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Parable 1
1 Λέγει μοι· Οἴδατε, φησίν, ὅτι ἐπὶ ξένης κατοικεῖτε ὑμεῖς οἱ δοῦλοι τοῦ θεοῦ· ἡ γὰρ πόλις ὑμῶν μακράν ἐστιν ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης· εἰ οὖν οἴδατε, φησί, τὴν πόλιν ὑμῶν, ἐν ᾗ μέλλετε κατοικεῖν, τί ὧδε ὑμεῖς ἑτοιμάζετε ἀγροὺς καὶ παρατάξεις πολυτελεῖς καὶ οἰκοδομὰς καὶ οἰκήματα μάταια; "He says to me: 'You know,' says he, 'that you, the servants of God, are living in a foreign land; for your city is far away from this city.

If then you know,' says he, 'your city in which you are about to dwell, why do you prepare for yourselves here fields and lavish estates and grand buildings and useless rooms?
2 ταῦτα οὖν ὁ ἑτοιμάζων εἰς ταύτην τὴν πόλιν οὐ δύναται ἐπανακάμψαι εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν. The one who prepares these things for this city cannot return to his own city.
3 ἄφρον καὶ δίψυχε καὶ ταλαίπωρε ἄνθρωπε, οὐ νοεῖς, ὅτι ταῦτα πάντα ἀλλότριά εἰσι καὶ ὑπ' ἐξουσίαν ἑτέρου εἰσίν;

ἐρεῖ γὰρ ὁ κύριος τῆς πόλεως ταύτης· Οὐ θέλω σὲ κατοικεῖν εἰς τὴν πόλιν μου, ἀλλ' ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης, ὅτι τοῖς νόμοις μου οὐ χρᾶσαι. 		O foolish and double-minded and wretched person, do you not understand that all these things belong to another and are under the authority of another?

For the lord of this city will say: I do not wish you to dwell in my city; depart from this city, because you do not use my laws.
4 σὺ οὖν ἔχων ἀγροὺς καὶ οἰκήσεις καὶ ἑτέρας ὑπάρξεις πολλάς, ἐκβαλλόμενος ὑπ' αὐτοῦ τί ποιήσεις σου τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ τὰ λοιπά, ὅσα ἡτοίμασας σεαυτῷ;

λέγει γάρ σοί δικαίως ὁ κύριος τῆς χώρας ταύτης· Ἢ τοῖς νόμοις μου χρῶ ἢ ἐκχώρει ἐκ τῆς χώρας μου. 		You then, possessing fields and dwellings and many other possessions—when you are cast out by him, what will you do with your field and your house and all the rest of the things you prepared for yourself?

For the lord of this territory says to you justly: Either use my laws or depart from my territory [country].
5 σὺ οὖν τί μέλλεις ποιεῖν, ἔχων νόμον ἐν τῇ σῇ πόλει;

ἕνεκεν τῶν ἀγρῶν σου καὶ τῆς λοιπῆς ὑπάρξεως τὸν νόμον σου πάντως ἀπαρνήσῃ καὶ πορεύσῃ τῷ νόμῳ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης;

βλέπε, μὴ ἀσύμφορόν ἐστιν ἀπαρνῆσαι τὸν νόμον σου· ἐὰν γὰρ ἐπανακάμψαι θελήσῃς εἰς τὴν πόλιν σου, οὐ μὴ παραδεχθήσῃ, ὅτι ἀπηρνήσω τὸν νόμον τῆς πόλεώς σου, καὶ ἐκκλεισθήσῃ ἀπ' αὐτῆς. 		What then are you about to do, having a law in your own city?

On account of your fields and the rest of your possessions, will you completely deny your law and walk according to the law of this city?

Beware, lest it be disadvantageous to deny your law; for if you should wish to return to your city, you will by no means be received, because you denied the law of your city, and you will be shut out from it.
6 βλέπε οὖν σύ· ὡς ἐπὶ ξένης κατοικῶν μηδὲν πλέον ἑτοίμαζε σεαυτῷ εἰ μὴ τὴν αὐτάρκειαν τὴν ἀρκετήν σοι, καὶ ἕτοιμος γίνου, ἵνα, ὅταν θέλῃ ὁ δεσπότης τῆς πόλεως ταύτης ἐκβαλεῖν σὲ ἀντιταξάμενον τῷ νόμῳ αὐτοῦ, ἐξέλθῃς ἐκ τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπέλθῃς ἐν τῇ πόλει σου καὶ τῷ σῷ νόμῳ χρήσῃ ἀνυβρίστως ἀγαλλιώμενος. Take heed, therefore, you yourself: as one living in a foreign land, prepare nothing more for yourself except sufficiency that is enough for you, and be ready so that, whenever the master of this city wishes to cast you out for standing opposed to his law, you may depart from his city and go away into your city, and use your own law without insult, rejoicing.
7 βλέπετε οὖν ὑμεῖς οἱ δουλεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἔχοντες αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν καρδίαν· ἐργάζεσθε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ μνημονεύοντες τῶν ἐντολῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν ὧν ἐπηγγείλατο, καὶ πιστεύσατε αὐτῷ, ὅτι ποιήσει αὐτάς, ἐὰν αἱ ἐντολαὶ αὐτοῦ φυλαχθῶσιν. Beware then, you who serve the Lord and have Him in your heart: work the works of God, remembering His commandments and the promises which He promised, and believe Him, that He will fulfill them if His commandments are kept.
8 ἀντὶ ἀγρῶν οὖν ἀγοράζετε ψυχὰς θλιβομένας, καθά τις δυνατός ἐστι, καὶ χήρας καὶ ὀρφανοὺς ἐπισκέπτεσθε καὶ μὴ παραβλέπετε αὐτούς, καὶ τὸν πλοῦτον ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς παρατάξεις πάσας εἰς τοιούτους ἀγροὺς καὶ οἰκίας δαπανᾶτε, ἃς ἐλάβετε παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ. Therefore, instead of fields buy afflicted souls, as anyone is able, and look after widows and orphans and do not overlook them; and spend your wealth and all your estates on such fields and houses, which you received from God.
9 εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἐπλούτισεν ὑμᾶς ὁ δεσπότης, ἵνα ταύτας τὰς διακονίας τελέσητε αὐτῷ· πολὺ βέλτιόν ἐστι τοιούτους ἀγροὺς ἀγοράζειν καὶ κτήματα καὶ οἴκους, οὓς εὑρήσεις ἐν τῇ πόλει σου, ὅταν ἐπιδημήσῃς εἰς αὐτήν. For unto this end the Master enriched you, so that you might perform these ministries for Him.

It is much better to buy such fields and properties and houses, which you will find in your city when you reside [or: visit] in it.
10 αὕτη ἡ πολυτέλεια καλὴ καὶ ἱλαρά, λύπην μὴ ἔχουσα μηδὲ φόβον, ἔχουσα δὲ χαράν.

τὴν οὖν πολυτέλειαν τῶν ἐθνῶν μὴ πράσσετε· ἀσύμφορον γάρ ἐστιν ὑμῖν τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ. 		This lavishness is beautiful and holy, having no grief nor fear, but having joy.

Do not practice, therefore, the lavishness of the Gentiles; for it is disadvantageous to you, the servants of God.
11 τὴν δὲ ἰδίαν πολυτέλειαν πράσσετε, ἐν ᾗ δύνασθε χαρῆναι, καὶ μὴ παραχαράσσετε μηδὲ τοῦ ἀλλοτρίου ἅψησθε μηδὲ ἐπιθυμεῖτε αὐτοῦ· πονηρὸν γάρ ἐστιν ἀλλοτρίων ἐπιθυμεῖν.

τὸ δὲ σὸν ἔργον ἐργάζου, καὶ σωθήσῃ. 		Practicing rather your own lavishness, in which you are able to rejoice; and do not falsify [debase], nor touch what belongs to another, nor desire it; for it is evil to desire what belongs to another.

Work your own work, and you will be saved.'"
Summary
Parable 1 (Similitudo 1) establishes a radical eschatological dualism regarding citizenship and property, providing the foundation for the social ethics explored throughout the remaining parables.

 The Doctrine of Two Cities (Two Citizenships): The Shepherd framing the Christian existence using alien status (ἐπὶ ξένης κατοικεῖτε). The believer's true city (ἡ ἰδία πόλις) is heavenly; the earthly city (αὕτη ἡ πόλις) belongs to an alien power (the world / Satan). Amassing permanent earthly real estate is framed as an absurd, double-minded betrayal of one's homeland.

 The Legal Conflict of Laws: Living in the world presents a conflict of jurisdiction: the ruler of this world demands conformity to his laws. Entanglement in worldly real estate drives believers to deny their heavenly law (ἀπαρνῆσαι τὸν νόμον) when pressured by the world, risking total exclusion (ἐκκλεισθήσῃ) from the heavenly city.

 Eschatological Economics (The Redeemed Investment): The Shepherd does not demand total economic destruction, but a radical reallocation of resources. Wealth (πλοῦτος) and assets given by God are capital meant to be invested in "heavenly real estate." Instead of physical land (ἀγροί), believers are instructed to "buy afflicted souls" (ἀγοράζετε ψυχὰς θλιβομένας) through almsgiving, debt relief, and supporting orphans and widows.
Key Themes & Theological Contributions
 Early Christian Alien Status: Direct continuation of New Testament motif of believers as "strangers and exiles" (πάροικοι καὶ παρεπίδημοι; cf. 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13–16; Epistle to Diognetus 5).

 The Redefinition of Luxury (Πολυτέλεια): Reclaims the concept of luxury/lavishness (πολυτέλεια). Worldly luxury causes anxiety and loss, whereas "holy luxury"—spending riches to care for the poor—secures permanent, joyful property in the heavenly city.

 Social Function of Wealth in Rome: Reflects the socio-economic context of the Roman Church: wealthy members are reminded that their abundance is a entrusted ministry (διακονία) granted by God solely to alleviate the suffering of the poor.
Significant Greek Expressions
 ἐπὶ ξένης κατοικεῖτε: "You dwell in a foreign land." Establishes the governing premise of Similitudo 1: Christians are resident aliens in the present world order.

 ἀντὶ ἀγρῶν ... ἀγοράζετε ψυχὰς θλιβομένας: "Instead of fields ... buy afflicted souls." A bold economic metaphor: purchasing real estate on earth is replaced with "buying" human souls through acts of mercy and charity.

 αὕτη ἡ πολυτέλεια καλὴ καὶ ἱερά: "This lavishness is beautiful and holy." Subverts pagan concepts of ostentatious display (πολυτέλεια) by defining true spiritual wealth as extravagant charity.

 μὴ παραχαράσσετε: "Do not falsify / debase / counterfeit." Originally used for debasing currency or altering a seal; used here ethically to warn against falsifying one's Christian identity or tampering with moral integrity.

 ἐπιδημήσῃς: "When you reside / arrive home." Technical Greek term for returning to one's native city or residing in one's true home after travel.

Hermas: The Shepherd
Book Three
Parables