Theophilus

Who is Theophilus?

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. - Luke 1:1-4

The name Theophilus means "Loved By God," so Luke's letter could be addressed to anyone, since all of us are loved by God.

But it is believed that this was a real person, possibly a high-ranking Roman official because Luke uses the term "most excellent" to describe him, a term reserved for people of rank.

At the time, however, there was a man by that name who was a leader in the city of Antioch. So it could be that was who he was writing to.

A final possibility is that Theophilus could have been Paul's lawyer, and the letter is an attempt to write a justification for Christianity that Paul could use for his defense.

I happen to like the third possibility, not because I believe it to be the most likely to be true, but because it is the most intriguing.

If this letter was for Paul's defense, it had to be written quickly, identifying the key aspects of Jesus' life that would be a good defense for Paul.

It is something to keep in mind as we read Luke's Gospel, because it has an urgency about it. 

You've got to get the message quickly and understand it fully. While we won't read it all in one sitting, that is probably how it was intended. Instead, we will take it a bit at a time, and see if Luke manages to sway opinion with facts and stories.

More to come...