I have always been intrigued by an obscure little book called “the Shepherd of Hermas.”
It was based on a translation of a third century Greek papyrus manuscript found in 1922.
Oddly it was found that the Greek used by Hermas was a simple vernacular easily understood by the common people” and it is dear that the book was written for everyone and not just for an intellectual elite.
The style of the author Hermas was very open and honest and he possessed an originality of expression which made the book extremely unique in my opinion.
Reading the book has had a profound impact on my life. Although admittedly I still fall short of living up to its lofty precepts and commands myself.
Hermas begins by telling of four visions he experienced, the last of which he calls a revelation since on this occasion an angel visited him dressed as “a shepherd.”
The angel informed Hermas that he had been sent by the ‘most reverend angel’ to live with Hermas the remainder of his days.
The angel then ordered Hermas to write down all “the commands and the parables” for future generations to come.
It is written as a “call to repentance” with strict adherence to a moralistic life that l find very appealing, especially in today’s day and age when morals and ethics are very subjective.
Since these commands and Parables sometimes called “similitude’s” were dictated to him by the angel (who only related what he was told to say by the ‘most Reverend Angel’, the Shepherd was accepted as a revealed book by the earlier Christians, but today is largely rejected and scorned by the Church -despite the fact that St. Irenæus and Tertullian (in his Catholic days) cite the “Shepherd” as Holy Scripture.
The 12 commands he was told to write down were these:
1. First of all believe that God is One and that He created all things and organised them, and out of what did not exist made all things to be, and He contains all things but Alone is Himself uncontained.
Trust Him therefore and fear Him, and, fearing Him, be self-controlled. Keep this commandment and you will cast away from yourself all wickedness, put on every virtue of uprightness, and you will live to God if you keep this commandment.
2. Be sincere and simple minded. Speak evil of nobody and do not enjoy hearing anyone do so. Do right and give generously.
3. Love truth.
4. Observe purity. Be pure not only in action but in thinking.
5. Be patient and understanding. The Lord dwells in patience, but the devil in ill temper.
6. Trust what is right, and do not trust what is wrong.
Uprightness has a straight and level way, but wrong doing a crooked one. There are two of angels with men, one of uprightness and one of wickedness.
7. Fear the Lord and keep God’s commands.
8. Be self-controlled about what is wrong and do no wrong. But do not be self-controlled about what is right, but do what is right.
Restrain yourself from evil and follow the right path.
9. Cast off doubt from yourself. Ask the Lord with out doubting, and you will receive everything. God is not like men who hold grudges, but He is forgiving and feels pity for what He has made. So cleanse your heart of all the vanities of this world.
10. Put sadness away from you, for it is the sister of doubt and bad temper.
11. A man who consults a false prophet is an idolater and void of the truth.
Hermas asked the angel how to distinguish a true prophet from a false one. The angel replied that in the first place the man who has the spirit that is from above is gentle, quiet, and humble. He abstains from all wickedness and the futile desires of the world …
(He) does not speak by himself … but speaks when God wishes him to speak … but all power belongs to the Lord.
Whereas a false prophet exalts himself and wants to have a front seat. He is bold, shameless, and talkative, lives in great luxury and accepts pay for his prophesying. Can a divine spirit accept pay for prophesying?
The false prophet avoids upright men and attaches himself to those who are doubtful and vain; and he says every thing to them falsely in line with their desires.
An empty vessel put among empty ones does not break, but they harmonize with one another. Take a stone and throw it up to heaven; see if you can reach it.
Earthly things are impotent and weak. On the other hand, take the power that comes from above.
Hail is a very small grain, yet when it falls on a man’s head what pain it causes!
Or again, take a drop of water which falls on the ground from the roof and makes a hole in the stone – the Divine Power that comes from above is Mighty.
12. Cast off from yourself every evil desire and doeth yourself in good and holy desires. God created the world for man’s sake and made his whole creation subject to man, and gave him complete authority to have dominion over all things under heaven.
A man who has the Lord in his heart is able to master all things.
Behave as a slave of God.
The devil cannot get control of the slaves of God.
The devil can wrestle with them, but he cannot throw them.