hermas Summary and Overview

Mercury, a Roman Christian to whom Paul sends greetings (Rom. 16: 14). Some suppose him to have been the author of the celebrated religious romance called The Shepherd, but it is very probable that that work is the production of a later generation.

(Mercury), the name of a Christian resident at Rome to whom St. Paul sends greetings in his Epistle to the Romans. #Ro 16:14| (A.D. 55.) Irenaeus, Tertullian and Origen agree in attributing to him the work called The shepherd. It was never received into the canon, but yet was generally cited with respect only second to that which was paid to the authoritative books of the New Testament.

HER'MAS (Mercury, the god of gain, and the messenger of the gods), a Roman Christian whom Paul greets, Rom 16:14. Some of the fathers attributed to him the book called "The Shepherd of Hermas," a sort of Pilgrim's Progress, consisting of three parts: the first has 4 visions; the second, 12 spiritual precepts; the third, 10 similitudes, each setting forth some truth.

One at Rome to whom Paul sends greeting (Romans 16:14). A Greek name. Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen attribute to him "The Shepherd," supposed by some to have been written in the episcopacy of Clement I; others deny Hermas of Romans 16 to be the author. Its author appears from internal evidence to have been married and to have had children, and to have been a lay mystic. Originally in Greek, but now only in a Latin version entire. An inferior kind of Pilgrim's Progress in three parts: the first has four visions, the second 12 spiritual precepts, the third ten similitudes shadowing forth each some truth. Each man, according to it, has a bad and a good angel, who endeavour to influence him for evil and good respectively.