Theophilus to Autolycus

This episode contains a work written by Theophilus, an early writer who likely converted to Christianity through studying the scriptures. According to Eusebius, he became the sixth bishop at Antioch around A.D. 168 and died in A.D. 181. He was a prolific author, having refuted heretics and written commentaries on the Gospels and proverbs. Unfortunately this work, addressed to an acquaintance named Autolycus, is all that remains. 

Based on the text itself, it appears that the occasion for this writing was a conversation including disparaging remarks by Autolycus about Christianity. Desiring to show his friend the error of paganism and the superior nature of the Christian faith, Theophilus reveals the hypocrisy of the Greek theogony, spending a significant amount of time describing the impious works of the Greek gods and the contradictions of Greek philosophers and poets. Theophilus also attempts to demonstrate that the Old Testament is superior to Greek writings, basing this primarily on the fact that the Torah was written before any of the Greek works. In arguing this, however, Theophilus puts together the first chronology of the Old testament in Christian writing, starting in Genesis and adding up years until the captivity in Babylon. 

It is also significant that, in a work ostensibly designed to draw a nonbeliever to faith, Theophilus spends very little time discussing important Christian doctrines or the life and teachings of Jesus. Rather, the goal seems to have been to convince Autolycus that the monotheistic, eternal, sovereign God presented by the Christians indeed exists and is greater than any idol of the day. Perhaps Theophilus believed that it was necessary for his friend to first accept the existence of God before he could discuss the particulars of the Gospel and salvation.

If you would like to read more of the writings of the Early Christian Fathers, please visit ccel.org to view the full collection.