Philo and the Oral Law


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Philo and the Oral Law


Book Description




One God, One Law


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The influence of Greco-Roman philosophy on Philo of Alexandria's view of the Mosaic law is clear. This book explains how Philo integrated Greco-Roman conceptions of law, such as Unwritten Law, the Law of Nature, and the "Living Law," into his understanding of the divine origin of the Mosaic law of the Jews.




Philo of Alexandria


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The first author in which the traditions of Judaic thought and Greek philosophy flow together in a significant way is Philo of Alexandria. This study presents a detailed and comprehensive examination of Philo's knowledge and utilization of the most popular philosophical work of his day, the "Timaeus" of Plato. A kind of "commentary" is given on all passages in Philo's oeuvre in which the "Timaeus" is used or referred to, followed by a "synthetic" account of the influence that it had on Philo's thought.




Establishment Violence in Philo and Luke


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This study tries to throw new light on both Philo of Alexandria and the scenarios involved in the violent death of Stephen and the attacks against Paul in Jerusalem as recorded in the Lukan Acts of the Apostles.




Reading Philo


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Guidebook par excellence to a significant ancient Jewish scholar A contemporary of both Jesus and the apostle Paul, Philo was a prolific Jewish theologian, philosopher, and politician -- a fascinating, somewhat enigmatic figure -- who lived his entire life in Alexandria, Egypt. His many books are important sources for our understanding of ancient Judaism, early Christianity, and the philosophical currents of that time. Reading Philo is an excellent introductory guide to Philo’s work and significance. The contributors -- all well-known experts on Philo of Alexandria -- discuss Philo in context, offer methodological considerations (how best to study Philo), and explore Philo’s ongoing relevance and value (why reading him is important). This practical volume will be an indispensable resource for anyone delving into Philo and his world.




The Slayers of Moses


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In this groundbreaking study, Susan Handelman examines the theological roots of the modern science of interpretation. She defines current structures of thought and patterns of organizing reality, clearly distinguishes them from previously reigning Hellenic modes of abstract thought, and connects them with important elements of the Rabbinic interpretive tradition. Hers is the first comprehensive treatment of the undeniable, and undeniably significant, influence of Jewish religious thought on contemporary literary criticism. Dr. Handelman shows how they provide a crucial link among several of the most influential modern theories of textual interpretation, from Freud to the Deconstructionist School of Lacan and Derrida, as well as current literary theorists who revive Rabbinic hermeneutics, such as Harold Bloom and Geoffrey Hartman.




Past Renewals


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Through close readings of texts such as Ezra-Nehemiah. Philo of Alexandria, and 4Ezra, Hindy Najman develops the idea of a discourse tied to a founder, illuminating the nexus between revelation, interpretive authority, and the quest for perfection in ancient Judaism.




Seconding Sinai


Book Description

This work criticizes the terms "Pseudepigraphy" and "Rewritten Bible", which presuppose conceptions of textual fidelity foreign to ancient Judaism. It develops the concept of a discourse whose creativity and authority depend on repeated returns to the exemplary figure of a founder.




Philo of Alexandria: On the Contemplative Life


Book Description

De Vita Contemplativa is known for its depiction of a philosophical group of Jewish men and women known as the ‘Therapeutae’. This commentary sets the treatise in its historical context and explores Philo’s aims in depicting them as he did.