Philo Judeaus (c. 20 BCE-c. 50 CE)

Philo Judeaus, also known as Philo of Alexandria, was a Jewish philosopher born in Hellenic Alexandria, Egypt. His writings are a unique blend of Greek philosophy and Jewish teachings and are the only surviving manuscripts from the culture of Hellenistic Judaism. Philo's work reflects a deep concern with time and the meaning of life.

Philo's writing gives much insight into the experience of the Jews within the Roman world. He was a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth but makes no mention of Jesus in his work. Philo does discuss Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, as well as the Roman emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius Caligula, and Claudius. Around 40 CE Philo was chosen by the Jews of Alexandria to lead a delegation to Rome to protest injustices committed against them. Philo was highly regarded within his community because of the wisdom and knowledge, as expressed in his extensive philosophical writings.

Little is known about the private life of Philo. Scholars believe he was born around 20 BCE to a wealthy and influential family in Alexandria. He later wrote negatively about affluence. Philo most likely received a traditional Jewish education as well as schooling in the writings of the Greeks. His writing shows the influences of Plato, Aristode, and the philosophies of stoicism and cynicism. Philo's work can be divided into three general categories: (1) discussions of Jewish law, (2) popular works, and (3) philosophical essays. The discussions of Jewish law include Philo's Allegorical Commentary on Genesis, an interpretation of the Ten Commandments and the lives of the prophets. Popular works include the Life of Moses, intended for a wider audience. Philosophical essays consist of treatises on a variety of issues, such as On Providence and On Animals. Philo believed that the Torah contains both literal and allegorical meaning.

The Temple of Jerusalem still stood during Philo's lifetime and had great meaning to him. He made at least one pilgrimage there. He believed that Gentiles could not be excluded from Judaism and that Jewish teachings had universal application. Philo never departed from his strongly held Jewish beliefs, and he often serves as a bridge between the ideas of the Jews and the Greeks. Clearly the teachings of both the Jews and the Greeks have had a profound impact on the development of knowledge over time. Both schools of thought deal with the nature of humankind and its place in the universe. Philo's work stands as the most important link between the two.

The Jewish historian Josephus wrote an account of the delegation to Rome led by Philo. The emperor Caligula had ordered statues of himself as a god erected in the Jewish temples of Alexandria. The Jews naturally viewed this as a deliberate provocation. Philo met with Caligula directly, but the two did not find common ground. Scholars place the date of Philo's death around 50 CE.