Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 8 · Chapter 6

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 8.6.1 After the shepherd had examined everyone's rods, he said to me, “I told you this tree clings to life. Do you see how many repented and were saved?” “I see, sir,” I said. “This is so that you may see,” he said, “how great and glorious the Lord's abundant compassion is. He has given a spirit to those worthy of repentance.”

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 8.6.2 “Why, then, sir,” I asked, “did they not all repent?” “Those whose hearts He saw would become pure and serve Him wholeheartedly,” he said, “He granted repentance. But those whose deceit and wickedness He saw, who intended to repent hypocritically, He did not grant repentance, lest they profane His name again.”

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 8.6.3 I said to him, “Sir, now explain to me what each of those who handed over rods is like, and where they dwell. Then those who believed, received the seal, and broke it instead of keeping it sound may hear, recognize their own deeds, and repent, receiving a seal from you. They may glorify the Lord because He had compassion on them and sent you to renew their spirits.”

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 8.6.4 “Listen,” he said. “Those whose rods were found dry and eaten by a moth are apostates and betrayers of the Church, who blasphemed the Lord in their sins and were also ashamed of the Lord's name called upon them. These are utterly lost to God. You see that not one of them repented, even though they heard the sayings you spoke to them, which I commanded you. Life has departed from such people.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 8.6.5 “Those who handed over dry but unrotted rods are close to them. They were hypocrites who introduced strange teachings and perverted God's servants, especially those who had sinned, preventing them from repenting and persuading them with foolish teachings instead. These, however, have hope of repenting.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 8.6.6 “You see that many of them have repented since I spoke my commandments to them, and more will yet repent. Those who will not repent have lost their life. But those among them who repented became good, and their dwelling came to be within the first walls; some even went up into the tower. You see, then,” he said, “that repentance from sins holds life, but failure to repent holds death.