The Shepherd of Hermas
Pope Shenouda III explained that The Shepherd of Hermas is one of the most famous writings of the Apostolic Fathers — some early copies of the Bible even included it. It is full of visions, commandments, and parables focusing on repentance and righteous living.
🔹 The Story of the Translation:
The Pope recounted that in the late 1940s he personally translated this book after noticing it had not yet been translated in Al-Karma magazine. He gave his translation to Archdeacon Habib Girgis, but it was later lost. Other translations appeared later, differing in linguistic style from his Egyptian Arabic version.
🔹 Contents of the Book:
The Shepherd consists of three main sections:
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Five visions in which Hermas saw an angel in the form of a shepherd.
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Twelve moral and spiritual commandments.
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A collection of instructive and symbolic parables.
🔹 Symbolic Parables:
Hermas gave beautiful natural parables such as the vine and the wooden support (the elm). The vine symbolizes fruitfulness and the wooden support symbolizes strength. He likened the rich to the support and the poor to the vine — the rich give from their wealth, and the poor respond with prayer; both complete one another in God’s service.
🔹 Another Parable – The Trees in Winter:
Hermas saw two trees stripped of leaves and fruit in winter; they looked alike until the time of fruit-bearing came. This represents humanity — the righteous and sinners may appear the same now, but at the time of judgment God will reveal the fruit of each life.
🔹 Spiritual Value of the Book:
The work is a deep call to repentance, purity, and fellowship among believers, showing how God uses simple people to convey profound spiritual truths in a language of humility and faith.
🔹 Overall Message:
“The Shepherd of Hermas” calls for living repentance, cooperation in serving God, and steadfast faith, where the rich and the poor, the fruitful and the supportive, unite together to build the one Body of Christ.
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