Letter 68: The man carrying this letter has been sent on a piece of business that piety does not allow me to describe.
To Theophilus.
The man carrying this letter has been sent on a piece of business that piety does not allow me to describe. But that he has cultivated virtue from his youth — this I can say truthfully. Honor him as a good man. As for the accusation he has made, let it follow its own course. Surely you would never interfere with a justifiable homicide.
Human translation — Livius.org
Related Letters
The synodical letter of the council of Jerusalem sent to Theophilus in reply to the preceding. The translation as before is due to Jerome. The following is an epitome: We have done all that you wished, and Palestine is almost wholly free from the taint of heresy.
Since I am about to put a question to you, let me first explain the background.
I was prepared to place my hand and my judgment at the service of your fatherly command.
Jerome forwards to Theophilus a translation of the latter's paschal letter for 404 A.D. and apologizes for his delay in sending it, on the ground that ill-health and grief for the death of Paula have prevented him from doing literary work. The date of the letter is 404 A.D.
Jerome writes to Theophilus to apologize for his delay in sending Latin versions of the latter's letter (CXIII.) and invective against John Chrysostom. Possibly, however, the allusion may be not to these but to some other work of Theophilus (e.g. a paschal letter.) This delay he attributes to the disturbed state of Palestine, the severity of the...