Comments on: CS Lewis and St Jerome

By: Eugene Curry

Eugene Curry — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:05:50 +0000

I know that I’m piling on rather late here but it occurs to me that since John Colet was heavily influenced by the writings of Jerome and since Jerome essentially laughed off the idea that Genesis “needs no explanation” (Letter LIII.8) it’s quite possible that Colet was echoing a sentiment Jerome expressed in one of his works not currently available online in digital format which Lewis had also read.

By: Nance

Nance — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:39:43 +0000

I’m pretty sure that Lewis actually uses that “quote” in three different places… he is prone to misquoting though, so I’ve been content with that explanation of this mysterious Jerome quote of his for a while now.

Someone who does pre-date Augustine who may be very much of interest here is Origen. In his *On Principle Things* (ca. 212-215 AD), Book IV, Origen advocates the allegorical interpretation of Genesis pretty staunchly. “…I do not suppose that any one doubts that these things figuratively indicate certain mysteries, the history having taken place in appearance, and not literally.” It’s interesting stuff.
Origen’s not the earliest example that you can look to either: he may be one of the earliest Christian voices, but this interpretation in the Christian reading is picking up from a long standing Jewish interpretive tradition–a well known example here would be Philo, who was a contemporary of Christ and Paul.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:58:32 +0000

That’s a very good point, Stephan, and to see it used twice so far apart in time does seem to make it less likely that he got his references messed up. But there does remain the issue of actually locating that quote.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:38:52 +0000

Lewis used this in Miracles as well: “No philosophical theory which I have yet come across is a radical improvement on the words of Genesis, that ‘In the beginning God made Heaven and Earth’. I say ‘radical’ improvement, because the story in Genesis—as St Jerome said long ago—is told in the manner ‘of a popular poet’, or as we should say, in the form of folk tale. But if you compare it with the creation legends of other peoples—with all these delightful absurdities in which giants to be cut up and floods to be dried up are made to exist before creation—the depth and originality of this Hebrew folk tale will soon be apparent.” (“Nature and Supernature”)

Would it surprise you that Lewis would mis-attribute the line twice, in publications separated by more than a decade?

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:00:55 +0000

Thanks, Ryan. I will be sure to check out those books. Best…

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:48:26 +0000

The allegorical interpretations of Genesis seemed (to me) to be a cop out for a long time, an obvious retreat of religion in the face of science. I remember reading that CS Lewis quote as well, and being somewhat shocked that there were pre-Darwin doubts about a 6000 year old universe. I haven’t read much St. Jerome, but I can tell you that St. Augustine (much more famous than John Colet) in The Confessions (written in 397AD) wrote that the wording of Genesis was not to be taken literally, and going from the seven days of creation, he arrives at some startlingly modern conclusions. You can find it online at http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1101.htm, the relevant books are 11 and 12. Anyway, St. Augustine doesn’t pre-date St. Jerome, but they were contemporaries, and it’s pretty good evidence that the literal translations were a much later (post-Reformation) take on the Creation story.