Philo (c.30 BCE - c.50 CE) was a leader of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Alexandria, Egypt. Philo wrote expansively on the intersection of philosophy, politics, and religion during the late Second Temple Period. He specifically explores the connections between Platonic Greek philosophy and historical Judaism. For example, Philo maintains that the Torah and Jewish Law are a blueprint for the pursuit of individual enlightenment.

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  • Philo (c.30 BCE - c.50 CE) was a leader of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Alexandria, Egypt. Philo wrote expansively on the intersection of philosophy, politics, and religion during the late Second Temple Period. He specifically explores the connections between Platonic Greek philosophy and historical Judaism. For example, Philo maintains that the Torah and Jewish Law are a blueprint for the pursuit of individual enlightenment. Philo interprets the stories of Torah as elaborate metaphors and symbols. He does not reject the subjective experience of Ancient Judaism; yet, he repeatedly explains that the Torah cannot be understood as a concrete, objective history. Philo is largely shaped by contemporary Greek philosophy. For example, he explains that ideal Greek forms for reason and wisdom illustrate the deep, mystical truth of God and Judaism. Philo states his theology both through the negation of opposed ideas, and through detailed, positive explanations of the nature of God. In his negative statement, he contrasts the nature of God with the nature of the physical world. He integrates select theology from the dominant Jewish tradition, including God's sublime transcendence, and man's inability to behold an ineffable God. However, he significantly disagrees with predominant Jewish theology that God actively changes the world, is filled with zeal, is moved by repentance, and aids His chosen people. Philo does not consider God similar to heaven, the world, or man; God exists neither in time nor space; He has no human attributes or emotions. Indeed, God has no attributes (ἁπλοῡς), in consequence no name (ἅρρητος), and for that reason he cannot be perceived by man (ἀκατάληπτος). Further, God cannot change (ἅτρεπτος): He is always the same (ἀἱδιος). He needs no other being (χρήζων ὁυδενòς τò παράπαν), and is self-sufficient (ἑαυτῷ ἱκανός). God can never perish (ἅφθαρτος). He is the simply existent (ó ὤν, τὺ ὅν), and has no relations with any other being (τὸ γὰρ ἢ ὄν ἒστιν ουχὶ τῶν πρός τι).
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  • Philo (c.30 BCE - c.50 CE) was a leader of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Alexandria, Egypt. Philo wrote expansively on the intersection of philosophy, politics, and religion during the late Second Temple Period. He specifically explores the connections between Platonic Greek philosophy and historical Judaism. For example, Philo maintains that the Torah and Jewish Law are a blueprint for the pursuit of individual enlightenment.
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  • Philo's view of God
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