St. Theophilus of Antioch
(+ C. 185 - 191 AD)
Historical Note
St. Theophilus was the seventh bishop of Antioch and sixth successor to St.
Peter. Born a pagan near the Euphrates River in Syria he converted to
Christianity after studying and meditating on the Scriptures. The only
details we possess about his life are gathered from his To Autolycus, his
only surviving work completed after the death of the Emperor Marcus
Aurelius in March 180.
St. Theophilus received a Greek education and had some knowledge of
Hebrew. Though limited in philosophical depth he was widely read and
familiar with a variety of literary culture. In 169, he succeeded Cornelius to
the see of Antioch. Eusebius dates the end of his episcopate in the year 177,
but it was undoubtedly some years later.
To Autolycus is a major apologetical work in three volumes. They are in
effect three separate books joined together for they are addressed to the
same person and deal with the same topics. Autolycus was a learned pagan
and magistrate. In the first volume, St. Theophilus treats of the nature of the
Christian God, extolling Him as the true God and denouncing the gods of
paganism. In the second volume, the author exposes the inadequacy and
puerileness of pagan teachings, contrasting them to the superior teachings
found in the Holy Scriptures about the creation of the world, the worship
due to God and authentic morality. The third volume refutes the calumnies
brought against the Christians concerning incest and cannibalism and gives
an outline of world history to show the antiquity of Judeo-Christian history
and Scriptures compared to those of paganism.
St. Theophilus wrote a number of other works that are now all lost. These
include two books on the origin of mankind mentioned in To Autolycus, a
work against the heresy of Hermogenes, another against the heresy of
Marcion, a Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, Commentaries on the
Gospel, and a number of smaller works for instruction and edification.
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