Philo of Alexandria — Questions and answers

Read the full story

What were Makena and Lian mainly wondering about as they looked at the scrolls in the Grand Library?

Choices

  1. How many different ways people had tried to understand the world. ✓
  2. How noisy the city was outside.
  3. What snacks they would have for lunch.
  4. Why the library was so quiet.

Answer: How many different ways people had tried to understand the world.

From page 1

What was Philo of Alexandria known for trying to do?

Choices

  1. Write funny stories for children.
  2. Create new Greek symbols.
  3. Combine Greek philosophy and Jewish scripture. ✓
  4. Build a new library in Alexandria.

Answer: Combine Greek philosophy and Jewish scripture.

From page 2

What core Greek philosophical idea did Makena explain from the scroll?

Choices

  1. The 'Torah'
  2. The 'Logos' ✓
  3. The 'Cosmos'
  4. The 'Scripture'

Answer: The 'Logos'

From page 3

How did Philo propose that the Greek philosophical 'Logos' was connected to Jewish scripture?

Choices

  1. He said they were completely different and could not be connected.
  2. He suggested the 'Logos' was God's divine 'Word' and 'Wisdom' acting as an intermediary. ✓
  3. He believed the 'Logos' was a new type of building.
  4. He thought the 'Logos' was a secret code only he could understand.

Answer: He suggested the 'Logos' was God's divine 'Word' and 'Wisdom' acting as an intermediary.

From page 4

What method did Philo use to find deeper meanings in Jewish scriptures?

Choices

  1. He asked his friends to guess the meanings.
  2. He used a special magic decoder ring.
  3. He developed allegorical interpretation. ✓
  4. He only read the first sentence of each story.

Answer: He developed allegorical interpretation.

From page 5

What did Philo believe about Greek philosophy and Jewish scripture?

Choices

  1. They were completely separate and could not be understood together.
  2. They both revealed parts of the same universal truth. ✓
  3. Only Greek philosophy was true.
  4. Only Jewish scripture was true.

Answer: They both revealed parts of the same universal truth.

From page 6

Why was Philo's work challenging and criticized by some?

Choices

  1. He spent too much time in the library.
  2. He only studied ancient mosaics.
  3. Some worried he was changing their faith too much, or his appeals to scripture were less rigorous than pure rational inquiry. ✓
  4. He refused to discuss his ideas with anyone.

Answer: Some worried he was changing their faith too much, or his appeals to scripture were less rigorous than pure rational inquiry.

From page 7

How did Philo's use of the 'Logos' concept help him?

Choices

  1. It helped him to draw better pictures in scrolls.
  2. It was his crucial tool to connect the spiritual world with the physical world and God in Jewish scripture. ✓
  3. It helped him find hidden treasures in the library.
  4. It made him able to whisper secrets.

Answer: It was his crucial tool to connect the spiritual world with the physical world and God in Jewish scripture.

From page 8

What lesson did Makena reflect on from Philo's work?

Choices

  1. The importance of quiet time in a library.
  2. The importance of eating healthy snacks.
  3. The importance of deep inquiry and seeking common threads amidst differences. ✓
  4. The importance of knowing all the Greek symbols.

Answer: The importance of deep inquiry and seeking common threads amidst differences.

From page 9

What did Lian emphasize was Philo's true legacy?

Choices

  1. His specific interpretations of ancient texts.
  2. His pioneering spirit in fostering dialogue between diverse worldviews. ✓
  3. His ability to draw long shadows.
  4. His method for finding the library entrance.

Answer: His pioneering spirit in fostering dialogue between diverse worldviews.

From page 10