Scholars from numerous disciplines rely on Philo's writings for their research. As one of only a handful of Jewish authors writing during the first century AD, Philo is a necessary primary source for theologians, biblical scholars, and historians. And yet there is a tendency for these same scholars to focus more on using Philo's works as reference material for their own studies with less interest in the origins and preservation of these writings in their own right.
David T. Runia recognized this challenge to Philo scholarship and has sought to fill the gap with these two volumes. He has satisfied the need for a more comprehensive examination of Philo's writings, their historical setting, and their preservation by early Christians by providing us with the first English commentary on Philo's writings—and the first commentary in any language in more than seventy years. Likewise, Runia has also provided comprehensive coverage of the preservation by early Christians who saw Philo's works as a resource for developing Christian theology and philosophy.
