Shepherd of Hermas

About this text

A lengthy visionary text featuring an angel in the form of a shepherd. Covers repentance, moral living, and the nature of the church through parables and visions.

Significance

Extremely popular in the early church. Listed alongside Scripture in some early canons.

Key excerpts

"The angel of repentance says: Repent, for the Lord has sent me to walk with everyone who repents with their whole heart, and to purify them from sin."

"The church is built upon waters because your life was saved through water."

Scripture cross-references

• 1 Peter 3:20-21 — Salvation through water — same baptismal theology
• Revelation 21:14 — The church built on foundations — similar imagery

Continue exploring

This text is one of 19 in the Early Christian Writings (Non-Canonical) category, and one of 62 across the entire library.