Correcting Errors

Multi anni sunt quod ab adolescentia usque ad hanc aetatem, diversa scripsi opuscula, semperque habui studio audientibus loqui, quod publice in Ecclesia didiceram: nec Philosophorium argumenta sectari, sed Apostolorum simplicitati aequiesere, sciens illud scriptum: Perdam sapientiam sapientium, et prudentiam prudentium reprobabo. Et: Fatuum Dei, sapientius est hominibus. Cum haec se ita habeant, provoco adversaries, ut omnes retro chartulas ex integro discutiant, et si quid in meo ingenioio vitii repererint, proferant in medium. Aut enim bona erunt, et contradiciam eorum calumniae: aut reprehensibilia, et confitebor errorem: malens emendare quam perseverare in pravitate sententiae. Et tu ergo, doctor egregie, aut defende quod locutus es, et sententiarum tuarum acumine astrue eloquio subsequenti, ne quando tibi placuerit, neges quod locutus es: aut si certe errasti, quasi homo, libere confitere, et discordantiam inter se redde concordiam. In mentem tibi veniat, tunicam Salvatoris nec a militibus fuisse conscissam. Fratrem inter se cernis jurgia, et rides aeque laetaris, quod alii tuo nomine, alii Christi appellentur. Imitare Jonam, et dicito: Si propter me est ista tempestae, tollite me, et mittite in mare.  Humilitate dejectus est in profundum, ut in typum Domini gloriosus resurgeret. Tu per superbiam ad astra sustolleris, ut de loquatur Jesus: 'Videbam Satanam sicut fulgor cadentem de caelo.' Sanctus Hieronymus, Epistola CXXXIII, Ad Ctesiphontem

For many years from my youth up until this age I have written various works and I have always tried to teach my hearers the doctrine that I have been taught publicly in church; I have not chased after the arguments of the philosophers but have preferred to find rest in the simplicity of the Apostles, knowing that it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and denounce the understanding of the prudent,'1 and ' The foolishness of God is wiser than men.'2 This being so, I challenge my adversaries to tear apart all my past writings, and if they track down anything in my thought that is faulty, to bring it forward. Thus either my works will be found good and I shall confute their calumny, or the works will be found at fault and I shall confess my error; for I am one who prefers to correct an error than persevere in a defective opinion. And so you also, outstanding teacher, defend what you have said, and support your opinions with corresponding eloquence, and do not, when it pleases you, deny what you have said, but if, as a man may do, you have obviously erred, confess it openly and turn discord back into harmony. May it come to mind that even the soldiers did not rend the coat of the Saviour, and yet when you see disputes between brothers you laugh and are glad that some are called by your name and others by that of Christ. Rather imitate Jonah and say: 'If this tempest is on account of me, take me and cast me into the sea.'3 He in humility was thrown into the deep that he might rise again a glorious type of the Lord. You by pride are lifted up to the stars, about which Jesus said: 'I beheld Satan falling like lightning from heaven.'4 Saint Jerome Letter 133, To Ctesiphon  1. 1 Cor 1.19  2. 1 Cor 1.25   3. Jon 1. 12  4 Lk 10.18