The Shepherd of Hermas
(C. 140-155 AD)
Historical Note
It is stated in the anonymous Muratorian Fragment (C. 155-200 AD) that
the author of The Shepherd was Hermas, the brother of St. Pius I who sat
on the See of Peter from C. 140-155 AD. According to his autobiography,
Hermas claimed to be a contemporary of St. Clement of Rome.
Hermas was originally a slave who later became a freedman after being
sold to a Christian. He then applied himself to business and farming
amassing great wealth. Consequently, he neglected his spiritual life and,
more particularly, failed to morally guide his wife and children. When
persecution came, however, he and his wife confessed the faith only to be
betrayed by their apostate children. Hermas’ betrayal resulted in the loss of
his fortune but led to his conversion to fervor. It was while endeavoring to
do penance for the past that he composed The Shepherd.
The Shepherd was apparently written in Rome. What is still possessed of it
are two Greek manuscripts, both incomplete, two ancient Latin texts, an
Ethiopic version and fragments of a Coptic version. St. Irenaeus, Tertullian,
St. Clement of Alexandria and Origen considered it an inspired work of a
true prophet, though not a canonical work. It was often appended to New
Testament manuscripts, however, dwindled in popularity from the fourth
century onwards. The decree of Pope Gelasius (496) listed it among the
apocryphal books.
The purpose of The Shepherd was to call clergy and laity responsible for
grave disorders in the Roman Church to penance. The necessity of penance,
its efficacy and its conditions form the groundwork of the work.
Hermas presents his ideas as a seer passing on visions and revelations that
have been given to him. This was done so that his readers would more
readily accept his ideas. There are two distinct personages who appear to
Hermas. The first is the Church in the form of an aged woman who grows
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