Philo of Alexandria - Books and Journals

critical studies 1998 65
onthecaseoftheTimaeus and its doctrines on the genesis of the cosmos in
the interpretation of Philo, Plutarch and Atticus. In the case of Philo the author
concentrates particularly on the introductory section of Aet. (pp. 379–381). (JR)
9812. P.J.Bekken,The Word is Near You: a Study of Deuteronomy
30:12–14 in Paul’s Letter to the Romans against the Background of Philo’s
Exposition in De Virtutibus and De Praemiis et Poenis (diss. University
of Trondheim 1998).
In this Norwegian dissertation supervised by P. Borgen the author suggests
that Paul’s interpretative rendering of Deut 30:12–14 represents a sample of the
conventional exegetical paraphrase of a biblical text. In such exegesis words,
phrases and sentences from the OT are either omitted, repeated or replaced by
interpretative terms and fused together and supplemented with other qualifying
terms. Paul’s treatment of Deut 30:12–14 can thus be placed within the literary
conventions of his day, of which Praem 79–97 and Virt 183–186 represent
important examples. Hence Paul’s treatment of Deut 30:12–14 should not be
considered an idiosyncratic creation by himself. After a brief review of research,
and some literary observations on the surface level of the texts selected, Bekken
further argues his thesis by in-depth studies of Virt. 183–184 (Chap. 4), Praem.
79–84 (Chap. 5), Rom. 10:4–17 in its literary and Jewish Context (Chap. 6),
followed by a final summary. A revised edition of the thesis with almost the same
title was published in 2007. (TS)
9813. P. J. Bekken, ‘Election, Obedience and Eschatology: Deuteronomy
30:12–14 in Romans 9–11 and the Writings of Philo,’ in P. Borgen,
V. K. Robbins and D. B. Gowler (edd.), Recruitment, Conquest, and
Conflict: Strategies in Judaism, Early Christianity, and the Greco-Roman
World, Emory Studies in Early Christianity (Atlanta 1998) 315–331, esp.
pp. 315–325.
This article is a summary of the main parts of the author’s dissertation
listed above. Bekken here tries to demonstrate that there are reasons for Paul’s
choice and use of Deut 30:12–14 which can be clarified and explained from the
application of this text in contemporary Judaism. The author especially finds that
passages from Philo’s works as Praem 79–97 and Virt 183–186 provide a Jewish
background and exegetical context for Paul’s use of Deut 30:12–14 in Rom 9–11.
(TS)
9814.R.M.Berchman,‘ArcanaMundi:MagicandDivinationinthe
De Somniis of Philo of Alexandria,’ in idem, Mediators of the Divine.
Horizons of Prophecy, Divination, Dreams and Theurgy in Mediterranean
Antiquity, South Florida Studies in the History of Judaism 163 (Atlanta
1998) 115–154.