should enter in,
not mislead those who are full of faith,
immediately the holy spirit, which is sennor is it able to work against them, be
THE SHEPHERD OF HERMAS
269
cause the power of God is with them. But
with patience and stand against irascibilit misleads those who are empty and of ity and bitterness, and you will be found
two minds.
with the reverence that is loved by the
2
For when it sees such people at rest
Lord. Take care that you never neglect
it inserts itself into their hearts, and with
this commandment. For if you master it,
no warning the woman or man becomes
you will be able to guard the other comembittered on account of some business mandments, which I am about to give
deals, or because of food or something
you. And so, be strong and empowered
trivial, or because of a friend or somein them, and may everyone who wishes to thing received or given, or because of
proceed in them be so empowered.” . . .
other such foolish matters. For all these
things are foolish, empty, senseless, and
unprofitable for the slaves of God.
The
Parables
That
He
3
But patience is great and mighty; it
Spoke
With
Me
has a forceful power that flourishes in a
spacious arena; it is cheerful, glad, and
(I)
free of anxiety, glorifying the Lord at all
50
times, having no bitterness in itself but
He said to me, “You know that
you slaves of God are living in
remaining always meek and mild. This
a foreign land. For your own city is a
patience, therefore, dwells with all those
long way from this one. If, then,” he said,
who hold on to faith intact.
“you know your own city, where you are
4
But irascibility is first of all foolish,
about to live, why are you preparing
fickle, and senseless. And then, from
fields, expensive furnishings, buildings,
senselessness comes bitterness, from bitand pointless rooms for yourselves here?
terness anger, from anger wrath, and
2
Anyone who prepares these things in
from wrath rage. Then this rage, which
this city, therefore, cannot return to his
is compounded of such evil things, beown city.
comes a great and incurable sin.
3
You foolish, double-minded, and
5
For when these spirits dwell in one
miserable person! Do you not understand
and the same vessel with the holy spirit,
that all these things belong to another and
the vessel no longer has sufficient space
are under someone else’s control? For the
but is stuffed to the brim.
ruler of this city will say, ‘I do not want
6
And so the sensitive spirit, which is
you living in my city; leave it, because
not accustomed to dwelling with an evil
you are not living by my laws.’
spirit nor with harshness, leaves the per
4
And so, you who have fields and
son and seeks to live with meekness and
houses and many other possessions—
mildness.
when he casts you out, what will you do
7
Then when it leaves the one it had
with your field and house and whatever
inhabited, the person becomes devoid of
else you have prepared for yourself? For
the upright spirit and at last, being filled
the ruler of this country rightly says to
with evil spirits, vacillates in everything
you, ‘Either live by my laws or leave my
he does, being dragged back and forth by
country.’
the evil spirits, entirely blinded from any
5
And so what will you do, you who
good understanding. This then is what
have a law from your own city? Will you
happens to everyone who is irascible.
completely renounce your own law for
8
And so, avoid irascibility, which is
the sake of your fields and whatever else
the most wicked spirit. Clothe yourself
you own, and follow the law of the city
270
NON-CANONICAL APOCALYPSES AND REVELATORY TREATISES
you are in now? Take care, because re
Another
Parable
nouncing your law may be contrary to
your own interests. For if you want to
(II)
return to your own city, you will not be
51
welcomed, because you have renounced
While I was walking in the field
and considering an elm tree and
its law; and you will be shut out of it.
a vine, reflecting on them and their fruits,
6
And so take care. Since you are
the shepherd appeared to me and said,
dwelling in a foreign land, fix nothing up
“Why are you asking yourself about the
for yourself except what is absolutely
elm tree and the vine?” “I am thinking,
necessary; and be ready, so that when the
Lord,” I replied, “that they are extremely
master of this city wants to banish you
well suited for one another.”
for not adhering to his law, you can leave
2
“These two trees,” he replied, “symhis city and go to your own, and live bolize the slaves of God.” “I would like
according to your own law gladly, sufto know,” I said, “what these two trees fering no mistreatment.
you are speaking about symbolize.” “You
7
Take care, then, you who are ensee,” he said, “the elm and the vine?” “I slaved to the Lord and have him in your
see them, Lord,” I replied.
heart. Do the works of God, remember
3
“This vine,” he said, “bears fruit; but
ing his commandments and the promises
the elm is a tree that does not. Yet if this
he made; and trust in him, because he
vine did not grow up onto the elm, it
will do these things, if his commandcould not bear much fruit, since it would ments are guarded.
be lying on the ground, and the fruit it
8
Instead of fields, then, purchase souls
bore would be rotten, since it would not
that have been afflicted, insofar as you
be clinging to the elm. And so, when the
can, and take care of widows and orphans
vine attaches to the elm, it bears fruit
and do not neglect them; spend your
both of itself and because of the elm.
wealth and all your furnishings for such
4
And so you see that the elm also
fields and houses as you have received
gives much fruit—no less than the vine,
from God.
but rather more.” “How does it bear more,
9
For this is why the Master made you
Lord” I asked. “Because,” he said, “it is
rich, that you may carry out these minby clinging to the elm that the vine gives istries for him. It is much better to puran abundance of good fruit; but when it chase the fields, goods, and houses you