Hermas’ Mediating Angel

I begged him fervently (Έδεήθην [edeethen] αυτού πολλά) to explain to me the parable of the field, the master, the vineyard, the slave who built a fence around the vineyard, the fence posts, the weeds that were removed from the vineyard, the son, and the friends who were advisors. For I understood that all these things were a parable. 2. He answered me, “You are extremely brazen in your requests. You should ask nothing at all, for if anything needs to be explained to you, it will be.” I said to him, “Lord (Κύριε [Kyrie]), there is no point in showing me something that you do not explain, when I do not know what it is. If you tell me parables without explaining them to me, there is no point in my hearing them from you.” 3. Again he said to me, “Whoever is a slave of God and has the Lord in his heart asks him for understanding and receives it. And he interprets every parable; and the words of the Lord spoken in parables are made known to him. But all those who are weak and lazy in prayer hesitate to ask anything from the Lord. 4. The Lord has great compassion and gives without hesitation to everyone who asks of him. But you have been empowered by the glorious angel and have received from him this petition; since you are not lazy, why do you not ask for understanding from the Lord and receive it directly from him?” 5. I said to him, “Lord (Κύριε [Kyrie]), since I have you with me I need to ask and inquire of you. For you are the one showing everything to me and speaking with me. If I had seen or heard these things without you, I would ask the Lord to clarify them for me.” (Apostolic Fathers: the Shepherd of Hermas, edited and translated by Bart D. Ehrman [Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts/London, England 2003], pp. 329, 331; emphasis mine)

I prayed him much that he would explain to me the similitude of the field, and of the master of the vineyard, and of the slave who staked the vineyard, and of the sakes, and of the weeds that were plucked out of the vineyard, and of the son, and of the friends who were fellow-councillors, for I knew that all these things were a kind of parable. And he answered me, and said, You are exceedingly persistent with your questions. You ought not, he continued, to ask any questions at all; for if it is needful to explain anything, it will be made known to you. I said to him, Sir, whatsoever you show me, and do not explain, I shall have seen to no purpose, not understanding its meaning. In like manner, also, if you speak parables to me, and do not unfold them, I shall have heard your words in vain. And he answered me again, saying, Every one who is the servant of God, and has his Lord in his heart, asks of Him understanding, and receives it, and opens up every parable; and the words of the Lord become known to him which are spoken in parables. But those who are weak and slothful in prayer, hesitate to ask anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask Him. But you, having been strengthened by the holy Angel, and having obtained from Him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from Him? I said to him, Sir, having you with me, I am necessitated to ask questions of you, for you show me all things, and converse with me; but if I were to see or hear these things without you, I would then ask the Lord to explain them. (The Pastor (or “The Shepherd”), Third Book: Similitudes, FIFTH SIMILITUDE — OF TRUE FASTING AND ITS REWARD: ALSO OF PURITY OF BODY)

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed (ἐδεήθην [edeethen]) for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

“Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray (δεήθητι [deetheti]) to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.’ Then Simon answered, ‘Pray (Δεήθητε [Deethete]) to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.’” Acts 8:20-24

“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed (δεόμενος [deomenos]) to God regularly.” Acts 10:1-2

“God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray (δεόμενος [deomenos]) that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. Romans 1:9-10

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged (ἐδεήθη [edeethe]) him, ‘Lord (Κύριε [Kyrie]), if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”” Luke 5:12-14

“In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.’… Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:7, 14

So is he always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him. (The Stromata, or Miscellanies, Book VII, Chapt. 12)