Philo of Alexandria and Early
Judaism in Biblical Research:
Te Contributions of
Ralph Marcus, Earle Hilgert, and
Tomas H. Tobin, SJ
Michael B. Cover, Marquete University
Abstract: Te purpose of this celebratory essay is to trace ways
Biblical Research has helped foster early Jewish studies (espe-
cially on texts of Second Temple Judaism outside of the Hebrew
Bible), both as an independent feld and as an integral part of
“biblical research,” with a special focus on Philo of Alexandria.
In the essays of Ralph Marcus, Earle Hilgert, and Tomas H.
Tobin, SJ, Biblical Research has published the work of scholars
who represent three major phases of Philonic studies in the
twentieth century: (1) Philo in the era of Wolfson, the Loeb
Classical Library translations, and the discovery of the Dead
Sea Scrolls (Marcus); (2) Philo in the era of Studia Philonica
and the fourishing of source criticism (Hilgert); and (3) Philo
in the era of Te Studia Philonica Annual and the composition of
exegetical commentaries on individual treatises (Tobin).
Key Terms: Chicago Society of Biblical Research, commentar-
ies (ancient), Dead Sea Scrolls, history of scholarship, Joseph
(patriarch), Te Philo Institute, Philo of Alexandria, Qumran
Hebrew, Second Temple Judaism, Te Studia Philonica Annual
For Tomas H. Tobin, SJ (1945–2020), in memoriam. בלע המות לנצח(Isa 25:8).
Perusing the titles of articles published in Biblical Research—the
scholarly annual of the Chicago Society of Biblical Research—over the
Biblical Research 65 (2020): 42–57.
Copyright © 2020 by the Chicago Society of Biblical Research