The Shepherd of Hermas 1 Visions 2/6

REFERENCES TO THE BOOK OF HERMAS, THE SHEPHERD. [This book, divided into three parts, called his VISIONS, COMMANDS, and SIMILITUDES, is thus entitled, because it was composed by Hermas, brother to Pius, bishop of Rome; and because the Angel, who bears the principal part in it, is represented in the form and habit of a shepherd. Irenaeus quotes it under the very name of Scripture. Origen thought it a most useful writing, and that it was divinely inspired; Eusebius says that, though it was not esteemed canonical, it was read publicly in the churches, which is corroborated by Jerome; and Athanasius cites it, calls it a most useful work, and observes, that though it was not strictly canonical, the Fathers appointed it to be read for direction and confirmation in faith and piety. Jerome, notwithstanding this, and that he applauded it in his catalogue of writers, in his comments upon it afterwards, terms it apocryphal and foolish. Turtullian praised it when a Catholic, and abused it when a Montanist. Although Gelasius ranks it among the apocryphal books, it is found attached to some of the most ancient MSS. of the New Testament; and Archbishop Wake, believing it the genuine work of an apostolical Father, preserves it to the English reader by the foregoing translation, in which he has rendered the three parts of it not only more exact, but in greater purity than they had before appeared. The archbishop procured Dr. Grabe to entirely collate the old Latin version with an ancient MS. in the Lambeth library; and the learned prelate himself still further improved the whole from a multitude of fragments of the original Greek never before used for that purpose.] THE SUPPRESSED GOSPELS AND EPISTLES OF THE ORIGINAL NEW TESTAMENT OF JESUS THE CHRIST AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES. NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES, AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES, BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS FORBIDDEN BY THE BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL, IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY, BY ARCHBISHOP WAKE AND OTHER LEARNED DIVINES




PLEASE NOTE: These are recordings which I did for MYSELF way back in the mid-90s. These are first-time run-throughs which I did on the equipment that I had in those days. I never thought the day would come when I could share them with so many people. It is my goal to put as much out there as I can and only after that will I go back and try to make improvements. It is my belief that the time for us to get to know these documents is short, judging from the fact that the opportunities for them to be shared worldwide and in so many tongues simultaneously is only now upon us. To me, the timing is critical, and I hope to do my best to disseminate what I have conveniently at hand to those who wish to learn from them with this in mind.

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[sparkshot]

What's it mean by 'you can't repent'?

[Apocryphile1970]

@sparkshot Well, that answer is dealt with at the end of the command 1 section which I am in the process of creating right now. Basically, you have to see two basic things here: there is "repentance," which is when you become a new creation in Christ. Some people call it being "born again." It is at that point that the rules of the game change a little. At that point, the devil knows that you are God's, and that you have a heart to listen to him.

[Apocryphile1970]

@sparkshot He therefore seeks to undermine your faith, as well as to get you involved in all kinds of lusts and sins and whatnot. One repentance, and indefinite number of forgivenesses still lie open to you, though. Also, bear in mind that this book is parabolic in nature. It is written not only for our INDIVIDUAL edification, but for the edification of the CHURCH. You must therefore read it on BOTH levels.

[Apocryphile1970]

@sparkshot Jude speaks in verse 3 of our COMMON salvation, as opposed to our INDIVIDUAL salvation. In that book, Jude makes it clear that his letter bears on our COMMON salvation, and then proceeds to call attention to the people who were infiltrating the Church and undermining that faith which was "ONCE FOR ALL ENTRUSTED TO THE SAINTS." In the process, he quotes from Pseudepigraphal sources such as the Assumption of Moses and the Book of enoch and quite possibly the Testaments of the Twelve.

[Apocryphile1970]

@sparkshot Presumably, people questioned the propriety of using these books and brought the letter to "Symeon" Peter. Peter, understanding that this mystery was to be lost and then found, instead of answering the question, "Should we be reading these books or not?" directly, instead takes Jude to himself and writes a book around it and leaves it for the Elect to understand through RECOLLECTION. (He uses the words "recall" and "remember," quite often in his letter to indicate this falling away.)

[Apocryphile1970]

@sparkshot However, there remains to us a "COMMON SALVATION" as stated in Jude 3. That is the ONE REPENTANCE, as it relates to the Shepherd of Hermas. in Command 12:13 we read, "And fulfil diligently this ministry which I commit to thee, (Hermas) and thou shalt receive great

advantage by it, and find favour with all such as shall REPENT and believe thy words. For I am with thee, and will FORCE THEM TO BELIEVE."

See how this refers to the Church and their future conversion?

[MrNomSauce]

bible basher :P

[sparkshot]

thanks for taking the time to write that, it brings some good points out, still unsure of how it means you can't repent though. Alot think the comman salvation, and faith once delievered etc is talking about the Torah, law etc. It's my current subject of study and prayer as modern 'christianity' as it has become seems rather 'LAWLESS' to me, it's worrying. I have 1 & 2 Enoch too.