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Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database



9239
Philo Of Alexandria, On The Special Laws, 4.73


nanfor it was a felicitous and true saying of one of the wise men of old, that men never act in a manner more resembling the gods than when they are bestowing benefits; and what can be a greater good than for mortal men to imitate the everlasting God?


Intertexts (texts cited often on the same page as the searched text):

7 results
1. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 21.33, 28.21 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)

21.33. וַיִּטַּע אֶשֶׁל בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע וַיִּקְרָא־שָׁם בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה אֵל עוֹלָם׃ 28.21. וְשַׁבְתִּי בְשָׁלוֹם אֶל־בֵּית אָבִי וְהָיָה יְהוָה לִי לֵאלֹהִים׃ 21.33. And Abraham planted a tamarisk-tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God." 28.21. so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then shall the LORD be my God,"
2. Cicero, On Duties, 3.63 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)

3.63. Hecatonem quidem Rhodium, discipulum Panaeti, video in iis libris, quos de officio scripsit Q. Tuberoni, dicere sapientis esse nihil contra mores, leges, instituta facientem habere rationem rei familiaris. Neque enim solum nobis divites esse volumus, sed liberis, propinquis, amicis maximeque rei publicae. Singulorum enim facultates et copiae divitiae sunt civitatis. Huic Scaevolae factum, de quo paulo ante dixi, placere nullo modo potest; etenim omnino tantum se negat facturum compendii sui causa, quod non liceat. Huic nec laus magna tribuenda nec gratia est. 3.63.  Now I observe that Hecaton of Rhodes, a pupil of Panaetius, says in his books on "Moral Duty" dedicated to Quintus Tubero that "it is a wise man's duty to take care of his private interests, at the same time doing nothing contrary to the civil customs, laws, and institutions. But that depends on our purpose in seeking prosperity; for we do not aim to be rich for ourselves alone but for our children, relatives, friends, and, above all, for our country. For the private fortunes of individuals are the wealth of the state." Hecaton could not for a moment approve of Scaevola's act, which I cited a moment ago; for he openly avows that he will abstain from doing for his own profit only what the law expressly forbids. Such a man deserves no great praise nor gratitude.
3. Philo of Alexandria, On Curses, 104 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

104. And as he made an ear spherical, fashioning lesser circles in their greater ones and framing it as in a lathe, with the object of preventing the sounds of the voice which come from without from being wasted and dissipated, so that the voice when collected together and closely packed within the circle might, by a sort of diffusion of the power of hearing, be poured over the different channels of the principal part. And this immediately served as a model for those theatres which are found in handsome cities; so that the shape of a theatre is skilfully dictated by the mechanism of the ear. So also, nature, which formed animals, stretching the rough artery like a musical canon, and wearing beneath the harmonic and chromatic and diatonic kinds of sounds, according to the innumerable variations of combined and separated melodies, made a model in accordance with which every musical instrument might be made. XXXII.
4. Philo of Alexandria, On Dreams, 1.163 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

1.163. therefore God is the name of the beneficent power, and Lord is the title of the royal power. What then can any one call a more ancient and important good, than to be thought worthy to meet with unmixed and unalloyed beneficence? And what can be less valuable than to receive a mixture of authority and liberality? And it appears to me that it was because the practiser of virtue saw that he uttered that most admirable prayer that, "the Lord might be to him as God;" for he desired no longer to stand in awe of him as a governor, but to honour and love him as a benefactor.
5. Philo of Alexandria, On The Special Laws, 4.75 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)

4.75. For all those who have drunk deep of the fountains of wisdom, having banished envy entirely out of their minds, are of their own accord, and without any prompting, ready to undertake the assistance of their neighbours, pouring the streams of their words into their souls through their ears, so as to impart to them a participation in similar knowledge with themselves. And when they see young men of good dispositions springing up like flourishing and vigorous shoots of a vine, they rejoice, thinking that they have found proper inheritors for this wealth of their souls, which is the only real riches, and having taken them they cultivate their souls with doctrines and good meditations, until they arrive at full strength and maturity, so as to bring forth the fruit of excellence.
6. New Testament, 1 Timothy, 6.18 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)

6.18. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
7. New Testament, Luke, 10.41-10.42, 12.21-12.23, 12.33-12.34, 21.34 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)

10.41. Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things 10.42. but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her. 12.21. So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 12.22. He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 12.23. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 12.33. Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. 12.34. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 21.34. So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.


Subjects of this text:

subject book bibliographic info
anxiety, wealth Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350
assimilation Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
benefaction Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
covetousness Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350
diaspora Bloch, Ancient Jewish Diaspora: Essays on Hellenism (2022) 253
endurance Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
fritz friedländer Bloch, Ancient Jewish Diaspora: Essays on Hellenism (2022) 253
georg büchmann Bloch, Ancient Jewish Diaspora: Essays on Hellenism (2022) 253
germany Bloch, Ancient Jewish Diaspora: Essays on Hellenism (2022) 253
god, ruler Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 209
hecaton of rhodes Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350
hedonism Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350
humanity Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
image of god Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
imitation Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
jacob Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 209
jewish hellenism Bloch, Ancient Jewish Diaspora: Essays on Hellenism (2022) 253
jews, german Bloch, Ancient Jewish Diaspora: Essays on Hellenism (2022) 253
list of virtues/vices Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
logos of god, lord name/title of Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 209
love for humanity Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 209
mercy Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
philo-lexikon Bloch, Ancient Jewish Diaspora: Essays on Hellenism (2022) 253
pleasure Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350
poor, the Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
power, divine Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 209
prayer' Geljon and Runia, Philo of Alexandria: On Planting: Introduction, Translation and Commentary (2019) 209
prudence Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356
topos, topoi, covetousness Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350
topos, topoi Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350
wealth Malherbe et al., Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J (2014) 350; Wilson, Philo of Alexandria: On Virtues: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (2010) 356