Neither a Stone nor a God : Humility, Hierarchy, and the Notion of the “Flesh” in Jerome’s Anti-Pelagian Polemics

• The notion of the “flesh” plays an important part in Jerome’s theology at large, and this is no less true of his anti-Pelagian polemics. Against what he presents as the Pelagian idea of apatheia, Jerome points out that due to our existence in the flesh, we cannot hope to be free from sin during our earthly lives. A central accusation against Pelagianism which Jerome expresses in this connection, in his Letter 133 as well as his Dialogue against the Pelagians, concerns pride – the Pelagians are described as seeing themselves as equal with God, since they claim that they cannot fall from their state of perfection. Jerome presents his own view, on the other hand, in terms of humility, acknowledging the limitations of a human being. Despite Jerome’s rhetoric of pride and humility, this article argues that, somewhat paradoxically, Jerome uses the notion of the “flesh” to support his idea of ascetic superiority, and presents the ascetic struggle against the flesh as precisely what distinguishes the better Christians from the worse. This underlies his idea of relative perfection, as opposed to the absolute perfection of God, which is presented as the orthodox answer to a blasphemous teaching, while also supporting his ascetic ideology. The article concludes that Jerome’s critique against the idea of apatheia is above all ideologically motivated and cannot be understood apart from his ascetic agenda. Presenting this Pelagian idea as heretical gives him an opportunity to frame his own idea of ascetic superiority, and his theory of a Christian hierarchy based on renunciation, as an orthodox alternative.

• The notion of the 'flesh' plays an important part in Jerome’s theology at large, and this is no less true of his anti-Pelagian polemics. In opposition to what he presents as the Pelagian idea of apatheia, Jerome claims that due to our existence in the flesh, we cannot hope to be free from sin during our earthly lives. A central accusation against Pelagianism which Jerome expresses in this connection, in his Letter 133 as well as his Dialogue against the Pelagians, concerns pride – the Pelagians are described as seeing themselves as equal with God, since they claim that they cannot fall from their state of perfection. Jerome presents his own view, on the other hand, in terms of humility, acknowledging the limitations of a human being. Despite Jerome’s rhetoric of pride and humility, this article argues that, somewhat paradoxically, Jerome uses the notion of the 'flesh' to support his idea of ascetic superiority, and presents the ascetic struggle against the flesh as precisely what distinguishes the better Christians from the worse. This underlies his idea of relative perfection, as opposed to the absolute perfection of God, which is presented as the orthodox answer to a blasphemous teaching, while also supporting his ascetic ideology. The article concludes that Jerome’s critique against the idea of apatheia is ideologically motivated and cannot be understood apart from his ascetic agenda. Presenting this Pelagian idea as heretical gives him an opportunity to frame his own idea of ascetic superiority, and his theory of a Christian hierarchy based on renunciation, as an orthodox alternative.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion -- Religionshistoria (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion -- History of Religions (hsv//eng)

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