Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 9 · Chapter 30
Similitude 9.30.1
Greek (Lake printed edition)
Similitude 9.30.1 He said, “Listen about all these things too. The stones taken from the plain and placed in the building of the tower in place of the rejected ones are the roots of the white mountain.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 9.30.1 — Textual: The plain's replacement stones are identified as roots of the white mountain, linking their origin to the innocent group. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 9.30.2
Greek (Lake printed edition)
Similitude 9.30.2 Since all those who believed from the white mountain were found innocent, the master of the tower ordered these stones from the roots of this mountain to be put into the building of the tower. For he knew that if these stones went into the building of the tower, they would remain gleaming and none of them would turn black.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 9.30.2 — Textual: The owner foreknows these innocent stones will remain bright. The continuous Greek witness ends after this section; subsequent source changes are explicitly marked. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 9.30.3
Latin L1 and surviving Greek, as printed by Lake
Similitude 9.30.3 But if he had added stones from the other mountains, he would have had to visit that tower again and cleanse it. These, however, were all found white, those who have believed and those who are going to believe, for they are of the same race. Blessed is this race, because it is innocent.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 9.30.3 — Textual: Latin L1 supplies the opening, while Amherst Greek supplies the concluding identification of present and future believers as one innocent race; Lake prints both on page 290. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 9.30.4
Latin L1 and surviving Greek, as printed by Lake
Similitude 9.30.4 Listen now also about the round and gleaming stones. They too are all from the white mountain. But hear why they were found round. Their riches obscured them a little from the truth and darkened them, yet they never withdrew from God, nor did any evil word come from their mouth, but all righteousness and the virtue of truth.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 9.30.4 — Textual: Amherst Greek introduces the round stones, then Latin L1 explains wealth's limited obscuring effect without departure from God or evil speech. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 9.30.5
Latin L1, directly read in Lake’s print scan
Similitude 9.30.5 When the Lord saw their disposition, that they could favor the truth and also remain good, He ordered their wealth to be cut down, but not taken away altogether, so that they could do some good from what was left to them. They will live to God, because they are of a good race. For this reason, therefore, they were cut down a little and placed in the building of this tower.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 9.30.5 — Textual: Latin L1 requires reduction of wealth without its total removal, retaining enough for good works; the stones' limited cutting represents this distinction. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.