Theophilus book of luke

Mar 22, 2011 i stumbled across another passage in luke that seemingly conflicts with the assessment that the intended recepient of lukes book is the high priest, theophilus bar annas. This term of address was a formal roman title and referred to someone who held imperial power. In the first book, o theophilus, i have dealt with all toggle navigation go. Luke uses this strategy as he addresses the book of acts and previously the gospel of luke to one individual named theophilus. In the first book, o theophilus, i have dealt with all that jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up.

This honorific adjective, which in antiquity a person might use when approaching someone of a higher social class than himself, was deemed. Theophilus definition and meaning bible dictionary. Introduction to the gospel of luke study resources. However, there are many questions regarding the identity of this individual. Having finished my commentary on deuteronomy, which ends with the death of moses and the commissioning of joshua, i have been led to begin a study of the gospel of luke. The first account i wrote, theophilus, concerned all that jesus began both to do and to teach, aramaic bible in plain english i wrote the former book, oh theophila, about all those things that our lord yeshua the messiah began to do and to teach gods word translation in my first book, theophilus, i wrote about what jesus began to do and teach.

The name theophilus means friend of god and i have always assumed that it was an honorary title granted to lukes patron. Lukes purpose for writing his gospel account luke 1. Eusebius mentions a book against hermogenes, in which he used proofs from the apocalypse of john, another against marcion and certain catechetical books gr. Standing before his old friend, luke, theophilus receives the book which luke wrote in order that theophilus might know fact from fiction in the life of jesus. The section on theophilus of antioch needs citation or deletion. See introduction as to the title thus given to the book. This gospel is a companion volume to the book of acts, and the language and structure of these two books indicate that both were written by the same person.

In fact, he is the only person mentioned in the scriptures to whom writings were specifically dedicated tootoole, 1992. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order. Luke wrote the acts and in the book theophilos becomes the adoptive father of loukas. Theophilus theophilus literally, the name means lover of god. The authors name does not appear in the book, but much unmistakable evidence points to luke.

Mar, 2019 luke had to be very careful writing his book because he was writing it to theophilus in order to convince him of the truth of the life of jesus. Theophilus of antiochs contemporaries also refer to luke specifically as an original gospel. They are addressed to the same individual, theophilus, and the second volume refers to the first. Theophilus is the person to whom luke addresses the book of luke and the acts of the apostles.

While both the gospel of luke and the book of acts have applications for all christians, they were probably written to a specific individual whom. It tells of his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. Luke refers to theophilus using the words most excellent kratistov. The book of acts starts with the phrase, in my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach. May 21, 2010 additionally, lukes gospel addresses theophilus as most excellent. First, this is what the strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible tells us. This honorific adjective, which in antiquity a person might use when approaching someone of a higher social class than himself, was deemed especially appropriate for. Michael obrien brings the life of the early christians vividly to our inward sight.

Friend of god, an honorable person to whom the evangelist luke addressed his gospel, and the acts of the apostles, luke 1. Luke invested all of his effort and energy in this one man to bear witness to him and to. It is uncertain what role in the early church he played but he is noteworthy in the thinking of luke for he directs both the gospel account and the acts account to theophilus. It tells of his origin, life, teachings, ministry and miracles. Euangelion kata loukan, also called the gospel of luke, or simply luke, is the third of the four canonical gospels.

Jerome mentions in addition commentaries on the proverbs, and on the gospel, but doubts their genuineness. Theophilus, who was possibly a patron or influential person. The luke series is a set of narrations based on the bibles book of luke. Luke is the story of the life of jesus of nazareth. Luke had to be very careful writing his book because he was writing it to theophilus in order to convince him of the truth of the life of jesus. Luke, being the 42 nd book of the bible, suggests a numeric connection to joshua crossing the jordan and setting up camp in the. A widely accepted theory is that theophilus was luke s patron and helped him to publish luke acts. At the time i was not aware of the religious angle of the book. The name theophilus means lover of god, an appropriate title because the book of luke is for anyone who loves god. Ambrose, the fourthcentury church father, says it this way. Luke had to take extra care to write a truthful account so as not to offend theophilus. From the fact that luke applies to him the title most excellent, the same title paul uses in addressing felix acts 23. Jan 28, 2017 22 revelations mark of the beast exposed revelations ancient discoveries duration.

Luke uses it, of what we should call the several books or portions of his histories. All that can be conjectured with any degree of safety concerning him comes to this, that he was a gentile of rank and consideration who. Who was theophilus at the beginning of luke and acts. Who are johanna and theophilus the irony of the intended. Jan 10, 2020 luke was the author of the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Since this seems to refer to nobility, most of the theories on theophilus state that he was either a government official or an influential citizen. It is the title paul used to address felix, the roman governor of judea acts 24. Luke 1 nkjv dedication to theophilus inasmuch as bible. The one to whom luke addressed his gospel and the ac of the apostles compare luke 1. Luke was the author of the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Book of luke overview insight for living ministries. Theophilus encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Luke probably meant for many others to read his letter.

Who is theophilus, the man to whom luke addressed what we call today the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn recommended for you. Sep 07, 2019 it obviously is the recipient of the gospel of luke and acts, which is also written by luke. In the introduction to the acts of the apostles, which is read for the ascension, luke writes. Luke inscribes his gospel and the acts of the apostles. Lukes second letter to theophilus is what we today call the acts of the apostles, and by the he wrote it, luke and theophilus. Theophilus, whose name is greek and means loved of philus god theo, was a gentile government official. Theophilus was very likely a patron or influential. The aim of this article is to investigate the nature of theophilus as the original reader of lukeacts. The gospel of luke is anonymous as is the book of acts.

Luke s second letter to theophilus is what we today call the acts of the apostles, and by the he wrote it, luke and theophilus. Additionally, lukes gospel addresses theophilus as most excellent. That would account for luke s wanting to provide an orderly and detailed account of what had happened. Luke does not name himself in either of his books, but paul mentions him by name in three epistles. The bible contains two letters from luke to theophilus. Theophilus ben ananus was high priest in jerusalem in a. Many scholars have disregarded the signi cance of theophilus as the intended reader of those books. This 12week study walks readers through the gospel of luke, showing how the birth, life, death, and resurrection of jesus christ are just as relevant and important today as they were two thousand years ago.

Luke gave to his friend, theophilus, an ongoing account of how the followers of christ continued the witness and work of christ under the power and guidance of the holy spirit. The gospel of luke was written to theophilus, meaning the one who loves god. Beginning in verse one and through the ending verse of the book, dr. Theophilus ben ananus was the high priest in jerusalem from about a. It is thought that both the gospel of luke and acts of the apostles were written by the same author, and often argued that the two books were originally a single unified work.

The other works of theophilus, polemical and exegetical, are lost. While both the gospel of luke and the book of acts have applications for all christians, they were probably written to a specific individual whom luke addresses as most excellent theophilus luke 1. A fluent tongue and an elegant style afford pleasure and such praise as vainglory delights in, to wretched men who have been corrupted in mind. Theophilus the addressed recipient of lukes gospel as well as his second work, acts 1. The result was the first part of a twovolume work written to theophilus. Another theory about who theophilus was is that he was the jewish high priest named theophilus ben ananus. T he identity of theophilus is a mystery to bible students.

Much of the dating of the book of luke depends on the dating of acts. Oct 11, 2011 t he identity of theophilus is a mystery to bible students. We can only say of him, in general, that most probably he was a man of some note, who lived out of palestine, and had abjured paganism in order to embrace christianity. Theophilus is a friend of luke, not a book written by him. It has been suggested that theophilus is merely a generic term for all christians, but the epithet most excellent implies it was applied by luke to a definite person, probably a roman official, whom he held in high respect. What struck me about the book was the devotion and service of the followers of the lord and their courage in persecution. He was the son of annas and the brotherinlaw of caiaphus. I have since learned that in the bible, the book of luke starts with a kind of dedication to theophilus which means friend of god or lover of god, and i. Smiths bible dictionary, harpers bible dictionary, and holman bible dictionary give the meaning as friend of god. Since it seems clear that theophilus was an actual person, we will look at what we do know about him from the bible and then discuss a few.

Theophilus of antiochs contemporaries also refer to. As a physician, luke would have been trained as a careful observer, a quality that would have been invaluable in this project. It doesnt really follow that antioch is the theophilus that luke is referring to, since antioch quotes from the gospel of luke himself. It tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of jesus christ. This book is the first comprehensive analysis of the identities of johanna and most excellent theophilus. Luke may also have been writing in general to those who loved god.

Theophilus was from a sadducee family, his father being ananus the biblical annas, who had served as high priest from 615 a. Consequently, luke may be the most informative book in the bible. It is common knowledge that the former book luke mentions is what we call the gospel of luke and uncommon knowledge exactly who theophilus was. A widely accepted theory is that theophilus was lukes patron and helped him to. May 08, 2020 in the first book, o theophilus, i have dealt with all that jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up. Historians are not sure who this theophilus mentioned in luke 1. It obviously is the recipient of the gospel of luke and acts, which is also written by luke. Jun 11, 2014 in the introduction to the acts of the apostles, which is read for the ascension, luke writes. Both luke and acts are addressed to the same person, theophilus luke 1. Luke is the longest of the four gospels and the longest book in the new testament. Jan 02, 2020 that would account for lukes wanting to provide an orderly and detailed account of what had happened. Luke, then, attempts to persuade theophilus of the christian viewpoint, telling of an angelic appearance to zecharias luke 1. Luke s second letter to theophilus is what we today call the acts of the apostles, and by the he wrote it, luke and theophilus may have become better acquainted since luke addresses him simply as o theophilus acts 1. In my former book making the connection between luke.

Introduction to the gospel of luke learn religions. Theophilus who is theophilus in the bible luke and acts. Theophilus has 17 books on goodreads with 286 ratings. He is writing to his friend called theophilus about his other book, the gospel of st. It is clear from this twofold reference to theophilus and the reference back to the first book that luke has intended to write a twovolume work for theophilus. So the gospel was written to theophilus, that is, to him whom god loves. The person to whom the books of luke and acts were written luke 1. His first is what we today call the gospel of luke. I stumbled across another passage in luke that seemingly conflicts with the assessment that the intended recepient of lukes book is the high priest, theophilus bar annas. In support of this identification of theophilus as the high priest chapter 2 and johanna as his granddaughter chapter 3, it is shown that luke the author, a priest and eyewitness chapter 14, has adopted the recurring old testament theme of unfaithful and dishonest priests chapter 12. Beyond the fact that theophilus had been taught about christ and the work of the apostles, little else is known of theophilus outside of lukes two introductions. Theophiluss most popular book is fathers of the second century. Since this book was written to the same individual as the former, it was evidently written with the same design to furnish an authentic and full narrative. The name appears only two times in scripture and both times in the writings of luke luke 1.