Philo of Alexandria - Books and Journals

critical studies 2003 257
20362. J. R. Harrison, Paul’s Language of Grace in its Graeco-Roman
Context, Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament
2.172 (Tübingen 2003), esp. 114–133.
This revision of a 1996 Ph.D. dissertation prepared at Macquarie University,
Sydney, investigates the extent to which Paul interacts with the Greco-Roman
benefaction ideology of άρις. To explore how Greek-speaking Judaism was
affected by Greco-Roman benefaction ideology, Philo and Josephus are examined.
Harrison surveys modern scholarship on Philonic άρις and concludes
that scholars have abstracted the terminology of άρις from its historical context.
He then examines Philo’s use of άρις in contexts of divine benefaction to
show that Philo’s readers would have understood him against the backdrop of
honorific inscriptions. Turning to the motif of reciprocity, Harrison shows that
Philo’s treatment distorts the focus of the Mosaic Law on God’s redemptive love
as incentive to generosity by substituting it with reciprocity. Finally, he examines
Cher. 122–123 to show how Philo unabashedly criticizes the institution of
beneficence. (KAF)
20363. D.M.Hay,‘FoilsfortheTherapeutae:ReferencestoOther
Texts and Persons in Philo’s De vita contemplativa,’ in D. E. Aune, T.
SelandandJ.H.Ulrichsen(edd.),Neotestamentica et Philonica: Studies
in Honor of Peder Borgen, Supplements to Novum Testamentum 106
(Leiden 2003) 330–348.
This study explores the literary structure and rhetorical devices of Philo’s
treatise Contempl. Primary attention is given to its references to Greek, Egyptian,
and Jewish texts, groups such as the Essenes, and individuals other than the
Therapeutae. The author discusses Philo’s harsh criticism of Xenophon and
Plato, and the descriptions of contemplative life, pagan worship, and banquets.
All this raises the questions as to how Philo himself was connected with the
Therapeutae and who the intended audiences of the treatise were. (KAF)
20364. A. Hilhorst, ‘Poésie hébraïque et métrique grecque. Les témoignages
des Anciens, de Philon d’Alexandrie à Boniface de Mayence,’
in D. Accorinti and P. Chuvin (edd.), DesGéantsàDionysos.Mélanges
de mythologie et de poésie grecques offerts à Francis Vian (Alessandria
2003) 305–329.
The article lists and analyzes all those passages in Greek and Latin texts which
attribute metrical method and style to Hebrew poetry. Philo is the first author to
be discussed (pp. 306–307). Only two passages are relevant. In Mos.1.23Mosesis
described as having mastered metrical theory, knowledge which he presumably
made use of later. In Contempl. 80 the Therapeutae are said to chant metrical
hymns. One might assume them to be in Greek, but Hebrew poems cannot be
excluded. When Jerome cites Philo as a witness for metrical poetry on the part
of the Hebrews he is probably thinking of this passage (p. 317, cf. p. 307). (DTR)