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Philo Judaeus

The Writings of Philo Judaeus (Philo of Alexandria) in English (c. 20 BCE – 50-55 CE)
Translation by C. D. Yonge (1855, 1890, 1894)
philo judaeus

  1. Preface [Yonge, I:iii-vi]
  2. Allegorical Commentary on Genesis
    1. Allegorical Interpretation (Allegories of the Sacred Laws) (Legum Allegoriae, Gen. 2:4 – 3:19) [Yonge, 1:52-175]
    2. On the Cherubim, etc.
      1. Book I (De Cherubim – I, Gen. 3:24) [Yonge, 1:175-185]
      2. Book II (De Cherubim – II, Gen. 4:1) [Yonge, 1:185-207]
    3. The Sacrifices of Abel & Cain (De Sacrificiis Abelis et Caini, Gen. 4:2-4) [Yonge, 1:207-241]
    4. The Worse Attacks the Better (Quod Deterius Potiori insidiari soleat, Gen. 4:8) [Yonge, 1:241-286]
    5. The Posterity of Cain (De Posteritate Caini, Gen. 4:16-25) [Yonge, 1:286-330]
    6. The Giants (De gigantibus, Gen. 6:1-4) [Yonge, 1:330-342]
    7. The Unchangeableness of God (Quod Deus Immutabilis sit, Gen. 6:2-12) [Yonge, 1:343-378]
    8. Husbandry (Tilling of the Earth by Noah) (De Agricultura, Gen. 9:20) [Yonge, 1:378-415]
    9. Noah’s Work as a Planter (De Plantatione, Gen. 9:20) [Yonge, 1:416-452]
    10. Drunkenness (De Ebrietate, Gen. 9:21) [Yonge, 1:453-500]
    11. Sobriety (De Sobrietate, Gen. 9:24-27) [Yonge, 1:500-515]
    12. Confusion of the Languages (De Confusione Linguarum, Gen. 9:1-9) [Yonge, 2:1-43]
    13. The Migration of Abraham (De Migratione Abrahami, Gen. 12:1-6) [Yonge, 2:43-94]
    14. Who is the Heir of Divine Things? (Quis Rerum Divinarum Heres sit, Gen. 15:2-18) [Yonge, 2:94-157]
    15. Preliminary Studies (Meeting for the Sake of Seeking Instruction) (De Congressu Eruditionis Gratia, Gen. 16:1-6) [Yonge, 2:157-194]
    16. Flight & Finding (Fugitives) (De Fuga et Inventione, Gen. 16:6-14) [Yonge, 2:194-237]
    17. Why Certain Names are Changed (De Mutatione Nominum, Gen. 17:1-22) [Yonge, 2:238-292]
    18. Dreams (Doctrine that Dreams are Sent by God)
      1. Book I (De Somniis – I, Gen. 28:12ff; 31:11ff) [Yonge, 2:292-344]
      2. Book II (De Somniis – II, Gen. 37:40ff) [Yonge, 2:344-396]
  3. Genesis: Questions & Solutions (Quaestiones et solutiones in Genesis)
    1. Book I (Gen. 2:4 – 6:13) [Yonge, 4:284-340]
    2. Book II (Gen. 6:14 – 10:8) [Yonge, 4:340-406]
    3. Book III (Gen. 15:7 – 17:27) [Yonge, 4:406-463]
  4. On the Law
    1. Creation of the World (De Opificio Mundi) [Yonge, 1:1-52]
    2. Abraham: Life of a Wise Man Made Perfect by Instruction (De Abrahamo) [Yonge, 2:396-452]
    3. Joseph: Life of a Man Occupied with Affairs of State (De Iosepho) [Yonge, 2:453-508]
    4. Life of Moses
      1. Book I (De Vita Mosis – I [Yonge, 3:1-74]
      2. Book II (De Vita Mosis – II) [Yonge, 3:74-88]
      3. Book III (De Vita Mosis – III) [Yonge, 3:88-136]
    5. The Decalogue (De Decalogo) [Yonge, 3:136-175]
    6. The Special Laws (Specialibus Legibus)
      1. Book I
        1. Circumcision (De Circumcisione) [Yonge, 3:175-177]
        2. Sovereignty (De Monarchia) [Yonge, 3:177-204]
        3. The Rewards of Priests (De Sacerdotum Honoribus) [Yonge, 3:204-211]
        4. Animals Fit for Sacrifice (De Victimis) [Yonge, 3:211-229]
        5. Those Who Offer Sacrifice [Yonge, 3:229-248]
        6. Wages of Harlot not Received as Offering [Yonge, 3:249-255]
      2. Book II
        1. Commandments 3: Oaths, & 4: Sabbath [Yonge, 3:255-265]
        2. The Ten Festivals (De Septenario) [Yonge, 3:265-291]
        3. The Festival of the Basket of First-fruits (De Cophini Festo) [Yonge, 3:291-293]
        4. Commandment 5: Honour to Parents (De Colendis Parentibus) [Yonge, 3:293-303]
      3. Book III
        1. Commandment 6: Adultery [Yonge, 3:303-324]
        2. Commandment 7: Murder [Yonge, 3:324-354]
      4. Book IV
        1. Commandments 8: Theft, 9: Bearing False Witness, & 10: Coveting [Yonge, 3:355-388]
        2. Justice (De Justitia) [Yonge, 3:388-392]
        3. Creation of Magistrates (De Constitutione Principum) [Yonge, 3:392-412]
  5. Apologetic Writings
    1. The Contemplative Life (De Vita Contemplativa) [Yonge, 4:1-20]
    2. Against Flaccus (In Flaccum) [Yonge, 4:61-99]
    3. Hypothetica: Defense for the Jews (Apologia pro Iudaeis) [Yonge, 4:219-222]
  6. Other works
    1. The Virtues (Courage, Humanity, & Repentance) (De Virtutibus) [Yonge, 3:412-456]
    2. Nobility [Yonge, 3:496-506]
    3. Rewards & Punishments (De Præmiis et Pœnis) [Yonge, 3:456-484]
    4. Curses (De Execratione) [Yonge, 3:485-496]
    5. Every Virtuous Man is Free (Quod Omnis Probus Liber) [Yonge, 3:506-540]
    6. The Eternity of the World (De Aeternitate Mundi) [Yonge, 4:21-61]
    7. Providence (De Providentia) [Yonge, 4:210-219, 222-242]
    8. Embassy to Gaius (De Legatione ad Caium) [Yonge, 4:99-180]
    9. Fragments from Various Sources [Yonge, 4:210-283]
  7. Works not found in Yonge’s translation
    1. Animals (De Animalibus) – available in transl. by Abraham Terian (Scholars Press, 1981)
    2. Questions and Solutions: Exodus (Quaestiones et Solutiones in Exodum) – available in transl. by Ralph Marcus (Loeb, Suppl. II, 1970)

Want to dive deeper?

  1. Intro. to Philo JewishEncyclopedia.com articles
  2. How to read Philo
  3. Additional Philo resources
  4. The Works of Philo (Newly updated edition of Yonge’s translation, available for purchase at sale price)
  5. Works of Philo in Greek
  6. Digital copy of English translation available for purchase: Ebook: The Writings of Philo Judaeus (instant download of 3003 screens worth!)
  7. Selected Writings: Philo of Alexandria, edited by Hans Lewy
  8. Philo: The Contemplative Life, edited by David Winston
  9. Loeb Classical Library edition (ten volumes with Greek and English on facing pages, published by Harvard University Press)