Philo of Alexandria - Books and Journals

310 part two
These themes are examined in the order that they occur: (1) the existence of
divine providence; (2) the meaning of the name Israel; (3) the transcendence
of God; (4) the theory of the divine Powers. Although these themes appear to
have no visible link with the work for which they provide a premise, in fact
their presence justifies the classification of the Legat. (andFlacc.) as historicalphilosophical
works. Philo inserts into his ethical religious perspective a negative
event which he himself had witnessed, the pogrom in Alexandria in 38 c.e.,
and makes use of it in order to deduce the continuous and providential presence
of God in human affairs. (RR; based on author’s summary).
20464. C. Kraus Reggiani, ‘L’inebriamento spirituale in Filone di
Alessandria,’ in M. Perani (ed.), UnamannabuonaperMantova—Man
Tov le-Man Tovah: Studi in onore di Vittore Colorni per il suo 92 (Florence
2004) 41–47.
‘Among the many themes treated by Philo, there is perhaps no other more useful
for understanding the manifold directions of Philo’s thought than that related
to the vineyard, the vine, wine, its use and abuse, and drunkenness.’ (p. 42) This
article, focusing on Plant. 140ff., shows how the concept of ‘sober drunkenness’
exemplifies Philo’s thought, its basic anthropologic concepts (humanity’s aim is
God), and its originality as compared to Greek philosophical thought (for Philo,
human intellect needs the grace of God). Sober drunkenness is the spiritual joy
or agitation of the human mind elevated towards God, as represented by Isaac
(‘laughter’, Leg. 1.82–84) or Hannah (‘grace’, Ebr. 145–149) respectively. (HMK)
20465.S.Krauter,Bürgerrecht und Kultteilnahme. Politische und kultische
Rechte und Pflichten in griechischen Poleis, Rom und antikem Judentum,
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft 127
(Berlin 2004).
This study deals with the relation between civic rights and participation in
the (local) cults in the Greek cities, in Rome and in ancient Judaism: to what
extent did a stranger have the rights and obligations to participate in the local
cults? How are the ancient religions to be perceived concerning exclusivity and
compulsiveness? The author presents a very competent and penetrating analysis
of his sources, providing an interesting study of the issues that are relevant for
students of Judaism as well as of early Christianity. Diaspora Judaism is dealt
with on pp. 265–279 and focuses on the Greek cities, while pp. 369–386 looks
at the organization of Jewish Diaspora communities. Then pp. 403–418 deals
with πατρίς and μητρπλις in the works of Philo. Discussing the political
theory of Philo as well as his teaching of nature and his messianology, he also
presents interpretations of Mos. 1.34–36, Legat. 156f., Flacc.45f.andLegat. 281.
The main thesis of this work is that the admission to local cults was not in
general associated with membership in a particular ethnic group. In addition
Judaism practised a relative openness towards non-Jews. Hence Judaism was a
‘ganz normale’ religion at that time. (TS)