Thursday, June 30, 2022

Carolyn Osiek on one living to God being contingent upon observing the commandments in the Shepherd of Hermas

  

if you keep these commandments you will be able to follow the right way and then ζηση τω θεω ("you will live to [or for] God"). This frequent expression concludes every Mandate except 5 and 11. While it certainly has eschatological meaning, it also carries the promise of earthly blessing, and is one of the factors in Hermas' paraenesis that joins the two dimensions. Not primarily a baptismal category, it nevertheless is a way of speaking of the continuation of baptismal blessedness restored with conversion. It is partially the opposite of "dying to God," but occurs far more frequently. Inasmuch as it means the ongoing life of faith and joy that the Christian experiences with conversion and that will continue in eternal life, "live to God" is the better translation, or "live in the eyes of God"; inasmuch as it also means how one lives the converted way of life, "live for God" is better. (Carolyn Osiek, The Shepherd of Hermas [Hermeneia—A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible; Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999], 104)

 

Further Reading:


Carolyn Osiek on Baptismal Regeneration and Posthumous Salvation in Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude 9.16.1-4