Jerome’s Own Commentary on Ephesians

Let us see what my opponent himself says on this point in those Commentaries he has selected. In the second book, commenting on the words, “Therefore, putting away lying, let each of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another,” after a short introduction, he says this: “So Paul himself, who was one of the perfect, says in another letter, ‘We speak wisdom among those who are perfect.’ This, then, is what is commanded: that those mystical and secret things which are full of divine truth should be spoken by each man to his neighbor, so that day to day may pour forth speech and night to night may show knowledge. That is, a man should show all those clear and shining truths that he knows to those to whom the words can worthily be addressed: ‘You are the light of the world.’ “On the other hand, he should set out everything wrapped in darkness and veiled in the mist of symbols to others who are themselves nothing but mist and darkness, those of whom it is said, ‘And there was darkness under his feet,’ that is, of course, under the feet of God. For on Mount Sinai Moses goes into the whirlwind and the mist where God was, and it is written of God, ‘He made darkness his secret place.’ “Let each man, then, speak truth in this way, in a mystery, to his neighbor, and not give what is holy to the dogs or throw his pearls before pigs. But those who are anointed with the oil of truth, let him lead them into the bridal chamber of the spouse, into the inner sanctuary of the King.” [a]

Look at this, I beg you; look carefully, and see whether in this whole passage the condemnation can fall on anyone but himself. If his opponents were looking for a chance to convict and ruin him on the ground of what he has written, what other course could they take, and what other evidence could they want to bring against him, than this, which he brings against himself as if he were pleading against someone else? If the aim were to pass sentence on him, his own letter would be enough. You have only to change the name: the charge fits no one but himself. What he calls on us on the one hand to condemn, he urges us on the other hand to follow. What he asserts, he rebukes; what he hates, he does. How happy his disciples must be, who obey and imitate him!