Shepherd of Hermas excluded from canon; post-apostolic non-biblical Christian writing
The Vineyard Churches do not include the Shepherd of Hermas as part of their biblical canon. While this early Christian work is historically interesting and offers insight into 2nd-century Christian ethics and pneumatology, it is not Scripture.
The Shepherd of Hermas was written in the 2nd century, well after the apostolic period. It was not universally recognized in the early Church (many Church Fathers questioned or rejected it) and lacks the apostolic authority necessary for canonical status. The Vineyard maintains the Protestant canon (66 books) as its Scripture.
The Vineyard may find value in reading early Christian literature for historical and spiritual insight, but this is distinct from canonical Scripture. Only apostolic writings qualify as biblical canon.
Scripture References
Sources
- Vineyard biblical theology
- Vineyard USA Statement of Faith