Customer Reviews

Apostolic Fathers: Volume II. Shepherd of Hermas. Martyrdom of Polycarp. Epistle to Diogentus (Loeb Classical Library No. 25)

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This is the second of a two-volume set, which includes some of the writings of the Early Church. Every work in this two-volume set was (almost certainly, to my knowledge) written before the year 200.

As with the other volume in the series, the format is great, with Greek on the left and the English translation on the right, with references to any relevant scriptural passages. It also includes footnotes and textual variants in most cases. There's an introduction to each author briefly sketching the history of each text, manuscripts used, etc - thoroughly academic, but just as easily ignored if you really don't care. The size of the book is great, I can easily throw it in almost any coat pocket.

"The Shepherd (Pastor) of Hermas" was written just prior to the year 150. It's the largest work in the series, it runs about 150 pages (300 if you count the Greek), and is broken up into three sections: Visions, Mandates, and Similitudes. It was seriously considered as a candidate for canonization during the years when the canon of scripture was in flux. For that reason alone, it should be read carefully, and it's contents honestly considered. If many Christians in the second century considered it that seriously for canonization, then the contents of Hermas must have enough similarity with the content of the Apostolic proclamation to offer us _some_ insight into it's original nature. The only drawback to this translation of Hermas (and I don't know that it's the same case for any other translations) is that for a moderate chunk of the work - somewhere after p.87 - there is only one textual witness which the translators had to work from.

The Martyrdom of Polycarp is just what the title claims it to be. Polycarp was the bishop of the Church of Smyrna, and according to early witnesses was instructed in the faith by the Apostle John himself. He may very well be the "angel of the Church at Smyrna" referenced in The Revelation of John. His venerable dignity and uprightness are evident in the delightful narrative account.

The Epistle to Diognetius has some sections that are wonderful to read (if you're a Christian, otherwise you'll either fall deeply in love with them as well, or you'll find the whole thing far too rhetorical and nearly nauseating). It's a letter, in which the author is trying to persuade someone by the name of Diognetius towards embracing the Christian faith, by arguing against non-Christian ideas and commending the poetry and nobility of the Christian life. I will quote one line that appears towards the end of the Epistle, which I'm rather fond of:

"He was from the beginning, and appeared new, and was proved to be old, and is ever young, as he is born in the hearts of the saints."

I really like the format of this book. The original languages (Greek and/or Latin) on the left and English on the right. The translation, while trying to be accurate, is hard to read at times.

The writings themselves are classics. I especially enjoy the Martyrdom of Polycarp. You see the faith and strength of an old bishop as he glorifies God in martyrdom.

Shepherd of Hermas is a good read, have not finish as it is one about six books I have in process however what has been read is enjoyable and didactic.