Letter 83: A letter from Pammachius and Oceanus in which they express the perplexity into which they have been thrown by Rufinus's version of Origen's treatise, On First Principles (see Letter LXXX.) and request Jerome to make for them a literal translation of the work. Written in 399 or 400 A.D. 1.

Letter 83: From Pammachius and Oceanus (399-400 AD) [A letter from two of Jerome's allies in Rome — Pammachius (a Roman senator and son-in-law of Paula) and Oceanus — expressing the alarm caused by Rufinus's Latin translation of Origen's On First Principles. They find the book deeply disturbing and request Jerome to produce a literal translation so they can see exactly what Origen actually wrote, without Rufinus's sanitizing edits. This letter helped trigger the final, catastrophic break between Jerome and Rufinus.] Pammachius and Oceanus to the priest Jerome, greetings. A reverend brother has brought us pages containing a certain person's Latin translation of a treatise by Origen called On First Principles. These contain many things that disturb our simple minds and that appear to us to undermine the faith... [They go on to request Jerome's own faithful translation of the work, so the errors can be clearly identified.]

From Pammachius and Oceanus A letter from Pammachius and Oceanus in which they express the perplexity into which they have been thrown by Rufinus's version of Origen's treatise, On First Principles (see Letter LXXX.) and request Jerome to make for them a literal translation of the work. Written in 399 or 400 A.D. 1. Pammachius and Oceanus to the presbyter Jerome, health. A reverend brother has brought to us sheets containing a certain person's translation into Latin of a treatise by Origen— entitled περὶ ἀρχῶν . These contain many things which disturb our poor wits and which appear to us to be uncatholic. We suspect also that with a view of clearing the author many passages of his books have been removed which had they been left would have plainly proved the irreligious character of his teaching. We therefore request your excellency to be so good as to bestow upon this particular matter an attention which will benefit not only ourselves but all who reside in the city; we ask you to publish in your own language the abovementioned book of Origen exactly as it was brought out by the author himself; and we desire you to make evident the interpolations which his defender has introduced. You will also confute and overthrow all statements in the sheets which we have sent to your holiness that are ignorantly made or contradict the Catholic faith. The writer in the preface to his work has, with much subtlety but without mentioning your holiness's name, implied that he has done no more than complete a work which you had yourself promised, thus indirectly suggesting that you agree with him. Remove then the suspicions men cannot help feeling and confute your assailant; for, if you ignore his implications, people will say that you admit their truth.