Theophilus of Antioch

Abstract

Bishop Theophilus wrote three documents collectively called To Autolycus. Generally treated as apology, they are examined here as protreptic literature going well beyond merely defending faith to promoting a world and life view. Furthermore, these works have convinced some scholars to regard Theophilus as a Jewish-Christian thinker. However, this article maintains that the soteriological teachings of these books identify this bishop as a heterodox theologian within a conservative second-century Christianity.