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Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2: Fathers of the Second Century — Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Clement of Alexandria

Clement of Alexandria, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Hermas · 1885

Clement of Alexandria's Exhortation, Instructor, and Stromata, with Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and the Shepherd of Hermas.

Edition: Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2 · www.ccel.org

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From the opening: Book First. — Visions

Vision First.

Against Filthy and Proud Thoughts, and the Carelessness of Hermas in Chastising His Sons.

Chapter I

He who had brought me up, sold me to one Rhode in Rome. Many years after this I recognised her, and I began to love her as a sister. Some time after, I saw her bathe in the river Tiber; and I gave her my hand, and drew her out of the river. The sight of her beauty made me think with myself, "I should be a happy man if I could but get a wife as handsome and good as she is." This was the only thought that passed through me: this and nothing more. A short time after this, as I was walking on my road to the villages, and magnifying the creatures of God, and thinking how magnificent, and beautiful, and powerful they are, I fell asleep. And the Spirit carried me away, and took me through a pathless place, through which a man could not travel, for it was situated in the midst of rocks; it was rugged and impassible on account of water. Having passed over this river, I came to a plain. I then bent down on my knees, and began to pray to the Lord, and to confess my sins. And as I prayed, the heavens were opened, and I see the woman whom I had desired saluting me from the sky, and saying, "Hail, Hermas!" And looking up to her, I said, "Lady, what doest thou here?" And she answered me, "I have been taken up here to accuse you of your sins before the Lord." "Lady," said I, "are you to be the subject of my accusation?" "No," said she; "but hear the words which I am going to speak to you. God, who dwells in the heavens, and made out of nothing the things that exist, and multiplied and increased them on account of His holy Church, is angry with you for having sinned against me." I answered her, "Lady, have I sinned against you? How? or when spoke I an unseemly word to you? Did I not always think of you as a lady? Did I not always respect you as a sister? Why do you falsely accuse me of this wickedness and impurity?" With a smile she replied to me, "The desire of wickedness arose within your heart. Is it not your opinion that a righteous man commits sin when an evil desire arises in his heart? There is sin in such a case, and the sin is great," said she; "for the thoughts of a righteous man should be righteous. For by thinking righteously his character is established in the heavens, and he has the Lord merciful to him in every business. But such as entertain wicked thoughts…

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Contents (242 sections)

  1. About this edition
  2. Ante-Nicene Fathers
  3. American Reprint of the Edinburgh Edition
  4. Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria (Entire)
  5. Introductory Note
  6. Book First. — Visions
  7. Chapters I–I
  8. Chapters II–V
  9. Chapters VI–IX
  10. Chapters X–II
  11. Chapter III
  12. Book Second. — Commandments
  13. Chapters II–II
  14. Chapters I–II
  15. Chapters I–II
  16. Chapters I–VI
  17. Book Third. — Similitudes
  18. Chapters I–IV
  19. Chapters V–II
  20. Chapters III–V
  21. Chapters I–III
  22. Chapters IV–VIII
  23. Chapters IX–II
  24. Chapters III–VI
  25. Chapters VII–X
  26. Chapters XI–XIII
  27. Chapters XIV–XVII
  28. Chapters XVIII–XXIII
  29. Chapters XXIV–XXIX
  30. Chapters XXX–I
  31. Chapters II–IV
  32. II
  33. Introductory Note
  34. Chapters I–IV
  35. Chapters V–VIII
  36. Chapters IX–XII
  37. Chapters XIII–XVI
  38. Chapters XVII–XIX
  39. Chapters XX–XXIII
  40. Chapters XXIV–XXVII
  41. Chapters XXVIII–XXXII
  42. Chapters XXXIII–XXXVI
  43. Chapters XXXVII–XLII
  44. I
  45. Introductory Note
  46. Chapters I–V
  47. Chapters VI–X
  48. Chapters XI–XIV
  49. Chapters I–V
  50. Chapters VI–VIII
  51. Chapters IX–XI
  52. Chapters XII–XIV
  53. Chapters XV–XIX
  54. Chapters XX–XXIII
  55. Chapters XXIV–XXVIII
  56. Chapters XXIX–XXXI
  57. Chapters XXXII–XXXV
  58. Chapters XXXVI–XXXVII
  59. Chapter XXXVIII — The Teachings of the Greek Poets and Philosophers Confirmatory of Those…
  60. Chapters I–VI
  61. Chapters VII–IX
  62. Chapters X–XV
  63. Chapters XVI–XX
  64. Chapters XXI–XXIV
  65. Chapters XXV–XXVIII
  66. Chapters XXIX–XXX
  67. Introductory Note
  68. Chapters I–III
  69. Chapters IV–VII
  70. Chapters VIII–XI
  71. Chapters XII–XV
  72. Chapters XVI–XVIII
  73. Chapters XIX–XXI
  74. Chapters XXII–XXIII
  75. Chapters XXIV–XXVI
  76. Chapters XXVII–XXIX
  77. Chapters XXX–XXXII
  78. Chapters XXXIII–XXXVII
  79. Chapters I–II
  80. Chapters III–VI
  81. Chapters VII–X
  82. Chapters XI–XII
  83. Chapters XIII–XV
  84. Chapters XVI–XVIII
  85. Chapters XIX–XXI
  86. Chapters XXII–XXV
  87. Introductory Note
  88. Treatise on Easter
  89. Chapter II — The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables About the…
  90. Chapter II — The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables About the… (continued)
  91. Chapter IV — The Absurdity and Shamefulness of the Images by Which the Gods are Worshipped
  92. Chapters V–VI
  93. Chapters VII–VIII
  94. Chapter IX — "That Those Grievously Sin Who Despise or Neglect God's Gracious Calling."
  95. Chapter X — Answer to the Objection of the Heathen, that It Was Not Right to Abandon the…
  96. Chapter XI — How Great are the Benefits Conferred on Man Through the Advent of Christ
  97. Chapter XII — Exhortation to Abandon Their Old Errors and Listen to the Instructions of…
  98. Chapters I–II
  99. Chapters III–V
  100. Chapter VI — The Name Children Does Not Imply Instruction in Elementary Principles
  101. Chapter VII — Who the Instructor Is, and Respecting His Instruction
  102. Chapter VIII — Against Those Who Think that What is Just is Not Good
  103. Chapter IX — That It is the Prerogative of the Same Power to Be Beneficent and to Punish…
  104. Chapter X — That the Same God, by the Same Word, Restrains from Sin by Threatening, and…
  105. Chapters XI–XII
  106. Chapter XIII — Virtue Rational, Sin Irrational
  107. Chapter I — On Eating
  108. Chapter II — On Drinking
  109. Chapter III — On Costly Vessels
  110. Chapters IV–V
  111. Chapters VI–VII
  112. Chapter VIII — On the Use of Ointments and Crowns
  113. Chapter IX — On Sleep
  114. Chapter X — Quænam de Procreatione Liberorum Tractanda Sint
  115. Chapter XI — On Clothes
  116. Chapters XII–XIII
  117. Chapters I–II
  118. Chapter III — Against Men Who Embellish Themselves
  119. Chapters IV–V
  120. Chapters VI–VII
  121. Chapters VIII–IX
  122. Chapters X–XI
  123. Chapter XII — Continuation: with Texts from Scripture
  124. I
  125. (Book iii. Going to Church. p. 290, supra.)
  126. Chapter I — Preface — The Author's Object — The Utility of Written Compositions
  127. Chapters II–IV
  128. Chapter V — Philosophy the Handmaid of Theology
  129. Chapters VI–VII
  130. Chapters VIII–IX
  131. Chapters X–XI
  132. Chapters XII–XIV
  133. Chapter XV — The Greek Philosophy in Great Part Derived from the Barbarians
  134. Chapter XVI — That the Inventors of Other Arts Were Mostly Barbarians
  135. Chapter XVII — On the Saying of the Saviour, "All that Came Before Me Were Thieves and…
  136. Chapters XVIII–XIX
  137. Chapters XX–XXI
  138. Chapter XX — In What Respect Philosophy Contributes to the Comprehension of Divine Truth (continued)
  139. Chapters XXII–XXIII
  140. Chapter XXIV — How Moses Discharged the Part of a Military Leader
  141. Chapters XXV–XXVII
  142. Chapters XXVIII–XXIX
  143. II
  144. VI
  145. Chapters I–II
  146. Chapters III–IV
  147. Chapters V–VI
  148. Chapters VII–VIII
  149. Chapters IX–X
  150. Chapters XI–XII
  151. Chapters XIII–XV
  152. Chapters XVI–XVIII
  153. Chapters XIX–XX
  154. Chapters XXI–XXII
  155. Chapter XXIII — On Marriage
  156. I
  157. Caput I. — Basilidis Sententiam de Continentia Et Nuptiis Refutat
  158. Caput IV. — Quibus Prætextibus Utantur Hæretici ad Omnis Genetis Licentiam Et Libidinem…
  159. Caput V. — Duo Genera Hæreticorum Notat: Prius Illorum Qui Omnia Omnibus Licere…
  160. Caput VII. — Qua in Re Christianorum Continentia Eam Quam Sibi Vindicant Philosophi…
  161. Caput X. — Verba Christi Matt. xviii. 20, Mystice Exponit
  162. Caput XII. — Verba Apostoli 1 Cor. vii. 5, 39, 40, Aliaque S. Scripturæ Loca Eodem…
  163. Caput XIII. — Julii Cassiani Hæretici Verbis Respondet; Item Loco Quem Ex Evangelio…
  164. Caput XVI. — Jer. xx. 14; Job xiv. 3; Ps. l. 5; 1 Cor. ix. 27, Exponit
  165. I
  166. VII
  167. XVI
  168. Chapters I–III
  169. Chapters IV–V
  170. Chapter VI — Some Points in the Beatitudes
  171. Chapter VII — The Blessedness of the Martyr
  172. Chapter VIII — Women as Well as Men, Slaves as Well as Freemen, Candidates for the…
  173. Chapters IX–XI
  174. Chapter XII — Basilides' Idea of Martyrdom Refuted
  175. Chapters XIII–XIV
  176. Chapters XV–XVI
  177. Chapters XVII–XVIII
  178. Chapters XIX–XX
  179. Chapters XXI–XXII
  180. Chapters XXIII–XXIV
  181. Chapters XXV–XXVI
  182. I
  183. IX
  184. Chapter I — On Faith
  185. Chapters II–IV
  186. Chapter V — On the Symbols of Pythagoras
  187. Chapter VI — The Mystic Meaning of the Tabernacle and Its Furniture
  188. Chapters VII–VIII
  189. Chapters IX–X
  190. Chapter XI — Abstraction from Material Things Necessary in Order to Attain to the True…
  191. Chapters XII–XIII
  192. Chapter XIV — Greek Plagiarism from the Hebrews
  193. "The first, and fourth, and seventh day were held sacred."
  194. I
  195. VIII
  196. Chapters I–II
  197. Chapter III — Plagiarism by the Greeks of the Miracles Related in the Sacred Books of the…
  198. Chapters IV–V
  199. Chapter VI — The Gospel Was Preached to Jews and Gentiles in Hades
  200. Chapter VII — What True Philosophy Is, and Whence So Called
  201. Chapter VIII — Philosophy is Knowledge Given by God
  202. Chapter IX — The Gnostic Free of All Perturbations of the Soul
  203. Chapters X–XI
  204. Chapter XII — Human Nature Possesses an Adaptation for Perfection; The Gnostic Alone…
  205. Chapters XIII–XIV
  206. Chapter XV — Different Degrees of Knowledge
  207. Chapter XVI — Gnostic Exposition of the Decalogue
  208. The First Commandment
  209. The Second Commandment
  210. The Fourth Commandment
  211. The Fifth Commandment
  212. Chapter XVIII — The Use of Philosophy to the Gnostic
  213. I
  214. Chapters I–II
  215. Chapter III — The Gnostic Aims at the Nearest Likeness Possible to God and His Son
  216. Chapters IV–V
  217. Chapter VI — Prayers and Praise from a Pure Mind, Ceaselessly Offered, Far Better Than…
  218. Chapter VII — What Sort of Prayer the Gnostic Employs, and How It is Heard by God
  219. Chapters VIII–X
  220. Chapter XI — Description of the Gnostic's Life
  221. Chapter XII — The True Gnostic is Beneficent, Continent, and Despises Worldly Things
  222. Chapters XIII–XIV
  223. Chapters XV–XVI
  224. Chapters XVII–XVIII
  225. I
  226. Chapters I–III
  227. Chapter IV — To Prevent Ambiguity, We Must Begin with Clear Definition
  228. Chapters V–VI
  229. Chapters VII–IX
  230. I
  231. Chapter I — 1. "That which was from the beginning; which we have seen with our eyes…
  232. Chapters III–V
  233. Chapter III — 1. "For the world knoweth us not, as it knew Him not." He means by the… (continued)
  234. Chapter III — 1. "For the world knoweth us not, as it knew Him not." He means by the… (continued)
  235. I
  236. Index of Subjects
  237. Index of Subjects
  238. Index of Subjects
  239. Index of Subjects
  240. Introductory Notes, 125-127
  241. [Including the Introductions and Notes.]
  242. [Including the Introductions and Notes.] (continued)

How to cite it

Chicago
Clement of Alexandria, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Hermas. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2: Fathers of the Second Century — Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Clement of Alexandria. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2, 1885. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf02
MLA
Clement of Alexandria, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Hermas. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2: Fathers of the Second Century — Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Clement of Alexandria. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2, 1885. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf02
APA
Clement of Alexandria, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Hermas (1885). Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2: Fathers of the Second Century — Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Clement of Alexandria. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf02

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