Scott D. Mackie has taught Biblical studies and Christian history courses at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, and Fuller Seminary. He is the author of Eschatology and Exhortation in the Epistle to the Hebrews and the editor of The Letter to the Hebrews: Critical Readings.

"In tackling this central theme in Philo’s thought, Scott D. Mackie reveals a remarkably broad and judicious knowledge of the relevant literature in both ancient philosophy and biblical studies. This is combined with an intimate knowledge of the Philonic corpus, every part of which—and it is huge—is covered in the book. Mackie also shows an admirable acquaintance with current preoccupations and trends, including neuroscience and feminist theology." — David T. Runia, University of Melbourne/Australia Catholic University.

• Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Philo the Man 2. Philo the Philosopher 3. Philo the Interpreter 4. Philo the Mystic 5. Philo's Visual Orientation 6. Philo the Recluse or Socially Engaged Teacher? 7. Plan of This Book Part One: Theories of Vision and Sense Perception 1. Ancient Theories of Vision 1. Intromission and Extramission 2. Plato and Aristotle 3. Stoics and the Evil Eye 4. Ancient Jews and Early Christians 5. Philo Conclusion 2. Sense Perception and Epistemology 1. Plato 2. Aristotle 3. Stoics and Academics 4. Middle Platonists 5. Philo Conclusion Part Two: Theology, Metaphysics, and Visions of the Divine 3. Epiphanies in the Greco-Roman World Conclusion 4. Greco-Roman Philosophical Conceptions of God and Metaphysical Cosmology 1. Plato 2. Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans 3. Stoics 4. Epicureans 5. Middle Platonists Conclusion 5. The God of the Hebrew Bible and the Septuagint 1. Anthropomorphic and Anthropopathic Representations 2. Seeing the "Invisible" God 3. Seeing God in the Septuagint (LXX) Conclusion 6. Philo's Conception of God and Metaphysical Cosmology 1. Transcendence and Unknowability2. Immanence and Soteriology 3. Intermediaries, the Forms, and the Noetic Realm 4. Portrayals of God's Appearance 5. Does Philo's God Possess Relational Attributes? Conclusion Part Three: The Object of the Vision, Agency, and Methods 7. The Object of the Vision of God: The Logos, the Powers, or God? 1. Factors Mitigating and Restricting the Visio Dei 2. The Object of the Vision: God or His Intermediaries? 3. Visio Dei Passages in the Allegorical Commentary 4. Visio Dei Passages in the Questions and Answers 5. Visio Dei Passages in the Exposition 6. The Visio Dei in Nonexegetical Works Conclusion 8. The Effectual Means of the Vision of God 1. Agency in Greco-Roman Literature and Philosophy 2. Agency in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Texts and Traditions 3. Agency in Philo Conclusion 9. The Means and Methods of the Ascent to the Vision 1. Platonic Contemplation 2. The Pursuit and Practice of Virtue 3. Asceticism 4. Allegorical Interpretation Conclusion Part Four: Mysticism 10. Philo's Mysticism and the Vision of God 1. Defining Mysticism 2. Rhetorical and Logical Factors Suggesting the Authenticity of the Vision of God 3. Neuroscientific Analysis of Mystical Experience Conclusion 11. An Example of Philo's Mysticism: The Passion of Eve and the Ecstasy of Hannah (Ebr. 143–152) 1. The Female Personification of Sense Perception and the Sensuous Hannah 2. The Passion and Ecstatic Joy of Hannah 3. The Mysticism of Ebr. 4. Hannah's Mysticism: Allegorical Fantasy or Actual Experience? Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index of Philo of Alexandria Index of Greco-Roman Philosophy and Classical Literature Index of Biblical and Second Temple Jewish Texts Index of Modern Scholars

Scott D. Mackie has taught Biblical studies and Christian history courses at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, and Fuller Seminary. He is the author of Eschatology and Exhortation in the Epistle to the Hebrews and the editor of The Letter to the Hebrews: Critical Readings.

"In tackling this central theme in Philo’s thought, Scott D. Mackie reveals a remarkably broad and judicious knowledge of the relevant literature in both ancient philosophy and biblical studies. This is combined with an intimate knowledge of the Philonic corpus, every part of which—and it is huge—is covered in the book. Mackie also shows an admirable acquaintance with current preoccupations and trends, including neuroscience and feminist theology." — David T. Runia, University of Melbourne/Australia Catholic University.

• Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Philo the Man 2. Philo the Philosopher 3. Philo the Interpreter 4. Philo the Mystic 5. Philo's Visual Orientation 6. Philo the Recluse or Socially Engaged Teacher? 7. Plan of This Book Part One: Theories of Vision and Sense Perception 1. Ancient Theories of Vision 1. Intromission and Extramission 2. Plato and Aristotle 3. Stoics and the Evil Eye 4. Ancient Jews and Early Christians 5. Philo Conclusion 2. Sense Perception and Epistemology 1. Plato 2. Aristotle 3. Stoics and Academics 4. Middle Platonists 5. Philo Conclusion Part Two: Theology, Metaphysics, and Visions of the Divine 3. Epiphanies in the Greco-Roman World Conclusion 4. Greco-Roman Philosophical Conceptions of God and Metaphysical Cosmology 1. Plato 2. Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans 3. Stoics 4. Epicureans 5. Middle Platonists Conclusion 5. The God of the Hebrew Bible and the Septuagint 1. Anthropomorphic and Anthropopathic Representations 2. Seeing the "Invisible" God 3. Seeing God in the Septuagint (LXX) Conclusion 6. Philo's Conception of God and Metaphysical Cosmology 1. Transcendence and Unknowability2. Immanence and Soteriology 3. Intermediaries, the Forms, and the Noetic Realm 4. Portrayals of God's Appearance 5. Does Philo's God Possess Relational Attributes? Conclusion Part Three: The Object of the Vision, Agency, and Methods 7. The Object of the Vision of God: The Logos, the Powers, or God? 1. Factors Mitigating and Restricting the Visio Dei 2. The Object of the Vision: God or His Intermediaries? 3. Visio Dei Passages in the Allegorical Commentary 4. Visio Dei Passages in the Questions and Answers 5. Visio Dei Passages in the Exposition 6. The Visio Dei in Nonexegetical Works Conclusion 8. The Effectual Means of the Vision of God 1. Agency in Greco-Roman Literature and Philosophy 2. Agency in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Texts and Traditions 3. Agency in Philo Conclusion 9. The Means and Methods of the Ascent to the Vision 1. Platonic Contemplation 2. The Pursuit and Practice of Virtue 3. Asceticism 4. Allegorical Interpretation Conclusion Part Four: Mysticism 10. Philo's Mysticism and the Vision of God 1. Defining Mysticism 2. Rhetorical and Logical Factors Suggesting the Authenticity of the Vision of God 3. Neuroscientific Analysis of Mystical Experience Conclusion 11. An Example of Philo's Mysticism: The Passion of Eve and the Ecstasy of Hannah (Ebr. 143–152) 1. The Female Personification of Sense Perception and the Sensuous Hannah 2. The Passion and Ecstatic Joy of Hannah 3. The Mysticism of Ebr. 4. Hannah's Mysticism: Allegorical Fantasy or Actual Experience? Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index of Philo of Alexandria Index of Greco-Roman Philosophy and Classical Literature Index of Biblical and Second Temple Jewish Texts Index of Modern Scholars

Scott D. Mackie has taught Biblical studies and Christian history courses at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, and Fuller Seminary. He is the author of Eschatology and Exhortation in the Epistle to the Hebrews and the editor of The Letter to the Hebrews: Critical Readings.

"In tackling this central theme in Philo’s thought, Scott D. Mackie reveals a remarkably broad and judicious knowledge of the relevant literature in both ancient philosophy and biblical studies. This is combined with an intimate knowledge of the Philonic corpus, every part of which—and it is huge—is covered in the book. Mackie also shows an admirable acquaintance with current preoccupations and trends, including neuroscience and feminist theology." — David T. Runia, University of Melbourne/Australia Catholic University.

• Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Philo the Man 2. Philo the Philosopher 3. Philo the Interpreter 4. Philo the Mystic 5. Philo's Visual Orientation 6. Philo the Recluse or Socially Engaged Teacher? 7. Plan of This Book Part One: Theories of Vision and Sense Perception 1. Ancient Theories of Vision 1. Intromission and Extramission 2. Plato and Aristotle 3. Stoics and the Evil Eye 4. Ancient Jews and Early Christians 5. Philo Conclusion 2. Sense Perception and Epistemology 1. Plato 2. Aristotle 3. Stoics and Academics 4. Middle Platonists 5. Philo Conclusion Part Two: Theology, Metaphysics, and Visions of the Divine 3. Epiphanies in the Greco-Roman World Conclusion 4. Greco-Roman Philosophical Conceptions of God and Metaphysical Cosmology 1. Plato 2. Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans 3. Stoics 4. Epicureans 5. Middle Platonists Conclusion 5. The God of the Hebrew Bible and the Septuagint 1. Anthropomorphic and Anthropopathic Representations 2. Seeing the "Invisible" God 3. Seeing God in the Septuagint (LXX) Conclusion 6. Philo's Conception of God and Metaphysical Cosmology 1. Transcendence and Unknowability2. Immanence and Soteriology 3. Intermediaries, the Forms, and the Noetic Realm 4. Portrayals of God's Appearance 5. Does Philo's God Possess Relational Attributes? Conclusion Part Three: The Object of the Vision, Agency, and Methods 7. The Object of the Vision of God: The Logos, the Powers, or God? 1. Factors Mitigating and Restricting the Visio Dei 2. The Object of the Vision: God or His Intermediaries? 3. Visio Dei Passages in the Allegorical Commentary 4. Visio Dei Passages in the Questions and Answers 5. Visio Dei Passages in the Exposition 6. The Visio Dei in Nonexegetical Works Conclusion 8. The Effectual Means of the Vision of God 1. Agency in Greco-Roman Literature and Philosophy 2. Agency in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Texts and Traditions 3. Agency in Philo Conclusion 9. The Means and Methods of the Ascent to the Vision 1. Platonic Contemplation 2. The Pursuit and Practice of Virtue 3. Asceticism 4. Allegorical Interpretation Conclusion Part Four: Mysticism 10. Philo's Mysticism and the Vision of God 1. Defining Mysticism 2. Rhetorical and Logical Factors Suggesting the Authenticity of the Vision of God 3. Neuroscientific Analysis of Mystical Experience Conclusion 11. An Example of Philo's Mysticism: The Passion of Eve and the Ecstasy of Hannah (Ebr. 143–152) 1. The Female Personification of Sense Perception and the Sensuous Hannah 2. The Passion and Ecstatic Joy of Hannah 3. The Mysticism of Ebr. 4. Hannah's Mysticism: Allegorical Fantasy or Actual Experience? Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index of Philo of Alexandria Index of Greco-Roman Philosophy and Classical Literature Index of Biblical and Second Temple Jewish Texts Index of Modern Scholars