Status Updates From The Works of Philo: Complet...

Speaking of Moses' leadership over Israel:

"He kept one most invariable object always steadily before him, namely, that of benefiting those who were subjected to his authority, and of doing everything both in word and deed, with a view to their advantage, never omitting any opportunity of doing anything that might tend to their prosperity." (Life of Moses, Book 1:51)

Moses took his father-in-law’s herds and tended them, being thus instructed in the lessons proper to qualify him for becoming the leader of a people, for the business of a shepherd is a preparation for the office of a king to any one who is destined to preside over that most manageable of all flocks, mankind. (Life of Moses, I:60)

DNF’ing this :( sorry Philo maybe some other day. You are pretty interesting but it’s just too much to read. I can definitely see myself coming back to finish this later.

Just finished "On Creation"—

"God has a being and existence, and that he who so exists is really one, and that he has created the world, and that he has created it one as has been stated, having made it like to himself in singleness; and that he exercises a continual care for that which he has created will live a happy and blessed life, stamped with the doctrines of piety and holiness." (LXI.172)

I might DNF until later this year when I can focus better on this. Philo is actually a very interesting and unique philosopher (big influence on gnosticism and theology of John) but his train of thought is so esoteric and scatter-brained it takes so much focus just to follow what’s going on. Don’t have the patience or focus rn sorry Mr. Philo🤷🏻‍♂️

So this book is taking me a lot longer than I thought. It does have quite a few gems, though. The scary thing is that Josephus, who is coming next, is just as long 😳.

I swear I’m still alive, but I’ve got several beasts to tackle.

Will I finish this by the end of the year?

Yea I’m somewhere in here. Philo really likes Plato and especially Moses so that’s an interesting combo.