The Orthodox Woman : Jerome on the Relation Between Asceticism, Orthodoxy, and Gender
(2023) In Vigiliae Christianae 77(4). p.424-446- Abstract
While previous scholarship has shown that the rhetorical figure of the "heretical woman"was important in Jerome's slandering of male rivals, this article argues that the "orthodox woman"played a just as important role in his self-presentation as an orthodox teacher. The "orthodox woman"is characterized by true asceticism which, according to Jerome's ascetic theology, implies that she transcends her sex. Rather than being a "woman", in the ordinary sense of the word, she is an angelic being with a supernatural understanding, which allows her to discern the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures and to distinguish between orthodoxy and heresy. It is argued that the presentation of the "orthodox woman"as very learned, independent and... (More)
While previous scholarship has shown that the rhetorical figure of the "heretical woman"was important in Jerome's slandering of male rivals, this article argues that the "orthodox woman"played a just as important role in his self-presentation as an orthodox teacher. The "orthodox woman"is characterized by true asceticism which, according to Jerome's ascetic theology, implies that she transcends her sex. Rather than being a "woman", in the ordinary sense of the word, she is an angelic being with a supernatural understanding, which allows her to discern the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures and to distinguish between orthodoxy and heresy. It is argued that the presentation of the "orthodox woman"as very learned, independent and strong-willed makes her the direct opposite of Jerome's "heretical woman", and that such a portrayal suited Jerome's purposes, as his great reliance on women readers called for a defence of female spiritual authority.
(Less)
- author
- Pålsson, Katarina LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- asceticism, heresiology, heresy, Jerome of Stridon, orthodoxy, women
- in
- Vigiliae Christianae
- volume
- 77
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 23 pages
- publisher
- Brill
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85172887826
- ISSN
- 0042-6032
- DOI
- 10.1163/15700720-bja10077
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ef303fe0-1e2e-4089-afe9-ecdb338bc3eb
- date added to LUP
- 2023-12-20 07:59:18
- date last changed
- 2023-12-20 07:59:31
@article{ef303fe0-1e2e-4089-afe9-ecdb338bc3eb,
abstract = {{<p>While previous scholarship has shown that the rhetorical figure of the "heretical woman"was important in Jerome's slandering of male rivals, this article argues that the "orthodox woman"played a just as important role in his self-presentation as an orthodox teacher. The "orthodox woman"is characterized by true asceticism which, according to Jerome's ascetic theology, implies that she transcends her sex. Rather than being a "woman", in the ordinary sense of the word, she is an angelic being with a supernatural understanding, which allows her to discern the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures and to distinguish between orthodoxy and heresy. It is argued that the presentation of the "orthodox woman"as very learned, independent and strong-willed makes her the direct opposite of Jerome's "heretical woman", and that such a portrayal suited Jerome's purposes, as his great reliance on women readers called for a defence of female spiritual authority.</p>}},
author = {{Pålsson, Katarina}},
issn = {{0042-6032}},
keywords = {{asceticism; heresiology; heresy; Jerome of Stridon; orthodoxy; women}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{424--446}},
publisher = {{Brill}},
series = {{Vigiliae Christianae}},
title = {{The Orthodox Woman : Jerome on the Relation Between Asceticism, Orthodoxy, and Gender}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700720-bja10077}},
doi = {{10.1163/15700720-bja10077}},
volume = {{77}},
year = {{2023}},
}