Shepherd of Hermas — Vision 3 · Chapter 4
Vision 3.4.1
Greek
Vision 3.4.1 I answered her, “Lady, this matter is great and wonderful. But who are the six young men who are building, lady?” “These are God's holy angels, the first to be created, to whom the Lord entrusted all His creation to increase it, build it up, and rule over the whole creation. Through them, therefore, the building of the tower will be completed.”
Textual & reception notes
Vision 3.4.1 — Textual: The six builders are identified as first-created holy angels entrusted with creation's growth and governance; they are not named individually. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Vision 3.4.2
Greek
Vision 3.4.2 “And who are the others carrying the stones?” “They too are God's holy angels, but these six are superior to them. The building of the tower will be completed, and all will rejoice together around the tower and glorify God because its building has been completed.”
Textual & reception notes
Vision 3.4.2 — Textual: The carriers too are angels, subordinate to the six. Completion of the tower brings their shared rejoicing and glorification of God. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Vision 3.4.3
Greek
Vision 3.4.3 I asked her, “Lady, I wish to know the origin of the stones and what their meaning is.” She answered me, “It is not because you are worthier than everyone else that this should be revealed to you. Others precede you and are better than you, to whom these visions ought to have been revealed. But to glorify God's name, it has been revealed to you and will be revealed, for the sake of the double-minded who wonder in their hearts whether these things really are so or not. Tell them that all these things are true, and nothing lies outside the truth, but everything is strong, certain, and firmly established.
Textual & reception notes
Vision 3.4.3 — Textual: Hermas's selection is expressly denied to rest on superior worthiness. Disclosure serves God's name and those troubled by doubt. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.