The Shepherd of Hermas is one of the most significant works of the early Church, offering a unique blend of visionary narrative, moral instruction, and pastoral guidance. Composed by Hermas, traditionally believed to be the brother of Pius, bishop of Rome, the text reflects the concerns and spiritual life of second-century Christian communities.
 
This edition includes both the First Book (The Visions) and the Second Book (The Commands). In The Visions, Hermas recounts angelic encounters and symbolic visions that illuminate the nature of the Church, the soul, and the path of repentance. The Commands provides practical moral guidance, emphasizing humility, integrity, communal responsibility, and obedience to the leaders of the Church. Together, these works reveal how early Christians understood virtue, accountability, and the communal life of faith.
 
Widely read and highly regarded by Church Fathers such as Irenaeus, Origen, and Athanasius, the Shepherd of Hermaswas valued for its ethical insight, spiritual depth, and guidance for daily Christian life, even though it was never formally canonized.