A study of the Greek texts (ranging from brief lines in florilegia to complete books) which have been incorrectly ascribed to Philo of Alexandria. Analysis of the sources of these texts (especially the catenae and florilegia), and the correct identifications of many texts, often for the first time.

The transmission of Philo of Alexandria's works is very complex, and genuine works are preserved in the original Greek, and in ancient Armenian and Latin translations. There are also many excerpts attributed to him in medieval catenae and florilegia, and in quotations in Church writers. The task undertaken here is to discriminate as far as possible between the genuine and the spurious within the textual history of Philo. An analysis of the sources of the fragments of Philo is followed by a listing of sixty-one texts which are demonstrably spurious, deriving (as is shown here) from various sources, including the Bible, Church writers, classical authors, and Josephus. Also included is a survey of the complete books which have been mistakenly assigned to Philo. An Index locorum provides identifications of the Philonic texts found in all the principal collections of fragments. Many of the identifications of spurious and of genuine fragments are made here for the first time.

The best current research on Philo's allegorical exegesis of Scripture The strong element of Greek philosophy in Philo's thought has been recognized since antiquity, but his relation to the Pythagorean-Platonic tenet of reincarnation has been a neglected, even avoided, topic in research. This book confirms the view common in the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries that Philo accepted the doctrine of reincarnation even though he preferred not to speak openly about it. The book shows how allegorization enabled Philo to give a reincarnational interpretation to very different scriptural passages. Features: Highlights the importance of reading Philonic parallel passages together for fuller understanding of Philo s message Discusses the difference between protological and universal allegory in Philo's exegesis of the first chapters of Genesis Introduces new concepts to Philonic research such as the corporealization of the mind (the result of transgression and a driving force for reincarnation) and monadization (the human soul's transformation into pure mind upon salvation)

The works of Philo of Alexandria, a slightly older contemporary of Jesus and Paul, constitute an essential source for the study of Judaism and the rise of Christianity. They are also of extreme importance for understanding the Greek philosophy of the time and help to explain the onset of new forms of spirituality that would dominate the following centuries. This handbook presents an account of Philo's achievements. It contains a profile of his life and times, a systematic overview of his many writings, and survey chapters of the key features of his thought, as seen from the perspectives of Judaism and Greek philosophy. The volume concludes with a section devoted to Philo's influence and significance. Composed by an international team of experts, The Cambridge Companion to Philo gives readers a sense of the state of scholarship and provides depth of vision in key areas of Philonic studies.

Explore the Jewish traditions preserved in the commentaries of a largely neglected Alexandrian Christian exegete Justin M. Rogers surveys commentaries on Genesis, Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Zechariah by Didymus the Blind (ca. 313–398 CE), who was regarded by his students as one of the greatest Christian exegetes of the fourth century. Rogers highlights Didymus’s Jewish sources, zeroing in on traditions of Philo of Alexandria, whose treatises were directly accessible to Didymus while he was authoring his exegetical works. Philonic material in Didymus is covered by extensive commentary, demonstrating that Philo was among the principle sources for the exegetical works of Didymus the Blind. Rogers also explores the mediating influence of the Alexandrian Christian tradition, focusing especially on the roles of Clement and Origen. Features Fresh insights into the Alexandrian Christian reception of Philo A thorough discussion of Didymus’s exegetical method, particularly in the Commentary on Genesis Examination of the use and importance of Jewish and Christian sources in Late Antique Christian commentaries

It is a remarkable fact that the writings of Philo, the Jew from Alexandria, were preserved because they were taken up in the Christian tradition. But the story of how this process of reception and appropriation took place has never been systematically research. In this book the author first examines how Philo's works are related to the New Testament and the earliest Chritian writing, and then how they were used by Greek and Latin church fathers up to 400 c.e., with special attention to the contributions of Clement, Origen, Didymus, Eusebius, Gregory of Nyssa, Ambrose, and Augustine. Philo in Early Christian Literature is a valuable guide to the state of scholarly research on a subject that has thus far been investigated in a rather piecemeal fashion.

This third volume of The Cambridge History of Judaism focuses on the early Roman period.