Posted on 06/12/2014 5:09:17 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day that He was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he had presented himself alive..... Acts 1:1
(Excerpt) Read more at patheos.com ...
Lol.
Never heard that one before.
Theophilus also got all the movie rights. Which is why in Hollywood today, the folks who made the Bible and Jesus movies are scared that his descendants will show up and demand royalties, which at this point are now quite extensive.
"It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed." (Luke 1:3-4)
"The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs [tekmērion=that from which something is surely and plainly known-Thayer], being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" (Acts 1:1-3 - KJV)
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1:16)
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21)
Or was it Old Orleans?
All I can think of is that IF it was his real name, that might be because so many people at that time converted as adults, and so were baptized as adults. They could keep their names, or they could choose a new Christian name—with such precedents as Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Saul/Paul, and so forth.
So, Theophilus could be a chosen baptismal name.
That makes sense too.
Philadelphia means "city of brotherly love." Adelphos is Greek for "brother." It could also mean "sisterly love" since adelphe means "sister."
There were several ancient cities named Philadelphia, including one at the present-day site of Amman, Jordan.
Saul and Paul are the same name.
The Greek language had no means of representing his name (Shaul) so they substituted the P in their writings.
when I first became a Christian 25 years ago, I had only came to faith a few days earlier and I woke up and I heard a voice. It said Theopholis! Very firmly like someone getting my attention. . I suddenly realized I needed to get my Bible and read it. I began to read and was stunned to see in the Book of Luke that it was addressed to Theophilus. I researched the word and it means “greatly beloved” or “beloved of God”. so I personally have always thought of it as a title Luke uses for Christians like saint is used but his use of the word is emphasizing the believers state before God, beloved. there’s a radio teacher, can’t remember his name right now, but,he always calls us beloved. I thinks its the same thing but in greek.
http://usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=Acts&ch=
Introduction to Acts — no mention of Greek language
Introduction to Luke does mention Greek three times.
He was a righteous dude.
There is an ancient tradition that the Gospel of Matthew was originally written in Aramaic, but we don't have that and can't compare it to the Greek version.
I was just researching the Intros since sometimes they will give that information.
It does appear that Luke may have written in Greek, but I think he was learned enough to also know some Latin.
Civitas Dei.
Theos is Greek; Deus is Latin.
Yes, it could be Urbs Dei but if you mean St. Augustine’s work, it was De Civitate Dei.
....As is all the NT is written in Greek.
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