philo (c. 30 bce&nbsp;â c. 50 ce) was a leading writer of the hellenistic jewish community in alexandria, egypt. he wrote expansively in koine greek on the intersection of philosophy, politics, and religion in his time, specifically he explored the connections between greek platonic philosophy and late second temple judaism. for example, he maintained that the septuagint (the greek translation of the hebrew bible and additional books) and jewish law (which was still being developed by the rabbis in this period) are a blueprint for the pursuit of individual enlightenment. philo interpreted the stories of the pentateuch (first five books) as elaborate metaphors and symbols. he did not reject the subjective experience of ancient judaism; yet, he repeatedly explained that the septuagint cannot be understood as a concrete, objective history. philo was largely shaped by contemporary greek philosophy. for example, he explained that ideal greek forms for reason and wisdom illustrated the deep, mystical truth of god and judaism. philo stated his theology both through the negation of opposed ideas, and through detailed, positive explanations of the nature of god. in his negative statement, he contrasted the nature of god with the nature of the physical world. he integrated select theology from the rabbinic tradition, including god's sublime transcendence,isa. lv. 9. and man's inability to behold an ineffable god.ex. xxxii. 20 et seq. however, he significantly disagreed with the theology that god actively changes the world, is filled with zeal, is moved by repentance, and aids his chosen people. philo did not consider god similar to heaven, the world, or man; his god existed neither in time nor space and had no human attributes or emotions. he argued that god has no attributes (á¼ÏÎ»Î¿á¿¡Ï), in consequence no name (á¼ÏÏÎ·ÏÎ¿Ï), and for that reason he cannot be perceived by man (á¼ÎºÎ±ÏÎ¬Î»Î·ÏÏÎ¿Ï). further, god cannot change (á¼ÏÏÎµÏÏÎ¿Ï): he is always the same (á¼á¼±Î´Î¹Î¿Ï). he needs no other being (ÏÏÎ®Î¶ÏÎ½ á½ÏÎ´ÎµÎ½Ã²Ï ÏÃ² ÏÎ±ÏÎ¬ÏÎ±Î½), and is self-sufficient (á¼Î±ÏÏá¿· á¼±ÎºÎ±Î½ÏÏ). god can never perish (á¼ÏÎ¸Î±ÏÏÎ¿Ï). he is the simply existent (Ã³ á½¤Î½, Ïá½¸ á½Î½), and has no relations with any other being (Ïá½¸ Î³á½°Ï á¼¢ á½Î½ á¼ÏÏÎ¹Î½ Î¿ÏÏá½¶ Ïá¿¶Î½ ÏÏÏÏ ÏÎ¹). == anthropomorphisms == in many ways, one can consider this view of god to be different from the god of the hebrew bible, with more affinity for the idea or "form" (eidos) of plato designated as ÎÎµÏÏ (theos), in contrast to matter. nothing remained, therefore, but to set aside the descriptions of god in the hebrew bible by means of [[allego
Ancient_Jewish_Egyptian_history Conceptions_of_God Jewish_theology Philo Theology