PHILO, a famous Jewish Author, of the City of Alexandria, and of the Race of the Priests. He was Brother to Alexander Lysimachus, Alabarch or Chief of the Joseph. Antiq. l. 18. c. 10. p. 639. d. Hieron. Ep. 84.Jews, who in great Numbers inhabited this City. Josephus calls him an illustrious Man in every thing. He made himself so famous by his Eloquence, and by the Knowledge he had acquired of the Philosophy of Plato, that it was commonly said of him at Alexandria, either Philo imitates Plato, or Plato imitates Philo.1 And the Learned call’d him the Jewish Plato, or the second Plato. He was pretty far in Years when he was deputed with others to go to Rome, about the Year 40 of the common Era, by the Jews of Alexandria, there to defend the Right of the Citizens of Alexandria, which the Jews laid Claim to, before the Emperor Caius. They stay’d at Rome till Caius return’d out of Gaul, and when he arrived, they presented their Memorial to him. Caius received them with more Tokens of Philo Leg. ad Caium, p. 1018. & seq.Friendship than they expected.
Some time after, he gave them a Hearing near the City, in the Houses of Pleasure that bore the Name of Mecenas and Lamia. The Emperor reproached them with being the only People in the World who would2 not acknowledge him as a God, and utter’d blasphemous Expressions that were very horrible. He told them, that they had indeed offer’d Sacrifices for his Health, but that they had also offer’d their Sacrifices to others. Then with a more serious Air, he asked them why they refused to eat Swines-Flesh; and lastly, upon what Grounds they could justify their Pretences to the Right of Denizons. He put these Questions to them by fits and starts, without staying for a Reply, or hearing what the Jews had to say to them. He dismissed them without deciding any thing in the Cause, only made this Observation upon them; These People do not appear to me so much to be wicked, as to be miserable and sense-less, in not acknowledging me for a God.
Philo composed several Works, a good Part of which are still extant, and which are very much esteemed by intelligent Persons. Photius Phot. Cod. 105. p. 277believes, that it was from him that the Custom was first introduced into the Church, of explaining the Scriptures Allegorically; and true it is, that the Fathers, especially Clement of Alexandria and Origen, have often follow’d the Method of Philo; but it cannot be deny’d, but that the Custom of turning the Scripture into Allegory, was in use long before Philo, as may be seen in the Book of Wisdom,3 and in Ecclesiasticus. Josephus testifies, that he had a Design to compose a Work, in which he would Joseph. Proëm. in Antiq. Jud. ad finem.explain what Moses had concealed under his Allegories. Lastly, St. Paul has often used this manner of explaining Scripture, so that it may be easily seen it was familiar to the Jews, and that Philo was neither the first nor the principal Author of it. See the Article ALLEGORY.
Several of the Antients have thought, that Philo intended to describe the way of Life of the first Christians of Alexandria, in his Book intitled, Of a contemplative Life, wherein he represents the Manner of living of the Therapeutæ. The Reader may peruse what has been written pro and con upon this Argument, for some Years past. Father Montfaucon has maintained the affirmative Side of the Question, and M. Basnage, M. du Pin, and M. N. President of Dijon, the negative Side. ‘Tis worth while to read what has been said on both Sides upon this famous Question. ‘Tis said that Philo4 was acquainted with St. Peter at Rome, under the Emperor Claudius; that he spoke with him, and contracted a Friendship with him. Photius says, that he even embraced Christianity, but quitted it again out of Discontent: But Phot. Cod. 105. p. 277this Circumstance does not appear from any antient Writer. The Time of his Death is unknown.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages