Philo of Alexandria : on the change of names : introduction, translation, and commentary / by Michael B. Cover.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Philo, of Alexandria, author.

Cover, Michael, 1982- author, translator, writer of added commentary.

Series:

Philo of Alexandria commentary series ; v. 8.

Philo of Alexandria Commentary Series ; volume 8

Standardized Title:

De mutatione nominum. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philo, of Alexandria. De mutatione nominum.

Philo.

Abraham (Biblical patriarch).

Abraham.

Philo, of Alexandria.

Genre:

Commentaries

Physical Description:

xxxii, 630 pages ; 25 cm.

Other Title:

On the change of names

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, [2024]

Summary:

"In the treatise On the Change of Names (part of his magnum opus, the Allegorical Commentary), Philo of Alexandria brings his figurative exegesis of the Abraham cycle to its fruition. Taking a cue from Platonist interpreters of Homer's Odyssey, Philo reads Moses's story of Abraham as an account of the soul's progress and perfection. Responding to contemporary critics, who mocked Genesis 17 as uninspired, Philo finds instead a hidden philosophical reflection on the ineffability of the transcendent God, the transformation of souls which recognize their mortal nothingness, the possibility of human faith enabled by peerless faithfulness of God, and the fruit of moral perfection: joy divine, prefigured in the birth of Isaac."-- Publisher's website.

"In the treatise 'On the Change of Names' (part of his magnum opus, the Allegorical Commentary), Philo of Alexandria brings his figurative exegesis of the Abraham cycle to its fruition. Taking a cue from Platonist interpreters of Homer's 'Odyssey', Philo reads Moses's story of Abraham as an account of the soul's progress and perfection. Responding to contemporary critics, who mocked Genesis 17 as uninspired, Philo finds instead a hidden philosophical reflection on the ineffability of the transcendent God, the transformation of souls which recognize their mortal nothingness, the possibility of human faith enabled by peerless faithfulness of God, and the fruit of moral perfection: joy divine, prefigured in the birth of Isaac. Michael Cover offers the first full-length, self-standing commentary on Philo of Alexandria's 'De mutatione nominum'. Including introduction, fresh English translation, textual and interpretive notes, and reception history, this volume will be of interest to students and scholars of the Classics, Ancient Philosophy, Second Temple Judaism, New Testament, and early Christian biblical interpretation."-- Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Includes biliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9004687432

9789004687431

OCLC:

1395539030