Appreciation …

… (9) The Radical Jewish Philosopher - Classical Wisdom.

Philo was brought up in a pious Jewish household and would have studied the Bible and Jewish scholarly works. Alexandria was, at the time, a cultural melting pot of Greeks, Jews and Egyptians. Thus, Philo was deeply influenced by Greek culture and was a student of Hellenic philosophy. He could speak and read Greek, as was the case with St. Paul, with whom he has some affinities. He was a Roman citizen as well, as was granted to his father or grandfather by none other than Gaius Julius Caesar.