Each generation of church fathers built upon the teachings of the previous era. Should you observe a painting of Jerome, most likely you’ll see him sitting at a desk, reading a book, or holding a pen.
He was learned, eloquent, and a lover of words, most importantly a lover of the Word of God. With these gifts he served the Church well and is best remembered for his translation of the Bible into Latin and introducing the monastic life to the world.
The giants of the faith that established the foundations of Christianity between the first and fifth centuries are called the Early Church Fathers, a broad category that can be broken into three smaller divisions. The Apostolic Fathers, like Clement of Rome, were contemporaries of Jesus’ twelve apostles.
The Ante-Nicene Fathers predate the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 and include Justin Martyr and Tertullian. The Post-Nicene Fathers come immediately after the Council of Nicaea and include Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom and the focus of this episode, Jerome.