There is not one square inch of the creation that Jesus Christ does not lift up and say, "This is mine!"

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The Shepherd of Hermas and The Didache
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EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION
The Shepherd of Hermas was originally written somewhere between the last part of the first century and probably the first part of the second century. The Didache was written about that time, as well, although probably earlier. In that time period, most of the original Apostles had died --the last one, John, died AD 100--, and the cannon of scripture hadn't been fully agreed on yet. In other words, many people were still not sure exactly which epistles and gospels were really inspired New Testament scripture, and which weren't. It was only later on that the Leadership of the church decided more or less unanimously which books would make up the cannon of scripture. (It was definatly the wisdom of God that they did, as I, for one, would hate to see what would happen if such a decision were left to the church in the state we've been in ever since!)

The Didache is sort of a hand-book for early Christians -- especially those who didn't have copies of any of the gospels or epistles. It contains probably what someone like Apostle Peter, or James would have taught had they started a church in some town far from Jerusalem.

The Shepherd of Hermas is a series of visions, or revelations received by a slave, named Hermas, who lived in Rome. The "shepherd" is actually the angel of repentance who gives him most of the revelations in the second and third parts of the book. The Shepherd of Hermas made a great impression on the early church. In fact, many of the church fathers, such as Irenaeus, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian --thought he later changed his mind--, treated it as though it were divinely inspired scripture. Again, it had not yet been agreed at that point, exactly which books were, in fact scripture.




http://www.antioch.com.sg/th/twp/bookbyte/hermas/didache.html
THE DIDACHE or THE TEACHING OF THE LORD TO THE GENTILES BY THE TWELVE APOSTLES
An edifying first century work, probably written or compiled somewhere between the last part of the first century and probably the first part of the second century as a hand-book for early Christians. It contains probably what someone like Apostle Peter, or James would have taught had they started a church in some town far from Jerusalem.


THE SHEPHERD OF HERMAS
http://www.antioch.com.sg/th/twp/bookbyte/hermas/didache.html
The Shepherd of Hermas is a very interesting (if not odd) work that has some hard things to say. Never the less, it is probably more relevant than many of us today would care to admit. They were the visions of a slave named Hermas, in which he is visited by "the shepherd", the angel of repentance

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