This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 edition. Excerpt: ... life is to live in obedience to, and worship of God--to proceed cheerfully from death to immortality. We thus reach the abode of immortality.25 Therefore26 God exhorts man to run to the highest Logos of God which is the fountain of wisdom, in order that by drinking of that stream he may find everlasting life instead of death. It is also imparted by Eucharistic drinking which see. 4. JUDGMENT. While we do not hear anything very clear about any one special day of judgment, Philo is sure of absolute justice, so that a bad man will not lose reward for a single good action done among many evil ones, or a good man fail to be punished for a single bad action among many good ones.27 5 SIN J DEGREESq REPENTANCE. The usual Greek word for sin is hamartano, meaning "to miss the mark," as an arrow. Hence it is interesting to notice Philo's expression of a "reason which is aimed at truth like an arrow."28 The word for repentance means literally "to change one's mind;" and Philo gives it almost disproportionate space in his system. His order of excellence is29 1, perfection; 2, repentance, and next lower, 3, lover of God and lover of virtue; and again30 next below, as Moses was below Enoch, hope. So, philosophically, he prizes what is worse as being valuable if used for improvement;31 it earns indulgence for oneself, it promotes reconciliation, and averts divine anger32 (ib). Again, next to perfection is placed, when one has erred, repentance33 and symbolically is indicated by the number 36534 as typified by the solar orbit, alternation of agitation and resultant virtue; and as the sun hides the stars, to oblivion of past offences. It earned Noah35 preservation at time of general destruction, and,36 in the great abundance of kind mercy of the beneficent...

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1909 Edition.

Samuel Sandmel's book: Philo of Alexandria: An Introduction, is a basic introductory, supplementing his own teacher' Goodenough: 'An Introduction to Philo Judaeus, ' and foundation to more recent works on Philo.

A contemporary of both Jesus and the apostle Paul, Philo was a prolific Jewish theologian, philosopher, and politician -- a fascinating, somewhat enigmatic figure -- who lived his entire life in Alexandria, Egypt. His many books are important sources for our understanding of ancient Judaism, early Christianity, and the philosophical currents of that time. Reading Philo is an excellent introductory guide to Philo s work and significance. The contributors -- all well-known experts on Philo of Alexandria -- discuss Philo in context, offer methodological considerations (how best to study Philo), and explore Philo s ongoing relevance and value (why reading him is important). This practical volume will be an indispensable resource for anyone delving into Philo and his world.

Jean Danielou's 'Philo of Alexandria' illuminates the life and work of a key figure in the history of religious thought. Philo of Alexandria was a first-century Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who was born into a wealthy and prominent family in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt. Educated in both Jewish culture and Greek philosophy, Philo believed that literal interpretations of the Hebrew Bible would distort the Jewish people's perceptions of a God too complex to be understood in literal, human terms. He became one of the first religious thinkers to initiate a strong allegorical reading of Scripture. Jean Danielou places Philo's writing in context, detailing the remarkable events of the philosopher's life, including a diplomatic mission to present himself before the Roman Emperor Caligula on behalf of the persecuted Jews of Alexandria. James Colbert's English translation provides a highly accessible introduction to this important figure, a pioneer of biblical commentary whose work has had a lasting influence on Christian theology. It is essential reading for those interested in patristics, exegesis, or the history of religious and philosophical thought.