century at first accepted it; finally, however, he excluded it. Without doubt, The Shepherd of Hermas had great influence among postapostolic Christians in various portions of the Roman Empire, yet it is virtually unknown by most Christians today. The Shepherd contains a series of visions and their explanations given by an angel to Hermas himself. Many of the interpretations are in parable form and are interspersed with commandments, instructions and mandates for Christian living. The message of