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| [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Philo.jpg|right|frame]] | | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Philo.jpg|right|frame]] |
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− | '''Philo''' (20 BCE – 50 CE), known also as '''Philo of Alexandria''' (gr. Φίλων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς), Philo Judaeus, Philo Judaeus of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria Alexandria], Yedidia and Philo the Jew, was an Hellenistic Jewish philosopher born in Alexandria. | + | '''Philo''' (20 BCE – 50 CE), known also as '''Philo of Alexandria''' (gr. Φίλων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς), Philo Judaeus, Philo Judaeus of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria Alexandria], Yedidia and Philo the Jew, was an Hellenistic Jewish philosopher born in Alexandria. |
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− | Philo used [[allegory]] to [[fuse]] and [[harmonize]] Greek [[philosophy]] and [[Judaism]]. His method followed the [[practices]] of both Jewish exegesis and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoic Stoic] philosophy. His work was not widely accepted. "The sophists of literalness," as he calls them[1], "opened their eyes superciliously" when he explained to them the marvels of his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exegesis exegesis]. Philo's works were enthusiastically received by the Early [[Christianity|Christians]], some of whom saw in him a cryptic Christian. His [[concept]] of the [[Logos]] as God's [[creative]] principle apparently [[influenced]] early [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology Christology]. To him Logos was God's "blueprint for the world", a governing plan. | + | Philo used [[allegory]] to [[fuse]] and [[harmonize]] Greek [[philosophy]] and [[Judaism]]. His method followed the [[practices]] of both Jewish exegesis and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoic Stoic] philosophy. His work was not widely accepted. "The sophists of literalness," as he calls them[1], "opened their eyes superciliously" when he explained to them the marvels of his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exegesis exegesis]. Philo's works were enthusiastically received by the Early [[Christianity|Christians]], some of whom saw in him a cryptic Christian. His [[concept]] of the [[Logos]] as God's [[creative]] principle apparently [[influenced]] early [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology Christology]. To him Logos was God's "blueprint for the world", a governing plan. |
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− | The few biographical details concerning Philo are found in his own works, especially in ''Legatio ad Gaium'' ("embassy to Gaius"), and in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus Josephus].[2] 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula Caligula] at [[Rome]] as the result of civil strife between the Alexandrian Jewish and Hellenized communities. This occurred in the year 40 CE. | + | The few biographical details concerning Philo are found in his own works, especially in ''Legatio ad Gaium'' ("embassy to Gaius"), and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus Josephus].[2] 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula Caligula] at [[Rome]] as the result of civil strife between the Alexandrian Jewish and Hellenized communities. This occurred in the year 40 CE. |
| ==Ancestry, family and early life== | | ==Ancestry, family and early life== |
− | Philo was probably born with the name Julius Philo. Philo came from an aristocratic [[family]] who lived in Alexandria for generations. His ancestors and family were contemporaries to the rule of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemaic_dynasty Ptolemaic dynasty] and the rule of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire Seleucid Empire]. Although the names of his [[parents]] are [[unknown]], Philo came from a family who were [[noble]], honourable and [[wealthy]]. It was either his father or paternal grandfather who was granted Roman citizenship from Roman dictator Gaius [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar Julius Caesar]. Philo had two brothers Alexander the Alabarch and Lysimachus. | + | Philo was probably born with the name Julius Philo. Philo came from an aristocratic [[family]] who lived in Alexandria for generations. His ancestors and family were contemporaries to the rule of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemaic_dynasty Ptolemaic dynasty] and the rule of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire Seleucid Empire]. Although the names of his [[parents]] are [[unknown]], Philo came from a family who were [[noble]], honourable and [[wealthy]]. It was either his father or paternal grandfather who was granted Roman citizenship from Roman dictator Gaius [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar Julius Caesar]. Philo had two brothers Alexander the Alabarch and Lysimachus. |
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− | His ancestors and family had social ties and connections to the [[Priests|Priesthood]] in Judea; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean Hasmonean Dynasty; Herodian Dynasty] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio-Claudian_dynasty Julio-Claudian dynasty] in [[Rome]]. Philo was a contemporary to the life of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] and the lives of [[Paper 139 - The Twelve Apostles|The Apostles of Jesus]]. Philo along with his brothers received a thorough [[education]]. They were educated in the Egyptian, Jewish, [[Greek]] and [[Roman]] [[cultures]], particularly in the [[traditions]] of [[Judaism]], the study of the [[Hebrew Bible|Old Testament]] and in [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Philosophy#Ancient_Philosophy Greek Philosophy]. | + | His ancestors and family had social ties and connections to the [[Priests|Priesthood]] in Judea; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean Hasmonean Dynasty; Herodian Dynasty] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio-Claudian_dynasty Julio-Claudian dynasty] in [[Rome]]. Philo was a contemporary to the life of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] and the lives of [[Paper 139 - The Twelve Apostles|The Apostles of Jesus]]. Philo along with his brothers received a thorough [[education]]. They were educated in the Egyptian, Jewish, [[Greek]] and [[Roman]] [[cultures]], particularly in the [[traditions]] of [[Judaism]], the study of the [[Hebrew Bible|Old Testament]] and in [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Philosophy#Ancient_Philosophy Greek Philosophy]. |
| ==Exegesis== | | ==Exegesis== |
− | The writings of Philo show resemblances to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle], as well as from Attic [[orators]] and historians, and poetic phrases and allusions to the poets. Philo's works offer an anthology of Greek phraseology of the most different periods. | + | The writings of Philo show resemblances to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle], as well as from Attic [[orators]] and historians, and poetic phrases and allusions to the poets. Philo's works offer an anthology of Greek phraseology of the most different periods. |
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− | Philo bases his [[doctrines]] on the [[Hebrew Bible]], which he considers as the source and [[standard]] not only of religious [[truth]] but in general of all truth. Its pronouncements are for him [[divine]] pronouncements. They are the [[words]] of the ἱερὸς λόγος, ϑεῖος λόγος, ὀρϑὸς λόγος[6] ([[holy]] word, godly word, upright word) uttered sometimes directly and sometimes through the mouth of a [[prophet]], especially through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses], whom Philo considers the real [[medium]] of [[revelation]], while the other writers of the Old Testament appear as [[friends]] or pupils of Moses. | + | Philo bases his [[doctrines]] on the [[Hebrew Bible]], which he considers as the source and [[standard]] not only of religious [[truth]] but in general of all truth. Its pronouncements are for him [[divine]] pronouncements. They are the [[words]] of the ἱερὸς λόγος, ϑεῖος λόγος, ὀρϑὸς λόγος[6] ([[holy]] word, godly word, upright word) uttered sometimes directly and sometimes through the mouth of a [[prophet]], especially through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses], whom Philo considers the real [[medium]] of [[revelation]], while the other writers of the Old Testament appear as [[friends]] or pupils of Moses. |
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− | Although he distinguishes between the [[words]] uttered by [[God]], as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decalogue Decalogue], and the edicts of Moses, as the special laws[7], he does not carry out this distinction, since he believes in general that [[everything]] in the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Torah Torah] is of divine [[origin]], even the letters and accents[8]. | + | Although he distinguishes between the [[words]] uttered by [[God]], as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decalogue Decalogue], and the edicts of Moses, as the special laws[7], he does not carry out this distinction, since he believes in general that [[everything]] in the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Torah Torah] is of divine [[origin]], even the letters and accents[8]. |
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− | The [[Hebrew Bible]] had not been [[canonized]] at the time of Philo, and the extent of his [[knowledge]] of Biblical books cannot be exactly determined. Philo does not quote [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Ezekiel Ezekiel], [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Daniel Daniel], Canticles, [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Ruth Ruth], [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Lamentations Lamentations], [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes], or [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Esther Esther]. Philo regards the [[Bible]] as the source not only of religious [[revelation]], but also of philosophic [[truth]]; for, according to him, the Greek philosophers also have borrowed from the Bible: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitus Heraclitus], according to "Quis Rerum Divinarum Heres Sit" § 43 [i.503]; Zeno, according to ''Quod Omnis Probus Liber'', § 8 [ii.454]. | + | The [[Hebrew Bible]] had not been [[canonized]] at the time of Philo, and the extent of his [[knowledge]] of Biblical books cannot be exactly determined. Philo does not quote [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Ezekiel Ezekiel], [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Daniel Daniel], Canticles, [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Ruth Ruth], [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Lamentations Lamentations], [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes], or [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Esther Esther]. Philo regards the [[Bible]] as the source not only of religious [[revelation]], but also of philosophic [[truth]]; for, according to him, the Greek philosophers also have borrowed from the Bible: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitus Heraclitus], according to "Quis Rerum Divinarum Heres Sit" § 43 [i.503]; Zeno, according to ''Quod Omnis Probus Liber'', § 8 [ii.454]. |
| ==Stoic influence== | | ==Stoic influence== |
| [[Greek]] [[allegory]] had preceded Philo in this field. As the Stoic allegorists sought in [[Homer]] the basis for their philosophic teachings, so the Jewish allegorists, and especially Philo, went to the [[Hebrew Bible|Old Testament]]. Following the [[methods]] of Stoic allegory, they interpreted the Bible philosophically (on Philo's Predecessors in the domain of the allegoristic Midrash among the Palestinian and Alexandrian Jews, see Siegfried, l.c. pp. 16–37). | | [[Greek]] [[allegory]] had preceded Philo in this field. As the Stoic allegorists sought in [[Homer]] the basis for their philosophic teachings, so the Jewish allegorists, and especially Philo, went to the [[Hebrew Bible|Old Testament]]. Following the [[methods]] of Stoic allegory, they interpreted the Bible philosophically (on Philo's Predecessors in the domain of the allegoristic Midrash among the Palestinian and Alexandrian Jews, see Siegfried, l.c. pp. 16–37). |
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| # De Allegoriis Legum, i.53 [i.73]. | | # De Allegoriis Legum, i.53 [i.73]. |
| ==External links== | | ==External links== |
− | *[http://cornerstonepublications.org/Philo/ Philo] | + | *[https://cornerstonepublications.org/Philo/ Philo] |
− | *[http://www.archive.org/details/TheWorksOfPhiloJudaeusVolII The Works Of Philo Judaeus Vol II (1854)] (Yonge's Eng. transl.) | + | *[https://www.archive.org/details/TheWorksOfPhiloJudaeusVolII The Works Of Philo Judaeus Vol II (1854)] (Yonge's Eng. transl.) |
− | *[http://patrologia.ct.aegean.gr/downloads/vivlia/Philo%20Judaeus/ The Works of Philo] | + | *[https://patrologia.ct.aegean.gr/downloads/vivlia/Philo%20Judaeus/ The Works of Philo] |
− | *[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=281&letter=P Jewish Encyclopedia] | + | *[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=281&letter=P Jewish Encyclopedia] |
− | *[http://www.torreys.org/bible/philopag.html Philo Page] | + | *[https://www.torreys.org/bible/philopag.html Philo Page] |
− | *[http://www.nd.edu/~philojud Studia Philonica Annual] | + | *[https://www.nd.edu/~philojud Studia Philonica Annual] |
− | *[http://virtualreligion.net/iho/philo.html Philo] entry in historical sourcebook with [http://virtualreligion.net/iho/allegory.html fresh translations] of key excerpts by Mahlon H. Smith | + | *[https://virtualreligion.net/iho/philo.html Philo] entry in historical sourcebook with [https://virtualreligion.net/iho/allegory.html fresh translations] of key excerpts by Mahlon H. Smith |
− | *[http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/philo.html Text online] | + | *[https://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/philo.html Text online] |
− | *[http://sites.google.com/site/antiquityproject/home/first-century-alexandria Alexandria in the First Century] | + | *[https://sites.google.com/site/antiquityproject/home/first-century-alexandria Alexandria in the First Century] |
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| [[Category: Philosophy]] | | [[Category: Philosophy]] |
| [[Category: Religion]] | | [[Category: Religion]] |