Shepherd of Hermas — Mandate 12, Chapter 2
A Life Does Not Consist in Its Luxuries
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Mandate 12.2.1“Foremost of all is desire for another person’s wife or husband, for the extravagance of wealth, for many needless foods and intoxicating drinks, and for many other foolish luxuries. For every luxury is foolish and empty for God’s servants.
Mandate 12.2.2“These desires, then, are evil, putting God’s servants to death. For this evil desire is a daughter of the devil. One must therefore keep away from evil desires, so that by keeping away you may live to God.
Mandate 12.2.3“But all who are mastered by them and do not resist them will die utterly, for these desires bring death.
Mandate 12.2.4“But put on the desire for righteousness, and, having armed yourself with the fear of the Lord, resist them. For the fear of God dwells in good desire. If evil desire sees you armed with the fear of God and resisting it, it will flee far from you and no longer appear to you, fearing your weapons.
Mandate 12.2.5“So when you have conquered and been crowned against it, come to the desire for righteousness, hand over to it the victory you received, and serve it as it wishes. If you serve good desire and submit to it, you will be able to master evil desire and subject it as you wish.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.