Reimagining Philo: Philo of Alexandria Writing Back from the Empire - Hardcover

by Torrey Seland (Author)

Reimagining Philo adopts an experimental approach in multiple respects. Some readers might question the use of postcolonial theories and viewpoints in examining Philo of Alexandria: Is Philo not to be regarded as one of the most integrated Jews living outside of Judea? Is he not typically described as the first-century Jewish thinker most affected by Greco-Roman intellectual traditions, a versatile philosopher significantly influenced by various schools of thought--Platonism, Stoicism, and Epicureanism, among the most notable? While the impact of philosophical schools on Philo is unquestionable, it would be inaccurate to define his primary intellectual identity solely from this perspective. Philo was also a committed follower of Judaism. So he should be comprehended as a Torah observant Jew, a Jewish scholar, a politician, and an apologetic thinker and writer, interacting with various intellectual trends of his era. Hence, this book aims to investigate characteristics of the Roman Empire as a colonizing force, its interactions with Jewish matters in Alexandria, and how these and other elements influenced Philo's view of the empire. A key argument suggests that Philo's perspective underwent a significant transformation following the pogrom in Alexandria in 38 CE and his visit to imperial Rome, resulting in a fresh understanding of the empire and the status and roles of the Jews within that context.

Author Biography

As a biblical scholar, my fields of interest are the life, ideology, literature and social world of the Jews and the early Christians in the first century CE Diaspora settings. More narrowly defined, I am especially focusing on the life and role of Early Christianity and Diaspora Judaism as demonstrated in and by the works of life and thought of the early Christians as witnessed by the New Testament, and Judaism as witnessed by Philo of Alexandria.



I retired in 2014, and in addition to reading and writing, I spend time on my hobbies; golfing and thematic philately.