ABSTRACT
Maimonides’s The Guide of the Perplexed introduced fresh thinking into Jewish theology and philosophy. His attempt to harmonize the god of the Bible with philosophical truth was successful in that it left a lasting influence on Judaism as well as other religions. A history of Islamic or Christian philosophy is rarely composed without some reference to Maimonides. Maimonides’s ideas were suited to his medieval context and offered a broad appeal to those seeking a balance between philosophical inquiry, reason, and faithfulness to religious tradition. Though many of his philosophical arguments based on Aristotle have been surpassed, The Guide is still a significant work of great intellect that was valued in its day. In terms of biblical and linguistic studies, Maimonides’s exegesis continues to have value to students of the Bible today. His proficiency with language and his mastery of the Talmud and biblical texts forged a path that allowed for both literal and allegorical interpretation.
