Philo of Alexandria - Books and Journals

284 part two
203136. D. Zeller, ‘Gott bei Philo von Alexandrien,’ in U. Busse
(ed.), Der Gott Israels im Zeugnis des Neuen Testaments, Quaestiones
Disputatae 201 (Freiburg–Basel–Wien 2003) 32–57.
The starting point for this thematic study is the history of philosophy. Philo
depends on Aristotle and the Stoa. In his view the theological vision of God
is possible for everyone. To this extent the monotheistic faith of the Jews is a
possibility for the non-Jews too (Virt. 65). This means that the idea of God is
sown in all people, but some special persons such as Moses can look at God in
their own light (see Leg. 1.37, Det. 83–90). The proper knowledge of God comes
through abstraction. But Philo needs to transform the literal sense in terms of
the fundamental sense, e.g. in the themes of God’s regret or anger in Deus 21–32,
52–69. At first sight Philo’s approach seems to bypass the historical role of Israel.
But in other texts (especially in the treatises on the Pentateuch) the importance
of Israel and the role of the covenant is emphasized. The Jewish people are in this
sense the first fruits of the whole of humanity offered to God (see Spec. 4.180).
Finally some modern theological questions are raised. (GS)