Theophilus is another obscure entity when it comes to church history. Not much is know about his personal life, other than the fact that he was bishop of the Christians in Antioch. He succeeded Eros, who succeeded Ignatius after his martyrdom in 115, which was probably the year that Theophilus was born. Church historians say Theophilus died around 180 A.D. It was also around this time, shortly before his death, that he wrote three books entitled To Autolycus.
Autolycus was a pagan friend of Theophilus, to whom he wrote three books, which were a respond to his degrading comments about Christianity. The books were intended to lead an intelligent pagan to the acceptance of Christianity. Theophilus' writings are less philosohpiucal than Justin and Athenagoras. In fact, he actually criticizes Greek literature and philosophy. Through his writings, it seems a though we was influenced by Hellenistic Judaism, minus the strong allegorical methods of interpretation. His interpretive style actually reflects the Antiochene school, which focused more on the historical and literal methods of interpretation.
One of Theophilus' main contributions to church history is that he is the first Christian theologian to introduce the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo- creation out of nothing. This isn't to say that others didn't believe it until him, but that he is the first to specifically mention and use the doctrine to disprove the Greek tendency to view the universe as eternal. About the first few verses of Genesis 1, Theophilus states,
Autolycus was a pagan friend of Theophilus, to whom he wrote three books, which were a respond to his degrading comments about Christianity. The books were intended to lead an intelligent pagan to the acceptance of Christianity. Theophilus' writings are less philosohpiucal than Justin and Athenagoras. In fact, he actually criticizes Greek literature and philosophy. Through his writings, it seems a though we was influenced by Hellenistic Judaism, minus the strong allegorical methods of interpretation. His interpretive style actually reflects the Antiochene school, which focused more on the historical and literal methods of interpretation.
One of Theophilus' main contributions to church history is that he is the first Christian theologian to introduce the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo- creation out of nothing. This isn't to say that others didn't believe it until him, but that he is the first to specifically mention and use the doctrine to disprove the Greek tendency to view the universe as eternal. About the first few verses of Genesis 1, Theophilus states,
...this, sacred Scripture teaches at the outset, to show that matter, from which God made and fashioned the world, was in some manner created, being produced by God. - Theophilus, To Autolycus II
Unlike the other apologists, Theophilus really steers his readers away from Greek thought, especially in the area of creation. Like the other apologists, however, he does use the Logos concept to explain God's relationship to His creation. He argues that the Logos is God's agent in creation and in speaking through the Old Testament prophets. The Logos is eternally within God and is emitted (literally "belched") into being by the Father. This is so that the perfect God can relate to the world in which he created, and speak to humanity by the Logos, through the prophets. Theophilus states,
God, then, having His own Word internal within His own bowels, begat Him, emitting Him along with His own wisdom before all things. He had this Word as a helper in the things that were created by Him, and by Him He made all things. He is called "governing principle," because He rules, and is Lord of all things fashioned by Him. He, then, being Spirit of God, and governing principle, and wisdom, and power of the highest, came down upon the prophets, and through them spake of the creation of the world and of all other things. For the prophets were not when the world came into existence, but the wisdom of God which was in Him, and His holy Word which was always present with Him. - Theophilus, To Autolycus II
One can read this and see that his theology of the trinity is a bit off. He seems to fail to distinguish properly between the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Later theologians adjusted this slightly, by interpreting God's Spirit as the eternal Wisdom and the Son as the eternal Word. As theology progressed further, the idea of "emitted" or "belched" was discarded because it seemed to imply a change in both the Father and the Word.
In closing, the only real difference we see between Theophilus and the other apologist is his emphasis on creation out of nothing. He had little to say about the historical life of Jesus Christ, but rather seemed more interested in the status of the Logos who became incarnate in Jesus Christ. This is because like the other apologists, he was trying to defend Christianity against an onslaught of questions and accusations posed by the Greek and Roman pagans.
In closing, the only real difference we see between Theophilus and the other apologist is his emphasis on creation out of nothing. He had little to say about the historical life of Jesus Christ, but rather seemed more interested in the status of the Logos who became incarnate in Jesus Christ. This is because like the other apologists, he was trying to defend Christianity against an onslaught of questions and accusations posed by the Greek and Roman pagans.