Jerome was the foremost Biblical scholar of his day, best known for his translation of Scripture into Latin, the “Vulgate Version”, so called because it became the “common” or standard version (editio vulgata) of the Bible, used in the Latin church for centuries.

Born to well-to-do Christian parents, he became a Christian when a student in Rome and got baptized. Secular life in Rome was corrupt and depraved. The simple ascetic life-style of a monk, in contrast, seemed right for the committed disciple.

He began theological studies with a friend In Trier that would continue his entire life. Then went to Aquileia, for some time, where he made many Christian friends. About 373, some went to Thrace and Asia Minor into northern Syria with him. He stayed the longest at Antioch, where 2 of his friends died. He was repeatedly very ill and (winter of 373–374), when sick, had a vision that led him to lay aside more secular studies and plunge deeply into the Bible.

The desire for a life of ascetic penance, lead Jerome to the desert south-east of Antioch where a great number of Christian hermits lived. Here he met a converted “Jew” who taught him Hebrew. His real task began, as he translated parts of the Hebrew Gospel into Greek. On his return to Antioch he was ordained, then travelled to Constantinople to study Scripture under Gregory Nazianzen.

Jerome returned to Rome in 379 becoming private secretary to Pope Damasus, who commissioned him to produce a Latin translation of the Bible. He keenly promoted monasticism and the ascetic way, finding sympathetic ears among some noble Roman matrons, but his lack of tact gained him enemies. When Damasus died, Jerome found it a good idea, to leave Rome.

August 385, Jerome went to Antioch, with his brother Paulinian and friends, followed by Paula and Eustochium (2 of the Roman matrons), who had resolved to die in the Holy Land. Jerome became their guide and spiriitual advisor. They toured Egypt and the Holy Land, then took up residence in a monestry/convent near Bethlehem. Jerome settled in a cave near Bethlehem, believed to be where Jesus was born.

Jerome devoted his great energy to his work on the Scriptures, not only producing the requested translation, but many commentaries and other works, demonstrating an outstanding range of reading and scholarship. He was less at home in the theological field, but fought on behalf of what he deemed to be correct. His vitriolic debates led him into a number of quarrels. But, he was an ardent champion of orthodoxy, a master of Latin style, and never sought high position or personal honours of any kind.

BORN: c. 342, Stridon (possibly Strido Dalmatiae, on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia)

DIED: 30 September 420, Bethlehem, Palaestina Prima