RARE monograph in which the author, the eminent scholar in the history of religions best known as one of the major authorities on Philo of Alexandria - Erwin Ramsdell Goodenough (1893-1965), presents a daring thesis which challenged the notions of second temple period Judaism and Christian origins. Goodenough holds that Judaism in the Greek speaking Diaspora transformed itself into a mystery religion, where the adherent`s goal was salvation and oneness with the Divine through mystical ascent, and the chief witness to this mystic Judaism was Philo of Alexandria, whose advanced allegories show that he was not the originator of these ideas of mystery, but rather was born into the world where the Hellenistic Judaism had already become a mystery. 250x175mm. XV+436 pages. Hardcover with gilt spine. Cover, cover corners and edges rubbed. Spine rubbed, yellowing and slightly stained. Spine edges bumped. Inner cover and whitepages slightly age-stained. Pencil underlining on few pages. Text block edges age-stained. Pages yellowing and rough-cut as published. [SUMMARY]: This extremely rare book on ancient mystical Judaism as reflected mainly in the works of Philo of Alexandria is in good condition.