Dear Jessica,

Between 27 and 180 BCE, the Roman world enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace and political stability, a period referred to as the Pax Romana (The Roman Peace). Interestingly, Philo of Alexandria "or Philo Judaeus," the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria in the first half of the first century BCE, appreciated the pax Romana and the religious freedom enjoyed by Jews in the Roman Empire but rejected the idea that the Roman empire was the outcome of divine providence and would last forever. He opposed the spiritual kingship of Israel to Rome's worldly and transitory dominion. Also, he expected the Roman rule to fade away in the end and Israel to blossom as no other nation ever did (Berthelot, 2011).

Philo was aware of the political problems raised by Roman rule and the theological problems posed by Rome to Judaism. He utilized Jewish Scripture to oppose Roman's claims to be an elected people with a universal mission and an eternal world power. He considered the spiritual and eternal kingship of Israel vastly superior to Rome's terrestrial and provisory rule (Berthelot, 2011). In later centuries, his vision of the time-limited pax Romana and Roman reign became evident. However, Philo expected all nations to acknowledge the superiority and perfection of the Mosaic laws one day, which did not occur.

Reference:

Berthelot, K. (2011). Philo's Perception of the Roman Empire. Journal for the Study of Judaism: In the Persian Hellenistic & Roman Period, 42(2), 166–187. https://doi-org.ocu.idm.oclc.org/10.1163/157006311X544373

Blessing and Best Regards,