The Shepherd of Hermas — Parables
Interlinear version (Beta)
- Parable 1
- Parable 2
- Parable 3
- Parable 4
- Parable 5
- Parable 6
- Parable 7
- Parable 8
- Parable 9
- Parable 10
About
The Parables (or Similitudes) section of The Shepherd of Hermas comprises the largest portion of the work, containing ten extended allegorical teachings delivered by an angelic messenger appearing as a shepherd — hence the work's title.
Written in a more sophisticated literary style than the Visions, these parables use vivid imagery such as towers under construction, trees in summer and winter, and stones being fitted for building, to convey complex spiritual teachings about the church and Christian life.
Each parable explores themes of repentance, faith, and moral conduct, often through agricultural or architectural metaphors that would have resonated with urban Romans. The most famous is perhaps the parable of the tower under construction, representing the church being built with living stones (faithful Christians).
While the Visions section emphasizes immediate repentance due to approaching persecution, the Parables section develops a more comprehensive theological framework for understanding Christian discipleship and church community. The sophisticated allegories suggest the author was familiar with both Jewish apocalyptic literature and Greco-Roman pastoral traditions.