Theophilus' Reflection on His Conversion
Theophilus’[1] reflection on his conversion:
Do not disbelieve, then, but believe. I see too did not believe that the resurrection would take place, but now that I have considered these matters I believe. At that time I encountered the sacred writings of the holy prophets, who through the Spirit of God foretold past events in the way that they happened, present events and the way they are happening and future events and the order in which they will be accomplished. Because I obtain proof from the events, which took place after being predicted, I do not disbelieve but believe, in obedience to God. If you will, you too must obey him and believe him, so that after disbelieving now you will not be persuaded later, punished with eternal tortures.[2]
He was a second-century bishop from Syrian Antioch, who was an apologist, a biblical exegete, a historian, an evangelist, a heresiologist, a theologian, and a teacher. ↩︎
Quoted in Foster, Paul. 2010. Early Christian Thinkers: The Lives and Legacies of Twelve Key Figures. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 57 ↩︎