The Studia Philonica Annual is a scholarly journal devoted to the study of Hellenistic Judaism, particularly the writings and thought of the Hellenistic-Jewish writer Philo of Alexandria (circa 15 BCE to circa 50 CE).

Why does Philo of Alexandria seem to avoid the open use of dialectic, which was regarded in the ancient world – together with physics and ethics – as one of the three main divisions of philosophy? Has this got anything to do with the tension between proper logic and the sophistic practices of his age? Does Philo’s interpretation of Abraham’s migration from Ur of the Chaldees include a hidden political message? Why, according to Philo, did Jacob mourn the manner of Joseph’s death more than his death itself? These and other questions of the same kind are discussed in the present collection of essays, investigating Philo’s philosophical, historical and cultural background, as well as his relations to Judaism and Christianity. This book attempts to improve our understanding of some of the complexities of Philo’s thought by raising new questions, exploring the ideological aspects of Philo’s approach to Scripture, and attempting to understand the nature of Philo “the Platonist’s” attitude to various issues raised in Plato’s dialogues.

Study Hebrews in its Second Temple Context Following the proven model established in Reading Romans in Context, Reading Mark in Context, and Reading Revelation in Context, this book brings together a series of accessible essays that compare and contrast the theology and hermeneutical practices of the book of Hebrews with various early Jewish literature. Going beyond an introduction that merely surveys historical events and theological themes, this textbook examines individual passages in Second Temple Jewish literature in order to illuminate the ideas and emphases of Hebrews' varied discourses. Following the rhetorical progression of Hebrews, each chapter in this textbook: pairs a major unit of Hebrews with one or more sections of a thematically related Jewish text introduces and explores the historical and theological nuances of the comparative text shows how the ideas in the comparative text illuminate those expressed in Hebrews In addition to the focused comparison provided in the essays, Reading Hebrews in Context offers other student-friendly features that help them engage broader discussions, including an introductory chapter that familiarizes students with the world and texts of Second Temple Judaism and a glossary of important terms. The end of each chapter contains a list of other thematically-relevant Second Temple Jewish texts recommended for further study and a focused bibliography pointing students to critical editions and higher-level discussions in scholarly literature they might use to undertake their own comparative studies.