Post-Nicene · c. 347 – 420
St. Jerome
Dalmatia / Bethlehem
Biography
Jerome was the greatest biblical scholar of the early Latin Church, learning Hebrew from Jewish teachers to translate the Old Testament directly from the original text into Latin, producing the Vulgate that would remain the Church's standard Bible for over a thousand years. Fiery and combative, he served for a time as secretary to Pope Damasus I in Rome before settling permanently in a monastery near Bethlehem. He famously wrote, 'Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.'
Historical background
Commissioned by Pope Damasus I in AD 382 to revise the Latin biblical texts, Jerome eventually retranslated the entire Old Testament from Hebrew in Bethlehem, completing his life's work around AD 405 and producing the translation that became the Church's authoritative Vulgate.
Major writings
The Vulgate
His Latin translation of the whole Bible, the Church's standard text for centuries.
Against Helvidius
A defense of the perpetual virginity of Mary against a Roman critic.
Commentary on Isaiah
A major exegetical work embodying his famous dictum on Scripture and Christ.
Important teachings
Jerome insists on rigorous, original-language study of Scripture as indispensable for knowing Christ, while firmly defending the perpetual virginity of Mary and the authority of the bishop of Rome in doctrinal disputes. He memorably told Pope Damasus, 'I speak with the successor of the fisherman.'
Quotations
“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
“I, following none as chief but Christ, am associated in communion with your blessedness, that is, with the chair of Peter... I speak with the successor of the fisherman.”
“You say that Mary did not remain a virgin; I claim that she remained a virgin even after she became a mother.”