Hermas’ Trinitarianism

“First of all, believe that God is one (hoti heis ho theos), who created and completed all things, and made everything that exists out of that which did not, who contains all things but is himself, alone, uncontained. 2. And so believe in him and fear him, and in your fear be self-restrained. Guard these matters and you will cast all wickedness from yourselves and clothe yourselves with every righteous virtue, and you will live to God—if you guard this commandment.” (Apostolic Fathers: the Shepherd of Hermas, edited and translated by Bart D. Ehrman [Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts/London, England 2003], pp. 237, 239; emphasis mine)

“I told you just now,” he said, “that you are crafty and brazen, asking for the interpretations of the parables. But since you are so persistent, I will interpret for you the parable of the field and everything that follows it, that you may make these things known to all. Listen, now,” he said, “and understand these things.

2. The field is this world. And the lord of the field is the one WHO CREATED ALL THINGS and completed them and empowered them. The son is the Holy Spirit and the slave is the Son of God. The vines are this people, which he has planted.

3. The fence posts are the Lord’s holy angels who surround his people. The weeds that were removed from the vineyard are the lawless deeds of the slaves of God. The foods that he sent to him from his dinner are the commandments he has given his people through his Son. The friends and advisors are the holy angels who were created first. And the absence of the master is the time that remains until his coming.”

4. I said to him, “Lord, all these things are great, marvelous, and glorious. How could I have understood them? No one else could have understood them either, even if he were extremely insightful. Yet, Lord,” I said, “explain to me what I am about to ask you.”

5. “Say what you wish,” he said. “Why, Lord,” I asked, “is the Son of God represented as a slave in the parable?“

“Listen,” he said; “the Son of God is not represented as a slave, but as one who has great authority and lordship.” “I don’t see how, Lord,” I replied.

2. “Because,” he said, “God planted the vineyard—that is, he created the people and handed them over to his Son. And the Son appointed the angels over them, to protect each one. And he cleansed their sins through great labor, bearing up under his many labors. For a vine cannot be dug around without labor or toil.

3. And so, when he had cleansed the sins of the people he showed them the paths of life, giving them the law, which he received from his Father.

4. You see, then,” he said, “that he is the Lord of the people, having received all authority from his Father. But listen to what it means that the Lord took his Son, along with the glorious angels, as a counselor about the slave’s inheritance.

5. God made the Holy Spirit dwell in the flesh that he [Or: it] desired, even though it PREEXISTED AND CREATED ALL THINGS. This flesh, then, in which the Holy Spirit dwelled, served well as the Spirit’s slave, for it conducted itself in reverence and purity, not defiling the Spirit at all.

6. Since it lived in a good and pure way, cooperating with the Spirit and working with it in everything it did, behaving in a strong and manly way, God chose it to be a partner with the Holy Spirit. For the conduct of this flesh was pleasing, because it was not defiled on earth while bearing the Holy Spirit.

7. Thus he took his Son and the glorious angels as counselors, so that this flesh, which served blamelessly as the Spirit’s slave, might have a place of residence and not appear to have lost the reward for serving as a slave. For all flesh in which the Holy Spirit has dwelled—and which has been found undefined and spotless—will receive a reward.

8. Now you have the interpretation of this parable.”  (Ibid., pp. 331, 333, 335, 337)

After I wrote the commandments and parables of the shepherd, the angel of repentance, he came to me and said, “I want to show you everything that the Holy Spirit showed you when he spoke with you in the form of the church; for that Spirit is the Son of God.

2. For since you were too weak in the flesh, these things were not explained to you by the angel. When, later, you were empowered through the Spirit and became strong, so that you could see the angel, then the building of the tower was explained to you by the church. You saw all things in a good and reverent way, as shown by the virgin. And now you are seeing by the angels help, through the same Spirit… (Ibid., p. 387)

“First of all, Lord,” I said, “show me this: what are the rock and the gate?” “This rock and the gate,” he said, “are the Son of God.” “Why, Lord,” I asked, “is the rock ancient but the gate new?” “Listen, you fool,” he said, “and understand.

2. The Son of God IS OLDER THAN ALL HIS CREATION, and so he became the Father s counselor for his creation. That is why the rock is ancient.” “But why is the gate new, Lord?” I asked.

3. “Because,” he said, “he has been revealed in the last days of its completion. This is why the gate is new, so that those who are about to be saved may enter through it into the kingdom of God.

4. Did you notice,” he asked, “that the stones that entered through the gate were placed in the building of the tower, whereas the ones that did not enter were cast out again into their own place?” “Yes, I saw this, Lord,” I replied. “In the same way,” he said, “no one will enter the kingdom of God without taking the name of his Son.

5. For if you want to enter a walled city with a single gate, can you enter except through the gate?” “How could it be otherwise, Lord?” I said. “If then you cannot enter the city except through its gate,” he said, “neither can anyone enter the kingdom of God in any way except through the name of the Son who is his beloved.

6. You saw,” he asked, “the crowd of people building the tower?” “I saw them, Lord,” I replied. “All those,” he said, “are glorious angels. The Lord, therefore, is surrounded by them like a wall. And the gate is the Son of God; this is the one entrance to the Lord. No one can enter in to him in any other way, except through his Son.

7. You saw,” he asked, “the six men and the glorious and great man in their midst, who walked around the tower and rejected the stones from the building?” “I saw these things, Lord,” I replied.

8. “The glorious man,” he said, “is the Son of God, and those six are the glorious angels who support him on the right hand and the left. None of these glorious angels,” he said, “will enter into the presence of God without him. Whoever does not receive his name will not enter the kingdom of God.”

“But what is the tower?” I asked. “This tower,” he replied, “is the church.”

2. “And who are these virgins?” “These,” he said, “are holy spirits. No one can be found in the kingdom of God if these do not clothe him in their clothing. It will be of no use for you to receive the name alone without receiving the clothing from them. For these virgins are the powers of the Son of God. If you bear the name but not his power, it will be in vain.

3. The stones you saw cast out,” he said, “these bore the name but were not clothed in the virgins’ garments.” “What are their garments like, Lord?” I asked. “The names they have are their garments,” he replied. “Whoever bears the name of the Son of God ought also to bear their names. For even the Son himself bears the names of the virgins.

4. All the stones you saw entering into the building of the tower, which were given over through their hands and remained in the building,” he said, “are clothed with the power of these virgins.

5. This is why you see the tower formed as a monolith with the rock. So too those who believe in the Lord through his Son and are clothed with these spirits will be one spirit and one body, and their garments will be one color. And those who bear the names of the virgins will dwell in the tower.”

6. “And so, Lord,” I asked, “why were the rejected stones cast out? For they too went through the tower and were placed in the building of the tower through the hands of the virgins.” “Since you are concerned about everything,” he said, “and make such careful inquiry, hear about the stones that were cast out.

7. All of these,” he said, “received the name of the Son of God and the power of these virgins. And so, they were empowered by receiving these spirits and they accompanied the slaves of God, sharing one spirit, one body, and one clothing. For they were harmonious with one another and did what was righteous.

8. And then, after some time, they were seduced by the women you saw wearing black garments, with uncovered shoulders, loose hair, and beautiful figures. When these men saw them they desired them and clothed themselves in their power, taking off the clothing and power of the virgins.

9. And so they were cast out from the house of God and handed over to those women. But the ones who were not led astray by the beauty of these women remained in the house of God. Now you have the interpretation of those who were cast out,” he said.

“What then, Lord,” I asked, “if these people, even if they are like this, repent and cast away their desires for these women and return to the virgins and proceed in their power and their works—will they not enter the house of God?”

2. “They will enter,” he said, “if they cast off the works of these women and take up the power of the virgins and proceed in their works. This is why the building has been delayed, so that if they repent, they may enter the building of the tower. But if they do not repent, then others will enter and they will be cast out once and for all.”

3. I gave thanks to the Lord for all these things, since he showed compassion to everyone who called on his name, sending the angel of repentance to those of us who sinned against him, renewing our spirits. And he restored our lives even when we were already corrupt and had no hope of living.

4. “Now, Lord,” I said, “show me why the tower is not built on the ground but on the rock and the gate.” “Are you still foolish and ignorant?” he said. “I have to ask youeverything, Lord,” I said, “because I can grasp nothing at all. For all these are great and glorious matters, and hard for anyone to grasp.”

5. “Listen,” he said. “The name of the Son of God is great and boundless, and IT supports THE ENTIRE WORLD. If then ALL CREATION is supported BY THE SON OF GOD, what do you think of those who are called by him, bearing the name of the Son of God and proceeding in his commandments?

6. You see what sort of people he supports? They are who bear his name with their whole heart. And so, he has become their foundation, and he supports them gladly because they are not ashamed to bear his name.” (Ibid., pp. 417, 419, 423, 425, 427)

Fifteen days later, after I had fasted and asked the Lord many things, the meaning of the writing was revealed to me. These are the words that were written:

2. “Your offspring, Hermas, have rejected God, blasphemed the Lord, and betrayed their parents with a great evil. And even though they have been called betrayers of their parents, they have gained nothing from their betrayal. Yet they have added still more licentious acts to their sins and piled on more evil; and so their lawless acts have gone as far as they can go.

3. But make these words known to all your children and your wife, who is about to become your sister. For she also does not restrain her tongue, but uses it to perpetrate evil. But when she hears these words she will control it and receive mercy.

4. After you have made known to them these words that the Master has commanded me to reveal to you, then all the sins they formerly committed will be forgiven them, along with those of all the saints who have sinned till this day, if they repent from their whole heart and remove doublemindedness from it.

5. For the Master swore by his own glory to his chosen ones: ‘If there is any more sinning once this day has been appointed, they will not find salvation. For there is a limit to repentance for those who are upright, and the days of repentance for all the saints are complete. But the outsiders will be able to repent until the final day.’

6. And so, say to those who lead the church that they are to make their paths straight in righteousness, that they may fully receive the promises with great glory.

7. You who do what is righteous should stand firm and not be of two minds, that your path may lie with the holy angels. How fortunate are all you who endure the great affliction that is coming and do not deny your life.

8. For the Lord has sworn by his Son, that those who deny their Lord have lost their life—that is, those who are about to deny him in the days that are coming. But through his great compassion, mercy has been given to those who denied the Lord previously. (Ibid., pp. 187, 189; emphasis mine)

“As to the believers from the seventh mountain, where green and healthy plants grow and the entire mountain flourishes, with every kind of animal and bird of the air grazing among its plants—plants that thrive all the more, even when grazed:

2. these believers have become simple, innocent, and fortunate at all times, holding no grudge against one another but always rejoicing in the slaves of God, wearing the holy spirit of these virgins and always being compassionate to everyone. And they have provided what is needed to everyone out of their own labors, without reproach or hesitation.

3. And so, when the Lord saw their simplicity and all their child-like innocence, he filled them through the labors of their hands and favored them in their every deed.

4. But I, the angel of repentance, say to you who are like this: stay this way, and your descendants will never be obliterated. For the Lord has approved of you and inscribed you among our number, and all your descendants will dwell with the Son of God. For you have received a portion of his Spirit. (Ibid., p. 447)

“Then the angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, ‘By Myself I have sworn, declares Yahweh, because you have done this thing and have not spared your son, your only one,’” Genesis 22:15-16 Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

“My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him. So I will set up his seed to endure forever And his throne as the days of heaven. ‘If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments, If they profane My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod And their iniquity with striking. But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. My covenant I will not profane, Nor will I alter what comes forth from My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His seed shall endure forever And his throne as the sun before Me.’” Psalm 89:28-36 LSB  

“‘But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,’ declares Yahweh, ‘that this house will become a waste place.’” Jeremiah 22:5 LSB

“Lord Yahweh has sworn by His holiness that, ‘Behold, the days are coming upon you, And they will take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.’” Amos 4:2 LSB

“Lord Yahweh has sworn by Himself, Yahweh God of hosts has declared: ‘I abhor the lofty pride of Jacob And hate his citadels; Therefore I will deliver up the city as well as its fullness.’” Amos 6:8 LSB

“When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Hebrews 6:13-16 New International Version (NIV)

“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.’ Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, ‘There will be no more delay!’” Revelation 10:1-6 NIV