Abstract
Respect and care for the disadvantaged are firmly embedded in Philo’s interpretation of the Decalogue. In order to understand Philo’s teaching on this point within its proper perspective, this study highlights the following aspects of his interpretation of the Decalogue. The Ten Commandments are intended as a means of education, healing and transformation of people and their communities; they guide people to live in harmony with nature, reason and one another; in practice, this means to learn how to turn away from foolish pride and to live in gentleness, fellowship, simplicity, and equality. Such education will render people sensitive to the needs of those affected by bad fortune and inspire them to reach out to them.
Highlights
In his work De Decalogo,1 Philo points out that the Ten Commandments, given directly by God, are not merely laws and the principles whereby to interpret the particular laws, those given through Moses (Decal. 19).2 Philo emphasises that both God and Moses, in their legislation, are not so much imposing laws as using these to heal and educate people so that they may knowingly and willingly consent and rise to a state in2 “Two key traits set the Ten Commandments apart
The Ten Commandments are intended as a means of education, healing and transformation of people and their communities; they guide people to live in harmony with nature, reason and one another; in practice, this means to learn how to turn away from foolish pride and to live in gentleness, fellowship, simplicity, and equality
Like a good medical doctor who orders the patient to abstain from food and drink for a while, God empties their souls from the culture prevailing in the cities and feeds them by means of divine teachings: Very naturally having led his people from the injurious associations prevailing in the cities, into the desert, that he might purify their souls from their offenses he begun to bring them food for their minds; and what could this food be but divine laws and reasonings [νόμοι καὶ λόγοι θεῖοι] (Decal. 13)
Summary
In his work De Decalogo, Philo points out that the Ten Commandments, given directly by God, are not merely laws and the principles whereby to interpret the particular laws, those given through Moses (Decal. 19). Philo emphasises that both God and Moses, in their legislation, are not so much imposing laws as using these to heal and educate people so that they may knowingly and willingly consent and rise to a state in. In his work De Decalogo, Philo points out that the Ten Commandments, given directly by God, are not merely laws and the principles whereby to interpret the particular laws, those given through Moses This study will first show how Philo presents the giving of the laws as part of a process of therapy and transformation of both the person and the community. A third section will show how, for Philo, the laws are meant to move people away from foolish pride towards gentleness, fellowship, simplicity, and equality. In the process, their lives are interiorised as well as opened up to the whole universe.
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