The key text for public apostolic tradition, anti-gnostic argument, and the chain from John to Polycarp to Irenaeus.
Theophilus of Antioch
c. 120 – c. 184 · Bishop of Antioch
BishopApologist
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 120
- Died
- c. 184, Antioch
- See
- Antioch
- Region
- syria
- Era
- apologist
- Significance
- Notable(2/4)
- Also known as
- Theophilus
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Sixth bishop of Antioch; author of the three books Ad Autolycum, the earliest Christian work to use the term 'Trinity' (trias).
- Primary source
- Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 4.20, 4.24
Sixth bishop of Antioch; author of the three books Ad Autolycum, the earliest Christian work to use the term 'Trinity' (trias).
Recommended reading near Theophilus
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was Theophilus of Antioch?
- Theophilus of Antioch (120–184) — Sixth bishop of Antioch; author of the three books Ad Autolycum, the earliest Christian work to use the term 'Trinity' (trias).
- Who succeeded Theophilus of Antioch as bishop of Antioch?
- Serapion of Antioch.
Sources for biography
- Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 4.20, 4.24 primary
- Theophilus, Ad Autolycum 2.15 primary
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 25 primary
tradition connections(1)
- succeeded in see (incoming) Serapion of AntiochAntiochene episcopal succession; Maximinus and Serapion followed Theophilus as bishops of Antioch. Late-2nd-c succession preserved only by Eusebius writing c. 320.Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 4.24, 5.19, 6.12
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for Theophilus of Antioch).