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Indiana University Studies 



passage from a book, and to another the words of a great teacher. As 

 Philo words it: "On some the Divine Logos enjoins commands Hke 

 a king; others it instructs as a teacher his pupils; others not knowing 

 what is best for themselves it helps as a counsellor who makes wise 

 suggestions; while to others, again, like a gracious friend, it reveals 

 persuasively many mysteries that the uninitiated may never hear" 

 (I, 649). Jesus says in Matthew 11, 25: "I thank thee, 0 Father, 

 Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from 

 the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." 

 "When a soul is self-sufficient", Philo says, "the Logos holds aloof; 

 when it confesses its weakness, the Logos comes to meet it" (I, 638). 



While Philo 's aim is to approach as near as possible to God, he 

 is forced to admit that the only positive fact that we can know about 

 God is the fact of his existence. His works show his wisdom and power 

 and goodness. The Logos helps us to understand God's attributes, 

 tho of course very imperfectly. Only a limited number of select 

 spirits ever advance beyond the Logos toward God himself. 

 Inspiration follows complete triumph over the carnal desires and 

 absolute consecration of mind and soul to God (I, 76, 380). 



Fear and Love are fundamental attributes in Philo's conception 

 of God. Then, under the Logos, are the Creative and Ruling functions. 

 "By goodness God created the universe, by authority he rules it, 

 and the Logos unites the two, for by Reason (or Thought) God is 

 both ruler and goodness" (I, 144). It is a great step in one's thinking 

 when one realizes that the world one sees has been created and that 

 there must have been a creator. This leads to Awe or Fear of the 

 creator first, and then to Love. Love and Fear of God are united by 

 the Logos, but the philosopher tries to pass beyond ideas of Love and 

 Fear, to find and adore God for simply what he is, and not for what 

 he has done for man. Worship helps in this. 



As to forms of worship, Philo holds to ancient traditions, but 

 points out that forms should not take the place of true religion. 

 "If a man practices ablutions", he says, "and purifications but defiles 

 his mind while he cleanses his body; or if, thru his wealth, he founds 

 a temple at a large outlay and expense; or if he offers hecatombs and 

 sacrifices oxen without number, or adorns the shrines with rich 

 ornaments, or gives endless timber and cunningly wrought work, 

 more precious than silver or gold, let him none the more be called 

 religious. For he has wandered far from the path of religion, mistaking 

 ritual for holiness, and attempting to bribe the Incorruptible, and to 

 flatter him whom none can flatter. God welcomes genuine service 

 and that is the service of a soul that offers the bare and simple 

 sacrifice of truth, but from false service, the mere display of material 



