Peter dehaan, phd, often makes religious people squirm. The bible contains two letters from luke to theophilus. So it stands to reason that when we count words, luke would come out on top. Beginning in verse one and through the ending verse of the book, dr. He is writing to his friend called theophilus about his other book, the gospel of st. It doesnt really follow that antioch is the theophilus that luke is referring to, since antioch quotes from the gospel of luke himself. The sabbath i will email you a personalized copy once you send me. The 1 former treatise have i made, o theophilus, of all that jesus began both to a do and teach, 1 luke switches over from the history of the gospel, that is from the history of the sayings and doings of christ, unto the acts of the apostles. As a physician, luke would have been trained as a careful observer, a quality that would have been invaluable in this project. Theophilus is the person to whom luke addresses the book of luke and the acts of the apostles. Theophilus encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
Who is theophilus, the man to whom luke addressed what we call today the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles. Consequently, luke may be the most informative book in the bible. First, this is what the strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible tells us. Theophilus theophilus literally, the name means lover of god. Theophilus was very likely a patron or influential. Because of this i was excited to read peter dehahns book on luke, but was also concerned. Theophilus definition and meaning bible dictionary. However, there are many questions regarding the identity of this individual. The gospel of luke is anonymous as is the book of acts. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn recommended for you.
Smiths bible dictionary, harpers bible dictionary, and holman bible dictionary give the meaning as friend of god. Luke 1 esv dedication to theophilus inasmuch as bible. Friend of god, an honorable person to whom the evangelist luke addressed his gospel, and the acts of the apostles, luke 1. Jan 10, 2020 luke was the author of the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Theophilus books christinspired books and publishing services. The name appears only two times in scripture and both times in the writings of luke luke 1. The first reading is from the beginning of the acts of the apostles and starts, in the first book, theophilus, i dealt with all that jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up acts 1. Theophilus has 17 books on goodreads with 282 ratings. 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 the addressed recipient of lukes gospel as well as his second work, acts 1. In the gospel of luke, luke said he made a careful investigation of everything before writing. 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. 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.
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. All that can be conjectured with any degree of safety concerning him comes to this, that he was a gentile of rank and. The section on theophilus of antioch needs citation or deletion. 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. Later, in the book of acts, luke gives a complete history of the beginning of the church of christ, its purpose, and the believers role in it. Theophilus, whose name is greek and means loved of philus god theo, was a gentile government official. Lukes second letter to theophilus is what we today call the acts of the apostles, and by the he wrote it, luke and theophilus. 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. But in luke, salvation is more than a matter of statistics.
Theophilus who is theophilus in the bible luke and acts. Bju is a christian liberal arts university in greenville. May 28, 2019 on the one hand, this is not surprising. 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. The gospel of luke was written to theophilus, meaning the one who loves god. In acts it tells what the book spoke of, but i would like to read the actual book itself. 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.
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. Ive been studying the bible all of my adult life and. Theophilus ben ananus was the high priest in jerusalem from about a. 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. Who are johanna and theophilus the irony of the intended. Songs from the book of luke by pillar church, released 01 september 2016 1. Luke wrote this book to theophilus, and its a sequel. 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. They are addressed to the same individual, theophilus, and the second volume refers to the first. Luke was the author of the gospel of luke and the book of acts.
Luke addresses his twopart history of the early christian movement to a man named theophilus. The authors name does not appear in the book, but much unmistakable evidence points to luke. Jan 28, 2017 22 revelations mark of the beast exposed revelations ancient discoveries duration. 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. The physician was perhaps a gentile, but at least a hellenistic jew. He is referred to as the most excellent theophilus, thereby implying a person of importance, but this may have been to make the history seem pa.
Youve never seen the gospel of luke quite like this you may have read the. The bible luke, addressed to a man called theophilus. His stated reason for writing to theophilus was that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught luke 1. Luke may also have been writing in general to those who loved god. Theophiluss most popular book is fathers of the second century. The name theophilus means lover of god, an appropriate title because the book of luke is for anyone who loves god. Be strengthened sermon by christian cheong, acts 1.
Luke wrote an historical account of the life, death, and resurrection of jesus christ and detailed the spread of christianity throughout the roman empire. In dear theophilus, peter dehaan once again whacks a spiritual hornets nest, in order to bring us into closer alignment with jesus. Sunday, march 8, at 5 pm, immanuel will host a touring drama team from bob jones university. 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. A widely accepted theory is that theophilus was lukes patron and helped him to. What struck me about the book was the devotion and service of the followers of the lord and their courage in persecution. 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.
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. Luke wrote the acts and in the book theophilos becomes the adoptive father of loukas. Sep 07, 2019 it obviously is the recipient of the gospel of luke and acts, which is also written by luke. T he identity of theophilus is a mystery to bible students. The conclusion of the book of acts ends with paul still alive and under arrest awaiting trial, suggesting it was the intention of the author to update. This honorific adjective, which in antiquity a person might use when approaching someone of a higher social class than himself, was deemed. The person to whom the books of luke and acts were written luke 1.
The book is easy to understand for even a novice reader and the ideas outlined are backed with real world evidence. So the gospel was written to theophilus, that is, to him whom god loves. The irony of the intended audience of the gospel of luke, by richard anderson is a fascinating,well laid out, and very thoroughly researched effort. Jan 02, 2020 another possibility is that theophilus was a wealthy and influential man in the city of antioch. Luke was a companion of saint paul and he also wrote the book of acts. Luke inscribes his gospel and the acts of the apostles. Information and translations of theophilus in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. 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. Luke refers to theophilus using the words most excellent kratistov. 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 is a friend of luke, not a book written by him. Many scholars have disregarded the signi cance of theophilus as the intended reader of those books. Both books are addressed to theophilus, the authors patronand perhaps a label for a christian community as a whole as the name means beloved of god, and the preface of acts explicitly references my former book about the life of jesusalmost certainly the work we know as the gospel of luke. Luke invested all of his effort and energy in this one man to bear witness to him and to. 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. Theophilus books christinspired books and publishing. Who was theophilus at the beginning of luke and acts.
Such a man would fit the description, as many scholars believe that theophilus could have been a. 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 was a traveling companion of the apostle paul in rome for two years. 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. Oct 11, 2011 t he identity of theophilus is a mystery to bible students. How the holy spirit is a recurring character within lukes gospel. Join facebook to connect with luke theophilus and others you may know. The result was the first part of a twovolume work written to theophilus. 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. Both luke and acts were written in a refined koine greek, and the name, as it appears therein, means friend of god or loved by god or loving god in the greek. Historians are not sure who this theophilus mentioned in luke 1. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach.
Luke had to be very careful writing his book because he was writing it to theophilus in. Luke uses this strategy as he addresses the book of acts and previously the gospel of luke to one individual named theophilus. In my former book making the connection between luke. All that can be conjectured with any degree of safety concerning him. 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. The luke series is a set of narrations based on the bibles book of luke.
Introduction to the gospel of luke study resources. Lukes purpose for writing his gospel account luke 1. Book of luke overview insight for living ministries. The book of acts was originally a sequel to luke and the book was called lukeacts. A widely accepted theory is that theophilus was luke s patron and helped him to publish luke acts. It tells of his origin, life, teachings, ministry and miracles. Both luke and acts are addressed to the same person, theophilus luke 1. Theophilus appears to have been the patron to whom the author of lukeacts dedicated his two volumes.
His first is what we today call the gospel of luke. There are secondcentury references to a man named theophilus who was a great lord and a leader in the city of antioch during the time of luke. In fact, he is the only person mentioned in the scriptures to whom writings were specifically dedicated tootoole, 1992. Dedication to theophilus 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write. Luke does not name himself in either of his books, but paul mentions him by name in three epistles. Both books are addressed to a man named theophilus. A 40 day devotional exploring the life of jesus through the gospel of luke dear theophilus, acts. It obviously is the recipient of the gospel of luke and acts, which is also written by luke.
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