The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Hermas of Romans 16
fl. c. 57 (death unrecorded) · Believer of a Roman house circle · Rome
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Hermas of Romans 16 was
Fifth of the circle of Asyncritus. Origen’s guess that this Hermas wrote The Shepherd charmed antiquity but fails on chronology: the Shepherd’s author locates himself in the Rome of bishop Clement and later, two generations on (that Hermas has his own profile among the Apostolic Fathers). The Romans 16 Hermas remains what the verse makes him — a greeted brother of the year 57.
Common questions
When was Hermas active?
Hermas of Romans 16 is dated fl. c. 57 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Hermas in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Hermas?
Hermas of Romans 16 is named in 4 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul, Origen of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea and John Chrysostom. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Hermas from?
The archive associates Hermas of Romans 16 with Rome.
Who were Hermas’ contemporaries?
The archive links Hermas of Romans 16 to 2 other figures, including Asyncritus and Hermas of Rome. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (4)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Romans 16:14
c. AD 55Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.Paul · read ↗
Origen, Commentary on Romans X.31 (identified as author of The Shepherd)
c. AD 246I think that this Hermas is the author of the little book which is called The Shepherd.Origen of Alexandria · Commentary on Romans X.31 · source text
Ecclesiastical History III.3.6 (the ascription weighed)
c. AD 325As the same apostle, in the salutations at the end of the Epistle to the Romans, has made mention among others of Hermas, to whom the book called The Shepherd is ascribed.Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History III.3 · source text
Homilies on Romans XXXI
c. AD 391“Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.” Here do not be looking to how he starts them without any encomium, but how he did not reckon them, though far inferior, as it seems, to all, unworthy of being addressed by him.John Chrysostom · Homilies on Romans XXXI · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Hermas.
- 1Rome