2. Works.— Philo is (I) an interpreter of Holy Scripture, (2) an apologist for Judaism. The earlier editions of his works contain a large number of individual treatises of which Eusebius (HE ii. 18) and .Jerome (de Vir. III. 11) * give a long list. But it has been shown by Schilrer, Massebieau, and Cohn that they fall into two or three groups. The first and largest deals with the Pentateuch under three heads : a short interpretation, a long alle- gorical commentary, and an exposition in system- atic order (the second and third of these may be called, with 0. Holtzmann, a kind of Midrash and Mishna). The second consists of philosophical tractates in dialogue form, probably belonging to the earliest period of Philo's literary activity. The third contains apologetic works of a later period. They may be tabulated as follows :
I. EXEGETICAL WoRKS ON THE PENTATEUCH :
X. Questions and Answers, 6 bks. on Gen., 5 bks. on Ex. (preserved partially in .Armenian and in Latin): short verbal interpretations with allegorical additions.
a. Legrum AUegoriffi, i.-viii. : a scientific commentary on On 2-4U.
i.-iii. Gn 21-319
<iv. 320.23>
<v.> de Chenihim 32<-4i
<vi.> d£ Sacrijiciis Abelis et Caini 42-4
<vii. ? 45-7>
<vii. (viii.)> Quod deteriiui pott'oriinsidiarisoleat 4815 <viii. (ix.)> de Potteritate Caini 416-25
• This later list has no value whatever ; see 0. A. Bernoulli, Der Schriftatellerkatatog des Hitfronymus, Freiburg i. B., 18f>5, pp. 115 f., lS2ff. It was, however, translated into Greek, and thus came to be used by Suidas and Photius.
So far the commentarj- is continuous; the following are indi- vidual tracts :
de Giijantilnts (2 hks.) 6112 (ii. =Quod IHtta sU immutabilu)
<de Faderibut (2 bks. ) 92»>
de Agn'cultura (2 bks.)
(ii. =de I'Uintatimie SoS)
de Ehrietate (2 bks.) »21
(ii. only fra^nienUj)
de SoOrietale i-i-l
de Cmifitsione Linguanim 111-**
de Minratione Abrahami 121-8
<de rr(£mio 151>
Quia rerum dii'inanim kerea fit 16*-18
de Com/rfKsn EntdUimiis Gratia 161-^
de I'\t(ja et Invcntionp (de Pro/wjig) 168-1*
de Mutatione ^vmiiium 171-22
<de Deo 182>
de .Sfnnniis (.'> bks.)
(extant only iv. and v. = i., ii.) 2810-17 31IMS 377-11
40&-17 411724
Possibly some titles are wanting:; some are tentatively put into the list in < > . Philo seems to have dealt only with selected passaj,'e9 from ch. (J onwards. 3. Systematic delineation of the Law.
(a) de Opificio ilundi.'
(b) The unwritten Law as represented by the lives of the Fathers.
Abraham (virtue as acquired by learning)
<Isaae (virtue as innate)>
<Jacob (virtue as prautised)>
Joseph (politicua)
(c) The written Law.
de Decalfifjo
de Speciaiibvs Legibus (i.-iv.) i. de Circumcisunie de Monarchia i., ii. de Prteiniis Sacerdotuin de Victimis
de VictiirMS Offerentibus ii de .Seplenario de Cophini Fe^to <de Colendis Parenlibus> iii. de Adulterio
de Nece iv. de Jvdice
de Concupiscentia de Virtutibus
de Fortitudine <de Pietate> de Hjunanitatef de Pa;nitentiat de Nobilitate [de Vita Conteinplativa] de Pr(E7niis et Poenis de Exseerationibun II. Philosophical Treatises in Form oi" Dialoooes : / <Quod omnis nequam servus> \ Qxwd oinnis probata liber de Providentia (2 bks.) (?) Alexander vel quod rationem habeant bruta animaiia.
III. Apologetical Works ;
Vita Mosis (3 or rather 2 bks.) Hypothetica (i.e. moral advices) de Judteis (apologia) de Virtutibus (5 bks.)
<i. Introduction
<ii. Sejanus, Pilatu$1>
iii. in Ftaccum
iv. de Leiiatione ad Gaiuin
<v. Palinodia>
IV. Works ok Doubtft:l Origin : de Vita Contemplativa
de Incmruptibilitate Mundi de Mundo
Interpretatio Nominum Bebraicorum. V. Spurious Works: de Sampsone de Jona.
The text of Philo's works has come down to us in an extremelj' unsatisfactory condition, some tractates being specially unfortunate. As some treatises are known only from one MS, others may still await discovery ; about some we know nothing but the title ; of others we have only fragments ; some are preserved only in Armenian or in Latin. It is entirely due to the Christian Church that Philo's works have been preserved. Cohn thinks he can prove that all our MSS go back to the famous library of Pamphilus at Csesarea, or rather
• In MSS and early editions this stands with the group I. z ; but, since Gfrorer, the above arrangement is generally adopted.
t Some critics, as, e.g., Dahne, Gfrorer, Massebieau, would transfer these two pieces to the Life of Moses (see III.); but Wendland and Schiirer have adduced strong reasons for keeping them in their present place.
PHILO
PHILO
229
to tlie work of the two presbyters Acacins and Euzoius, who about A.D. .M50 copied the papyrus rolls of this library into parchment books. This shows the importance of the indirect transmission by q notations in the works of early Church Fathers, as, 6.17., Eusebius and Ambrosius, and by Catenm and Florilcgia.
3. Religion. — ' Philo the Jew ' — that is his main characteristic. He is a faithful, nay an enthusi- astic, adherent of Judaism, both as a nation and as a relifrion. He is an apolojxist of Judaism, trying to convert the heathen or at least to destroy their prejudices. He is a Jew in his strict monotheism, his faith in God's providence, and his high moral stantlard. As a Jew he is devoted to the Law and the Lawgiver. Most of his writings are given up to the glorification of the Law. Notwithstanding his allegorical interpretation, he firmly believes the biblical stories to be historically true ; and he protests against the inference that the Law loses its claim to be observed in the letter once it is understood spiritually. Philo's position does not ditter much in this respect from that of the Pales- tinian Rabbis. He knows and uses their Halakha as well as their Haggada. One may prove from his writings a close attinity between the Hellenistic and Palestinian parts of Judaism.