Philo

Philo (20 BC - 50 AD), known also as Philo of Alexandria and as Philo Judeaus, was a Hellenized Jewish philosopher born in Alexandria, Egypt. The few biographical details concerning him are found in his own works, especially in Legatio ad Gaium, ("embassy to Gaius") and in Flavius Josephus (Antiquities xviii.8, § 1; comp. ib. xix.5, § 1; xx.5, § 2).

Sourced

• Are you making war upon us, because you anticipate that we will not endure such indignity, but that we will fight on behalf of our laws, and die in defence of our national customs? For you cannot possibly have been ignorant of what was likely to result from your attempt to introduce these innovations respecting our temple.
  • Embassy to Gaius, Chapter 28-31, Yonge's translation.

• A Judge must bear in mind that when he tries a case he is himself on trial.
  • Special Laws, 1st century.

About Philo

• There was now a tumult arisen at Alexandria, between the Jewish inhabitants and the Greeks; and three ambassadors were chosen out of each party that were at variance, who came to Gaius. Now one of these ambassadors from the people of Alexandria was Apion, (29) who uttered many blasphemies against the Jews; and, among other things that he said, he charged them with neglecting the honors that belonged to Caesar; for that while all who were subject to the Roman empire built altars and temples to Gaius, and in other regards universally received him as they received the gods, these Jews alone thought it a dishonorable thing for them to erect statues in honor of him, as well as to swear by his name. Many of these severe things were said by Apion, by which he hoped to provoke Gaius to anger at the Jews, as he was likely to be. But Philo, the principal of the Jewish embassage, a man eminent on all accounts, brother to Alexander the alabarch, (30) and one not unskillful in philosophy, was ready to betake himself to make his defense against those accusations; but Gaius prohibited him, and bid him begone; he was also in such a rage, that it openly appeared he was about to do them some very great mischief. So Philo being thus affronted, went out, and said to those Jews who were about him, that they should be of good courage, since Gaius's words indeed showed anger at them, but in reality had already set God against himself.
  • Flavius Josephus (Jewish historian), Antiquities of the Jews, xviii.8, § 1, Whiston's translation. This is Josephus' complete account of Philo.

Misattributed

• Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
  • Attributed to Philo in How Do We Know When It's God?: A Spiritual Memoir (1999) by Dan Wakefield. It has also been wrongly attributed to Plato. It is a variant of the Christmas message "Be pitiful, for every man is fighting a hard battle," written by the Scottish preacher Ian Maclaren (also known as John Watson) in 1897.
  • Be Kind; Everyone You Meet is Fighting a Hard Battle. Plato? Philo of Alexandria?

External links

• The Works of Philo Judaeus, tr. Charles Duke Yonge, London, H. G. Bohn, 1854-1890. (Public Domain online text)]]