Letter 32: Jerome writes that he is busy collating Aquila's Greek version of the Old Testament with the Hebrew, inquires after Marcella's mother, and forwards the two preceding letters (XXX., XXXI.). Written at Rome in 384 A.D. 1.

Letter 32: To Marcella (384 AD, Rome) [A brief note to Marcella, one of the aristocratic Roman women in Jerome's circle. He explains why he's too busy to write at length — he's collating the Greek translation of Aquila with the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. This is one of our earliest glimpses of Jerome's revolutionary approach to biblical scholarship: going back to the Hebrew original rather than relying on the Greek Septuagint.] 1. Two reasons for the brevity of this letter: the messenger is impatient to leave, and I'm too busy to waste time on small talk. You want to know what business could possibly be urgent enough to keep me from a chat on paper? I'll tell you. For some time now I've been comparing Aquila's version [a hyper-literal Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible made in the 2nd century AD by a Jewish proselyte] with the Hebrew scrolls, to see whether the synagogue has altered the text out of hatred for Christ. And — speaking frankly to a friend — I've found several variant readings that actually support our faith. After precisely revising the prophets, Solomon's books, the Psalter, and the books of Kings, I'm now working on Exodus (the Jews call it 'Eleh Shemoth,' from its opening words, 'These are the names'), and when I finish that I'll move on to Leviticus. So now you see why I can't let any letter pull me away from my work. Still, I don't want my friend Currentius [the letter-carrier] to have run his errand for nothing, so I've attached two letters I'm sending to your friend Paula and her dear daughter Eustochium. Read them, and if you find them instructive or enjoyable, take what I've said to them as meant for you too. 2. I hope Albina, your mother and mine [in the spiritual sense], is well. Physically, I mean — I have no doubt about her spiritual health. Please give her my greetings, and cherish her with double affection — both as a Christian and as a mother.

To Marcella Jerome writes that he is busy collating Aquila's Greek version of the Old Testament with the Hebrew, inquires after Marcella's mother, and forwards the two preceding letters (XXX., XXXI.). Written at Rome in 384 A.D. 1. There are two reasons for the shortness of this letter, one that its bearer is impatient to start, and the other that I am too busy to waste time on trifles. You ask what business can be so urgent as to stop me from a chat on paper. Let me tell you, then, that for some time past I have been comparing Aquila's version of the Old Testament with the scrolls of the Hebrew, to see if from hatred to Christ the synagogue has changed the text; and — to speak frankly to a friend — I have found several variations which confirm our faith. After having exactly revised the prophets, Solomon, the psalter, and the books of Kings, I am now engaged on Exodus (called by the Jews, from its opening words, Eleh shemôth ), and when I have finished this I shall go on to Leviticus. Now you see why I can let no claim for a letter withdraw me from my work. However, as I do not wish my friend Currentius to run altogether in vain, I have tacked on to this little talk two letters which I am sending to your sister Paula, and to her dear child Eustochium. Read these, and if you find them instructive or pleasant, take what I have said to them as meant for you also. 2. I hope that Albina, your mother and mine, is well. In bodily health, I mean, for I doubt not of her spiritual welfare. Pray salute her for me, and cherish her with double affection, both as a Christian and as a mother. About this page Source. Translated by W.H. Fremantle, G. Lewis and W.G. Martley. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 6. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1893.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001032.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.