ABSTRACT
Not many studies of Baruch Spinoza's philosophy have inquired closely into its Christian dimension. Religion in Spinoza's eyes is closely connected to politics, as the title of his "Tractatus Theologico-Politicus", implies. Moses is the Old Testament character who interested Spinoza most. Spinoza draws on Saint Paul not just as the pre-eminent critic of Judaism, but also with a sort of deference to his opinions that is without parallel in his treatment of Old Testament figures. Comparing the influence of biblical figures on Spinoza by counting the number of doctrines they contributed to his teaching is, in any case, an exercise of limited value. The Hebrew king Solomon is certainly one of the protagonists of the Old Testament to whom Spinoza accords both respect and attention. Robert Misrahi asserts that Solomon stood much higher in Spinoza's esteem than did Jesus Christ and that this is significant for understanding Spinoza's philosophy.
