Commentary on Jeremiah

by Jerome

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2011

Overview

Jerome (c. 347–419), one of the West’s four doctors of the church, was recognized early on as one of the church’s foremost translators, commentators and advocates of Christian asceticism. Skilled in Hebrew and Greek in addition to his native Latin, he was thoroughly familiar with Jewish traditions and brought them to bear on his understanding of the Old Testament. In 405 Jerome completed his Latin translation of the Old Testament, based on the Hebrew text, and not long afterward began to work on commentaries devoted to the major prophets—Daniel (407), Isaiah (408–410), Ezekiel (410–414), culminating with Jeremiah but reaching only through chapter 32 before his death in 419. Throughout the commentary Jerome displays his familiarity with both Hebrew and Greek texts of Jeremiah, often establishing the literal meaning through the Hebrew text and offering a spiritual interpretation that draws on the Septuagint. He frequently interacts with other translations known from Origen’s Hexapla. Jerome’s extensive education in the classics and Jewish tradition as well as in both Antiochene and Alexandrian exegesis shine through the commentary at every point. Here for the first time Michael Graves supplies readers with a highly readable translation in English, useful textual notes and a helpful introduction.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Therefore, anyone who does not accept the words of God and who does not understand his precepts is said to have ‘uncircumcised ears.’ It should be noted that there are three kinds of circumcision in the Scriptures: of the foreskin, of the heart⁵⁴ and of the ears. Similarly the Lord says, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’⁵⁵ The reason why we do not accept the word of God is because we are not willing to do so. As a consequence, the word of God becomes a reproach for us. That which was given for our salvation is turned into punishment because of our vice.” (Page 43)

“This happens spiritually in the church whenever people reflect on their present good fortune and fail to reckon with their sins, supposing that these sins have escaped God’s notice because punishment did not come right away. Moreover, they burst forth in such great madness that they think themselves ‘delivered’ simply because after their evil deeds they also withdrew from worshiping the Lord.” (Page 50)

“He reckons the offense as deriving from the parents, not because the sins of the parents are imputed to the children,⁷⁰ but because the children are being similar to their parents and because they will be punished both for their own wickedness and for the wickedness of their parents.” (Page 9)

“The torments of some are the remedies of others; when a murderer is punished he receives the just return for what he has done, but others are deterred from evil.” (Page 21)

“With this rod God is watching and examining the sins of the people, so that he may strike and apprehend those at fault.” (Page 5)

Product Details

• Title: Commentary on Jeremiah
• Author: Jerome
• Series: Ancient Christian Texts
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2011
• Logos Release Date: 2017
• Era: era:nicene
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. O.T. Jeremiah › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780830869718, 9780830829101, 0830869719, 0830829105
• Resource ID: LLS:ACT24JE
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:05:24Z

About Jerome

St. Jerome (c. 347–30 September 420) (formerly Saint Hierom) was an Illyrian Catholic priest and apologist. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia. He is best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin, and his list of writings is extensive. He is recognized by the Catholic Church as a saint and Doctor of the Church, and the Vulgate is still an important text in Catholicism.