Original Research - Special Collection: Foundation subjects - Old and New Testament Studies

The significance of the second cave episode in Jerome’s Vita Malchi

Jacobus P. Kritzinger, Philippus J. (Phil) Botha
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 70, No 1 | a2004 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i1.2004 | © 2014 Jacobus P. Kritzinger, Philippus J. (Phil) Botha | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 02 May 2013 | Published: 16 May 2014

About the author(s)

Jacobus P. Kritzinger, Department of Ancient Languages, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Philippus J. (Phil) Botha, Department of Ancient Languages, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

The authors argue that the second cave episode in Jerome’s Vita Malchi Monachi Captivi should, in view of the similarities with the first cave episode and the high incidence of literary devices employed in it, be recognised for its value in the interpretation of this vita. The book was intended as a defence of, and an exhortation to a life of celibacy and this dual purpose is clearly demonstrated in both episodes in which a cave is used as the setting. The second cave episode has been neglected in the scholarly debate about the purpose of the book and this article attempts to set the record straight.

Keywords

Literary analysis; Jerome; Vita Malchi Monachi Captivi; celibacy

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Crossref Citations

1. Life and Death in theLife of Malchus
Jacobus P. K. Kritzinger
Journal of Early Christian History  vol: 6  issue: 3  first page: 98  year: 2016  
doi: 10.1080/2222582X.2016.1254381