Apostolic & Early Church (to 325)

Hermas

early 2nd century · Rome · Visionary author of The Shepherd

Overview

Hermas was a freedman of Rome whose book of visions, commandments, and parables — The Shepherd — became one of the most widely read Christian writings of the second and third centuries. Some early Christians, including for a time Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria, treated it almost as Scripture, and it appears in the Codex Sinaiticus after the New Testament. The Muratorian fragment says he was the brother of Pius, bishop of Rome. The book is a sustained call to repentance, purity, and simplicity of heart.

Did You Know?

The Shepherd was bound into Codex Sinaiticus, the great fourth-century Bible manuscript.

Major Works
The ShepherdVisions, commandments, and parables on repentance
In the Bible Reader

Hermas has 1 commentary entry in HolyStudy’s verse-by-verse Church Fathers commentary. Open any Gospel chapter, tap a verse, and choose the Church Fathers tab.

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