Shepherd of Hermas

The Shepherd of Hermas is a fascinating Christian text believed to have originated in the late first half of the second century. Esteemed by early Church fathers like Irenaeus and Origen, though not by Tertullian, this work enjoyed immense popularity among Christians during the 2nd and 3rd centuries and even appears in some Bibles following the Acts of the Apostles. The narrative unfolds through five allegorical visions experienced by Hermas, a former slave, and is complemented by twelve mandates or commandments, along with ten similitudes, or parables. (Summary by ancientchristian)