Jerome's Jewish Asceticism The Targum of Qohelet's Influence on Jerome's Theology of Asceticism in the "Commentary on Ecclesiastes" (thesis)

Abstract

This thesis examines Jerome’s engagement with Aramaic targumim, specifically the Targum of Qohelet. I survey the state of Hieronymian studies. I argue that Jerome’s theological work has been unfairly subordinated to his philological work. I then proceed to examine Jerome’s "Commentary on Ecclesiastes," setting it within the context of debates about asceticism in late fourth century Rome. I argue that Jerome used the Targum of Qohelet as an interpretive guide for his commentary, which I demonstrate through close textual analysis. The Targum showed him how to transform the cynical philosopher who speaks throughout the work into a model of Hieronymian asceticism.