The Process of Abraham’s Conversion as Interpreted by Philo of Alexandria
Mateusz Wyrzykowski
Akademia Katolicka w Warszawie, Polska (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1161-0002
Abstract
The article aims to present a reinterpretation of the history of Abraham's calling in the treatise of Philo of Alexandria. The text of Genesis (12:1-4) describes the patriarch's immediate reaction to the command to leave Haran. This process began in Ur. According to Philo, building a relationship between God and Abraham required proper preparation. First, he gave up worshiping the gods, and then he discovered that the world is material and spiritual. Philo emphasizes the long-term nature of the conversion process. This article presents and explains its individual stages - not described in the Hebrew Bible.
Keywords:
Philo of Alexandria, Abraham, conversion, Genesis, allegorical interpretationReferences
Adams, S. A. (2018). Movement and Travel in Philo’s Migration of Abraham: The Adaptation of Genesis and the Introduction of Metaphor. Studia Philonica, 1(30), 47–70.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv75d0hr.7
Google Scholar
Arndt, W. F. (2000). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Google Scholar
Bazyliński, S. (2019). Wprowadzenie do studium Pisma Świętego. Kielce: Jedność.
Google Scholar
Böhm, M. (2004). Abraham und die Erzväter bei Philo. Überlegungen zur Exegese und Hermeneutik im frühen Judentum. W: R. Deines, K. W. Niebuhr (red.), Philo und das Neue Testament. Wechselseitige Wahrnehmungen. I. Internationales Symposium zum Corpus Judaeo-Hellenisticum 1.–4. Mai 2003, Eisenach/Jena. Herausgegeben von Roland Deines und Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr (s. 377–395). Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.
Google Scholar
Borgen, P., Fuglseth, K., Skarsten, R., (2005). The Works of Philo: Greek Text with Morphology. Bellingham: Logos Bible Software.
Google Scholar
Borgman, P. (1998). Abraham and Sarah: Literary Text and the Rhetorics of Reflection. W: C. A. Evans, J. A. Sanders (red.), The Function of Scripture in Early Jewish and Christian Tradition (s. 45–77). Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press.
Google Scholar
Bos, A. P. (2000). De wijsgerige theologie van Philo van Alexandrië als wegbereidster van gnostische theologieën. Kerk en Theologie, 1(51), 52–63.
Google Scholar
Bos, A. P. (2002). Gnostische spiritualiteit: de Grieks-filosofische component. Philosophia Reformata, 1(67), 108–127.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/22116117-90000258
Google Scholar
Brzegowy, T. (1983). Doroczne święta pielgrzymkowe Izraela. Ruch Biblijny i Liturgiczny, 2(36), 98–115.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.904
Google Scholar
Cabal, T. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
Google Scholar
Calabi, F. (2014). Le migrazioni di Abramo in Filone di Alessandria. Ricerche storico bibliche, 1(26), 251–267.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/chora20161414
Google Scholar
Colson, F. H. (1984). Introduction to De Abrahamo. W: J. W. Earp, G. H. Whitaker (red.), Philo VI (2–3). Cambridge, London: Harvard University Press, William Heinemann.
Google Scholar
Lange, J. P. (2008). A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Genesis. Bellingham: Logos Bible Software.
Google Scholar
Liddell, H. G. (1996). A Lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.
Google Scholar
Lust, J., Eynikel, E., Hauspie, K. (2003). A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint: Revised Edition. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.
Google Scholar
Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Google Scholar
Nikiprowetzky, V. (2018). Le commentaire de l’Écriture chez Philon d’Alexandrie. Son caractère et sa portée. Observations philologiques. Leiden: Brill.
Google Scholar
Philo. (1984). Philo: Greek Text. London, Cambridge: William Heinemann Ltd; Harvard University Press.
Google Scholar
Runia, D. T. (1985). Philo van Alexandrië en het begin van de christelijke exegese. W: C. Datema (red.), Kerkvaders: teksten met toelichting uit de vroege kerk (s. 201–227). Bruges: Tabor.
Google Scholar
Runia, D. T. (2009). The Theme of Flight and Exile in the Allegorical Thought-World of Philo of Alexandria. Studia Philonica, 1(21), 1–24.
Google Scholar
Sandmel, S. (1954). Philo’s Place in Judaism: A Study of Conceptions of Abraham in Jewish Literature. Hebrew Union College Annual, 1(25), 209–237.
Google Scholar
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.
Google Scholar
Weder, H. (2000). Abschied von der Welt und Ausdehnung des Ichs. Die Allegorese bei Philo von Alexandrien und die Schriftauslegung der Gnosis. W: P. Michel, H. Wede (red.), Sinnvermittlung. Studien zur Geschichte von Exegese und Hermeneutik I (s. 93–113). Zürich: Pano Verlag.
Google Scholar
Wenham, G. J. (1987). Genesis 1–15. Dallas: Word Incorporated.
Google Scholar
Authors
Mateusz WyrzykowskiAkademia Katolicka w Warszawie, Polska Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1161-0002
Mateusz Wyrzykowski – ksiądz archidiecezji warszawskiej; doktor teologii biblijnej na Katolickim Uniwersytecie Lubelskim. Ukończył seminarium translatorskie prowadzone przez Nida Institute American Bible Society na Pontificia Universita Urbaniana oraz Podyplomowe Studium Retoryki na Uniwersytecie Jagiellońskim. Wykładowca na Akademii Katolickiej oraz w Seminarium Duchownym w Warszawie.
Statistics
Abstract views: 123PDF downloads: 79
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Mateusz Wyrzykowski
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.