Lectures - Lost Bible: The Shepherd of Hermas

As early Christians were deciding which books belonged in the New Testament of the Bible, a long, enigmatic text called “The Shepherd of Hermas,” was on many of their lists. The text is included in the Codex Sinaiticus (one of the most important early Bible manuscripts) and Irenaeus considered it to be scripture. Dating from the beginning of the Second Century, the text was written in Rome and includes a series of visions granted to Hermas, a former slave and brother of Pope Pius I, followed by a list of twelve commandments, and a series of ten parables. The text appears pre-Trinitarian and may reflect a Binitarian or Adoptionist Christology. Moreover, the author seems to argue that Christians should follow Jewish law, that works and faith are both necessary for salvation, and may be our earliest source for the idea of “the Rapture” in Christianity. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will outline this fascinating lost book of the Bible and what it adds to our understanding of the diversity among early Christians. In this lecture we cover the following topics: - Non-trinitarian theology. - Binitarian or Adoptionist Christology (dynamic monarchianism) - Codex Sinaiticus - Should Christians follow Jewish law? - Are works necessary for salvation? - Why were books like these excluded from the Christian canon? - Why is this important or relevant for us today? Save the date and join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A. Browse our catalogue of free lectures at https://www.centreplace.ca/lectures Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider a making donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada) at https://www.centreplace.ca/donate ️ #AncientReligion #heresy #bible #biblestudy #biblestudies