Commentary on Daniel

by Jerome of Stridon, Gleason L. Archer (Translator)

This commentary has high value for the academic world and is of particular value for research. It is equally valuable from a devotional point of view. Jerome was a Church Father and famous ecclesiastical author who died in A.D. 420. His writings cover nearly all the principal departments of Christian theology, but the most numerous and important belong to that of Biblical study. Among the latter is his Commentary on Daniel, which is one of the most interesting and significant of his expository works. It is frequently consulted by the learned even to this day. It here appears for the first time in the English language. The manuscript here published in book form won form Dr. Archer the much coveted Certificate of Award presented by the Christian Research Foundation for the year's most important manuscript in the field of Biblical Research.

Genres: Theology, Catholic

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

Reviews

[Alan Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saint Jerome (347-420) was a theologian, and historian. His main concern when writing his commentary on Daniel was to refute the ideas of the anti-Christian philosopher Porphyry. Porphyry claimed that the person who composed the book under the name of Daniel made it all up after the events took place in order to revive the hopes of his countrymen. Jerome would agree with Porphyry on the earlier parts of some visions which were apparently historical. Then he would abruptly switch to a future interpretation which included the Antichrist and end-time events.

Jerome was an expert in ancient languages and history. He wasn’t a huge fan of allegory.

“Therefore those critics should leave off their foolish objections who raise questions about the presence of shadows and symbols in a matter of historical truth and attempt to destroy the truth itself by imagining that they should employ allegorical methods…”

However, he was no stranger to figurative methods himself. He offers this remarkable interpretation of Daniel ch. 5.

“I think that the golden ones are those which consist of earthly reason. The silver gods are those which possess the charm of eloquence and are fashioned by rhetoric. But those which bring in the fables of the poets and employ ancient traditions containing marked divergences from one another in respect to good taste or folly, such are described as bronze and iron. And those who set forth sheer absurdities are called wooden or stone.”

For Daniel ch. 9:24-27 he offers differing opinions of nine ancient interpreters, including Eusebius who had several different theories.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this commentary a couple of weeks ago but neglected to read a few pages at the end after Jerome had finished dealing with the canonical text. Compared to Augustine, Jerome is a much better exegete, though is inferior as a theologian. Thus, Jerome is useful to consult on the meaning of the text but is not so good at drawing theological deductions from it. He is still worth reading, however.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saint Jerome is best remembered for his Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate but he also wrote commentaries and other writings, including this commentary on the Old Testament book of Daniel. He defends the historicity of Daniel and discusses the meaning of the text, over against other writers including the pagan philosopher Porphyry. In the later prophetic chapters, which reflect the doings of Alexander the Great and his generals who divided up his conquests after his death in 312 B.C., he argues that kings like Antiochus Epiphanes who desecrated the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (described in First and Second Maccabees and in Josephus) were types of the Antichrist to come at the end of history. He primarily deals with the Hebrew/Aramaic text but also refers to the Greek Septuagint version, which includes the additions which Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox accept as fully canonical but excluded by most Protestants as apocryphal.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone studying Daniel. Jerome's commentary is the earliest Christian commentary on the book of Daniel, and it is a defense of Daniel against the skeptic Porphyry. Jerome defends the late date and authenticity of Daniel, as well as the traditional Christian interpretation of his prophecies. Jerome cites various Christian interpretations, but emphasizes repeatedly that the traditional and essentially unanimous interpretation by the Christian Church is the futuristic interpretation: of a literal coming Antichrist who will desecrate the future temple in Jerusalem before the second coming of Christ. Well done, Jerome! A highly recommended read.