Abstract

MARTIN, José Pablo. The Shepherd of Hermas in the second century: from Apocalypses to History. Circe clás. mod. [online]. 2007, n.11, pp.175-194. ISSN 1851-1724.

The Shepherd of Hermas is one of the most widely known Chistian books after the New Testament. Forgotten by centuries until its Greek edition was recovered in the 19th century, it reveals itself as an apocalypsis. The content of the revelation is not presented as the cosmic victory at the end of times but as the continuity of the salvation story in the heart of the Roman Empire: the Church is the "fortified tower with only one entrance door" which will protect the political value of goodwill and the equity from the greed and pleasure of pagan society. The concept of church is, then, more related to the aim of the history itself than to the cosmic rupture brought about by a heavenly intervention.

Keywords : Hermas; apocalypse; city of God; virginity.

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