This is part 16 of the Early Church History class.
Jerome and Augustine are two of the most influential Latin Christians of the first millennium of Christianity. This episode will introduce you to their lives, personalities, and some of their most important ideas. You’ll see how significantly asceticism affected their lifestyles as well as how their particular take on Christianity came to set the norm for Roman Catholic Christianity.
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—— Notes ——
Jerome’s Life (347-419)
- Actual name: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus
- Excellent Latin education, highly intelligent
- Learned Greek and Hebrew
- Lived as a hermit in the Syrian desert
- 382-385 – served as secretary to Pope Damasus I, bishop of Rome
Jerome’s Asceticism
- Believed everyone should be celibate
- Worked a lot with wealthy widows from the senatorial class and their daughters
- Thought the only benefit from marriage was the production of more virgins
- After Paula’s daughter Blaesilla died, he moved to Bethlehem.
- Spent his time engaging in controversies by letter, translating the Bible and other literature into Latin, and writing commentaries on scripture
Jerome’s Writings
- Though deeply influenced by classical literature, especially Cicero, he advocated reading only the Bible and Christian literature.
- Worked on the Vulgate (382-405)
- Became the dominant Latin Bible for the Roman Catholic Church from 600 onwards; though in Jerome’s day, many still preferred a translation of the Septuagint (including Augustine)
- Translated Origen’s On First Principles, Pachomius’ Rule, and Eusebius’ Historical Chronicle into Latin
- Lives of Illustrious Men provides short biographies of many early Christians.
- Commentaries on many books of the Bible
Augustine’s Early Life (354-430)
- Grew up in North Africa with a Christian mother, Monica, and a pagan father, Patrick
- Had an excellent education in Carthage
- Particularly influenced by Cicero’s dialogues, especially his Hortensius
- Became a teacher of rhetoric in Rome, then Milan
Augustine’s Sexual Life
- Stealing pears as a teenager
- “I was burning to find satisfaction… I ran wild in the shadowy jungle of erotic adventures.” (Confessions 2.1.1)[1]
- At Carthage, he said, “All around me hissed a cauldron of illicit loves.” (Confessions 3.1.1)
- Took a concubine from a lower class and lived with her for 13 years and had a son with her, Adeodatus
- His mother convinced him to send his concubine away so he could be eligible to marry a well-born woman.
- Couldn’t live chastely in the interval and took another concubine
Augustine’s Journey to Christianity
- Had encountered the scriptures but said they “seemed to me unworthy in comparison with the dignity of Cicero” (Confessions 3.5.9)
- Became a Manichaean for 9 years
- Believed in Astrology for a long while
- Found great satisfaction in Neo-Platonism, especially the writings of Plotinus and Porphyry
- Checked out Bishop Ambrose just to listen to his rhetoric and was impressed
- Heard a voice saying, “Pick up and read [tolle, lege]” and opened to Romans 13.13-14
- 387 – Ambrose baptized Augustine and Adeodatus
Augustine’s Bishopric (395-430)
- Became bishop of Hippo Regius and served for 35 years
- Preached regularly, held court twice a week, counselled people
- Engaged in many controversies with Manichaeans, Donatists, Pelagians, and pagans.
Augustine’s Writings
- Wrote approximately five million words
- Confessions: an autobiography
- City of God: responds to Alaric’s sack of Rome in 410 as well as lays out extensive interpretation of the Bible and key doctrines
- On the Trinity: defended the Trinity and explained it philosophically
- Also, many letters, commentaries, and treatises
Augustine’s Thought
- Original sin passed down a corrupted nature incapable of doing good.
- God predestined the elect to be saved.
- The elect go to heaven to live eternally.
- The damned go to hell to be tormented eternally.
Augustine’s Influence
- Probably the most influential Christian of the first millennium
- Codified Catholic doctrine that held sway throughout the Middle Ages
- Martin Luther was himself an Augustinian monk, and the Reformation was largely a return to Augustinian Christianity.
Review
- Jerome and Augustine were influential Christians who shaped Christianity in the fifth century.
- Both received excellent educations and voluntarily chose ascetic, celibate lifestyles.
- Both were influenced by Origen, especially his allegorical hermeneutic.
- Jerome’s translation of the Bible into Latin from Hebrew and Greek–the Vulgate–became the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Augustine had a fraught and lengthy battle with lust that eventually led him to celibacy.
- Augustine was a Manichean, a believer in astrology, and a Neo-Platonist before he became a Christian.
- Augustine battled Manicheans, Donatists, Pelagians, and Pagans throughout his career.
- He advocated original sin, infant baptism, eternal life in heaven, eternal torment in hell, predestination of the elect, and celibate clergy.
- More than anyone else in the first thousand years, Augustine’s thought influenced Roman Catholic doctrine.
- To a degree, the Reformation itself was a return to Augustinian Christianity.
[1] All quotes from Confessions from Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, trans. Henry Chadwick (New York: Oxford, 1998).
As always, thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. You always inspire everyone to think beyond the “standard” and definitely outside the box. I like to jot notes as I am listening so following are my random thoughts.
Neither hermetism and monasticism were at all modeled by Jesus, the disciples or apostles. So, I think we should keep a “jaundiced eye” to anything that came from such activity. As I mentioned in the last comment on episode 15, this lifestyle seems a bit self-centered, which is the exact opposite of Jesus’ example. Even though they were all well-educated, maybe enviable from several social perspectives, and provided a most articulate record, what viable purpose does it really serve? Other than recognizing how we can so easily corrupt the simple truth of Jesus and the gospel.
References of “church fathers” and “trinitarian” Christianity always set my antenna buzzing. The church has only on Father. And any “father” from the fourth century on is not really a “church” father, they are a “father” of the Universal Religion. Should that religion even be called Christianity? It was not. It was the “Universal” and “all inclusive” religion that blended many of the pagan beliefs of the day with Jehovah and His Messiah. We should “call a spade a spade.”
We certainly benefited from the Biblical translation contributions of Jerome. So, gotta give credit where credit is due.
Celibacy and asceticism. Do they really have any pluses? Celibacy can’t be viewed as any “higher” choice. It is essentially a rebellion against God’s command to Adam and Eve to “multiply and have dominion.” Pretty simple. Any attempt to “explain” it any other way is still against God’s direction. So, Jerome’s solution to his issue with sex was to surround himself with women. Hmmm. Surrounded himself with women. Maybe effeminate? Not a “man’s man?” Did he have any “iron sharpening iron?” Men do not get that from women. Certainly, invites all kinds of speculation. Marriage is only for producing more virgins? That is simply weird. Something is not fitting here. I can’t help but be cautiously optimistic when I assess any of his accomplishments. Him vying for the papacy really says it all. He was steeped in the Universal Religion which did not model first century Christianity that we see in scripture.
That said, the “great takeaway” relating to secular reading – watching TV etc. – sure hit home!
Hebrew only – to Latin only – to English only. What an eye opener for someone raised on KJV only! I really appreciate your logical, reasonable, and simple approach to dealing with translation challenges. God gave you that egghead for a reason and you are serving Him well with it. Respect, Brother!!
Nice segue into Augustine!! His push toward “personal self-sufficiency” is another example of a seemingly noble effort that in reality contradicts scripture. We are to “do all things through Christ” who strengths us. Granted we should strive to not be a burden on others. So, in that sense self-sufficiency is a desirable trait, just not sure where Augustine stood on that.
The comment that Rome “favored Christianity” again is commonly articulated. Really? It was the Universal (katholikos) Religion that reappropriated the name Christianity. Rome never really “became Christian” – it was “Universal” in its religion, but only with their “approved mix” of pagan traditions. The Augustinian “form of Christianity” – changed – then was returned to by Martin Luther. Essentially, “not Christianity” – changed to another “not Christianity – so Martin Luther could change it back to “not Christianity.” Jerome and Augustine shaped “not Christianity.” Augustine really shaped what “not-Christianity” would look like for 1000 years. They were both certainly, well read and productive – but to what end? Over half of anything that either of them taught, as you mentioned, is not scriptural.
Finally, the “ordered love” is a great principle that brings to mind the current elevation of animals (pets) that gives them not only equal but even higher relevance than fellow humans. I see many commercials that recommend, “Give (whatever your pet) the best of everything because you have only a limited time with them.” I sense that this sentiment is growing in our society. So many people will put their pets before humanity.
Thanks again, Sean for your ministry!