Choleric with misanthropic traits, militant propagandist of the ascetic ideal, versatile and prolific writer, linguistic genius, diligent translator, and original scientist - all these descriptions apply to the church father Jerome (347-419). Jerome was an eccentric. He came from the provinces and made a career in the metropolises of the late antique world (Rome, Constantinople, Antioch), but in the second half of his life, he returned to the provinces, this time to Bethlehem in Palestine. Because of his knowledge of the Hebrew language, he was the only theologian of his time who was able to make Jewish biblical knowledge accessible to Christian exegesis. Alfons Fürst describes the theological controversies in which Jerome was involved during his tense life (Arianism, Origenism, Pelagianism) and discusses his contribution to the Verbreitu.