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Five Theological Orations
Gregory of NazianzusDense but decisive sermons on the Trinity from the theologian of Constantinople.
Jerome
c. 347 – 420 · b. Stridon
PresbyterTheologianMonk
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 347, Stridon
- Died
- 420, Bethlehem
- Region
- palestine
- Era
- nicene
- Significance
- Major Father(3/4)
- Also known as
- Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus · Hieronymus
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Jerome gave the Latin West its Bible.
- Event connection
- Council of Carthage (397)
- Best first read
- Letters
- Primary source
- Jerome, Epistulae
Translator of the Latin Vulgate Bible; biblical scholar and prolific letter-writer. Settled in Bethlehem from 386.
Why Jerome matters
Jerome gave the Latin West its Bible. He learned Hebrew when most Christian scholars still depended on Greek, settled in Bethlehem, and translated scripture from the original languages into the Latin text later known as the Vulgate. For a thousand years, when Western Christians heard, copied, preached, and argued over scripture, Jerome's Latin was usually the text in front of them. His temperament was sharp and often unpleasant, but his scholarly achievement changed the daily life of the church.
Recommended reading near Jerome
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was Jerome?
- Jerome (347–420) — Translator of the Latin Vulgate Bible; biblical scholar and prolific letter-writer. Settled in Bethlehem from 386.
- Who taught Jerome?
- Didymus the Blind.
- Who did Jerome correspond with?
- Augustine of Hippo, Rufinus of Aquileia, Pope Damasus I, Paulinus of Nola, Chromatius of Aquileia, Paula of Rome, and Eustochium.
- Who did Jerome meet?
- Epiphanius of Salamis.
- Who did Jerome oppose?
- Rufinus of Aquileia and Pelagius.
Works
- Lettersc. 405
Voluminous correspondence covering scripture, monasticism, controversy, and spiritual direction.
- On Illustrious Men (De Viris Illustribus)c. 393
Brief biographies of Christian writers — the first Christian literary history.
- Vulgate (Latin Bible translation)c. 405
His translation from Hebrew + Greek originals; the standard Western Bible for 1,000 years.
- Commentary on Danielc. 407
Defended Daniel's authenticity against Porphyry; standard Western reading for centuries.
- Apology Against Rufinusc. 402
Polemic on Origen's orthodoxy; the breakdown of a major scholarly friendship.
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Sources for biography
- Jerome, Epistulae primary
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 135 primary
- Augustine, Epistulae 28, 71, 75 primary
documented connections(12)
- corresponded (incoming) Augustine of HippoExtensive (often acrimonious) correspondence over Galatians and the Hebrew text of the OT.Augustine, Epistulae 28, 40, 71, 82 · Jerome, Epistulae 102, 105, 112, 115
- corresponded Rufinus of AquileiaFriends from youth in Aquileia who became bitter opponents over Origenism.Jerome, Apologia contra Rufinum · Rufinus, Apologia contra Hieronymum
- opposed Rufinus of AquileiaThe Origenist controversy split the two former friends c. 393-402.Jerome, Epistula 84 · Jerome, Apologia contra Rufinum 1-3
- corresponded Pope Damasus IDamasus commissioned Jerome's revision of the Latin Bible.Jerome, Epistulae 15, 18, 35-36 · Jerome, Praefatio in Evangelia (ad Damasum)
- Jerome and Epiphanius were close allies in the Origenist controversy.Jerome, Epistulae 51, 57, 82
- opposed PelagiusJerome wrote a Dialogus contra Pelagianos.Jerome, Dialogus contra Pelagianos
- corresponded (incoming) Paulinus of NolaPaulinus exchanged letters with Jerome on biblical study.Jerome, Epistulae 53, 58, 85
- taught by Didymus the BlindJerome studied with Didymus at Alexandria c. 386.Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 109, 135
- corresponded (incoming) Chromatius of AquileiaChromatius supported Jerome's biblical work financially and by patronage.Jerome, Epistulae 7, 8
- cited (incoming) Bede the VenerableBede uses Jerome's commentaries and the Vulgate extensively.Bede, In Marcum, prologue
- corresponded (incoming) Paula of RomePaula and Eustochium are joint addressees of numerous Hieronymian letters and prefaces; Jerome composed her epitaph.Jerome, Epistulae 30, 39, 46, 108
- corresponded (incoming) EustochiumRecipient of Jerome's Letter 22 (Ad Eustochium) and dedicatee of multiple biblical commentaries.Jerome, Epistula 22 · Jerome, prefaces to commentaries on Isaiah, Ezekiel and the Minor Prophets
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for Jerome).