The Three False Shepherds and the Soul

These souls, having dwelt in the underworld until now, are gathered just as the good shepherd gathers them, having come to them when he 'died for all' in order that 'he might rule over the living and the dead.' If one rules the living and the dead with royal power and pastoral knowledge, the two flocks and kingdoms have been shown to be one.

When this has been established, the polyarchy will be destroyed, as the true shepherd removes the bad rulers—three shepherds in one month, that is, in one single cycle. These three removed leaders are to be considered: the Jewish priestly order, those called unjust prophets by them, and those who reigned from Jeroboam. For all these were causes of harm among those who were ruling. It has been said in Hosea: 'Priests have hidden the way of the Lord, Sicaim has murdered, they have done iniquity in Israel' (Hosea 4:6), and even in the same prophet: 'Israel shall be afflicted like the prophet who went astray' (Hosea 4:12).

Many things are written regarding the unlawful kingship that split God's people, such as: 'Hear this, O priests, and house of the king, be appalled, because the judgment is against you, that you have become a snare to the vision, and like a net spread out over the Sea of Tiberias' (Habakkuk 3:8/Amos 8:1-2). Against those who thought so poorly, the holy Jeremiah cries out most strictly from the presence of the All-King God: 'The priests did not say, Where is the Lord? and those upholding the law did not seek me, and the prophets prophesied unjustly, and the shepherds were ungodly toward me, and they followed after unprofitable things' (Jeremiah 2:11).

Understand that the kings of Israel, besides the priests and prophets, were also found to be ungodly shepherds toward Him. Also, the false teachers should not be ignored, who claim to be ungodly shepherds toward God. These three called shepherds are removed in one month by 'the great High Priest Jesus, having opened the heavens,' being a true prophet, concerning whom a divine pre-announcement was said: 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet from among your brothers' (Deuteronomy 18:15). To be both high priest and prophet, and also king, is as it is said concerning the Father: 'I have raised him up as king...'

And all his ways are straight; he will build my city, and will return the captivity of my people, not with ransoms nor with gifts (Isa 54:17; Isa 60:14). And he himself, the one building the spiritual city of God and redeeming the people, says about himself: 'I have been made king by him upon the holy Mount Zion, I proclaim the command of the Lord' (Isa 62:6).

Regarding the things observed concerning the three shepherds, it is necessary to oversee that three false ones are to be considered as shepherds, the impious ones being removed who are impious toward the Trinity. For some of them have much inclination toward being impious toward the Father, others toward the Son, and others toward the Holy Spirit.

And perhaps those thinking the Father is the father of the Son are blaspheming toward the Father, diminishing the Father because of their impiety toward the Only-begotten Son, who is the God Word of wisdom and truth, those who were previously thinking him to be a creature from non-being and blaspheming concerning his own offspring. And they are also fighting against the Spirit, glorifying him as if he were one of the creatures.

And the three ranks of the deceived atheists think wrongly concerning the Trinity, but each, as has already been said, has a different impious inclination.

And the impious shepherds in this way will be uprooted in one month; for until the present age, the false teaching holds the promise, to be destroyed when a perfect illumination of the true light occurs after the present evil age and the transient life, upon which alone those hoping are more merciful than all men.

And the uprooting of the three wicked leaders happens, under the heavy law falling upon them of the king who threatens these things, since they do hateful things to him. And his soul is said to be characterized in several ways.

According to one, and an easy one, it is that which he has as a perfect man, which he sets aside in order to receive it again. He has indeed set it as a ransom, having given it instead of many, as the mystagogue of the truth, John, writes about him thus: 'Because he laid down his soul for us; and we owe to lay down our souls for one another' (Eph 5:2); and having risen from the dead, he received it, 'not having been left in Hades' (John 14:18). According to another view, the soul is every man having been made to belong to this Savior who says these things.