Notes 9-11-09.doc

History 312 Notes ? September 11, 2009 The Church Fathers ? St. Jerome (c. 342-420) Background Born in Dalmatia (340-342) As a young man, wandered all over the place (traveled to Gaul, or France) Spends the majority of his youth in Rome; studied in Rome and Trier Baptized in 360 Knew early on that he wanted to devote himself to Christian study; built up a personal library Around 373 went to Antioch (modern-day Syria) to become ascetic (fervent devotion, rather monastic) Ordained a priest in Antioch; didn?t want to preach, wanted to devote himself to scholarly activity Went back to Rome 382-385 Becomes a personal secretary to the Pope Jerome ?behaving badly? in Rome Made many enemies (rather caustic personality, acidic tongue) The Pope died in 384, Jerome lost his protector Enemies tried to ruin him Ran him out of Rome Accused of having an illicit relationship with a Roman noblewoman (Paula) Had large circle of Roman noblewomen around him ? supposedly spiritually advising the women; riled up the women?s husbands and fathers because he advised the women to leave their families and become nuns Leaves Rome and moves to a monetary close to Bethlehem Paula and her daughter follow Jerome to Bethlehem and live in the convent with Jerome Gets into some disputes with the bishop of Jerusalem (John II) Claimed that the bishop was an Origenist (followed after Origen) Origen had close ties with the patriarch of Alexandria Had himself ordained a priest but not by the patriarch of Alexandria John II believed Origen was still a priest, even though he was not ordained by the ?proper authority? Jerome did not feel that Origen?s ordination was valid 416 ? attacked by a mob in response to John II (monetary attacked and burned down) Dies in Bethlehem in 420 Jerome?s works Studied classical literature; Jerome?s argument is that it?s okay to read classical literature Had a vision that God told him to stop reading classical literature Devotes himself to the writing of hagiography: the study of faith lives (saints) Advocates monasticism Translated Bible into Latin (OT originally Hebrew and NT originally Greek) Vulgate Bible: vulgar (common) Latin; official Bible of the Catholic church and the basis for later translations; increased the popularity of Christian Theology Revised Vetus Latina Translated Old Testament The Septuagint ? old Greek version of the Old Testament Completed 400 Becomes the official standard version of the Bible for the next 10 centuries More of Jerome?s works ? Letters Against Jovinian Against Vigilantius Against Rufinus Against Pelagianism Commentary on the Scriptures (comments on his own translation) Polemical works ? a work meant to persuade for one position and against another Jerome was never a bishop, though he is depicted in bishopric robes in paintins Jerome?s legacy ? more significant of the Church Fathers, other than Augustine, was most prolific