Edmon Gallagher: Jerome's Use of the Deuterocanonical Literature

Though Jerome rejected the canonicity of the Old Testament deuterocanonical literature, he seems to have valued this literature highly as useful for Christian edification and in some ways authoritative. He quoted from the deuterocanonical books, especially the wisdom books, from throughout his career, and he occasionally held up the characters in these books (e.g., Tobit, Judith, Susanna) as paragons of virtue worthy of reflection and imitation. This paper surveys Jerome's use of this literature and sets it in the context of the reception of the deuterocanonical literature in the ancient church. It argues that Jerome probably considered his position on these books to be in keeping not only with Jewish attitudes toward them but more particularly with views toward these books held among Greek-speaking Christians.