sophical schools. More importantly, the preservation of his treatises
through Origen suggests that they were part of a Jewish library.
Sometime prior to the destruction of the Alexandrian Jewish commu-
nity in 115-117c.e., the works of Philo and other Jewish authors such as
Aristobulus passed into Christian hands. Since Clement and Eusebius
knew Aristobulus directly rather than through an intermediate source, it is
likely that the works of Aristobulus and Philo were part of a common li-
brary. While it is possible that both were incorporated into the famous Al-
exandrian library and then copied by Christians, it is more reasonable to
believe that a Jewish library that contained the works of Aristobulus and
Philo passed into Christian hands. If Philo had a library for his school, he,
like Aristotle (Strabo,Geography13.1.54), would probably have made pro-
visions for its transmission when he died. Either a later head of the school
converted to Christianity and brought the library with him, or a well-to-
do Christian attended the school and made copies of some of the most im-
portant works. Either way, it seems likely that the works of Aristobulus and
Philo were transmitted together and belonged to a school library.
We are certain of one event in Philo’s life. He served on the first Jewish
embassy to Caligula following the pogrom in Alexandria that broke out
during Agrippa I’s visit in 38c.e.The delegation left Alexandria in the fall
of 39c.e.and arrived in Rome in 40. According to Philo, there were five
members of the delegation (Legat.370; Josephus,Ant.18.257-60, says that
there were three). Josephus informs us that Philo was the head of the Jew-
ish delegation (Ant.18.259), a position probably due to his age and educa-
tion (Philo,Legat.182). The selection of Philo for this role suggests that he
was a prominent and respected member of the Alexandrian Jewish com-
munity. E. R. Goodenough thought that Philo must have served on the
Jewish senate in Alexandria prior to this. While this is possible, Philo’s own
description of his appointment suggests that he was taken from his intel-
lectual work and thrust into the maelstrom of politics (Spec.3.1-6). As is
well known, the embassy enjoyed less success than they had hoped. Philo
returned to Alexandria to his school. He probably died in the next decade.Overview of His Writings
Philo was a voluminous author. Eusebius provided a list of his works that
serves as a useful starting point but must be supplemented (Hist. Eccl.
2.18.1-9). Philo organized his commentaries into three major series: the259PhiloEERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
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