61. Ep. 81 (CCL 31A:96); trans. Parsons, FOTC 12:390.
The Truth of the Scriptures
These two issues remained the ongoing focus of their correspondence, though at least as much space is devoted, on the one hand, to Jerome venting his anger that Augustine was waging a behind-the-scenes campaign against him, and, on the other, to Augustine playing the diplomat, soothing hurt feelings, apologizing profusely for misunderstandings. Jerome finally changes moods and concludes Letter 81 with the comment: "Let us, if you will, play together in the field of the Scriptures without hurting each other."61 For Augustine, biblical interpretation was no light-hearted sport, but tough mountainclimbing. In the following passage, excerpted from a treatise-length letter, Augustine uses their dispute over Galatians as a springboard to explain his broader understanding of the truth of the Scriptures. From Letter 82:
(1.2) You ask, or rather, with the boldness of charity you command, that we play together in the field of the Scriptures without hurting one another. As far as I am concerned, I would rather deal with these matters seriously and not as if some game. But if it pleased you to use that wording because of your facility in that field, I confess that I ask something greater of your kind ability, of your learned, exact, experienced, expert, and gifted prudence and care: that in these great and involved questions, by the gift, or rather under the guidance, of the Holy Spirit, you would help me. For it is not as though I am playing on some [level] field, but rather am gasping for air in the [high altitude of] Scriptures' mountains. . . .
(1.3) I admit to Your Charity that only to those books of the Scriptures that are now called canonical have I learned to pay such honor and respect as to believe most firmly that not one of Scriptures' authors has erred in writing anything. If I do find anything in those books that seems contrary to truth, I decide either that the text is corrupt, or that the translator did not follow what was really said, or that I have failed to understand it. But when I read other authors, no matter how eminent they may be in sanctity and learning, I do not necessarily believe a thing is true just because they think so, but because they have been able to convince me, either on the authority of the canonical writers or by a plausible reason that is not inconsistent with the truth. And I think that you, my brother, feel the same way. Moreover, I have to say, I do not believe that you want your books to be read as if they were those of Prophets or Apostles, about whose error-free writings it is unlawful to doubt. Far be it from you to think [your books infallible], given your pious humility and your truthful self-understanding, for if you were not so endowed, you would certions. Augustine worked hard to patch up the misunderstanding and sent a copy of these letters in the same large packet of materials that accompanied ep. 71, quoted above.
61. Ep. 81 (CCL 31A:96); trans. Parsons, FOTC 12:390.