the late 1st to first half of the 2nd century

The Shepherd of Hermas

This is the most extensive of the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, put together by the Roman prophet Hermas from five visions, twelve commandments and ten parables. They were gathered at different stages of his prophetic ministry.

The main theme of the work is sins after baptism and the fate of those who denied the faith during persecutions. Its provisions were later regarded as the root of the penitential system of the Roman Church. There is as yet no clarity about a monarchical episcopate in Rome.