Philo of Alexandria - Books and Journals

214 part two
20250. C.Hayes,Gentile Impurities and Jewish Identities: Intermarriage
and Conversion from the Bible to the Talmud (Oxford 2002).
Jewish notions of Gentile impurity are integral to the understanding of group
identity because these notions influence ideas about whether and how non-Jews
can join the Jewish community. Indeed controversies on these questions ‘led
to the rise of sectarianism in the Second Temple period and, ultimately, to the
separation of Christianity and Judaism’ (p. 10). Hayes identifies different kinds of
purity/impurity, including ritual, moral, and genealogical. In Part I she examines
concepts of Gentile impurity in the Bible and various Second Temple sources
and then considers implications regarding intermarriage and conversion. She
also examines the positions of Paul and early Church Fathers. Part II is devoted
to rabbinic views of Gentile impurity, intermarriage, and conversion. Hayes
argues against earlier scholars who claim that it is ritual impurity that Jews most
commonly associate with non-Jews. Instead she maintains that it is genealogical
purity that concerns Ezra, Jubilees, and4QMMT,whileotherSecondTemple
sources, the Rabbis, and Paul emphasize the moral factor. Philo exemplifies this
concern with moral—rather than ritual or genealogical—purity/impurity, and
he understands conversion as ‘a passage from impiety to piety (moral impurity
to moral purity)’ (p. 57). Likewise Philo’s explanation of the prohibition against
intermarriage is based on ‘the deleterious moral-religious effect it may have on
theIsraelitepartner’(p.70).Reviews:M.L.Satlow,SPhA 16 (2004) 309–315.
(EB)
20251.L.R.Helyer,Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple
Period. A Guide for New Testament Students (Downers Grove Ill. 2002),
esp. 311–335.
The stated purpose of this book is to provide undergraduates, seminary
students, pastors and interested lay-persons an introduction to Jewish writings
important for an understanding of the New Testament. It deals primarily with
selections from Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, Philo,
Bar Kochba Letters and Mishnah. The presentation is chronological, providing
historical introductions to the various groups of literature. Chapter 9 deals with
Philo (pp. 311–335). After a brief historical introduction, the author presents
Philo’s writings. Then he discusses selected passages and their relevance for
the New Testament by dealing with topics such as creation and the origin of
evil; the problem of circumcision; the Logos; Adam Christology; substance and
shadow; mysticism; and allegorical interpretation. The Chapter ends with some
suggestions for further reading. (TS)
20252. I. Himbaza, ‘Le Décalogue de Papyrus Nash, Philon, 4 Qphyl
G, 8Qphyl 3, et 4Qmez A,’ Revue de Qumran 79 (2002) 411–428.
A comparative study of the texts cited in the title of the article demonstrates
that the form of the Decalogue that they represent stands closer to the version
of Exodus than to that of Deuteronomy, and that this Decalogue is closer to the