Philo of Alexandria was a Jewish philosopher who sought to blend Greek philosophy, especially Stoicism, with Jewish thought through allegorical interpretation of Scripture rather than a literal approach. Living in Alexandria around the time of Jesus, he influenced some early Church Fathers but was rejected by Rabbinic Judaism for his methods. The Bible emphasizes upholding Scripture’s literal truth and divine inspiration, challenging Philo’s reliance on human reason over God’s revelation (2 Timothy 3:16-17). His approach opened the door for many later theologians to prioritize philosophy and human understanding above Scripture, which the Bible warns against (Proverbs 3:5). Ultimately, trusting God’s Word and the Holy Spirit is essential for true understanding, rather than relying solely on human wisdom.
Philo of Alexandria was a Jewish philosopher who tried to reconcile Greek and Jewish philosophy using Jewish exegetical practices, Stoic philosophy, and allegory. He lived in Alexandria, which was a Roman province in Egypt. His ideas were important to some early Church Fathers, but Rabbinic Judaism rejected his philosophical methods. He believed that the Bible should not be taken literally, as God is too complex for human words to describe, or for human minds to understand, and he feared that a literal interpretation would serve only to limit man's understanding of God.
A contemporary of Jesus and His apostles, Philo was born in 25 BC and came from an honorable aristocratic family in Alexandria. He was well-educated and made a particular study of Jewish and Greek philosophy and literature and attempted to combine Moses and Plato into one system of thought. His understanding of Scripture was allegorical rather than literal, and he favored Stoicism. Philo had many ideas about the nature of God, Jesus Christ, and Scripture that are interesting to think about but that are not proven by the Word itself.
Philo's ability and willingness to construct extra-biblical philosophies is made possible by his belief that Scripture is not literal. Since Philo of Alexandria, many theologians have followed this path. Because they refuse to trust the Bible as a source of literal knowledge and truth about God and the world, they must rely on information gained through the senses, and conclusions drawn by reason, to understand anything about God. This is a grave mistake, because it fails to take into consideration that man's mind—like the rest of him—is touched by sin. If we don't trust what God has revealed about Himself in the Scripture, we are left with only our own understanding, and the Bible explicitly warns against this (Proverbs 3:5-6). However, when we do trust God, we find that the Holy Spirit speaks through the words of the Bible, and leads us into all truth (John 16:13).
Quotes by Philo of Alexandria:
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.”
“The intelligent man should see to it that his friends are immortal, his enemies mortal.”
“Learning is by nature curiosity... prying into everything, reluctant to leave anything, material or immaterial, unexplained.”
“For as there is no advantage in trees unless they are productive of fruit, so in the same way there is no use in the study of natural philosophy unless it is likely to confer upon a man the acquisition of virtue, for that is its proper fruit.”
“He who seeks to escape from God asserts, by so doing, that God is not the cause of anything, but looks upon himself as the cause of everything that exists.”
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