Jerome

Jerome, also known as Jerome of Stridon, was an early Christian priest, theologian, and translator. He lived from around 342 to 420. Jerome is best known for translating the Bible into Latin. This version is called the Vulgate. His translation helped many people read the Bible in a language they understood.

Jerome worked hard to translate the Old Testament from Hebrew. This was different from older Latin translations. He also wrote many commentaries and essays about the Bible and Christian life. He often taught about how Christians should live, especially focusing on women devoted to Jesus.

Jerome is recognized as a saint in several Christian churches. These include the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion. His teachings and writings are still studied and valued today. His feast day is celebrated on September 30.

Early life

St. Jerome in His Study (1480), by Domenico Ghirlandaio

Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, known as Saint Jerome, was born in Stridon around 342–347 AD. He came from Illyrian ancestry. He moved to Rome to study under the teacher Aelius Donatus. There he learned Latin and some Koine Greek.

Jerome converted to Christianity. He then lived in the desert of Chalcis near Antioch to live a simpler life. In the desert, he studied Hebrew and wrote about his experiences. After that, he returned to Rome. He worked with Pope Damasus I to help update important religious texts.

Scholarly works

Translation of the Bible (382–405)

Main article: Vulgate

Jerome was a scholar who knew Greek very well. He started by fixing the Latin version of the New Testament. Then, he decided to translate the Hebrew Bible directly from Hebrew. This was different from what most Christians did at the time. Jerome finished this important work around the year 405.

Saint Jerome Writing, by Caravaggio, 1607, at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

De Viris Illustribus

Main article: De Viris Illustribus (Jerome)

Jerome wrote a book called De Viris Illustribus, meaning "On Illustrious Men." In this book, he wrote about important Christian writers from the time of the apostles until his own time. This book became very popular and helped people learn about early Christian writers.

Biblical onomastica

Saint Jerome in His Study by Antonello da Messina, c. 1474

Further information: Interpretationes nominum Hebraicorum

Jerome also made two helpful lists. One list explained the meanings of names of people in the Bible. The other list gave comments about places mentioned in the Bible. These lists were used in Bibles for many years.

Commentaries (405–420)

For the last 15 years of his life, Jerome wrote explanations of many parts of the Bible. He often talked about why he used the Hebrew text. His explanations showed his deep knowledge and included interesting ideas.

Jerome in the desert, tormented by his memories of the dancing girls, by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1639, Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe

Historical and hagiographic writings

Jerome as a historian

Jerome wrote a book called Chronicon, which was a timeline of important events. He based it on the work of another writer named Eusebius and added his own ideas. Even though it had some mistakes, it became very important for people studying history in Latin.

Letters

Saint Jerome depicted in his study being visited by two angels (Cavarozzi, early-17th century)

Jerome wrote many letters to different people. In his letters, he talked about many topics, like how to study the Bible and how to live a good life.

Theological writings

Eschatology

Jerome wrote about what the Bible said would happen in the future. He believed that a bad leader called the Antichrist would come when the Roman Empire fell apart. He shared his ideas in a book called Commentary on Daniel.

Soteriology

Jerome did not agree with an idea called Pelagianism, which said that people could save themselves without God's help. He believed that Christians who sinned could be punished for a time but would eventually be reunited with God.

Reception by later Christianity

Jerome wrote a lot — almost as much as another famous Christian leader named Augustine. The Catholic Church thinks of him as the special protector of translators, librarians, and people who write big books. His translations of the Bible into Latin became very important, and a big meeting of Church leaders in 1546 said his version should be used in teaching and sermons.

In art

Saint Jerome is often shown in paintings and statues with a lion. This is because of a story where he tamed a lion in the desert by healing its paw. Artists usually show him in two main ways: either in a room full of books, looking like a careful scholar, or in a desert, thinking deeply. Sometimes he wears fancy clothes and a special hat, and other times he wears simple desert clothes.

Some well-known artworks include Saint Jerome in the Wilderness by Leonardo da Vinci and works by artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach the Elder, and El Greco. Jerome is also sometimes shown with symbols like an owl, which stands for wisdom, and writing tools. These symbols show his work as a scholar and translator.

Dedications

Two cathedrals are named after Saint Jerome. They are in Ica and Quebec. Many churches also honor him. Examples include St. Jerome's University in Ontario and St. Jerome's College of Arts and Science in Tamil Nadu. There is also an airport called Split Saint Jerome Airport that carries his name.