Philo of Alexandria

328 texts · Page 9 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.

Eve and Creation

Philo The Midrash of Philo 14:10

He suggests we look beyond the literal. Philo sees the serpent not just as a snake, but as an allegory – an emblem of desire itself. Think about it. The serpent "creeps upon his br...

CreationAdam & EveMosesShabbat

The Tree of Knowledge and Curses

Philo The Midrash of Philo 16:1

Let’s dive into what some of our sages have said about it. The verse reads, “Unto the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy travail; in pain thou shalt bring for...

Creation

Philosophical Midrash

Philo The Midrash of Philo 16:2

That internal struggle... it's been a topic of contemplation for millennia. And interestingly, sometimes it's been explored through the lens of gender. Now, I know what you might b...

The Tree of Knowledge

Philo The Midrash of Philo 17:1

We know the story: the serpent deceives Eve, she eats from the Tree of Knowledge, and shares with Adam. God, understandably upset, metes out punishments. The serpent is cursed to c...

CreationAdam & Eve

Adam's Transgression and Curses

Philo The Midrash of Philo 17:2

The Midrash of Philo, a collection of interpretations and expansions on the Hebrew Bible attributed to the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, offers a fascinating perspective....

Wisdom

The Tree of Knowledge and Spirit

Philo The Midrash of Philo 19:1

Ever wonder what it really means when we say "ashes to ashes, dust to dust?" We often hear that phrase at funerals, a solemn reminder of our mortality. But where does it come from,...

CreationSoul

Adam and the Origins of the World

Philo The Midrash of Philo 19:2

Ancient Jewish wisdom has something profound to say about that very human struggle. Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish philosopher living in Egypt around the time of Jesus, offered a un...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveTorah

Kingdom of Adam and Chava

Philo The Midrash of Philo 20:1

It’s such a simple act, naming, but in that moment, Adam isn't just labeling. He’s making a profound statement. Why that name? Why "Life"? Genesis 3:20 tells us, "Adam called his w...

CreationAdam & Eve

Soul of Adam and Chava

Philo The Midrash of Philo 20:2

Take the very first name ever given to a woman: Chava, or as we know her, Eve. Philo, the great Jewish philosopher from Alexandria, Egypt, writing around the first century CE, give...

Adam & EveSoul