Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, produced extensive allegorical commentaries on the Pentateuch that synthesized Jewish scripture with Greek Platonic and Stoic philosophy. His works on the Logos (divine reason) and allegorical interpretation profoundly influenced early Christian theology. Philo's writings were preserved by the church and shaped the thought of Origen, Clement, and Augustine.

Philo's allegorical method became a model for Christian biblical interpretation and poetic symbolism, influencing the medieval fourfold sense of scripture and Dante's allegorical poetry. His Logos theology provided the philosophical vocabulary for the Gospel of John's prologue and the Christological poetry of the early church.