Philo of Alexandria

328 texts · Page 29 of 37

The writings of Philo of Alexandria (c. 20 BCE -- c. 50 CE), a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who sought to harmonize Jewish Scripture with Greek philosophy. His allegorical interpretations of the Torah remain influential to this day.

Shem and Creation

Philo The Midrash of Philo 1:1

They tell a story. They hint at something deeper. Take Noah's sons: Shem, Ham, and Japhet. You'd think their order would be consistent, right? But it's not! Isn't that peculiar? So...

CreationNoah & Flood

Trial of Shem

Philo The Midrash of Philo 1:2

Philo tackles a seemingly simple question: why are Shem, Ham, and Japhet, the sons of Noah, listed in that specific order? Some might assume it's based on age, with the first-named...

Japhet and the Origins of the World

Philo The Midrash of Philo 2:1

We're so used to breezing past those genealogical lists in Genesis, but tucked within them are echoes of ancient understandings about the world and its peoples. Today, let's zoom i...

Creation

Japhet in Jewish Tradition

Philo The Midrash of Philo 2:2

Let's take a detour into the world of ancient Jewish thought, specifically, a fascinating text known as the Midrash of Philo. Now, Philo of Alexandria was a Jewish philosopher livi...

Nimrod and Creation of Chus

Philo The Midrash of Philo 8:1

You might recall Nimrod from Genesis 10:8. It's a brief mention, almost a genealogical footnote: "Chus was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a giant and a hunter before the Lor...

CreationCreatures

Nimrod and the Origins of the World

Philo The Midrash of Philo 8:2

That struggle, that internal tug-of-war, is something ancient thinkers grappled with too. And one place we find it explored is in the writings attributed to Philo of Alexandria. No...

CreationHeavenCreaturesSoul

Abraham's Transgression and Chaldaeans

Philo The Midrash of Philo 7:1

"I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of the Chaldaeans to give thee this land for an inheritance" (Genesis 15:7). It's not just a generic "Hey, I'm God!" introdu...

Creation

Creator Studies Torah

Philo The Midrash of Philo 7:2

The ancient sages certainly did. And sometimes, the most straightforward stories hide the deepest truths. Take the tale we find in The Midrash of Philo, for example. It seems simpl...

JobTorahPrayerWisdom

Faith of Abraham and Inheritance

Philo The Midrash of Philo 8:1

Even Abraham, the patriarch of faith, had moments of doubt. Our question comes from the Midrash of Philo, an exploration of the Hebrew Bible through the lens of the writings of Phi...

Creation