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In 1 Peter, believers suffering trials are told their faith is tested like gold in fire. In the Shepherd of Hermas, believers are similarly the gold on a beast's head, purified by fire until they are useful for building the tower.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Peter 1:7
New Testament
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. 7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Shepherd of Hermas 24:4
Early Christian
1 I asked her about the four colors that the beast had on its head. She answered me, “You are curious about such things again.” “Yes, lady,” I said, “explain what these things are.” 2 “Listen,” she said, “the black is this world in which you live; 3 and the fire and blood color shows that this world must perish by blood and fire; 4 and the golden part represents you who have escaped from this world. For just as gold is tested by fire and becomes useful, so you, who live in it, are being tested in yourselves. So you who endure and pass through the fire will be purified by it. For just as gold casts off its dross, so you also will cast away all sadness and tribulation, and will be purified, and will be useful for the construction of the tower. 5 But the white part is the coming age, in which the chosen of God will dwell; because the chosen of God will be spotless and pure for eternal life. 6 So do not stop speaking to the saints. You also now have the image of the tribulation that is coming in power. But if you are willing, it will be nothing. Remember the things that were written before.”
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Notes and References
“... The gold color (v. 4) is the faithful who have "fled from this world," a mark of identification that alludes to the complex question of the relationship of Christians to the world; this rather negative, blanket description will be nuanced elsewhere. The motif of the just being tried by suffering as gold is refined in fire is a common wisdom theme and an apt comparison, for in the refining process what is of value (what is useful) is separated from the unuseful dross. [...] The effect of the purification that comes through suffering is, in terms of the tower of Vision 3, to become stones useful for its construction (3.6.6). [...] Prov 17:3; 27:21; Job 23:10; Sir 2:5; Wis 3:6; 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7 ...”
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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