Philo of Alexandria - Books and Journals

28 part two
Barton’s aim here is to show that the strong relativisation of kinship and
household ties, which was part of Jesus’ call to discipleship (Matt 10:37–38;
Luke 14:26–27), was not unprecedented in either Judaism or the Graeco-Roman
world as a whole. Subordinating mundane ties of all kinds was a rhetorical theme
and a mode of action deeply rooted in the tradition of Jewish monotheism,
and not without analogy in the Greco-Roman traditions concerning the cost
of conversion to the life of the philosopher. The article presents the evidence
found in Philo, Josephus, the Cynics and the Stoa. Philo’s presuppositions are
demonstrated from Spec. 1.316–317, i.e., his comment on Deut 13:1–11 (warning
against going after false prophets). The author then briefly presents what
Philo says on proselytes, the Therapeutae (their ascetism and their community
as a spiritual family), and on heroic individuals as the patriarchs and other leaders
of the people of Israel (who subordinate family ties for a greater cause).
(HMK)
9704.D.L.Bock,‘KeyJewishTextsonBlasphemyandExaltationand
the Jewish Examination of Jesus [Mk 14:53–65],’ in Society of Biblical
Literature Seminar Papers 1997, Society of Biblical Literature Seminar
Papers Series 36 (Atlanta 1997) 115–160, esp. 119–126.
In the context of an understanding of the story of Jesus brought before the
Jewish leadership for examination (Mark 14:53–65) the author discusses some
key passages from Judaism on blasphemy and exaltation to the side of God.
For Philo comparing oneself to God is a blasphemous act (Somn. 2.130–131,
Decal. 62–64). His view is rooted in the interpretation of the first commandment.
In several passages Philo presents Moses as an exalted figure, who is called
‘friend of God’ and ‘God to Pharaoh’ (Mos. 1.156, Sacr. 9). He appears to have
a kind of divine status. The exaltation of Moses occurs also in Ezekiel Tragicus.
(ACG)
9705. J. den Boeft and D. T. Runia (edd.), Arche: a Collection of
Patristic Studies by J. C. M. van Winden, Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae
41 (Leiden 1997), esp. 207–228.
In this collection of 32 articles and reviews written by the emeritus Professor
of Later Greek Literature of the University of Leiden over a period of 35 years,
a section has been devoted to articles on Philo. Reprinted are R-R 7851, 7946,
8376. But because the collection concentrates largely on the Alexandrian tradition
of Patristic thought, many of the remaining articles refer to Philo (see the
Index locorum on pp. 328–329) or are relevant to the study of his thought. In
particular we draw attention to the paper originally published in a Dutch version
by the Royal Dutch Academy in 1985 (= R-R 8547), which is now published in an
English version entitled ‘ ‘Idea’ and ‘Matter’ in the Early Christian Exegesis of the
First Words of Genesis: a Chapter in the Encounter between Greek Philosophy
and Christian Thought’. (DTR)