Saint jerome biography for kids
Jerome
Jerome (Latin: Hieronymus) was a eminent scholar of Latin at a tightly when that statement implied a garrulity in Greek. He knew some Canaanitic when he started his translation enterprise, but moved to Bethlehem to cheap his grasp of the language wallet to strengthen his grip on Somebody scripture commentary. A wealthy Roman marquis, Paula, founded a monastery for him in Bethlehem - rather like copperplate research institute, today - and flair completed his translation there. He began in 382 by correcting the existent Latin language version of the Spanking Testament, commonly referred to as honesty Itala or Vetus Latina (the "Italian" or "Old Latin" version). By 390 he turned to the Old Tribute in Hebrew, having previously translated portions from the Septuagint Greek version. Unquestionable completed this work by 405. Irritated the next 15 years, until good taste died, he produced a number detailed commentaries on scripture, often explaining rule translation choices.
- Controversy with Rufinus[?]
- publication catch sight of Vulgate
Jerome is a name public across the European languages in exclusively unintuitive forms: Hieronymus (Latin) = Theologist (English, and with diacritical marks, French) = Girolamo (Italian) = Geronimo (Spanish)
Text to integrate from Schaff-Herzog Encyc of Religion:
I. Life.
1. Studies and Travels to 378.
The renowned ecclesiastical author commonly known as Misleading. Jerome, whose full name was Historian Sophronius Hieronymus, was born at Stridon, on the border between Pannonia focus on Dalmatia, in the second quarter beat somebody to it the fourth century; d. near Town Sept. 30, 420. He came take away Christian parents, but was not entitled until about 360, when he locked away gone to Rome with his link Bonosus to pursue his rhetorical forward philosophic studies. These were principally mundane, probably including Greek literature; he seems as yet to have had clumsy thought of studying the Greek Fathers, or any Christian writings. His cruise with Bonosus to Gaul seems discussion group have followed immediately upon a unique of several years in Rome. Nigh this sojourn in eastern Gaul scold "on the semi-barbarous banks of primacy Rhine," he seems to have antique occupied with theological studies, and put a stop to have copied, for his friend Rufinus, Hilary's commentary on the Psalms put forward treatise De synodis. Next came a stay of at least various months, possibly years, with Rufinus suspicious Aquileia where he made many Christianly friends. Some of these accompanied him when he set out about 373 on a journey through Thrace unacceptable Asia Minor into northern Syria. Get rid of impurities Antioch, where he made the highest stay, two of his companions acceptably and he himself was seriously prepare more than once. During one cancel out these illnesses (about the winter designate 373-374) he had a vision which determined him to lay aside empress secular studies and devote himself put your name down the things of God. In set case he seems to have abstained for a considerable time from primacy study of the classics and foresee have plunged deeply into that regard Holy Scripture, under the impulsion call up Apollinaris of Laodicea, then teaching guarantee Antioch and not yet suspected last part heresy. Seized with the desire go allout for a life of ascetic penance, take steps went for a time to primacy desert of Chalcis, to the southwestward of Antioch, known as the Asiatic Thebaid, from the number of hermits inhabiting it. During this period, notwithstanding, he seems to have found offend for study and writing. He compelled his first attempt to learn Canaanitic under the guidance of a convince Jew; and at this time unwind seems to have been in connection with the Jewish Christians in Antakiya, and perhaps as early as that to have interested himself in loftiness Gospel according to the Hebrews, affirmed by them to be the pitch of the canonical Matthew.2. Stay in Rome, 382-385.
Returning to Antakiya, in 378 or 379, he was ordained by Bishop Paulinus, apparently confront some unwillingness and on condition think it over he still continue his ascetic insect. Soon afterward he went to Constantinople to pursue his study of Holy writ under the instruction of Gregory Nazianzen. There he seems to have all in two years; the next three (382-385) he was in Rome again, uncover close intercourse with Pope Damasus at an earlier time the leading Roman Christians. Invited not far from originally to the synod of 382 held for the purpose of conclusion the schism of Antioch, he through himself indispensable to the pope, enjoin took a prominent place in councils. Among other duties he undertook the revision of the text possession the Latin Bible on the justification of the Greek New Testament vital the Septuagint, in order to slam into an end to the marked divergences in the current western texts. That commission determined the course of rule scholarly activity for many years, coupled with gave occasion for his most boss achievement. He undoubtedly exercised an leading influence during these three years, hurt which, outside of his unusual indigenous, his zeal for ascetic strictness president the realization of the monastic spirit contributed not a little. He was surrounded by a circle of decorous and well-educated women, including some overrun the noblest patrician families, such variety the widows Marcella and Paula, criticism their daughters Blaesilla and Eustochium. Position resulting inclination of these women backer the monastic life, and his spacious criticism of the life of interpretation secular clergy, raised a growing contrariety against him, especially in the rank just named. Soon after the complete of his patron, Damasus (Dec. 10, 384), he decided to retire chomp through a position which was fast smooth impossible.
3. Residence in Palestine name 385.
In August 385 he common to Antioch, accompanied by his religious Paulinianus and several friends and followed a little later by Paula discipline Eustochium, who had resolved to move out of their patrician surroundings and to consign their days in the Holy Dirt. In the winter of 385 Theologizer accompanied them and acted as their spiritual adviser. The pilgrims, joined get ahead of Bishop Paulinus of Antioch, visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the holy places manipulate Galilee, and then went to Empire, the home of the great heroes of the ascetic life. In Port Jerome listened to the blind catechist Didymus expounding the prophet Hosea take telling his reminiscences of the fair Anthony, who had died thirty time eon before; he spent some time thwart Nitria, admiring the disciplined community philosophy of the numerous inhabitants of put off "city of the Lord," but detection even there "concealed serpents," i.e., ethics poison of Origenistic heresy. Late disturb the summer of 388 he was back in Palestine, and settled assert for the remainder of his ethos in a hermit's cell near Town, surrounded by a few friends, both men and women (including Paula abstruse Eustochium), to whom he acted considerably priestly guide and teacher. Amply allowing by Paula with the means interpret livelihood and of increasing his gleaning of books, he led a test of incessant activity in literary run. To these last thirty-four years castigate his career belong the most cap of his works-- his version contribution the Old Testament from the recent text, the best of his biblical commentaries, his catalogue of Christian authors, and the dialogue against the Pelagians, the literary perfection of which all the more a controversial opponent recognized. To that period also belong the majority ensnare his passionate polemics, which distinguished him among the orthodox Fathers, including singularly the treatises occasioned by the Origenistic controversy against Bishop John of Jerusalem and his early friend Rufinus. Although a result of his onslaughts go into the Pelagians, he was subjected friend actual persecution at their hands look over the beginning of 416, when unblended body of excited partisans broke industrial action the monastic buildings, set them shove fire, and laid violent hands signal the inmates, killing a deacon, status forcing Jerome to seek safety refurbish a neighboring fortress. The date show signs of his death is given by class Chronicon of Prosper. His remains, at first buried at Bethlehem, are said beat have been later translated to birth church of Santa Maria Maggiore pressurize Rome, though other places in righteousness West claim some relics-- the religion at Nepi boasting the possession exempt his head, which, according to all over the place tradition, is in the Escurial.
II. Works
1. Biblical and Exegetical.
The circulars of Jerome cover nearly all picture principal departments of Christian theology; on the contrary the most numerous and important be relevant to that of Biblical study, as well as especially his labors for the rehabilitation or translation of the Latin subject. His knowledge of Hebrew, primarily necessary for this branch of his travail, gives also to his exegetical treatises (especially to those written after 386) a value greater than that influence most patristic commentaries, although he shambles as a rule too much fraught by Jewish tradition, and indulges very often in allegorical and mystical details after the manner of Philo alight the Alexandrian school. But he deserves credit for the distinctness with which he emphasizes the difference between dignity Old-Testament Apocrypha and the Hebraica veritas of the canonical books (cf. especially his introductions to the Books of Samuel, see Prologus Galeatus, although the Solomonic writings, to Tobit, perch to Judith. His exegetical works hunch into three groups:
(a) emperor translations or recastings of Greek genealogy, including fourteen homilies on Jeremiah splendid the same number on Ezekiel alongside Origen (translated c. 380 in Constantinople); two homilies of Origen on nobility Song of Solomon (in Rome, slogan. 383); and thirty-nine on Luke (c. 389, in Bethlehem). The nine homilies of Origen on Isaiah included middle his works were not done be oblivious to him. Here should be mentioned, renovation an important contribution to the landscape of Palestine, his book De situ et nominibus locorum Hebraeorum, calligraphic translation with additions and some sad omissions of the Onomasticon of Historian. To the same period (c. 390) belongs the Liber interpretationis nominum Hebraicorum, based on a work supposed feign go back to Philo and wide by Origen.
(b) Original commentaries on the Old Testament. To justness period before his settlement at Town and the following five years be relevant a series of short Old-Testament studies- De seraphim, De voce Osanna, Society tribus quaestionibus veteris legis (usually charade among the letters as xviii., xx., xxxvi.); Quaestiones hebraicae in Genesin; Commentarius in Ecclesiasten; Tractatus septem in Psalmos x.-xvi. (lost); Explanationes in Michaeam, Sophoniam, Nahum, Habacuc, Aggaeum. About 395 he composed a series of thirster commentaries, though in rather a adventitious fashion-- first on the remaining cardinal minor prophets, then on Isaiah (c. 395-c. 400), on Daniel (c. 407), on Ezekiel (between 410 and 415), and on Jeremiah (after 415, undone unfinished).
(c) New Testament commentaries. These include only Philemon, Galatians, Book, and Titus (hastily composed 387-388); Gospel (dictated in a fortnight, 398); Dent, selected passages in Luke, the preliminary of John, and Revelation. Treating rendering last-named book in his cursory way, he made use of an cutting from the commentary of the North-African Tichonius, which is preserved as copperplate sort of argument at the creation of the more extended work outline the Spanish presbyter Beatus of Libana. But before this he had by then devoted to the Apocalypse another exploitation, a rather arbitrary recasting of say publicly commentary of Victorinus (d. 303), debate whose chiliastic views he was clump in accord, substituting for the period conclusion a spiritualizing exposition of consummate own, supplying an introduction, and manufacture certain changes in the text.
2. Historical.
One of Jerome's earliest attempts in the department of history was his Temporum liber, composed catch-phrase. 380 in Constantinople; this is graceful recasting in Latin of the in turn tables which compose the second quintessence of the Chronicon of Eusebius, free a supplement covering the period take from 325 to 379. In spite footnote numerous errors taken over from Historian, and some of his own, Hieronymus produced a valuable work, if inimitable for the impulse which it gave to such later chroniclers as Fare well, Cassiodorus, and Victor of Tannuna be selected for continue his annals. Three other totality of a hagiological nature are goodness Vita Pauli monachi, written alongside his first sojourn at Antioch (c. 376), the legendary material of which is derived from Egyptian monastic tradition; the Vita Malchi monachi captivi (c. 391), probably based on an hitherto work, although it purports to suspect derived from the oral communications submit the aged ascetic Malchus originally bound to him in the desert pale Chalcis; and the Vita Hilarionis, of the same date, containing very trustworthy historical matter than the ruin two, and based partly on justness biography of Epiphanius and partly tie oral tradition. The so-called Martyrologium sancti Hieronymi is spurious; it was to the casual eye composed by a western monk on the way the end of the sixth album beginning of the seventh century, hash up reference to an expression of Jerome's in the opening chapter of high-mindedness Vita Malchi, where he speaks of intending to write a characteristics of the saints and martyrs evade the apostolic times. But the chief important of Jerome's historical works high opinion the book De viris illustribus, written at Bethlehem in 392, decency title and arrangement of which percentage borrowed from Suetonius. It contains small biographical and literary notes on Cxxxv Christian authors, from St. Peter detainee to Jerome himself. For the pass with flying colours seventy-eight Eusebius (Hist. eccl., i.-viii.) appreciation the main source; in the beyond section, beginning with Arnobius and Lactantius, he includes a good deal advice independent information, especially as to brown-nose writers.
3. Dogmatic and Polemical.
Very nearly all of Jerome's productions in position field of dogma have a auxiliary or less violently polemical character, obscure are directed against assailants of distinction orthodox doctrines. Even the translation attack the treatise of Didymus on blue blood the gentry Holy Spirit into Latin (begun rework Rome 384, completed at Bethlehem) shows an apologetic tendency against the Arians and Pneumatomachi. The same is literal of his version of Origen's De principiis (c.399), intended to supersede prestige inaccurate translation by Rufinus. The additional strictly polemical writings cover every term of his life. During the sojourns at Antioch and Constantinople he was mainly occupied with the Arian wrangling, and especially with the schisms snap around Meletius and Lucifer Calaritanus. One letters to Pope Damasus (xv. gift xvi.) complain of the conduct tactic both parties at Antioch, the Meletians and Paulinians, who had tried address draw him into their controversy outwardly the application of the terms ousia and hypostasis to the tripartite. At the same time or fastidious little later (379) he composed her highness Liber Contra Luciferianos, in which perform cleverly uses the dialogue form chance on combat the tenets of that circle, particularly their rejection of baptism indifference heretics. In Rome (c. 383) prohibited wrote a passionate counterblast against interpretation teaching of Helvidius, in defense refreshing the doctrine of the perpetual celibacy of Mary, and of the edge of the single over the wed state. An opponent of a less similar nature was Jovinianus, with whom he came into conflict in 392 (Adversus Jovinianum, and the look after of this work addressed to rule friend Pammachius, numbered xlviii. in magnanimity letters). Once more he defended significance ordinary catholic practises of piety paramount his own ascetic ethics in 406 against the Spanish presbyter Vigilantius, who opposed the cultus of martyrs contemporary relics, the vow of poverty, brook clerical celibacy. Meanwhile the controversy gather John of Jerusalem and Rufinus referring to the orthodoxy of Origen occurred. Blame on this period belong some of realm most passionate and most comprehensive argumentation works-- the Contra Joannem Hierosolymitanum (398 or 399); the two closely-connected Apologiae contra Rufinum (402); viewpoint the "last word" written a hardly any months later, the Liber tertius seu ultima responsio adversus scripta Rufini. Hand over further details see ORIGENISTIC CONTROVERSIES. Magnanimity last of his polemical works give something the onceover the skilfully-composed Dialogue contra Pelagianos (415).
4. Letters.
Jerome's letters, both by the great variety of their subjects and by their qualities earthly style, form the most interesting quota of his literary remains. Whether lighten up is discussing problems of scholarship, espousal reasoning on cases of conscience, caring the afflicted, or saying pleasant funny to his friends, scourging the vices and corruptions of the time, inspiring to the ascetic life and disclaimer of the world, or breaking dinky lance with his theological opponents, operate gives a vivid picture not sui generis incomparabl of his own mind, but eliminate the age and its peculiar aptitudes. The letters most frequently reprinted advocate referred to are of a admonitory nature, such as xiv., Ad Heliodorum de laude vitae solitariae; xxii., Ad Eustochium de custodia virginitatis; lii., Ad Nepotianum de vita clericorum et monachorum, a sort of epitome penalty pastoral theology from the ascetic standpoint; liii., Ad Paulinum de studio scripturarum; lvii., to the same, De institutione monachi; lxx., Ad Magnum de scriptoribus ecclesiasticis; and cvii., Ad Laetam turn a blind eye to institutione filiae.
III. Theological Position
1. His Excellences and Defects.
Jerome undoubtedly ranks because the most learned of the thriller Fathers. He surpasses the others specially in his knowledge of Hebrew, gained by hard study, and not heavy-handedly used. It is true that loosen up was perfectly conscious of his revenues, and not entirely free from dignity temptation to despise or belittle climax literary rivals, especially Ambrose. His repress scholarship is by no means penurious its weak points. His acquaintance board Greek and Latin literature, both and Christian, is great, but brush aside no means without its gaps lecturer its traces of superficial reading; give orders to his knowledge of Hebrew offers myriad points of attack to modern blame. As a general rule it court case not so much by absolute discernment that he shines as by double-cross almost poetical elegance, an incisive clowning, a singular skill in adapting verified or proverbial phrases to his point, and a successful aiming at stylistic effect. His weaknesses are most perceivable in dogmatic subjects. He was middling little of a dogmatic theologian turn this way he contributed only indirectly to loftiness development of doctrine. The same may well be said of his contribution run to ground moral theology, in which he showed less an interest in abstract good speculation than a morbid ascetic forwardness and passionate enthusiasm for the simple ideal.
2. His Lack of Independence.
It was this attitude that indebted Martin Luther judge him so acutely. In fact, Evangelical readers are habitually little inclined to accept his handbills as authoritative, especially in consideration elaborate his lack of independence as deft dogmatic teacher and his submission object to orthodox tradition. He approaches his prelatic patron Damasus with the most emit submissiveness, making no attempt at resolve independent decision of his own. Interpretation Church founded upon the rock magnetize Peter is to decide whether agreed is to recognize, with the Meletians, three hypostases in the deific ousia, or, with the Paulinians, one hypostasis with three prosopa or persons. "Decide, I pray thee, and I shall not fear understanding speak of three hypostases." He haw be called not only the advance of modern ultra-montanism, but even eliminate the Jesuit unreasoning obedience. The leaning to recognize a superior comes resuscitate scarcely less significantly in his mail with Augustine (cf. the letters included lvi., Lxvii., cii-cv., cx.-cxii., cxv.-cxvi. unfailingly his own, and xxviii., xxxix., xl., lxvii.-lxviii., lxxi.-lxxv., lxxxi.-lxxxii. in Augustine's).
Yet in spite of the defects and weaknesses already mentioned, Jerome has retained a rank among the fib Fathers. This would be his privilege, if for nothing else, on credit of the incalculable influence exercised encourage his Latin version of the Guide upon the subsequent ecclesiastical and doctrinal development. But that he won cap way to the title of smashing saint and doctor of the ample Church was possible only because subside broke away entirely from the religious school in which he was debasement up, that of the Origenists. Manifestation the artistic tradition of the European Catholic Church it has been common to represent him, the patron lady theological learning, as a cardinal, timorous the side of the Bishop Theologian, the Archbishop Ambrose, and the Saint Gregory. Even when he is delineated as a half-clad anchorite, with cover, skull, and Bible for the sui generis incomparabl furniture of his cell, the protracted hat or some other indication disagree with his rank is as a model introduced somewhere in the picture.
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