11. This reply to your letter, my most loving brothers, I have dictated in all haste; and, overcoming my scruples, I have taken up my pen against a man whose ability I once eulogized. I would sooner, indeed, risk my reputation than my faith. My friends have placed me in the awkward dilemma that if I say nothing I shall be held guilty, and if I offer a defence I shall be accounted an enemy. Both alternatives are hard; but of the two I will choose that which is the least so. A quarrel can be made up, but blasphemy can find no forgiveness. I leave to your judgment to discover how much labour I have expended in translating the books On First Principles; for on the one hand if one alters anything from the Greek the work becomes less a version than a perversion; and on the other hand a literal adherence to the original by no means tends to preserve the charm of its eloquence.
[2548] i.e. Rufinus's version of Origen's treatise, On First Principles, with the Preface, translated in vol. iii. of this series. See also Letters LXXX. and LXXXI.
[2549] 1 Thess. v. 15.
[2550] Rom. xii. 21.
[2551] Matt. v. 39.
[2552] Of these the two founders of Montanism the first was a Phrygian of the second century who professed to be the special organ of the Holy Ghost while the second was a female disciple who claimed to exercise the gift of prophecy in furtherance of his aims.
[2553] Dimidiatam Christi introduxit oeconomiam. Apollinaris taught that in Christ the divine personality supplied the place of a human soul. In his view, therefore, Christ ceased to be "very man."
[2554] Eusebius, although he sided with the Arians, always claimed to be orthodox. However, as Newman says, "his acts are his confession."
[2555] Isa. v. 20.
[2556] Hor. S. 1. x. 1-4.
[2557] See Letter L. § 2.
[2558] From this Jew Jerome took lessons in Hebrew during the earlier years of his life at Bethlehem. From time to time he also consulted other Jewish scholars.
[2559] Joh. iii. 2.
[2560] Cf. Rev. ii. 9.
[2561] Isa. vi. 2.
[2562] Cf. Letter XVIII. § 14.
[2563] Matt. vii. 6.
[2564] Ps. cxix. 11.
[2565] Ps. xv. 2, 3 from memory.
[2566] Gal. vi. 10.
[2567] stromateis , lit. = tapestries.' See note on Letter LXX. § 4.
[2568] The doctrine alluded to is probably that of the Trinity.
[2569] i.e. the Bishops present at Nicæa.
[2570] The founder of a Gnostic sect in the second century. He taught first in Egypt and afterwards in Rome.
[2571] See note on Letter XLVIII. § 2.
[2572] The Montanists were so called because the headquarters of their sect were at Pepuza a small village in Phrygia.
[2573] Croesus when he asked whether he should resist Cyrus was told that, if he did so, he would overthrow a mighty kingdom, a prophecy fulfilled in his own destruction; while Pyrrhus long afterwards received an equally evasive answer in the words, "Pyrrhus the Sons of Rome may well defeat."
[2574] 1 Cor. xv. 40.
[2575] Article XI. of the Apostles' Creed speaks in the original forms of the resurrection not of "the body" but of "the flesh:" and it is still found in this shape in the Anglican office for the visitation of the sick.
[2576] Cf. Matt. xxii. 30.
[2577] Cf. Luke xxiv. 39.
[2578] A favourite metaphor with Jerome to describe the nature of Christian penitence.
[2579] Ps. xcv. 6, Vulg.
[2580] A.V. prove.'
[2581] 1 Thess. v. 21.
[2582] See note on § 2 above.
[2583] Acts iii. 21.
[2584] See Jerome's preface to his version of Origen's Homilies on Ezekiel: and his preface to his own Treatise on Hebrew Names. See also Letter XXXIII.
[2585] Origen died at Tyre about the year 255 a.d.
[2586] See note on Letter LXX. § 4.
[2587] tomoi.
[2588] Tractatus.
[2589] Hexaëmeron: an account of the creation is meant.
[2590] Gen. xxxiv. 30.
[2591] His father Leonides suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Severus.
[2592] Rom. x. 2.
[2593] i.e. Judas the Gaulonite whose fanatical rising against the Romans is mentioned in Acts v. 37.
[2594] Hor. A. P. 359, 360.
[2595] Cf. Gal. i. 8.
[2596] Rom. i. 8.
[2597] The (traditional) founders of the Roman Church.
[2598] Jerome was baptized at Rome about the year 367 a.d.
[2599] Pelusiotæ, men of Pelusium, supposed to be derived from pelos, "clay." See Jerome's Comm. on Jer. xxix. 14-20.
[2600] Gal. iv. 26.
[2601] See the description of Rufinus in Letter CXXV. 18.
[2602] Matt. v. 44 from memory.
[2603] This treatise the joint work of Eusebius and his friend Pamphilus has perished. Part of the Latin version of Rufinus still remains. Jerome at this time erroneously supposed that the two friends had written separate works in defence of Origen. (See De VV. Ill. c. 75, 81, in vol. iii. of this series.)
[2604] In accordance with this edict (promulgated in 88 b.c.) all the Romans in Pontus were massacred in one day.
[2605] This letter is no longer extant.
[2606] A wealthy Alexandrian, who employed shorthand writers to take down Origen's lectures. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. B. vi. c. 23.
[2607] If the text is sound here Jerome is again misled by supposing that Eusebius and Pamphilus had written separate books in defence of Origen.
[2608] Eusebius calls himself Eusebius Pamphili, that is, the friend of Pamphilus.'