1st century BCE – 1st century
Alexandria and Egypt
Philo was the leading representative of Alexandrian Jewry and an influential Jewish philosopher. Deeply loyal to the Torah but comparatively open to Graeco-Roman society, he sought to reconcile Jewish scripture with Greek and especially Platonic thought through allegorical interpretation. His synthesis later influenced Alexandrian Christian theology.
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The Story
Philo emerged as the outstanding representative of Alexandrian Jewry. He remained intensely loyal to the Torah, yet did not share the hostility that many of his fellow Jews directed toward Graeco-Roman society. His intellectual project was therefore both religious and conciliatory, seeking a framework in which Jewish tradition could engage Greek philosophical culture.
His method relied heavily on allegorical interpretation of scripture. Through it, Philo attempted to weld Jewish and Greek thought, especially Platonic philosophy, into a coherent system. His record of the embassy to Caligula in Legatio ad Gaium also preserves an important account of the political difficulties faced by Alexandria’s Jewish community.
Philo lacked immediate followers, but his ideas exerted a later influence on Alexandrian Christianity. Two centuries afterward, Alexandrian Christian thinkers adopted comparable methods in their attempt to synthesize Christian doctrine and Greek philosophy. Clement is presented as Philo’s most distinguished Christian successor in this intellectual tradition.
1st century BCE – 1st century
Alexandria and Egypt
Philo was the leading representative of Alexandrian Jewry and an influential Jewish philosopher. Deeply loyal to the Torah but comparatively open to Graeco-Roman society, he sought to reconcile Jewish scripture with Greek and especially Platonic thought through allegorical interpretation. His synthesis later influenced Alexandrian Christian theology.
Continue exploring
The Story
Philo emerged as the outstanding representative of Alexandrian Jewry. He remained intensely loyal to the Torah, yet did not share the hostility that many of his fellow Jews directed toward Graeco-Roman society. His intellectual project was therefore both religious and conciliatory, seeking a framework in which Jewish tradition could engage Greek philosophical culture.
His method relied heavily on allegorical interpretation of scripture. Through it, Philo attempted to weld Jewish and Greek thought, especially Platonic philosophy, into a coherent system. His record of the embassy to Caligula in Legatio ad Gaium also preserves an important account of the political difficulties faced by Alexandria’s Jewish community.
Philo lacked immediate followers, but his ideas exerted a later influence on Alexandrian Christianity. Two centuries afterward, Alexandrian Christian thinkers adopted comparable methods in their attempt to synthesize Christian doctrine and Greek philosophy. Clement is presented as Philo’s most distinguished Christian successor in this intellectual tradition.