The Parables of Hermas

Pope Shenouda III spoke about Hermas, one of the Apostolic Fathers, whose name appears in Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (chapter 16, verse 14). Some Fathers, such as Origen and Irenaeus, identified him as the same Hermas mentioned in Scripture.

🔹 His Life and Simplicity:
Hermas was once a slave who was freed by a devout woman. He was not highly educated, and his writing style was simple. Nevertheless, he became a spiritual instrument through his famous work “The Shepherd of Hermas”, one of the earliest and most important Christian writings after the New Testament.

🔹 Content of The Shepherd:
The book consists of three main parts: visions, commandments, and parables. Hermas was guided in these visions by an angel or by the shepherd himself, hence the book’s name.

🔹 One Parable – The Vine and the Elm:
Hermas tells a parable of a fruitful vine climbing upon an elm tree. The vine bears fruit but needs the elm to rise and protect its grapes from spoiling. He compares this to the rich and the poor:
the rich are like the elm that supports, and the poor are like the vine that bears fruit. The rich offer their wealth, while the poor offer their prayers, and together they glorify God.

🔹 Another Parable – The Two Trees:
Hermas saw two trees that seemed dead in winter; one would sprout again, and the other remained dead. This symbolizes humanity: sinners and righteous may look the same now, but at judgment, the fruit of righteousness will reveal the living from the spiritually dead.

🔹 The Spiritual Message of The Shepherd:
The book teaches repentance, purity, and fellowship among believers, showing how cooperation between rich and poor strengthens the Church. It encourages perseverance in repentance and trust in God’s salvation.

🔹 Spiritual Essence:
Through simplicity, Hermas shows that the Holy Spirit works in humble hearts and that true faith is measured not by knowledge but by spiritual fruit and practical love.

“For better translation support, please contact the center