Description
Philo of Alexandria and the Construction of Jewishness in Early Christian Writings investigates portrayals of the first-century philosopher and exegete Philo of Alexandria, in the writings of Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eusebius. It argues that early Christian invocations of Philo are best understood not as attempts simply to claim an illustrious Jew for the Christian fold, but as examples of ongoing efforts to define the continuities and distinctive features of Christian beliefs and practices in relation to those of the Jews. This study takes as its starting point the curious fact that none of the first three Christians to mention Philo refer to him unambiguously as a Jew. Clement, the first in the Christian tradition to openly cite Philo's works, refers to him twice as a Pythagorean. Origen, who mentions Philo by name only three times, makes far more frequent reference to him in the guise of an anonymous "one who came before us." Eusebius, who invokes Philo on many more occasions than does Clement or Origen, most often refers to Philo as a Hebrew. These epithets construct Philo as an alternative "near-other" to both Christians and Jews, through whom ideas and practices may be imported to the former from the latter, all the while establishing boundaries between the "Christian" and "Jewish" ways of life. The portraits of Philo offered by each author reveal ongoing processes of difference-making and difference-effacing that constituted not only the construction of the Jewish "other," but also the Christian "self."
About the Author
Jennifer Otto is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge. She earned her PhD at McGill University in 2014, where she held a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. From 2015-2017, she was a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Erfurt. Her research interests include second and third century Christianity, early Christian biblical exegesis, and the intersections of Christianity and violence from antiquity to the present day.
Reviews
This is an exceptionally fine piece of scholarship...I only hope that she will continue to work in this field and make similar contributions. This is a book worth reading and reading carefully. * Gregory E. Sterling, Yale Divinity School, Review of Biblical Literature *
Otto's stimulating and very readable monograph is, like that of Ophir and Rosen-Zvi, a significant work of intellectual history * Andrew Gregory, University College, Anvil *
Jennifer Otto has provided her readers with a thorough and illuminating analysis. Her study is warmly to be recommended. * David T. Runia, Australian Catholic University, University of Melbourne, Vigiliae Christianae *
Otto's arguments are robust and her overall framework helpful. She offers a lucid, compelling narrative of Philo's treatment and significance within early Christian texts. She engages scholarship on Philo, Clement, Origen, and Eusebius consistently, rendering her arguments intelligible in terms of contemporary scholarship. * Carson Bay, Reviews of the Enoch Seminar *
This is a fascinating book which in a small compass covers a lot of ground. Its excellence lies not just in the overarching conclusions that it draws, but in many of the individual discussions which form its core. a stimulating and thoughtful book. * James Carleton Paget, Journal Of Ecclesiastical History *
Otto's arguments are nuanced, and she provides important correctives to problematic theories. In the chapters on specific authors, Otto's close reading of primary sources provides a foundation for her argument that early authors' references to Philo provide insight into their historic location and that the situatedness of the author needs to be taken into account when interpreting these texts ... this work is well written and makes a clear contribution to Philonic and early Christian studies. * Sean A. Adams, Journal of the Study of the New Testament *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198820727
Author Jennifer Otto
Format Hardback
Page Count 244
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 446g
Dimensions(mm) 223mm * 147mm * 21mm
About the Author
Jennifer Otto is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge. She earned her PhD at McGill University in 2014, where she held a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. From 2015-2017, she was a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Erfurt. Her research interests include second and third century Christianity, early Christian biblical exegesis, and the intersections of Christianity and violence from antiquity to the present day.
Reviews
This is an exceptionally fine piece of scholarship...I only hope that she will continue to work in this field and make similar contributions. This is a book worth reading and reading carefully. * Gregory E. Sterling, Yale Divinity School, Review of Biblical Literature *
Otto's stimulating and very readable monograph is, like that of Ophir and Rosen-Zvi, a significant work of intellectual history * Andrew Gregory, University College, Anvil *
Jennifer Otto has provided her readers with a thorough and illuminating analysis. Her study is warmly to be recommended. * David T. Runia, Australian Catholic University, University of Melbourne, Vigiliae Christianae *
Otto's arguments are robust and her overall framework helpful. She offers a lucid, compelling narrative of Philo's treatment and significance within early Christian texts. She engages scholarship on Philo, Clement, Origen, and Eusebius consistently, rendering her arguments intelligible in terms of contemporary scholarship. * Carson Bay, Reviews of the Enoch Seminar *
This is a fascinating book which in a small compass covers a lot of ground. Its excellence lies not just in the overarching conclusions that it draws, but in many of the individual discussions which form its core. a stimulating and thoughtful book. * James Carleton Paget, Journal Of Ecclesiastical History *
Otto's arguments are nuanced, and she provides important correctives to problematic theories. In the chapters on specific authors, Otto's close reading of primary sources provides a foundation for her argument that early authors' references to Philo provide insight into their historic location and that the situatedness of the author needs to be taken into account when interpreting these texts ... this work is well written and makes a clear contribution to Philonic and early Christian studies. * Sean A. Adams, Journal of the Study of the New Testament *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198820727
Author Jennifer Otto
Format Hardback
Page Count 244
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 446g
Dimensions(mm) 223mm * 147mm * 21mm
