Philo of Alexandria

328 texts · Page 4 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.

Adam's Transgression

Philo The Midrash of Philo 18:1

God had just created Adam, this perfect being, in this perfect garden. What was missing? Well, the Midrash of Philo, a collection of ancient Jewish interpretations and elaborations...

Creation

Adam and Creation

Philo The Midrash of Philo 18:7

It’s something that’s been pondered for centuries, and even makes an appearance in ancient Jewish texts. The Midrash of Philo, a collection of interpretations and elaborations on t...

Creation

Adam Names the Animals

Philo The Midrash of Philo 18:8

There’s a fascinating little corner of Jewish thought that suggests a truly different picture of those early days. It’s tucked away in the Midrash of Philo, a collection of interpr...

Adam & Eve

Adam and the Origins of the World

Philo The Midrash of Philo 19:1

The question is simple: Why does the creation of animals and flying creatures get mentioned again after we already had the whole six-day creation story in Genesis 1? It seems a bit...

Creation

Adam and the Origins of the World

Philo The Midrash of Philo 19:5

Philo, the great Jewish philosopher of Alexandria, who lived around the time of Jesus, offers some mind-bending insights. In his Midrash of Philo, he suggests that those things cre...

CreationAdam & EveWisdom

Kingdom of Adam

Philo The Midrash of Philo 19:13

After all, this is God we're talking about! Surely, the Almighty doesn't need Adam's help with a little taxonomy, right? Genesis 2:19 tells us "He brought the animals to Adam, that...

CreationAdam & EveMosesWisdom

Adam at the Dawn of Creation

Philo The Midrash of Philo 19:18

What does it mean to name something? The book of Genesis gives us a glimpse into this very idea. In Genesis 2:19, it says, "And whatever Adam called each living thing, that was the...

CreationAdam & EveTorahSoul

Wisdom of Adam

Philo The Midrash of Philo 20:1

Even Adam, the first human, apparently felt that way. The Torah tells us that God paraded all the animals before Adam (Genesis 2:19-20). Adam named them, categorizing them, underst...

CreationAdam & Eve

Adam Beyond the Firmament

Philo The Midrash of Philo 20:2

The earth beneath his feet, the rivers flowing nearby, the vast ocean, the air he breathed, the very light that illuminated his path, the heavens above… all were at his service. Ev...

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