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COLLEGERESURRECTION OF CULTURED HEATHENIS . Geven the encyclical sciences are in his opinion anindispensable help to this theology. Now thesesciences could be found on]y among the Greeks. Thelegislator of his people is exalted far above Greekphilosophers, but the relation which he conceives ofthe Greek philosophy to the Jewish religion is yet theessential similarity of their contents. The Jewishlaw contains the purest and most perfect wisdom, butphilosophy contains the same wisdom less purely andless perfectly. The difficulty which a Jew would feelin allowing this was softened to him by the beliefthat the Greek wisdom itself was derived from theJewish revelation. 1The chief interest of Philo to us in the presentinquiry lies in three particulars. These are, first, thetendencies which he had in common with the Greekphilosophy of his day ; secondly, what he borrowedfrom it; thirdly, what he contributed to it. On thefirst and second points we will say only a word, dwellingmore largely on the last.Now as to the eclectic connection of diverse doctrineswhich gave the name to his school, that was a tendencywhich had been a considerable time at work: so likewisethe neglect of logical and physical studies, andthe devotion to religious and ethical questions, andagain the representation of philosophy as a religion.These things had been seen in Antiochus, Cicero, andthose who followed, and are marked enough in theStoicism of Seneca. So far Philo's Alexandrine speculationpresupposes L what had been up to his daythe course taken by Greek philosophy. Again, whichwas our second point, from it he borrows scientificform and method, and a number of particular concep-1 See Zeller, v. 295-297, 300.VOL. III. I