Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 6
Jerome — Principal Works
SECTION 201
[4371] Ex. xxxvii.
[4371] Ex. xxxvii. [4372] In Jude 5, instead of "the Lord," A. B. read Jesus, and this is accepted by many ancient, authorities. Farrar observes ("Early Days of Christianity," pop. ed., p, 128) "Jesus" is the more difficult, and therefore more probable reading of A. B. It is explained by 1 Cor. x. 4, and the identification of t…
2,220 wordsSECTION 202[4585] He succeeded Plato as president of the Academy (b.c. 347-339). His works are all lost.
[4585] He succeeded Plato as president of the Academy (b.c. 347-339). His works are all lost. [4586] One of Aristotle's pupils, and author of a number of works, none of which are extant. [4587] Diogenes Laërtius (so named from Laërte in Cilicia), who probably lived in the 2nd century after Christ, in the Third Book of his "Liv…
2,107 wordsSECTION 203Book II.
Book II. Jerome answers the second, third, and fourth propositions of Jovinianus. I. (c. 1-4). That those who have become regenerate cannot be overthrown by the devil, Jerome (c. 1) puts it that they cannot be tempted by the devil. He quotes 1 John i. 8-ii. 2, as shewing that faithful men can be tempted and sin and need an adv…
1,729 wordsSECTION 204Book II.
3. The apostle Peter, to whom it was said, [4672] "He that is bathed needeth not to wash again," and [4673] "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church," through fear of a maid-servant denied Him. Our Lord himself says, [4674] "Simon, Simon, behold Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat. But I ma…
2,651 wordsSECTION 2055. At length we have arrived at the question of food, and are confronted by our third difficulty. "All things were created to serve for the
5. At length we have arrived at the question of food, and are confronted by our third difficulty. "All things were created to serve for the use of mortal men." And as man, a rational animal, in a sense the owner and tenant of the world, is subject to God, and worships his Creator, so all things living were created either for the…
2,599 wordsSECTION 2068. Through the five senses, as through open windows, vice has access to the soul. The metropolis and citadel of the mind cannot be taken unl
8. Through the five senses, as through open windows, vice has access to the soul. The metropolis and citadel of the mind cannot be taken unless the enemy have previously entered by its doors. The soul is distressed by the disorder they produce, and is led captive by sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. If any one delights in…
2,255 wordsSECTION 20713. [4767] Dicæarchus in his book of Antiquities, describing Greece, relates that under Saturn, that is in the Golden Age, when the ground b
13. [4767] Dicæarchus in his book of Antiquities, describing Greece, relates that under Saturn, that is in the Golden Age, when the ground brought forth all things abundantly, no one ate flesh, but every one lived on field produce and fruits which the earth bore of itself. Xenophon in eight books narrates the life of Cyrus, King…
3,070 wordsSECTION 20816. The Apostle does indeed [4812] blame those who forbade marriage, and commanded to abstain from food, which God created for use with than
16. The Apostle does indeed [4812] blame those who forbade marriage, and commanded to abstain from food, which God created for use with thanksgiving. But he has in view Marcion, and Tatian, and other heretics, who inculcate perpetual abstinence, to destroy, and express their hatred and contempt for, the works of the Creator. But…
2,585 wordsSECTION 20920. "If you tell me," says he, "that one star differeth from another star in glory, I reply, that one star does differ from another star; th
20. "If you tell me," says he, "that one star differeth from another star in glory, I reply, that one star does differ from another star; that is, spiritual persons differ from carnal. We love all the members alike, and do not prefer the eye to the finger, nor the finger to the ear: but the loss of any one is attended by the sor…
3,083 wordsSECTION 21024. In vain, therefore, do you multiply instances of sheep and goats, of the five wise and five foolish virgins, of Egyptians and Israelites
24. In vain, therefore, do you multiply instances of sheep and goats, of the five wise and five foolish virgins, of Egyptians and Israelites, and so forth, because retribution is not in the present, but will be in the future. Hence we find that the day of judgment is promised at the end of all things, because the judgment is not…
2,337 wordsSECTION 21128. But when Jovinianus supposes that the many mansions in our Father's house are churches scattered throughout the world, who can refrain f
28. But when Jovinianus supposes that the many mansions in our Father's house are churches scattered throughout the world, who can refrain from laughing; since Scripture plainly teaches in John's Gospel that our Lord was discoursing not of the number of the churches, but of the heavenly mansions, and the eternal tabernacles for …
2,355 wordsSECTION 21231. As regards your attempt to show that railing and murder, the use of the expression raca and adultery, the idle word and godlessness, are
31. As regards your attempt to show that railing and murder, the use of the expression raca and adultery, the idle word and godlessness, are rewarded with the same punishment, I have already given you my reply, and will now briefly repeat it. You must either deny that you are a sinner if you are not to be in danger of Gehenna: o…
2,270 wordsSECTION 21335. But now we have just sighted land: the foaming billows have been rolling mountain-high: our ship has been borne aloft, or has rushed hea
35. But now we have just sighted land: the foaming billows have been rolling mountain-high: our ship has been borne aloft, or has rushed headlong into the depths beneath: little by little the haven opens to the view of the weary and exhausted sailors. We have discussed the married, widows, and virgins. We have preferred virginit…
2,203 wordsSECTION 214[4689] The founder of the schism which afterwards bore the name of Novatian was Novatus, a presbyter of Carthage who went to Rome (about a.d
[4689] The founder of the schism which afterwards bore the name of Novatian was Novatus, a presbyter of Carthage who went to Rome (about a.d. 250) and there co-operated with Novatianus, one of the most distinguished of the clergy of that city. The Novatianists, whose doctrines were near akin in many respects to those of Montanis…
2,204 wordsSECTION 215Introduction.
[4867] 2 Cor. ix. 6. [4868] Eph. iii. 10. [4869] Eph. iv. 7. [4870] Ps. lxxiii. 17. [4871] See Acts xxvii. 23 and the context. [4872] Gen. xix. 18-21. [4873] 1 Sam. xxx. 1 sq. [4874] S. Luke xiii. 4. [4875] 1 Cor. xi. 27. [4876] Mal. iv. 2. [4877] S. Matt. xxv. 13. [4878] S. John xix. 6. [4879] Wisd. vi. 7. [4880] E…
2,659 wordsSECTION 2166. For you say that the souls of Apostles and martyrs have their abode either in the bosom of Abraham, or in the place of refreshment, or un
6. For you say that the souls of Apostles and martyrs have their abode either in the bosom of Abraham, or in the place of refreshment, or under the altar of God, and that they cannot leave their own tombs, and be present where they will. They are, it seems, of senatorial rank, and are not subjected to the worst kind of prison an…
2,340 wordsSECTION 21711. Once, when a sudden earthquake in this province in the middle of the night awoke us all out of our sleep, you, the most prudent and the
11. Once, when a sudden earthquake in this province in the middle of the night awoke us all out of our sleep, you, the most prudent and the wisest of men, began to pray without putting your clothes on, and recalled to our minds the story of Adam and Eve in Paradise; they, indeed, when their eyes were opened were ashamed, for the…
2,201 wordsSECTION 218Introduction.
[4980] Gal. vi. 10. [4981] Luke xvi. 9. [4982] Ps. xli. 9. [4983] Matt. xix. 21. [4984] Matt. xx. 16; xxii. 14. [4985] He seems to mean that monks spoke of young ladies as Mothers of the Convents, so as to be able to frequent their society without reproach. To Pammachius Against John of Jerusalem. ------------------------…
2,256 wordsSECTION 2193. We all know what [4995] he wrote to you, what charge he brought against you, wherein (as you maintain) he has slandered you. Answer the p
3. We all know what [4995] he wrote to you, what charge he brought against you, wherein (as you maintain) he has slandered you. Answer the points, one by one; follow the footsteps of this letter; leave not a single jot or tittle of the slander unnoticed. For if you are careless, and accidentally pass over any thing as I believe …
2,779 wordsSECTION 2209. It is alleged that your master, whom you call a Catholic, and whom you resolutely defend, said, "the Son sees not the Father, and the Hol
9. It is alleged that your master, whom you call a Catholic, and whom you resolutely defend, said, "the Son sees not the Father, and the Holy Spirit sees not the Son." And you tell me that the Father is invisible, the Son invisible, the Holy Ghost invisible, as though the angels, both cherubim and seraphim, were not also, in acc…
2,252 wordsSECTION 22114. Let us quote the rest, in which, after the labyrinths of his perplexing discussion, he expresses himself by no means ambiguously but ope
14. Let us quote the rest, in which, after the labyrinths of his perplexing discussion, he expresses himself by no means ambiguously but openly, and thus concludes his wonderful homilies: "When we had thus spoken in his presence, and when out of the extreme honour which we paid him we invited him to speak after us, he praised ou…
2,270 wordsSECTION 22221. You say that the soul is not of the essence of God. Well! This is what we might expect, for you condemn the impious Manichæus, to make m
21. You say that the soul is not of the essence of God. Well! This is what we might expect, for you condemn the impious Manichæus, to make mention of whose name is pollution. You say that angels are not turned into souls. I agree to some extent, although I know what meaning you give to the words. But, now that we have learnt wha…
2,712 wordsSECTION 22326. "For another reason," he says, "we confess the resurrection of our bodies, those which have been laid in the grave and have turned to du
26. "For another reason," he says, "we confess the resurrection of our bodies, those which have been laid in the grave and have turned to dust; Paul's body will be that of Paul, Peter's that of Peter, and each will have his own; for it is not right that souls should sin in one body and be tormented in another, nor is it worthy o…
2,509 wordsSECTION 22430. Listen to those words of thunder which fall from Job, the vanquisher of torments, who, as he scrapes away the filth of his decaying fles
30. Listen to those words of thunder which fall from Job, the vanquisher of torments, who, as he scrapes away the filth of his decaying flesh with a potsherd, solaces his miseries with the hope and the reality of the resurrection: [5063] "Oh, that," he says, "my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book with an …
2,265 wordsSECTION 22534. Even the graves were opened [5080] at our Lord's passion when the sun fled, the earth trembled, and many of the bodies of the saints aro
34. Even the graves were opened [5080] at our Lord's passion when the sun fled, the earth trembled, and many of the bodies of the saints arose, and were seen in the holy city. [5081] "Who is this," says Isaiah, "that cometh up from Edom, with shining raiment from Bozrah, so beautiful in his glistening robe?" Edom is by interpret…
2,731 wordsSECTION 22638. I ask you, my reader, what does a man, who writes these things before he comes, appear to you to be? An adversary, or an envoy? This is
38. I ask you, my reader, what does a man, who writes these things before he comes, appear to you to be? An adversary, or an envoy? This is the man whom we may, indeed, call most pious, or most religious, and, to give the exact equivalent of the word, one devoted to the worship of God. This is the man of divine understanding, so…
2,203 wordsSECTION 22743. Are we schismatics? Is not he the schismatic who refuses a habitation to the living, a grave to the dead, and demands the exile of his b
43. Are we schismatics? Is not he the schismatic who refuses a habitation to the living, a grave to the dead, and demands the exile of his brethren? Who was it that set at our throats, with special fury, that wild beast who constantly menaced the throats of the whole world? [5126] Who is it that permits the rain to beat upon the…
2,292 wordsSECTION 228The following is a summary of the argument: Atticus, the Augustinian, at once (c. 1) introduces the question: Do you affirm that, as Pelagiu
The following is a summary of the argument: Atticus, the Augustinian, at once (c. 1) introduces the question: Do you affirm that, as Pelagius affirms, men can live without sin? Yes, says the Pelagian Critobulus, but I do not add, as is imputed to us, "without the grace of God." Indeed, the fact that we have a free will is from g…
2,023 wordsSECTION 229Book I.
Book I. ------------------------ 1. Atticus. I hear, Critobulus, that you have written that man can be without sin, if he chooses; and that the commandments of God are easy. Tell me, is it true? Critobulus. It is true, Atticus; but our rivals do not take the words in the sense I attached to them. A. Are they then so ambiguou…
2,236 wordsSECTION 2309. A. Art is one thing, that which is [5147] above art is another. Medical skill, craftsmanship, and so on, are found in many persons; but t
9. A. Art is one thing, that which is [5147] above art is another. Medical skill, craftsmanship, and so on, are found in many persons; but to be always without sin is a characteristic of the Divine power only. Therefore, either give me an instance of those who were for ever without sin; or, if you cannot find one, confess your i…
2,242 wordsSECTION 231C. I am not talking of what the Apostles did, but of what Christ commanded. And the fault does not lie with the giver of the command, but wi
C. I am not talking of what the Apostles did, but of what Christ commanded. And the fault does not lie with the giver of the command, but with the hearers of it, because we cannot admit the justice of him who commands without conceding the possibility of doing what is commanded. A. Good! Don't tell me then that a man can be wit…
2,480 wordsSECTION 23217. Need we be surprised that, when saints are compared, some are better, some worse, since the same holds good in the comparison of sins? T
17. Need we be surprised that, when saints are compared, some are better, some worse, since the same holds good in the comparison of sins? To Jerusalem, pierced and wounded with many sins, it is said, [5196] "Sodom is justified by thee." It is not because Sodom, which has sunk for ever into ashes, is just in herself, that it is …
2,246 wordsSECTION 23322. God certainly wishes bishops or priests to be such as the chosen vessel teaches they should be. As to the first qualification it is seld
22. God certainly wishes bishops or priests to be such as the chosen vessel teaches they should be. As to the first qualification it is seldom or never that one is found without reproach; for who is it that has not some fault, like a mole or a wart on a lovely body? If the Apostle himself says of Peter that he did not tread a st…
2,254 wordsSECTION 23427. In another place you maintain that "All are governed by their own free choice." What Christian can bear to hear this? For if not one, no
27. In another place you maintain that "All are governed by their own free choice." What Christian can bear to hear this? For if not one, nor a few, nor many, but all of us are governed by our own free choice, what becomes of the help of God? And how do you explain the text, [5219] "A man's goings are ordered by the Lord"? And […
2,485 wordsSECTION 23533. C. Pray have you not read that [5248] "He who looks upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart
33. C. Pray have you not read that [5248] "He who looks upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart?" It seems that not only are the look and the allurements to vice reckoned as sin, but whatever it be to which we give assent. For either we can avoid an evil thought, and consequently may …
1,748 wordsSECTION 236Book II.
Book II. This book can hardly be said to form part of a dialogue. It is rather an argument from Scripture to prove the point of the Augustinian arguer, Atticus. From the fourth chapter onwards it consists, like the last five chapters of Book I., of a chain of Scripture texts, taken from the New Testament and the Prophets, to sh…
2,211 wordsSECTION 237James iii. 2.
James iii. 2. Matt. xvii. 19. 16. Luke xviii. 1. We are always to pray. This shows our weakness. 27. Who, then, can be saved? It is possible, but to God only. xxii. 24. The contest for precedence at the last supper. 31, 32. Peter's faith almost overcome by Satan. Luke xxii. 43. Even Christ in his agony needs an angel to s…
2,375 wordsSECTION 238Book III.
[5257] There was an early and widespread belief, afterwards confirmed by a decree of the Council of Ephesus, that the birth of Christ was by miracle, not by a true and proper parturition. [5258] Eph. vi. 12. [5259] Gal. v. 19. [5260] 1 Pet. iv. 8. [5261] Luke vii. 47. [5262] Vulgate, Rev. V. I will remember the years, etc. …
2,253 wordsSECTION 2395. C. I have been longing to say something, but have checked the words as they were bursting from my lips. You compel me to say it.
5. C. I have been longing to say something, but have checked the words as they were bursting from my lips. You compel me to say it. A. Who hinders you from saying what you think? Either what you are going to say is good--and you ought not to deprive us of what is good--or it is bad, and, therefore, it is not regard for us, but …
2,454 wordsSECTION 2409. The Apostle Paul, rapidly recounting the benefits of God, ended with the words, [5314] "And who is sufficient for these things?" Wherefor
9. The Apostle Paul, rapidly recounting the benefits of God, ended with the words, [5314] "And who is sufficient for these things?" Wherefore, also, in another place he [5315] says, "Such confidence have we through Christ to Godward; not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency i…
2,310 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.