Philo

Philo ( 20 BCE - 40 CE) was an Hellenized Jewish philosopher born in Alexandria, Egypt . The few biographical details concerning him are found in his own works, especially in Legatio ad Caium, ("embassy to Caius") and in Josephus ( Antiquities" xviii. 8, § 1; comp. ib. xix. 5, § 1; xx. 5, § 2). The only event that can be determined chronologically is his participation in the embassy which the Alexandrian Jews sent to the emperor Caligula at Rome for the purpose of asking protection against the attacks of the Alexandrian Greeks. This occurred in the year 40 CE. Philo included in his philosophy both Greek wisdom and Judaism , which he sought to fuse and harmonize by means of the art of allegory that he had learned as much from Jewish exegesis as from the Stoics. His work was not widely accepted. "The sophists of literalness," as he calls them ( De Somniis, i. 16-17), "opened their eyes superciliously" when he explained to them the marvels of his exegesis. Philo's works were enthusiastically received by the early Christians , some of whom saw in him a Christian. Eusebius speculated that the Therapeutae , the Jewish group of ascetic hermits in the Egyptian desert that Philo describes in De vita contemplativa ("Contemplative Life") was in fact a Christian group.

Philo used allegory to fuse and harmonize Greek philosophy and Judaism . His method followed the practices of both Jewish exegesis and Stoic philosophy. His work was not widely accepted. "The sophists of literalness," as he calls them , "opened their eyes superciliously" when he explained to them the marvels of his exegesis . Philo's works were enthusiastically received by the Early Christians , some of whom saw in him a cryptic Christian. His concept of the Logos as God's creative principle apparently influenced early Christology . To him Logos was God's "blueprint for the world", a governing plan. The few biographical details concerning Philo are found in his own works, especially in Legatio ad Gaium ("embassy to Gaius"), and in Josephus . The only event in his life that can be determined chronologically is his participation in the embassy which the Alexandrian Jews sent to the emperor Caligula at Rome as the result of civil strife between the Alexandrian Jewish and Hellenized communities. This occurred in the year 40 CE. De Somniis, i.16-17 Antiquities xviii.8, § 1; comp. ib. xix.5, § 1; xx.5, § 2

Philo of Alexandria ( / ˈ f aɪ l oʊ / ; , Philōn ; c. 25 BCE – c. 50 CE), also called Philo Judaeus , was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria , in the Roman province of Egypt . Philo used philosophical allegory to attempt to fuse and harmonize Greek philosophy with Jewish philosophy . His method followed the practices of both Jewish exegesis and Stoic philosophy. His allegorical exegesis was important for several Christian Church Fathers , but he has barely any reception history within Rabbinic Judaism . He believed that literal interpretations of the Hebrew Bible would stifle humanity's view and perception of a God too complex and marvelous to be understood in literal human terms. Some scholars hold that his concept of the Logos as God's creative principle influenced early Christology . Other scholars, however, deny direct influence but say both Philo and Early Christianity borrow from a common source. The few biographical details known about Philo are found in his own works, especially in Legatio ad Gaium (Embassy to Gaius), and in Josephus . The only event in his life that can be decisively dated is his participation in the embassy to Rome in 40 CE. He represented the Alexandrian Jews before Roman Emperor Caligula because of civil strife between the Alexandrian Jewish and Greek communities. The Gospel of John: A Commentary . Antiquities xviii.8, § 1; comp. ib. xix.5, § 1; xx.5, § 2

Hellenistic Jewish philosopher (c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE) For other uses, see Philo (disambiguation) . Philo of Alexandria ( / ˈ f aɪ l oʊ / ; ; ; c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE ), also called Philo Judaeus , was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria , in the Roman province of Egypt . The only event in Philo's life that can be decisively dated is his participation in the embassy to Rome in 40 CE; whereby he represented the Alexandrian Jews in a delegation to the Roman Emperor Caligula following civil strife between the Alexandrian Jewish and Greek communities. Philo was a leading writer of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Alexandria , Egypt. He wrote expansively in Koine Greek on the intersection of philosophy , politics , and religion in his time, specifically he explored the connections between Greek Platonic philosophy and late Second Temple Judaism . Philo's deployment of allegory to harmonize Jewish scripture, mainly the Torah , with Greek philosophy was the first documented of its kind, and thereby often misunderstood. Many critics of Philo assumed his allegorical perspective would lend credibility to the notion of legend over historicity. Philo often advocated a literal understanding of the Torah and the historicity of such described events, while at other times favoring allegorical readings. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). ( Embassy to Gaius ) Antiquities xviii.8, § 1; comp. ib. xix.5, § 1; xx.5, § 2 Richard Carrier (2014). On the Historicity of Jesus .

Hellenistic Jewish philosopher (c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE) For other uses, see Philo (disambiguation) . Philo of Alexandria ( / ˈ f aɪ l oʊ / ; Ancient Greek : Φίλων , romanized : Phílōn ; Hebrew : יְדִידְיָה , romanized : Yəḏīḏyāh ; c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE ), also called Philō Judæus , was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria , in the Roman province of Egypt . The only event in Philo's life that can be decisively dated is his representation of the Alexandrian Jews in a delegation to the Roman emperor Caligula in 40 CE following civil strife between the Jewish and Greek communities of Alexandria. Philo was a leading writer of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Alexandria , Egypt. He wrote expansively in Koine Greek on philosophy , politics , and religion in his time; specifically, he explored the connections between Greek Platonic philosophy and late Second Temple Judaism . Philo's deployment of allegory to harmonize Jewish scripture, mainly the Torah , with Greek philosophy was the first documented of its kind, and thereby often misunderstood. Many critics of Philo assumed his allegorical perspective would lend credibility to the notion of legend over historicity. Philo often advocated a literal understanding of the Torah and the historicity of such described events, while at other times favoring allegorical readings. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). ( Embassy to Gaius ) Antiquities xviii.8, § 1; comp. ib. xix.5, § 1; xx.5, § 2 Richard Carrier (2014). On the Historicity of Jesus .