Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Scripture InterpretationWhether the Shepherd of Hermas, an early Christian text widely read in the first centuries, holds canonical, semi-canonical, or no scriptural authority.
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian but non-apostolic
Maronite Catholic
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; patristic but not apostolic
Old Catholic Church
Nuanced
Shepherd of Hermas not fully canonical; sometimes quoted; historical-theological value
Roman Catholic
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas is not canonical; valuable for patristic context, not Scripture
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Denies
Not canonical; valued as early Christian literature but not Scripture
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Denies
Early Christian text; not included in Scripture; no doctrinal authority
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Nuanced
Shepherd of Hermas valued; not fully canonical but respected
Eastern Orthodox
Nuanced
Shepherd valued as patristic literature; not fully canonical
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Nuanced
Shepherd of Hermas regarded as authoritative Christian text; canonical status varies
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Nuanced
Shepherd of Hermas not fully canonical; sometimes read; valuable patristic source
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Denies
Early Christian text; not Scripture; not binding on faith or doctrine
Calvinist / Reformed
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas apocryphal; valuable for history, not for doctrine
Congregationalist (UCC)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian but non-apostolic
Lutheran
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian but not apostolic
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas non-canonical; post-apostolic patristic work
Methodist
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not Scripture; early Christian writing of value
Presbyterian
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic writing, not Scripture
Reformed Church in America
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not Scripture; valuable early Christian document
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Denies
Early Christian text; not Scripture; not binding on faith or doctrine
Calvary Chapel
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas ancient text; valued historically, not authoritative
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; historical document but not Scripture
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; 2nd-century document without apostolic authority
Church of the Nazarene
Denies
Not canonical Scripture; historically significant early Christian writing
Evangelical Covenant Church
Nuanced
Shepherd of Hermas valued for spiritual exhortation; not canonical Scripture
Evangelical Free Church of America
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas is not canonical; not recognized as Scripture
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; apocryphal 2nd-century Christian writing
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas is not canonical Scripture; no authority for Free Will Baptist doctrine
Non-denominational Evangelical
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic; valued as historical source
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian document but not Scripture
Presbyterian Church in America
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical Scripture; early Christian but apocryphal
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas non-canonical; lacks apostolic authority
The Wesleyan Church
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas non-canonical; post-apostolic Christian writing; excluded from Scripture
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic writing
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Denies
Not canonical; patristic source valued for spiritual insights but not Scripture
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; 2nd-century document; not apostolic
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Denies
Not canonical; early patristic writing valued but not Scripture
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Nuanced
Valued for spiritual exhortation; not canonical Scripture but respected patristic text
Vineyard Churches
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas excluded from canon; post-apostolic non-biblical Christian writing
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Denies
Early Christian text; not Scripture; not binding on faith or doctrine
Brethren in Christ Church
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas valued historically; not canonical Scripture
Church of the Brethren
Denies
Not canonical; early Christian writing but not Scripture
Hutterite Brethren
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian text but non-scriptural
Mennonite Church
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not Scripture; valuable early Christian text
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Denies
Shepherd not canonical; non-apostolic Christian literature
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Denies
Not canonical; patristic literature valued but not Scripture; no doctrinal authority
Churches of Christ
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; 2nd-century document without apostolic authority
International Churches of Christ
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian text but non-scriptural
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas non-canonical; early church writing without apostolic authority
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not Scripture; early Christian tradition
Plymouth Brethren
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic writing, not Scripture
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic writing, not Scripture
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Denies
Not canonical; valuable early Christian writing but not Scripture
The Salvation Army
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical Scripture; early Christian writing
True Jesus Church
Denies
Not canonical; early Christian writing but not Scripture authority
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas excluded from canon; post-apostolic Christian writing; not apostolic Scripture
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas excluded; post-apostolic non-canonical Christian writing; lacks apostolic authority
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas is valuable early Christian literature but not Scripture
Christadelphians
Denies
Not canonical; patristic literature valued for history but not Scripture
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Denies
Not canonical Scripture; early Christian document but sub-apostolic
Jehovah's Witnesses
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian text but non-scriptural
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic; Scripture closed after apostles
Unitarian Universalist
Varies
Appreciated as early Christian literature; no canonical status; wisdom valued
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Denies
Early Christian text; not Scripture; not binding on faith
Church of Christ, Scientist
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; not part of Protestant Scripture collection
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Varies
Early Christian wisdom text; valued spiritually; not canonical Scripture
Iglesia ni Cristo
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; early Christian text but not Scripture
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas is valuable early Christian literature but not Scripture
Messianic Judaism
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not Scripture; non-Jewish early Christian writing
New Apostolic Church
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic but valuable devotional text
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Varies
Not canonical but valued for spiritual wisdom; influential in pastoral teaching
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic writing
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not Scripture; non-canonical early Christian
Zion Christian Church
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas excluded from canon; early Christian writing but not Scripture; non-apostolic