Philo of Alexandria : the contemplative life, the giants, and selections

Available for the first time in one volume is the basic vision of Philo, the greatest Jewish mystic, philosopher, and theologian of the Greco-Roman period. This book lets Philo speak in his own words. Since the corpus of his writings is immense and his style diffuse, no one treatise or small group of treatises exhibits his full perspective on any given spiritual theme; thus and anthology was necessary. The volume is edited by David Winston, Professor of Hellenistic and Judaic Studies and Director of the center for Judaic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California. In his Introduction he summarizes the latest findings of Philonic scholarship and offers a new and more balanced appreciation of Philo's thought than was available before, based on a new full-scale study of Philo's religious philosophy which he is now in the process of preparing. In this volume Philo's The Contemplative Life and The Giants are translated in full. Selections from the other treatises are presented under the following themes: Allegorical Method; Creation, Time and Eternity; Divine Transcendence; The Mystic's Way to God; The Intermediary World; Logos, Ideas, Powers, and Daemons; The Soul; Preexistence and Immortality; Theory of Knowledge; Reason and Faith; Prophetic Revelation; and others. Professor Winston says, "Philo of Alexandria stands at the apex of the cultural activity of the Jewish-Alexandrian community, his literary work climaxing a long chain of Jewish-Hellenistic writings whose aim was to establish the validity and integrity of Jewish religious thought in the face of counter claims of the intellectually powerful Greek tradition." John Dillon in his Preface to the book says, " This excellent selection of his works will give the reader a vivid picture of the essential Philo in all his aspects." "Classics in a classic collection...clearly a must for all libraries, from the university to the small town, and for all readers interested in spirituality." Religious Studies Review Philo of The Contemplative Life, Giants and Selections translation and introduction by David Winston preface by John Dillon "For he wishes to represent the sage's soul as a replica of heaven, or if one may speak hyperbolically, a heaven on earth, containing within itself, as does the author, pure forms of being, ordered movements, harmonious circuits, divine revolutions, beams of virtues utterly star-like and dazzling." Philo of Alexandria, c. 20 BCE-50 CE Available for the first time in one volume is the basic vision of Philo, the greatest Jewish mystic, philosopher, and theologian of the Greco-Roman period. This book lets Philo speak in his own words. Since the corpus of his writings is immense and his style diffuse, no one treatise or small group of treatises exhibits his full perspective on any given spiritual theme; thus and anthology was necessary. The volume is edited by David Winston, Professor of Hellenistic and Judaic Studies and Director of the center for Judaic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California. In his Introduction he summarizes the latest findings of Philonic scholarship and offers a new and more balanced appreciation of Philo's thought than was available before, based on a new full-scale study of Philo's religious philosophy which he is now in the process of preparing. In this volume Philo's The Contemplative Life and The Giants are translated in full. Selections from the other treatises are presented under the following Allegorical Method; Creation, Time and Eternity; Divine Transcendence; The Mystic's Way to God; The Intermediary World; Logos, Ideas, Powers, and Daemons; The Soul; Preexistence and Immortality; Theory of Knowledge; Reason and Faith; Prophetic Revelation; and others. Professor Winston says, "Philo of Alexandria stands at the apex of the cultural activity of the Jewish-Alexandrian community, his literary work climaxing a long chain of Jewish-Hellenistic writings whose aim was to establish the validity and integrity of Jewish religious thought in the face of counter claims of the intellectually powerful Greek tradition." John Dillon in his Preface to the book says, " This excellent selection of his works will give the reader a vivid picture of the essential Philo in all his aspects." Introduction: Philosophical Exegete Of Alexandrian Jewry -- Philo's Theory Of Creation -- Philo's Mysticism -- Philo's Significance -- The Contemplative Life -- The Giants -- Selections From Philo's Other Works: Autobiographical -- Scriptural Exegesis -- The Divine Mind -- Cosmogony -- Souls, Angels And Daemons -- The Divine Transcendence -- Knowledge And Prophecy -- Worship -- Mysticism -- Providence, Theodicy And Miracles -- Ethical Theory -- Moses And The Law -- Universalism And Particularism. Philo Of Alexandria ; Translation And Introduction By David Winston ; Preface By John Dillon ; [cover Art, Liam Roberts]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The most in-depth and scholarly panorama of Western spirituality ever attempted!In one series, the original writings of the universally acknowledged teachers of the Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Islamic and Native American traditions have been critically selected, translated and introduced by internationally recognized scholars and spiritual leaders.The texts are first-rate, and the introductions are informative and reliable. The books will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of every literate religious persons". -- The Christian Century In this treatise Philo presents an encomiastic account of an ascetic community devoted to the contemplative life, with which he had personal acquaintance.