An Analysis of Maimonides's The Guide of the Perplexed

Written by the great medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed attempts to explain the perplexities of biblical language―and apparent inconsistencies in the text―in the light of philosophy and scientific reason.

Composed as a letter to a student, The Guide aims to harmonize Aristotelian principles with the Hebrew Bible and argues that God must be understood as both unified and incorporeal. Engaging both contemporary and ancient scholars, Maimonides fluidly moves from cosmology to the problem of evil to the end goal of human happiness. His intellectual breadth and openness makes The Guide a lasting model of creative synthesis in biblical studies and philosophical theology.

Mark Scarlata received an MA from Yale Divinity School and completed his doctoral dissertation at Cambridge University. He is currently lecturer in Old Testament Studies at St. Mellitus College, London. The Revd. Dr. Scarlata specializes in Hebrew Bible, ancient Near Eastern, and Judaic studies.