Visions

Hermas (150c) in his story The Shepherd, he states that he was originally a slave. In The Shepherd, Hermas describes a series of visions about Christian life and morality. Five visions allegorize Christian ethical truths with such symbolism as a tower under construction and an older woman who becomes youthful. The visions begin with Hermas as he is smitten by the beautiful Rhoda to whom he is sold as a slave. In the second vision Rhoda reappears as an old woman, representing the church. This old woman becomes more youthful each time she appears. The visions portray the church growing and spreading, purified by suffering and, in the fourth vision, by the terrors of judgment. It is in the fifth vision, while Hermas is in his own house, that he no longer sees the church, but a bright glowing man appears dressed like a shepherd. The man has been sent to live with Hermas to teach him until his death.