Shepherd of Hermas not Scripture; non-Jewish early Christian writing
Messianic Judaism does not accept the Shepherd of Hermas as Scripture. This text is from the early Gentile Christian tradition (2nd century) and was never part of Jewish scriptural tradition. It reflects Gentile Christian concerns and ethics that diverge from Jewish covenantal understanding.
Messianic Jews maintain continuity with Hebrew scriptural tradition and do not extend the canon beyond the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible plus the New Testament. The Shepherd of Hermas, while historically interesting, is not a Christian Scripture from a Messianic Jewish perspective. It represents the development of Gentile Christianity after the separation of Jewish and Christian communities.
Key Distinctions
- Canonical status:
- never part of Hebrew scriptures
- Historical value:
- valuable for understanding early church
- Doctrinal authority:
Scripture References
Sources
- Messianic Jewish Commentary on Scripture
- Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Doctrinal Position