Exegesis and Philosophy: Studies on Philo of Alexandria

Philo of Alexandria, the great 2nd-century AD Jewish philosopher and theologian, is a key figure in the history of thought. With him the Judaeo-Christian and the Greek traditions converge and meet for the first time, and he also stands at the beginning of the revival of Platonic thought known as Middle Platonism. In these articles David Runia has aimed, first, to provide a guide for research and a context for understanding the enormous mass of writings Philo has left. He has then sought to investigate further Philo's place in the history of Platonic thought and to trace aspects of his influence on the later development of Christian theology. His primary concern, however, is to examine the relationship between scriptural exegesis and philosophy in Philo's work. He argues that one cannot pursue Philo's thought without fully taking into account its exegetical context, and therefore that an understanding of how he undertakes to present this exegesis is of paramount importance.