Theophilus of Antioch (Full Script)

Too lazy to read?  Watch the video!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=irkjWpgEauI

Theophilus of Anitoch

Post-Apostolic Church

Theophilus lived in Syrian Antioch around AD 175.

Theophilus was raised as a pagan.  When he wrote to non-Christians, he had a quality of writing that was both gentle yet stern, for he had little patience towards the pagan religions around him.

He was the first Christian to write a commentary on the Gospels, but the only works from him that have survived are his letters to his friend, Autolycus.  One of his greatest contributions to Christianity was his chronology of the world’s history.  He had much to say about this; here is an excerpt.

From the creation of the world to the deluge [the Flood] were 2242 years*.  And from the deluge to the time when our forefather Abraham begat a son [were] 1036 years.  And from Abraham's son Isaac to the time when the people dwelt with Moses in the desert [were] 660 years.  And from the death of Moses and the rule of Joshua son of Nun to the death of the patriarch David [were] 498 years.  And from the death of David and the reign of Solomon to the sojourning of the people in the land of Babylon [were] 518 years 6 months 10 days.  And from the government of Cyrus to the death of the Emperor Aurelius Verus** [were] 744 years.  All the years of creation of the world amount to a total of 5698 years.  (Theophilus.  AD 175.  ANF, vol 2, page 120.)

* This span of time follows the Septuagint.

** Emperor Lucius Verus, died 169 AD.

In short, Theophilus places the creation of the world in 5529 BC.