Jerome and the Jews

Jerome rocked the boat in which the early church had been comfortably settled for two hundred years. He upset Christian tradition by arguing for the priority of the Hebrew Old Testament over the supposedly inspired Greek Septuagint. He learned Hebrew from a Jewish teacher and translated the Old Testament directly from Hebrew into Latin. Not only did his new Latin translation create turmoil, but the inclusion of Jewish interpretations in his commentaries furthered the controversy. Unlike his contemporaries, Jerome viewed the Jews and their homeland as a source of information and inspiration. However, at the same time, Jerome freely admitted his hatred of the Jews and their religion. His caustic rhetoric reinforced the Christian church's displacement of the Jews, but it seems to oppose his move toward appreciating Jewish resources. This book illuminates Jerome's contradictory personality, proposes a solution, and explores avenues for current Christian and Jewish relations in light of Jerome's model. ""People often quote the Fathers when they are convenient to push a personal agenda. Jerome has been cited both as a harsh opponent of the Jews and also as a sincere advocate of the Hebraica veritas. Bill Krewson acknowledges this evident tension in a close examination of the Bethlehem scholar's writings and uncovers a more nuanced Jerome 'who explored and expanded the borders of Christian indebtedness to the Jews.' We should pay close attention to his insightful analysis."" --William Varner, Professor of Biblical Studies, The Master's University ""The ever enigmatic, always controversial Jerome comes through the pages of Krewson's text as a challenge for Jewish-Christian relations then and now. We see Jerome at his paradoxical best: plundering the 'treasures of the Jews' for his interpretation of Scripture and his Vulgate even as he perpetuates the supersessionism of his day. Krewson provides a stimulating case study and catalyst for ongoing dialogue between Jews and Christians."" --Joel C. Elowsky, Concordia Seminary William L. Krewson is a professor in Cairn University's School of Divinity in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He also serves as a pastor at Chelten, a Church of Hope in Dresher, Pennsylvania. He has led numerous trips to Israel and Bible lands.