Commentary on Romans

Jerome (342–420)

We are all born equal, emperors and paupers, and we die as equals. Our humanity is of one quality.

The ungodly without the law shall perish forever. But the sinner under the law who comes to faith in God will not perish.

If everyone who utters a lie has already destroyed his soul, and all of us are liars, are we all going to perish? What Scripture says … we should interpret as referring to heretics.… The doer of the deed has indeed killed his own soul, but the heretic—the liar—has killed as many souls as he has seduced.

Paul shows clearly that righteousness depends not on the merit of man but on the grace of God, who accepts the faith of those who believe without the works of the law.

See also

• More works by Jerome

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