Shepherd of Hermas — Vision 3, Chapter 6
Cut from the Building and Thrown Far
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Vision 3.6.1“Do you wish to know those cut up and thrown far from the tower? These are the children of lawlessness. They believed hypocritically, and no kind of wickedness departed from them. For this reason they have no salvation, because their wicked deeds make them useless for building. For this reason they were broken up and thrown far away through the Lord’s anger, because they provoked Him.
Vision 3.6.2“As for the many others you saw lying there without going into the building, the scabrous ones are those who have known the truth but do not remain in it.”
Vision 3.6.3“And who are those with cracks?” “These are people who harbor feelings against one another in their hearts and are not at peace among themselves. They have an appearance of peace, but when they separate from one another, their wicked feelings remain in their hearts. These, then, are the cracks which the stones have.
Vision 3.6.4“The broken-short stones are those who have believed and have the greater part of themselves in righteousness, but have some parts in lawlessness. For this reason they are incomplete and not whole.”
Vision 3.6.5“And who, lady, are the white, round stones that do not fit into the building?” She answered me, “How long will you be foolish and without understanding, asking about everything and comprehending nothing? These are people who have faith but also possess the wealth of this age. When affliction comes, they deny their Lord because of their wealth and business dealings.”
Vision 3.6.6I answered her, “Then when, lady, will they be useful for the building?” “When,” she said, “their wealth, which captivates them, is cut away, then they will be useful to God. For just as a round stone cannot become square unless it is cut down and loses something of itself, so those who are rich in this age cannot become useful to the Lord unless their wealth is cut away.
Vision 3.6.7“Learn first from yourself. When you were rich, you were useless; but now you are useful and beneficial for life. Become useful to God, for you yourself also use some of these same stones.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.