Philo's Theology and Theory of Creation

Philo’s theology is expressed by a few basic concepts – such as Logos, the Powers, Pnuema and the Ideas – through which the relation between God and the world is explained. But the same relation is explained in the act of Creation, such as it is presented in the Bible. Philosophically speaking, this act fluctuates between an “ex nihilo” interpretation and a demiurgic one. According to the author, Philo’s notion of creation has a mixed nature: “ex nihilo” in the planning stage (the world of the Ideas reflects the first day of creation in the Genesis) and demiurgic in the executive stage. Therefore, is there another (material) principle next to God? Philo provides no conclusive answer, because in this case he is always under the influence of a Platonic vision, according to which matter and the evil connected with it are non-being and only the Ideas are true being.