Philo of Alexandria

Philo of Alexandria was a few years older than Jesus of Nazareth and lived longer. He belonged to a wealthy and cultured family, prominent in the Jewish community in Alexandria. Philo had contacts with the highest level of Roman authorities. He was on a risky diplomatic mission to Caligula on behalf of the persecuted Jews of Alexandria during what turned out to be Caligula's last days. Herod Agrippa was a friend in Rome during Philo's hour of greatest need.

Philo is a sympathetic source on what sounds very much like a contemporary Jewish monastic movement. He is also one of the creators of the allegorical interpretation of Scripture. Some of his exegesis is reminiscent of Pythagorean numerology. It has been argued that Philo, who was well educated in Greek thought, was the founder of medieval philosophy.

St. John seems to adapt Philo's thoughts about the Logos, the Word, in the prologue to his Gospel. There are also close ties between Philo's thinking and the Letter to the Hebrews.

Jean Danielou, a paradigm of scholarship and clarity, makes Philo speak to us in his own voice. Anyone interested in patristics, exegesis, or simply Christian beginnings will benefit by reading Danielou's treatment of Philo.


This is a fine book. Colbert brings to [this] manuscript not only his own virtuosity in philosophy and languages but his keen cognizance that philosophical and translational issues appear throughout under the theological issues. Additionally, his work exhibits the character that all good linguistic and theological thinking should exhibit.
--Anthony Serafini, Centenary College, New Jersey

James Colbert has produced an exceptionally readable and thoroughly engaging English translation of Jean Danielou's Philo of Alexandria. This clear and idiomatic translation further illuminates Philo's beliefs, contributions, and place in Judaic and early Christian thinking, and thus his importance to both.
--Harry Semerjian, Professor emeritus, Fitchburg State University, Massachusetts



Jean Danielou, SJ (1905--1974) was a Jesuit theologian, historian, cardinal, and a member of the Academie francaise. He is the author of several books on the early church.

James Colbert is an emeritus professor of philosophy at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. He has published translations from French, Spanish, and Italian. His particular interests are medieval philosophy and Etienne Gilson.