Eusebius

This chapter focuses on Eusebius’ reception of Philo’s works. As is well known, his use of the philosopher was instrumental in helping him shape his grand Christian apologetic project and played a central role in his plan to comprehensively map Christian historical, theological and cultural territory. In particular, Philo’s citations contributed to the legitimation of Eusebius’ reconstruction of Christian origins as well as his version of “orthodox” Christian theological doctrines. While Eusebius played a major role in the transmission of Philo in the Christian tradition and thereby significantly contributed to the preservation of his texts, the theological and ideological consequences of this appropriation should not be ignored. If Philo is undeniably an exception in Eusebius’ negative treatment of “Jews” as an ethnic and theological category, he is nevertheless objectified to serve specific apologetic purposes. Eusebius thereby ushers in not only a long Christian tradition of including Philo, but also a tradition that dispossessed Philo of his own truth. Therefore, Eusebius’ abundant use of Philo of Alexandria as well as his occasionally positive (but apologetic) description of the Jewish way of life should not obfuscate his significant contribution to the history of Christian anti-Judaism.