Jerome

Also: Eusebius Hieronymus, Hieronymus, Jerome of Stridon

Born perhaps between 331 and 348, in Stridon (now site not known; on the old border of Dalmatia and Pannonia, Croatia, Slovenia or Bosnia). Died probably between 419 and 420, in Bethlehem, West Bank.

The great Bible scholar of the Latin church. He put the Bible into Latin from Hebrew and Greek, and lived his last 34 years as a monk at Bethlehem.

Wrote in Latin. A major author.

Places lived

360 to 367Roma (now Rome, Italy)studiedyears probable
367 to 370Augusta Treverorum (now Trier, Germany)stay at the court cityyears not sure
370 to 373Aquileia, Italyascetic groupyears probable
373 to 375Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey)guest of Evagrius of Antiochyears probable
375 to 377Desert of Chalcis (near Qinnasrin, Syria)hermityears probable, place probable
377 to 380Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey)priestyears probable
380 to 382Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey)student of Gregory of Nazianzusyears probable
382 to 385Roma (now Rome, Italy)secretary to Pope Damasus
386 to 420Bethlehem, West Bankmonk and writer

Works

16 works, in the order they were written. 13 works can be read here.

Lettersc. 370 to 419 · probably in Bethlehem, West Bank · letterAbout 120 letters of his own on the Bible, the monastic life and his quarrels.288,873 words
Life of Paul the First Hermitc. 374 to 379 · perhaps in Desert of Chalcis (near Qinnasrin, Syria, region) · biographyThe story of Paul of Thebes, who lived in a cave in Egypt before Antony.15,527 words
Dialogue against the Luciferiansabout 379 (disputed) · perhaps in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · dialogueA debate between a follower of Lucifer of Cagliari and a catholic on taking back bishops who had signed an Arian creed.16,323 words
Chronicle380 to 381 · in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · chronicleThe world chronicle of Eusebius in Latin, carried on to the year 378.not yet on the site
Prefaces to the Books of the Biblec. 382 to 406 · probably in Bethlehem, West Bank · prefaceThe short prefaces that he put before each part of his Latin Bible.18,326 words
Against Helvidius383 · in Roma (now Rome, Italy) · treatiseA defence of the lasting virginity of Mary.11,397 words
Life of Malchusc. 388 to 392 · probably in Bethlehem, West Bank · biographyThe adventures of a monk who was taken as a slave by desert raiders.3,489 words
Life of Hilarionc. 390 · probably in Bethlehem, West Bank · biographyThe life of the first monk of Palestine.11,421 words
Lives of Illustrious Men392 to 393 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · biographyShort notes on 135 Christian writers, from Peter to Jerome himself.19,857 words
Against Jovinian393 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · treatiseTwo books against a monk who said that marriage is as good as virginity.71,171 words
To Pammachius against John of Jerusalem397 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · treatiseAn unfinished attack on his own bishop, John, over the teaching of Origen.23,681 words
Commentary on Matthew398 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · commentaryA quick, plain commentary on Matthew.not yet on the site
Apology Against Rufinus401 to 402 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · apologyThree books in his quarrel with his old friend Rufinus over Origen.56,746 words
Against Vigilantius406 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · treatiseA fierce defence of the honour given to martyrs and their relics.6,706 words
Commentary on Daniel407 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · commentaryA commentary on Daniel that answers the pagan Porphyry.not yet on the site
Against the Pelagians415 to 416 · in Bethlehem, West Bank · dialogueA debate in three books against the teaching that a person can live without sin.33,723 words

How we know the dates and places

Born not sure: Prosper of Aquitaine, Chronicle, gives 331; most scholars say about 347 from his own words about his age
Place of birth sure: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 135
The town was destroyed by the Goths. Its site is not known.
Died probable: Prosper of Aquitaine, Chronicle (30 September 420)
Some argue for 419.
Place of death sure: Prosper of Aquitaine, Chronicle
Roma, years probable: Jerome, Apology against Rufinus 1.16 and 1.30; Letter 22.30
Roma, place sure: Jerome, Apology against Rufinus 1.16 and 1.30; Letter 22.30
Augusta Treverorum, years not sure: Jerome, Letters 3.5 and 5.2
Augusta Treverorum, place sure: Jerome, Letters 3.5 and 5.2
Aquileia, years probable: Jerome, Chronicle, at the year 374; Letters 3 and 7
Aquileia, place sure: Jerome, Chronicle, at the year 374; Letters 3 and 7
Antiochia, years probable: Jerome, Letters 3 and 22.30
Antiochia, place sure: Jerome, Letters 3 and 22.30
Desert of Chalcis, years probable: Jerome, Letters 5 to 17
Desert of Chalcis, place probable: Jerome, Letters 5 to 17
Antiochia, years probable: Jerome, Against John of Jerusalem 41
Antiochia, place sure: Jerome, Against John of Jerusalem 41
Constantinopolis, years probable: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 117; Letter 52.8
Constantinopolis, place sure: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 117; Letter 52.8
Roma, years sure: Jerome, Letters 45, 123.9 (123.10 in the NPNF English) and 127
Roma, place sure: Jerome, Letters 45, 123.9 (123.10 in the NPNF English) and 127
Bethlehem, years sure: Jerome, Letter 108; Apology against Rufinus 3.22
Bethlehem, place sure: Jerome, Letter 108; Apology against Rufinus 3.22