Definition: Jerome is known as the scholar who translated the Bible into the language the people could read, Latin. He is considered the most learned of the Latin Church Fathers, being fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, with knowledge of Aramaic, Arabic, and Syriac, according to St. Jerome: Perils of a Bible Translator. In addition, he made available to westerners other Greek texts. Jerome had a dream in which he was criticized for being a Ciceronian, which he interpreted to mean he should read Christian material, not the Classics.
He was born in Dalmatia (according to Barry Baldwin "Jerome" The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Ed. Alexander P. Kazhdan. Oxford University Press 1991) in the 340s and died in Bethlehem on Sept. 30, 419/420.
Jerome studied grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy at Rome. He lived for two years as a desert (in Calchis) hermit beginning in 375. From 382–385 he served in Rome as secretary to Pope Damasus. In 386 he moved to Bethlehem where he set up and lived in a monastery.
Jerome translated 39 sermons of Origen on Luke, whom he opposed. Jerome also wrote against Pelagius and the Pelagian heresy. Jerome had disagreements, as well, with St. Augustine.
(Source: "Jerome, Saint." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007.)
Also Known As: Eusebios Hieronymos Sophronios
