How did Philo Judaeus use allegory to interpret the Bible?

Philo Judaeus, a 1st-century Jewish philosopher from Alexandria, utilized allegory as a primary method to interpret the Hebrew Bible, particularly the Pentateuch. By applying this technique, he sought to demonstrate that the ancient revelations of Moses were in harmony with the teachings of the best Greek philosophers, specifically those of Platonic idealism and Stoic ethics.123

Philo’s allegorical approach allowed him to bridge the gap between Jewish religious doctrine and Greek philosophical concepts. He interpreted biblical narratives not merely as literal history but as symbolic expressions of deeper truths. For instance, he used philosophical notions to explain the nature of Logos—the Divine Reason—as an intermediary between a transcendent God and the world.124

While Philo maintained respect for the literal interpretation of the Bible and denounced extreme allegorists, his method was instrumental in providing Jewish religious doctrines with intellectual and cultural respectability in the Hellenistic world. His work exerted a profound influence on early Christian hermeneutics, though it remained less influential within contemporary Jewish thought.1435