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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

Hebrew scripture, Greek philosophy, Jewish piety, scriptural interpretation

College

Humanities

Department

Philosophy

Abstract

Philo Judaeus was a deeply philosophic exegete of Hebrew scripture whose commitment to Greek philosophy led him to re-interpret the nature of the study of scripture. His reinterpretation is a form of philosophical reflection on the nature of reality within the context of the exegesis of scriptural texts. A Greek aristocrat, Philo received an education which emphasized the importance of philosophy, and particularly Platonism. His most mature works show influence from three schools of thought. First, Philo is a middle plantonist. He accepts Plato’s metaphysics of universal ideas and theory of creation. Second, Phho borrows from the Stoa a method of allegorical interpretation which he used to reveal Greek philosophical concepts in scripture. Third, Philo knew the Pythagoreans numbers symbolism and adapted it to his purposes. Philo also shows a deep respect for the Hebrew Bible, and particularly for the prophets of the Pentateuch. It is in the man Philo that these two worlds of philosophy and scripture merge and synthesize.

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