Friday, February 26, 2021

Jerome on the Book of Jude

In his work “On Illustrious Men,” Jerome mentioned how a number of people in his time were calling into question the canonical status of Jude:

 

Jude the brother of James, left a short epistle which is reckoned among the seven catholic epistles, and because in it he quotes from the apocryphal Book of Enoch it is rejected by many. Nevertheless by age and use it has gained authority and is reckoned among the Holy Scriptures. (Jerome, De Viris Illustribus, 4)

 

What is interesting is that Jerome mentions how it is reckoned among the Holy Scriptures due to its reception over time by believers. This is hardly a typical “Protestant” understanding of the nature of scripture and canon.