Commentary on Matthew (The Fathers of the Church 117)

St. Jerome (347-420) has been considered the pre-eminent scriptural commentator among the Latin Church Fathers. His Commentary on Matthew, written in 398 and profoundly influential in the West, appears here for the first time in English translation. Jerome covers the entire text of Matthew's gospel by means of brief explanatory comments that clarify the text literally and historically. Although he himself resided in Palestine for forty years, Jerome often relies on Origen and Josephus for local information and traditions. His stated aim is to offer a streamlined and concise exegesis that avoids excessive spiritual interpretation. Jerome depends on the works of a series of antecedent commentators, both Greek and Latin, the most important of whom is Origen, yet he avoids the extremes in Origen's allegorical interpretations. His polemic against theological opponents is a prominent thrust of his exegetical comments. The Arians, the Gnostics, and the Helvidians are among his most important targets. Against Arius, Jerome stresses that the Son did not lack omniscience. Against Marcion and Mani, Jerome holds that Jesus was a real human being, with flesh and bones, and that men become sons of God by their own free choice, not by the nature with which they are born. Against Helvidius, Jerome defends the perpetual virginity of Mary. In this commentary, Jerome calls attention to the activity of the Trinity as a principal unifying theme of the Gospel of Matthew. He also stresses that exertions are necessary for the Christian to attain eternal salvation; that free will is a reality; that human beings cooperate with divine grace; and that it is possible to obtain merit during the earthly life. Acknowledgments ix Abbreviations xi Select Bibliography xiii Introduction 3 1. General Introduction 3 2. Jerome’s Life and Works 5 3. The Origenist Controversies 13 4. Jerome’s Commentary on Matthew 15 5. Sources of Jerome’s Exposition: Origen 19 6. Jerome’s Exegetical Method 24 7. Themes of Jerome’s Commentary on Matthew 30 8. Influence and Printed Editions 46 COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW Preface 51 Book One (Matthew 1.1–10.42) 59 Matthew 1 59 Matthew 6 86 Matthew 2 64 Matthew 7 92 Matthew 3 68 Matthew 8 98 Matthew 4 71 Matthew 9 105 Matthew 5 74 Matthew 10 114 Book Two (Matthew 11.2–16.12) 128 Matthew 11 128 Matthew 14 166 Matthew 12 138 Matthew 15 177 Matthew 13 151 Matthew 16 186 Book Three (Matthew 16.13–22.40) 189 Matthew 16, continued 189 Matthew 20 222 Matthew 17 197 Matthew 21 230 Matthew 18 206 Matthew 22 248 Matthew 19 214 Book Four (Matthew 22.41–28.20) 257 Matthew 22, continued 257 Matthew 26 291 Matthew 23 258 Matthew 27 308 Matthew 24 269 Matthew 28 324 Matthew 25 281 INDICES General Index 331 Index of Holy Scripture 337 Index of Greek Words Cited 347 Review: "St. Jerome (347-420) has been considered the pre-eminent scriptural commentator among the Latin Church Fathers. His Commentary on Matthew, written in 398 and profoundly influential in the West, appears here for the first time in English translation." "Jerome covers the entire text of Matthew's gospel by means of brief explanatory comments that clarify the text literally and historically. Although he himself resided in Palestine for forty years, Jerome often relies on Origen and Josephus for local information and traditions. His stated aim is to offer a streamlined and concise exegesis that avoids excessive spiritual interpretation." "In this commentary, Jerome calls attention to the activity of the Trinity as a principal unifying theme of the Gospel of Matthew. He also stresses that exertions are necessary for the Christian to attain eternal salvation; that free will is a reality; that human beings cooperate with divine grace; and that it is possible to obtain merit during the earthly life."--Jacket