Jerome on Sinlessness: a Via Media between A ugustine and P elagius

This article will explore J erome's understanding of sinlessness and will argue that he saw himself just as opposed to A ugustine as to P elagius. I begin by exposing Jerome's context in the P elagian C ontroversy. I then expose his understanding of sinlessness. Next, I turn to his arguments in E p. 133 and the first two books of his D ialogi contra P elagianos . In book three of that text, we notice a change in his arguments which indicates that Jerome is no longer arguing only against P elagius; he now disagrees with A ugustine as well. I then examine a variety of issues besides sinlessness in the third book of the D ialogi that reveal that J erome disagreed with A ugustine on multiple topics, showing that his opposition to A ugustine's position on sinlessness was not exceptional. Finally I turn to statements by J erome that seem to indicate a positive appreciation for the B ishop of H ippo, but which on closer inspection are seen to contain latent criticisms.