Jerome and His Readers: Authority, Community, and the Ideal of Humility

Jerome of Stridon was one of the most important biblical exegetes in early Christianity. Analyzing letters as well as prefaces to biblical commentaries written by Jerome, this article discusses four criteria which he considered to be necessary for orthodox exegesis to take place: 1) education and learning; 2) studying the Scriptures as part of an ascetic lifestyle; 3) divine help; and 4) learning in community. The article pays particular attention to the importance of community in Jerome’s theory of exegesis, and argues that focusing on the reading community rather than the individual exegete was instrumental in claiming monastic humility. It is argued that according to Jerome, learning in community, and depending on a teacher, separates orthodox from heretical exegetes. Jerome’s readers are ascribed a particular importance in the production of allegorical exegesis: In order to reach the deeper meaning of the Scriptures, Jerome thought that divine help was needed, and his readers could, by their prayers, assist him in attaining such help. An important aspect in all of this is the ascetic lifestyle of the exegete and his readers: It is only through this way of life that a higher understanding becomes possible; an understanding unavailable to the non-ascetic as well as the heretic, who are not guided by the Spirit. The article concludes that Jerome’s idea of exegesis was deeply communal, and while community was important in claiming humility, Jerome’s theorizing about exegesis contributed to marking his textual community as an elite group of exegetes in the church.