My LORD’s BibleShepherd of Hermas: Similitudes 5
1While fasting and sitting on a certain mountain, and giving thanks to the Lord for all His dealings with me, I see the Shepherd sitting down beside me, and saying, “Why have you come hither [so] early in the morning?” “Because, sir,” I answered, “I have a station.” “What is a station?” he asked. “I am fasting, sir,” I replied. “What is this fasting,” he continued, “which you are observing?” “As I have been accustomed, sir,” I reply, “so I fast.” “You do not know,” he says, “how to fast unto the Lord: this useless fasting which you observe to Him is of no value.” “Why, sir,” I answered, “do you say this?” “I say to you,” he continued, “that the fasting which you think you observe is not a fasting. But I will teach you what is a full and acceptable fasting to the Lord. Listen,” he continued: “God does not desire such an empty fasting. For fasting to God in this way you will do nothing for a righteous life; but offer to God a fasting of the following kind: Do no evil in your life, and serve the Lord with a pure heart: keep His commandments, walking in His precepts, and let no evil desire arise in your heart; and believe in God. If you do these things, and fear Him, and abstain from every evil thing, you will live unto God; and if you do these things, you will keep a great fast, and one acceptable before God.”
"Ἄλλη Bons} Νηστεύων καὶ καθήμενος εἰς ὅρος Ts καὶ εὐχαριστῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησε μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ, βλέπω τὸν ποιμένα παρακαθήμενόν μοι καὶ λέγοντα Τί ὀρθρινὸς ὧδε ἐλήλυθας; “Ore, φημί, κύριε, στατίωνα ἔχω. Ti, φησίν, ἐστὶ στατίων ; Νηστεύω, φημί, κύριε. Νηστεία δέ, φησί, τί ἐστιν αὕτη, ἣν νηστεύετε]; Ὥς εἰώθειν, φημί, κύριε, οὕτω νηστεύω. Οὐκ οἴδατε, φησί, νηστεύειν τῷ Κυρίῳ, οὐδέ ἐστιν νηστεία αὕτη ἡ ἀνωφελὴς ἣν νηστεύετε αὐτῷ, Διατί, φημί, κύριε, τοῦτο λέγεις ; Λέγω σοι, φησίν, ὅτι οὐκ ὅστιν αὕτη νηστεία, ἣν δοκεῖτε νηστεύειν" ἀλλ᾽ ἐγώ σε διδάξω τί ἐστε νηστεία πλήρης καὶ δεκτὴ τῷ Κυρίῳ. dxove, φησίν. ὁ Θεὸς οὐ βούλεται τοιαύτην νηστείαν ματαίαν οὕτω γὰρ νηστεύων τῷ Θεῷ οὐδὲν ἐργάσῃ τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. νήστευ- σον δὲ [τῷ Θεῷ] νηστείαν τοιαύτην μηδὲν πονηρεύσῃ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου, καὶ δούλευσον τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ" τήρησον τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ πορευόμενος ἐν τοῖς προστάγ- μασιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ μηδεμία ἐπιθυμία πονηρὰ ἀναβήτω ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ cou’ πίστευσον δὲ τῷ Θεῷ καὶ ἐὰν ταῦτα ἐργάσῃ καὶ φοβηθῆς αὐτὸν καὶ ἐγκρατεύσῃ ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ mpay- ματος, ζήσῃ τῷ Beg καὶ ταῦτα ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ, μεγάλην νηστείαν τέλέσεις καὶ δεκτὴν τῷ Θεῷ.
2“Hear the similitude which I am about to narrate to you relative to fasting. A certain man had a field and many slaves, and he planted a certain part of the field with a vineyard, and selecting a faithful and beloved and much valued slave, he called him to him, and said, ‘Take this vineyard which I have planted, and stake it until I come, and do nothing else to the vineyard; and attend to this order of mine, and you shall receive your freedom from me.’ And the master of the slave departed to a foreign country. And when he was gone, the slave took and staked the vineyard; and when he had finished the staking of the vines, he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds. He then reflected, saying, ‘I have kept this order of my master: I will dig up the rest of this vineyard, and it will be more beautiful when dug up; and being free of weeds, it will yield more fruit, not being choked by them.’ He took, therefore, and dug up the vineyard, and rooted out all the weeds that were in it. And that vineyard became very beautiful and fruitful, having no weeds to choke it. And after a certain time the master of the slave and of the field returned, and entered into the vineyard. And seeing that the vines were suitably supported on stakes, and the ground, moreover, dug up, and all the weeds rooted out, and the vines fruitful, he was greatly pleased with the work of his slave. And calling his beloved son who was his heir, and his friends who were his councillors, he told them what orders he had given his slave, and what he had found performed. And they rejoiced along with the slave at the testimony which his master bore to him. And he said to them, ‘I promised this slave freedom if he obeyed the command which I gave him, and he has kept my command, and done besides a good work to the vineyard, and has pleased me exceedingly. In return, therefore, for the work which he has done, I wish to make him co-heir with my son, because, having good thoughts, he did not neglect them, but carried them out.’ With this resolution of the master his son and friends were well pleased, viz. that the slave should be co-heir with the son. After a few days the master made a feast, and sent to his slave many dishes from his table. And the slave receiving the dishes that were sent him from his master, took of them what was sufficient for himself, and distributed the rest among his fellow-slaves. And his fellow-slaves rejoiced to receive the dishes, and began to pray for him, that he might find still greater favour with his master for having so treated them. His master heard all these things that were done, and was again greatly pleased with his conduct. And the master again calling together his friends and his son, reported to them the slave’s proceeding with regard to the dishes which he had sent him. And they were still more satisfied that the slave should become co-heir with his son.”
“Axove τὴν παραβολὴν ἣν μέλλω σοι λέγειν ἀνήκου- σαν τῇ νηστείᾳ. εἶχέ τις ἀγρὸν καὶ δούλους πολλούς, καὶ μέρος τε τοῦ ἀγροῦ ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα. καὶ ἐκλεξάμενος δοῦλόν τινα πιστὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον ἔντιμον, προσεκαλέσατο αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει avTg@ Λάβε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα τοῦτον [ὃν ἐφύτευσα] καὶ χαράκωσον αὐτὸν [ξως ἔρχομαι], καὶ ἕτερον δὲ μὴ ποιήσῃς τῷ ἀμπελῶνι: καὶ ταύτην μου τὴν ἐντολὴν φύλαξον, καὶ ἐλεύθερος ἔσῃ παρ᾽ ἐμοί. ἐξῆλθε δὲ ὁ δεσπότης τοῦ δούλου εἰς τὴν ἀποδημίαν. ἐξελθόντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἔλαβεν ὁ δοῦλος καὶ ἐχαράκωσε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα. καὶ τελέσας τὴν χαράκωσιν τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος εἶδε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα βοτανῶν πλήρη ὄντα. ἐν ἑαυτῷ οὖν ἐλογίσατο λέγων. Ταύτην τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ κυρίου τετέλεκα᾽ σκάψω λοιπὸν τὸν ἀμ- πελῶώνα τοῦτον, καὶ ἔσται εὐπρεπέστερος ἐσκαμμένος, καὶ βοτάνας μὴ ἔχων δώσει καρπὸν πλείονα, μὴ πνογόμενος ὑπὸ. τῶν βοτανῶν. λαβὼν ἔσκαψε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ πάσας τὰς βοτάνας τὰς ovcas ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι ἐξέτιλλε. καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ ἀμπελὼν ἐκεῖνος εὐπρεπέστατος καὶ εὐθαλής, μὴ ἔχων βοτάνας πνυγούσας avrov. ς. μετὰ χρόνον ἦλθεν ὁ δεσπότης τοῦ δούλου [καὶ τοῦ ἀγροῦ], καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα. καὶ ἰδὼν τὸν ἀμπελῶνα κεχαρακωμένον evwpe- πῶς, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἐσκαμμένον, καὶ [πάσας] tas βοτάνας ἐκτε- τιλμένας καὶ εὐθαλεῖς οὔσας τὰς ἀμπέλους, ἐχάρη [λίαν] ἐπὶ τοῖς ἔργοις τοῦ δούλου. προσκαλεσάμενος οὖν τὰν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀγαπητόν, ὃν εἶχε κληρονόμον, καὶ τοὺς φίλους, οὗς εἶχε συμβούλους, λέγει αὐτοῖς ὅσα ἐνετείλατο τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅσα εὗρε γεγονότα. κἀκεῖνοι συνε- χάρησαν τῷ δούλῳ ἐπὶ τῇ μαρτυρίᾳ § ἐμαρτύρησεν αὐτῷ ὁ δεσπότης. καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς: "Eyd τῷ δούλῳ τούτῳ ἐλευθερίαν ἐπηγγειλάμην ἐάν μου τὴν ἐντολὴν φυλάξῃ ἣν ἐνετειλάμην αὐτῷ: ἐφύλαξε δέ μου τὴν ἐντολὴν καὶ προσ- éOnxe τῷ ἀμπελῶνε ἔργον καλόν, καὶ ἐμοὶ λίαν ἤρεσεν. ἀντὶ τούτον οὖν τοῦ ἔργου οὗ εἰργάσατο θέλω αὐτὸν συγκλη- ρονόμον τῷ νἱῷ μου ποιῆσαι, ὅτι τὸ καλὸν φρονήσας οὐ παρενεθυμήθη, ἀλλ᾽ ἐτέλεσεν αὐτός ταύτῃ τῇ γνώμῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ δεσπότου συνηυδόκησεν αὐτῷ, ἵνα συγκληρονόμος γένηται ὁ δοῦλος τῷ vig. μετὰ ἡμέρας ὀλέγας δεῖπνον ἐποίησεν ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ δείπνου ἐδέσματα πολλά. λαβὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος [τὰ ἐδέσματα τὰ πεμφθέντα αὐτῷ παρὰ τοῦ δεσπότου] τὰ ἀρκοῦντα αὐτῷ ἦρε, τὰ λοιπὰ δὲ τοῖς συνδούλοις αὐτοῦ διέδωκεν. οἱ δὲ ᾿ σύνδουλοι αὐτοῦ λαβόντες τὰ ἐδέσματα ἐχάρησαν, καὶ ἤρξαντο εὔχεσθαι ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ἵνα χάριν μείζονα εὕρῃ παρὰ τῷ δεσπότῃ, ὅτι οὕτως ἐχρήσατο αὐτοῖς. II. ταῦτα πάντα τὰ γεγονότα ὃ δεσπότης αὐτοῦ ἤκουσε, καὶ πάλιν λίαν ἐχάρη ἐπὶ τῇ πράξει αὐτοῦ. συγκαλεσάμενος πάλιν τοὺς φίλους ὁ δεσπότης καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς τὴν πρᾶξιν αὑτοῦ ἣν ἔπραξεν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐδέσμασιν αὐτοῦ οἷς ἔλαβεν᾽ οἱ δὲ érs μᾶλλον συνευδόκησαν γενέσθαι τὸν δοῦλον συγκληρο-. νόμον τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ.
3I said to him, “Sir, I do not see the meaning of these similitudes, nor am I able to comprehend them, unless you explain them to me.” “I will explain them all to you,” he said, “and whatever I shall mention in the course of our conversations I will show you. [Keep the commandments of the Lord, and you will be approved, and inscribed amongst the number of those who observe His commands.] And if you do any good beyond what is commanded by God, you will gain for yourself more abundant glory, and will be more honoured by God than you would otherwise be. If, therefore, in keeping the commandments of God, you do, in addition, these services, you will have joy if you observe them according to my command.” I said to him, “Sir, whatsoever you enjoin upon me I will observe, for I know that you are with me.” “I will be with you,” he replied, “because you have such a desire for doing good; and I will be with all those,” he added, “who have such a desire. This fasting,” he continued, “is very good, provided the commandments of the Lord be observed. Thus, then, shall you observe the fasting which you intend to keep. First of all, be on your guard against every evil word, and every evil desire, and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you guard against these things, your fasting will be perfect. And you will do also as follows. Having fulfilled what is written, in the day on which you fast you will taste nothing but bread and water; and having reckoned up the price of the dishes of that day which you intended to have eaten, you will give it to a widow, or an orphan, or to some person in want, and thus you will exhibit humility of mind, so that he who has received benefit from your humility may fill his own soul, and pray for you to the Lord. If you observe fasting, as I have commanded you, your sacrifice will be acceptable to God, and this fasting will be written down; and the service thus performed is noble, and sacred, and acceptable to the Lord. These things, therefore, shall you thus observe with your children, and all your house, and in observing them you will be blessed; and as many as hear these words and observe them shall be blessed; and whatsoever they ask of the Lord they shall receive.”
Λέγω’ Κύριε, ἐγὼ ταύτας τὰς παραβολὰς οὐ γινώ- cee οὐδὲ δύναμαι νοῆσαι, ἐὰν μή μοι ἐπιλύσῃς αὐτάς. Πάντα σοι ἐπιλύσω, φησί, καὶ ὅσα dv λαλήσω μετὰ σοῦ, δείξω σοι. τὰς ἐντολὰς | τοῦ Κυρίου φύλασσε, καὶ ἔσῃ εὐά- ρεστος τῷ Θεῷ καὶ ἐγγραφήσῃ εἰς τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν φυλασ- σόντων τὰς ἐντολὰς | αὐτοῦ. ἐὰν δέ τι ἀγαθὸν ποιήσης ἐκτὸς τῆς ἐντολῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σεαυτῷ περιποιήσῃ δόξαν περισ- σοτέραν, καὶ ἔσῃ ἐνδοξότερος παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ οὗ ἔμελλες εἶναι. ἐὰν οὖν φυλάσσων τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Θεοῦ προσθῆς καὶ τὰς. λειτουργίας ταύτας, χαρήσῃ, ἐὰν τηρήσῃς αὐτὰς κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν ἐντολήν. λέγω αὐτῷ Κύριε, ὃ ἐάν μοι ἐντείλῃ, φυλάξω auto’ oléa γὰρ ὅτι σὺ per’ ἐμοῦ el. “Ἔσομαι, φησί. μετὰ σοῦ, ὅτι τοιαύτην προθυμίαν ἔχεις τῆς ἀγαθοποιήσεως, καὶ μετὰ πάντων δὲ ἔσομαι, φησίν, ὅσοι τοιαύτην προθυμίαν ἔχουσιν. ἡ νηστεία αὕτη, φησί, τηρουμένων τῶν ἐντολῶν τοῦ Κυρίου λίαν καλή ἐστιν. οὕτως οὖν φυλάξεις τὴν νησ- τείαν ταύτην [ἣν μέλλεις τηρεῖν]. πρῶτον πάντων φύλαξαι ἀπὸ παντὸς ῥήματος πονηροῦ καὶ πάσης ἐπιθυμίας πονηρᾶς, καὶ καθάρισόν σου τὴν καρδίαν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ματαιωμάτων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτον. ἐὰν ταῦτα φυλάξῃς, ἔσται σοι αὕτη ἡ νηστεία τελεία. οὕτω δὲ ποιήσεις συντελέσας τὰ γε- γραμμένα, ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἡ νηστεύεις μηδὲν γεύσῃ εἰ μὴ ἄρτον καὶ ὕδωρ, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἐδεσμάτων σου ὧν ἔμελλες τρώγειν συμψηφίσας τὴν ποσότητα τῆς δαπάνης ἐκείνης τῆς ἡμέρας ἧς ἔμελλες ποιεῖν, δώσεις αὐτὸ χήρᾳ ἢ ὀρφανῷ ἣ ὑστερουμένῳ, καὶ οὕτω ταπεινοφρονήσεις, iv’ ἐκ τῆς ταπεινο- 350 THE SHEPHERD OF HERMAS. [5.δ. ἢ φροσύνης σου ὁ εἰληφὼς ἐμπλήσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν καὶ εὔξηται ὑπὲρ σοῦ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον. ἐὰν οὖν οὕτω τελέσῃς τὴν νηστείαν ὥς σοι ἐνετειλάμην, ἔσται ἡ θυσία σου δεκτὴ παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἔγγραφος ἔσται ἡ νηστεία αὕτη, καὶ ἡ λειτουργία οὕτως ἐργαζομένη καλὴ καὶ ihapa ἐστι καὶ εὐπρόσδεκτος τῷ Κυρίῳ. ταῦτα οὕτω τηρήσεις σὺ μετὰ τῶν τέκνων cov καὶ ὅλου τοῦ οἴκου σου τηρήσας δὲ αὐτὰ μακάριος toy καὶ ὅσοι ἂν ἀκούσαντες αὐτὰ τηρήσωσι, μακά- ριοε ἔσονται, καὶ ὅσα ἂν αἰτήσωντας παρὰ τοῦ ἸΚυρίου λήψονται.
4I 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 stakes, 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.”
᾿Εδεήθην αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἵνα μοι δηλώσῃ τὴν παρα- βολὴν τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ τοῦ δεσπότου καὶ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος καὶ τοῦ δούλου τοῦ χαρακώσαντος τὸν ἀμπελῶνα [καὶ τῶν χαρά- κων] καὶ τῶν βοτανῶν τῶν ἐκτετιλμένων ἐκ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τῶν φίλων τῶν συμβούλων. συνῆκα γὰρ ὅτι παραβολή τίς ἐστε ταῦτα πάντα. 6 δὲ ἀποκριθείς μοι εἶπεν. Αὐθάδης εἶ λίαν eis τὸ ἐπερωτᾶν. οὐκ ὀφείλεις, [φησίν,] ἐπερωτᾶν οὐδὲν ὅλως" ἐὰν γάρ σοι δέη δηλωθῆναι, δηλωθήσεται. λέγω αὐτῷ Κύριε, ὅσα ἄν μοι δείξης καὶ μὴ δηλώσῃς, μάτην ἔσομαι ἑωρακὼς αὐτὰ καὶ μὴ νοῶν τί ἐστιν ὡσαύτως καὶ ἐάν μοι παραβολὰς λαλήσῃς καὶ μὴ ἐπιλύσης μοι αὐτάς, εἰς μάτην ἔσομαι ἀκηκοὼς τι παρὰ σοῦ. ὁ δὲ πάλιν ἀπεκρίθη μοι λέγων Ὃς ἄν, φησί, δοῦλος 9 τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἔχῃ τὸν Κύριον ἑαυτοῦ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, αἰτεῖται παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ σύνεσιν καὶ λαμβάνει, καὶ πᾶσαν παραβολὴν ἐπιλύει, καὶ γνωστὰ αὐτῷ γίνονται τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ Κυρίου τὰ λεγόμενα διὰ παραβολῶν" ὅσοι δὲ βληχροί εἰσι καὶ ἀργοὶ πρὸς τὴν ἔντευξιν, ἐκεῖνοι διστάζουσιν αἰτεῖσθαι παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ὁ δὲ Κύριος πολυεύσπλαγχνός ἐστι, καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς αἰτουμένοις παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀδιαλείπτως δίδωσι. σὺ δὲ ἐνδεδυναμωμένος ὑπὸ τοῦ aytov ἀγγέλον καὶ εἰληφὼς trap’ αὐτοῦ τοιαύτην ἔντευξιν καὶ μὴ ὧν ἀργός, διατί οὐκ airy παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου σύνεσιν καὶ λαμβάνεις wap αὐτοῦ; λόγω αὐτῷ Ἰζύριε, ἀγὼ ἔχων σὲ μεθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἀνάγκην ἔχω σὲ αἰτεῖσθαι καὶ σὲ ἐπερωτᾶν σὺ γάρ μοι δεικνύεις πάντα καὶ λαλεῖς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ εἰ δὲ drep σοῦ ἄβλεπον ἢ ἤκουον αὐτά, Υ. Ἡλι κὸν φηδξ καὶ ἄρτι, ἔπε πανοῦρ ον ἃ πῶ αὐθάδῳς, ἐπερωτῶν τὰς ἐπιλύσεις τῶν παραβολῶν. dred} δὲ οὕτω παράμονος el, ἐπιλύσω σοι τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν τῶν ἀκολούθων πάντων, ἵνα pourra πᾶσι ποιήσῳς αὐτά. ἄκουε νῦν, φησί, καὶ σύνιε αὐτά. 6 εἴ. Matt. ἀγρὸς ὁ κόσμος οὗτός ἐστιν" ὁ δὲ κύριος τοῦ ὠγροῦ, ὁ κτίσας “3 τὰ «πάντα καὶ awapricas αὑτὰ καὶ ἐνδυναμώσας. ὁ δὲ εἰ. Ps. δοῦλος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστίν" αἱ δὲ ἄμπελοι ὃ λαὸς [οὗτός] [πὶ (Ixviii.) ἐστιν ὃν αὐτὸς ἐφύτευσεν. οἱ δὲ χάρακες οἱ [ἅγιοι ἄγγελοί εἰσι τοῦ Κυρίου of συγκρατοῦντες τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ᾽ αἱ δὲ βοτάναι ai ἐκτετιλμέναε ἐκ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, αἱ ἀνομίαι εἰσὶ τῶν δούλων τοῦ Θεοῦ᾽ τὰ δὲ ἐδέσματα ἃ ἔπεμψεν αὐτῷ ef. Joho ἐκ τοῦ δείπνου, ai ἐντολαί εἰσιν ἃς ἔδωκε τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ διὰ + τοῦ νἱοῦ αὐτοῦ οἱ δὲ φίλοι καὶ σύμβουλοι, οἱ ἅγιοε ἄγγελοι οὗ πρῶτοι κτισθέντες ἡ δὲ ἀποδημία τοῦ δεσπότου, ὁ χρόνος ὁ περισσεύων εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν αὐτοῦ. λέγω αὐτῷ Κύριε, μεγάλως καὶ θαυμαστῶς [πάντα ἐστὶ] καὶ ἐνδόξως πάντα ἔχει. μὴ οὖν, φημί, ἐγὼ ἠδυνάμην ταῦτα νοῆσαε ; οὐδὲ ἕτερος τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κἂν λίαν συνετὸς ἡ τις, οὐ δύναται νοῆσαι αὐτά. ἔτι, φημί, κύριε, δήλωσόν μοι ὃ μέλλω σε ἐπε- ρωτᾶν. Λέγε, φησίν, εἴ τε βούλει. Διατί, φημέ, [κύριε,} ὁ vids τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰς δούλου τρόπον κεῖται ἐν τῇ παραβολῇ ;
5“I said to you a little ago,” he answered, “that you were cunning and obstinate in asking explanations of the parables; but since you are so persistent, I shall unfold to you the meaning of the similitudes of the field, and of all the others that follow, that you may make them known to every one. Hear now,” he said, “and understand them. The field is this world; and the Lord of the field is He who created, and perfected, and strengthened all things; [and the son is the Holy Spirit;] and the slave is the Son of God; and the vines are this people, whom He Himself planted; and the stakes are the holy angels of the Lord, who keep His people together; and the weeds that were plucked out of the vineyard are the iniquities of God’s servants; and the dishes which He sent Him from His table are the commandments which He gave His people through His Son; and the friends and fellow-councillors are the holy angels who were first created; and the Master’s absence from home is the time that remains until His appearing.” I said to him, “Sir, all these are great, and marvellous, and glorious things. Could I, therefore,” I continued, “understand them? No, nor could any other man, even if exceedingly wise. Moreover,” I added, “explain to me what I am about to ask you.” “Say what you wish,” he replied. “Why, sir,” I asked, “is the Son of God in the parable in the form of a slave?”
“Axove, φησίν" εἰς δούλου τρόπον οὐ κεῖται ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλ᾽ εἰς ἐξουσίαν μεγάλην κεῖται καὶ κυριότητα. Πῶς, φημί, κύριε; οὐ vow. Ὅτι, φησίν, ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἐφύτευσε, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστι τὸν λαὸν ἔκτισε, καὶ παρέ- δωκε τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ" καὶ ὁ υἱὸς κατέστησε τοὺς ἀγγέλους ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς τοῦ συντηρεῖν αὐτούς" καὶ αὐτὸς Tas ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν ἐκαθάρισε πολλὰ κοπιάσας καὶ πολλοὺς κόπους ἡντληκώς" οὐδεὶς γὰρ δύναται σκαφεῦσαι ἅτερ κόπου ἣ μόχθου. αὐτὸς cf, οὖν καθαρίσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας τοῦ λαοῦ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς ck τρίβους τῆς ζωῆς, δοὺς αὐτοῖς τὸν νόμον ὃν ὅλαβε παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ. βλέπεις, φησίν, ὅτε αὐτὸς κύριός ἔστι τοῦ λαοῦ, ἐξουσίαν πᾶσαν λαβὼν παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ. ὅτι δὲ ὁ κύριος σύμβουλον ὅλαβε τὸν υἱὸν αὑτοῦ "καὶ τοὺς ἐνδόξους ἀγγέλους περὶ τῆς κληρονομίας τοῦ δούλου, ἄκονε. ς, τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ὅγιον τὸ προόν, τὸ κτίσαν πᾶσαν τὴν κτίσιν, κατῴκισεν ὁ Θεὸς εἰς σάρκα ἣν ἠβούλετο. αὕτη οὖν ἡ σάρξ, ἐν ἦ κατῴκησε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, ἐδούλευσε τῷ πνεύματι καλῶς ἐν σεμνότητι καὶ ὡγνείᾳ πορευθεῖσα, μηδὲν ὅλως μιάνασα τὸ πνεῦμα. πολιτευσαμένην οὖν αὐτὴν καλῶς καὶ ἁγνῶς καὶ συγκοπιάσασαν τῷ πνεύματι καὶ συνεργήσασαν ἐν παντὶ πράγματι, ἰσχυρῶς καὶ ἀνδρείως ἀναστραφεῖσαν, μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου εἴλατο κοι- νωνόν" ἤρεσε γὰρ [τῷ Κυρίῳ] ἡ πορεία τῆς σαρκὸς ταύτης, ὅτι οὐκ ἐμιάνθη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὄχουσα τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον. σύμβουλον οὖν ὄὅλαβε τὸν υἱὸν καὶ τοὺς ὠγγέλους τοὺς ἐνδόξους, ἵνα καὶ ἡ σὰρξ αὕτη, δουλεύσασα τῷ πνεύματι ἀμέμπτως, σχῇ τόπον τινὰ κατασκηνώσεως, καὶ μὴ δόξη τὸν μισθὸν ] τῆς δουλείας αὐτῆς ἀπολωλεκέναι" πᾶσα γὰρ σὰρξ ἀπολήψεται μισθὸν | ἡ εὑρεθεῖσα ἀμίαντος καὶ ἄσπιλος, ἐν ἡ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον κατῴκησεν. Evers καὶ ταύτης τῆς παραβολῆς τὴν ἐπίλυσιν.
6“Hear,” he answered: “the Son of God is not in the form of a slave, but in great power and might.” “How so, sir?” I said; “I do not understand.” “Because,” he answered, “God planted the vineyard, that is to say, He created the people, and gave them to His Son; and the Son appointed His angels over them to keep them; and He Himself purged away their sins, having suffered many trials and undergone many labours, for no one is able to dig without labour and toil. He Himself, then, having purged away the sins of the people, showed them the paths of life by giving them the law which He received from His Father. [You see,” he said, “that He is the Lord of the people, having received all authority from His Father.] And why the Lord took His Son as councillor, and the glorious angels, regarding the heirship of the slave, listen. The holy, pre-existent Spirit, that created every creature, God made to dwell in flesh, which He chose. This flesh, accordingly, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, was nobly subject to that Spirit, walking religiously and chastely, in no respect defiling the Spirit; and accordingly, after living excellently and purely, and after labouring and co-operating with the Spirit, and having in everything acted vigorously and courageously along with the Holy Spirit, He assumed it as a partner with it. For this conduct of the flesh pleased Him, because it was not defiled on the earth while having the Holy Spirit. He took, therefore, as fellow-councillors His Son and the glorious angels, in order that this flesh, which had been subject to the body without a fault, might have some place of tabernacle, and that it might not appear that the reward [of its servitude had been lost]; for the flesh that has been found without spot or defilement, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, [will receive a reward]. You now have the explanation of this parable also.”
Ηὐφράνθην, φημί, κύριε, ταύτην τὴν ἐπίλυσιν ἀκούσας. “Axove νῦν, φησί’ τὴν σάρκα σου ταύτην φύλασσε καθαρὰν καὶ ἀμίαντον, ἵνα τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ κατοικοῦν ἐν αὐτῇ μαρτυρήσῃ αὐτῇ, καὶ δικαιωθῇ cov ἡ σάρξ. βλέπε μήποτε ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου τὴν σάρκα σου ταύτην φθαρτὴν εἶναι, καὶ παραχρήσῃ αὐτῇ ἐν μιασμῷ τινί. ἐὰν [γὰρ] μιάνης τὴν σάρκα σου, μιανεῖς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον" ἐὰν δὲ μεάνῃς Ττὴν σάρκα, οὐ ζήσῃ. Ei δέ τις, φημί, κύριε, γέγονεν ἄγνοια προτόρα πρὶν ἀκουσθῶσι τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, πῶς σωθῇ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ μιάνας τὴν σάρκα αὐτοῦ ; Tlep) τῶν προτέρων, φησίν, ἀγνοημάτων τῷ Θεῷ μόνῳ δυνατὸν ἴασιν δοῦναι" αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐστι πᾶσα ἐξουσία. [ἀλλὰ νῦν φύλασσε σεαυτόν, καὶ ὁ Κύριος ὁ παντοκράτωρ, πολύ- σπλαγχνος ὧν, περὶ τῶν προτέρων ὠγνοημάτων ἴασιν δώσει,) ἐὰν τὸ λοιπὸν μὴ μεάνῃς σου τὴν σάρκα pnde τὸ πνεῦμα" ἀμφότερα γὰρ κοινά ἐστι καὶ ἅτερ ἀλλήλων μιανθῆναι οὐ δύναται. ἀμφότερα οὖν καθαρὰ φύλασσε, καὶ ζήσῃ τῷ Θεῴ.
7“I rejoice, sir,” I said, “to hear this explanation.” “Hear,” again he replied: “Keep this flesh pure and stainless, that the Spirit which inhabits it may bear witness to it, and your flesh may be justified. See that the thought never arise in your mind that this flesh of yours is corruptible, and you misuse it by any act of defilement. If you defile your flesh, you will also defile the Holy Spirit; and if you defile your flesh [and spirit], you will not live.” “And if any one, sir,” I said, “has been hitherto ignorant, before he heard these words, how can such a man be saved who has defiled his flesh?” “Respecting former sins of ignorance,” he said, “God alone is able to heal them, for to Him belongs all power. [But be on your guard now, and the all-powerful and compassionate God will heal former transgressions], if for the time to come you defile not your body nor your spirit; for both are common, and cannot be defiled, the one without the other: keep both therefore pure, and you will live unto God.”