Literature and History Podcast Summary
Episode 98: The Life and Works of Saint Jerome
Host: Doug Metzger
Release Date: November 11, 2022
Introduction
In Episode 98 of Literature and History, host Doug Metzger delves into the life and contributions of Saint Jerome, a pivotal figure in early Christianity whose works have left an indelible mark on religious and cultural history. The episode explores Jerome's journey from his early life in the Roman Empire to his scholarly achievements and theological controversies.
Historical Context
Saint Jerome (c. 347–420 CE) lived during a transformative period for Christianity and the Roman Empire. His lifetime spanned significant events such as:
- Conversion of Emperor Constantine (312 CE): Legalized Christianity within the empire.
- Edict of Milan (313 CE): Officially recognized Christianity.
- Council of Nicaea (325 CE): Stabilized core doctrines of Christianity.
- Edict of Thessalonica (380 CE): Established Nicene Christianity as the state religion.
These events provided a fertile backdrop for Jerome's work, as Christianity transitioned from a persecuted faith to the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.
Early Life and Education
Born around 347 CE in Striden (modern-day Slovenia or Croatia), Jerome hailed from a wealthy Christian family. His early education was rigorous, focusing on grammar, literature, and oratory. Despite his Christian upbringing, Jerome was well-versed in pagan culture, mastering Latin classics and ancient Roman literary scholarship.
Quote:
[00:01]
Doug Metzger: "Jerome, although he was a Christian, learned plenty about pagan culture during these early years. Some of Jerome's surviving works reveal a dizzying knowledge not only of Latin classics but also of ancient Roman literary scholarship."
Embracing Monasticism and Asceticism
Inspired by Athanasius's "Life of Antony", Jerome developed a profound interest in monasticism. In the mid-370s, he attempted to live an ascetic life in Chalcis near modern-day Aleppo, Syria. This period marked a significant shift from his aristocratic roots to a life dedicated to scholarship and religious devotion.
Quote:
[00:01:30]
Doug Metzger: "Jerome transitioned from being a workaday Roman Christian with an even-handed interest in pagan as well as Christian culture, to embracing a more intense and exclusionary form of his parents' religion."
Jerome's Scholarly Contributions
Jerome is best known for his monumental translation of the Bible into Latin, known as the Vulgate. This work was groundbreaking because he translated the Old Testament directly from Hebrew, rather than relying on the Greek Septuagint translation. His commitment to accuracy and scholarship set new standards for biblical translations.
Quote:
[00:14:25]
Doug Metzger: "The most famous thing Jerome ever did was to create a Latin Bible that eventually became authoritative. The main reason that this Bible, which is called the Vulgate, was a major achievement, was that its Old Testament books were translated directly from Hebrew rather than from Greek that had been translated from Hebrew six centuries earlier."
In addition to the Vulgate, Jerome wrote biographies of desert hermits, tracts on Arianism and Pelagianism, and a substantial collection of letters that reveal his theological and personal struggles.
Personality and Reputation
Jerome's strong personality often led to conflicts within the Church. His abrasive and elitist demeanor garnered both respect for his scholarly prowess and disdain for his confrontational style.
Quote:
[00:05:50]
Doug Metzger: "Martin Luther, who was ambivalent about some of the accomplishments of Jerome's generation, wrote the following on Saint Jerome: 'I cannot think of a doctor of the Church whom I have come to detest so much, and yet I have loved him and read him with the utmost ardor.'"
This duality made Jerome a polarizing figure, admired for his intellectual contributions but criticized for his harshness and rigid views.
Life in Rome and Patronage
After his time in Antioch and Chalcis, Jerome moved to Rome around 380 CE following the Edict of Thessalonica. Here, he became a key advisor and scholar to several aristocratic Christian women, including Leah, Marcella, Paula, and Eustochium. These patronages were crucial for Jerome’s work, providing him with the resources and support needed to continue his scholarly pursuits.
Quote:
[00:39:15]
Doug Metzger: "Jerome shared many of the values of Rome's Christian ascetic enclaves. To households like Paula's, he made himself out to be an authentic desert hermit and a counselor on all things related to chastity and asceticism."
Jerome’s relationships with these women were instrumental in promoting his ideals of chastity and clerical celibacy, often reflected in his letters and tracts.
The Vulgate and Translation Challenges
Jerome's translation of the Bible faced significant challenges. Translating directly from Hebrew was seen as radical because the Greek Septuagint was deeply entrenched in Christian tradition.
Quote:
[00:66:00]
Doug Metzger: "Jerome's decision to go directly to the source and translate Hebrew into Latin was seen as more radical than common sense."
Despite opposition, Jerome's meticulous work eventually led to the Vulgate being widely circulated and later officially adopted by the Catholic Church in the 800s CE.
Clerical Celibacy and Views on Sexuality
Central to Jerome's ideology was his promotion of clerical celibacy and a negative attitude towards sex. He advocated for a life of chastity and asceticism, viewing it as superior to marital and sexual life.
Quote:
[00:10:00]
Doug Metzger: "Central to Jerome's ideology is a very negative attitude towards sex and a connected idolization of virginity and chastity."
Jerome's letters to Eustochium exemplify his fervent advocacy for celibacy, often contrasting it sharply with the perceived moral laxity of married Christians.
Notable Quote:
[00:44:30]
Doug Metzger: "I praise wedlock, I praise marriage, but it is because they give me virgins. I gather the rose from the thorns, the gold from the earth, the pearl from the shell."
— Jerome, Letter to Eustochium, 384 CE [00:44:30]
Theological Controversies and Exile
Jerome's unwavering stance on celibacy and his elitist views led to several theological conflicts. His vehement opposition to Jovinian, who advocated for equality among Christians regardless of chastity, showcased Jerome's intense commitment to his beliefs.
Quote:
[00:90:15]
Doug Metzger: "Jerome's obsession with sex and his anti-egalitarian ideology haven't aged particularly well... but his attention to chapter and verse is stalwart, his interpretive work cogent enough, and his knowledge of the Bible and Christian history leading up to him are generally unimpeachable."
Jerome's criticisms extended to the Origenist Controversy, where he defended the works of Origen against charges of heresy. These disputes not only strained his relationships within the Church but also forced him into exile from Rome around 385 CE.
Life in Bethlehem and Later Years
In 386 CE, Jerome relocated to Bethlehem with his patrons, establishing a Christian compound that included a hospice, convent, and monastery. Here, he continued his translation work, including the Vulgate, and wrote extensively on Christian doctrine and biblical exegesis.
Despite facing ongoing controversies, Jerome’s work in Bethlehem solidified his legacy as a prolific theologian and scholar.
Legacy and Impact
Saint Jerome's contributions were multifaceted:
- Vulgate Translation: Provided a more accurate Latin Bible, influencing Western Christianity for centuries.
- Promotion of Celibacy: Helped establish clerical celibacy as a cornerstone of Catholic clergy.
- Theological Writings: His letters and tracts shaped Christian doctrine and ecclesiastical policies.
- Cultural Influence: Jerome's work bridged Eastern and Western Christian traditions, fostering a cohesive theological framework.
Jerome's life illustrates the complex interplay of scholarship, personal belief, and institutional dynamics in shaping early Christian thought.
Quote:
[125:47]
Doug Metzger: "He will pass away in 420, in his early 70s... the work that he did, the direction that he envisioned for the future of Catholic Orthodoxy and the personal ethics of its clergy, proved to mostly be on the winning side of history."
Conclusion
Saint Jerome remains a central figure in Christian history, celebrated for his scholarly rigor and impactful translations, while also critiqued for his unyielding and sometimes antagonistic theological positions. His legacy is a testament to the intellectual and spiritual fervor that shaped early Christianity, influencing religious thought and practice for millennia.
Final Quote:
[127:50]
Doug Metzger: "From the profuse diversity of early Christianity, Jerome emerges in the 380s and 390s, along with the Edict of Thessalonica, as doggedly opposed to all other forms of religion but his own... he looked like a chilly elitist who rejected the great democratizing impulse of Christian ideology."
Looking Ahead
In the subsequent episodes, Doug Metzger plans to explore the life and works of St. Augustine of Hippo, another towering figure in early Christian theology, providing a comparative analysis and deeper insights into the evolution of Christian doctrine.
Notable Musical Interlude:
The podcast episode concludes with a satirical song titled "I Am Over Sex," humorously reflecting Jerome's intense focus on chastity and his generation's rigid views on sexuality.
For more detailed explorations of historical literary figures and their impacts, tune into future episodes of Literature and History.