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How did St. Jerome’s dream about being a Ciceronian affect his reading of classical literature?

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José de Ribera: Saint Jerome — St. Jerome *Saint Jerome*, oil on canvas by José de Ribera (Jusepe de Ribera, Lo Spagnoletto), c. 1638–40; in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

St. Jerome’s dream, which occurred during a near-fatal illness in 375, caused a profound spiritual crisis that significantly altered his relationship with classical literature. In the dream, Jerome was brought before a divine tribunal and accused of being a "Ciceronian"—a follower of the Roman philosopher Cicero—rather than a Christian, for which he was severely lashed.1

Following this experience, Jerome vowed to abandon the study and possession of pagan literature. For years, this vow prevented him from reading the classics for pleasure. While he later minimized the importance of the dream during controversies with his contemporary Tyrannius Rufinus, the event served as a turning point that redirected his scholarly focus toward scripture and exegesis. One immediate consequence of this crisis was his first exegetical work, an allegorical commentary on the Book of Obadiah, which he later dismissed as a product of "fervent ignorance".12