Folia Theologica 18. (2007)

László Perendy: The Outlines of Systematic Theology in the Ad Autolycum of Theophilus of Antioch

FOLIA THEOLOGICA 18 (2007)

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L szí PERENDY

THE OUTLINES OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY IN THE AD AUTOLYCUM OF THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH

In the first letter to Timothy the addressee is given the following advice: Set ... tov èmcrKOTrov ... elven ... SiScuctucov.1 In the second letter this thought is explained in more detail: SoùXov 8e Kupiou où Sel gaxeo ai àXXa fimov eivai ttpoç TTàvTaç, 8i8aKTiicôv, àveÇiKaKov, èv ttpctuTT)TL TTai8eùovTa touç àvTiSicm ep.evous’, prÍTTOTe ôcôri aÙTOÎç 6 eoç geTavotav ei? èmyvtüCTLV dXr| eiaç...1 2

Theophilus is the first member of the Christian hierarchy who has left a lengthy work on theology for us. The aim of my communication is to examine if he fulfilled his duty: was he SiSaKTucôç or not?

His three books written to a certain Autolycus contain a substantial amount of apologetic material. Unlike previous works of similar character, it is addressed to a private person. The first book includes the usual arguments, which arm Christians to defend themselves from the attacks incited by members of the political establishment. To refute the particularly dangerous charge of atheism, Theophilus presents the biblical doctrine of God. His starting point is remarkably similar to that of St. Paul3, supported by a quotation from 2 Macc.: "God made everything out of ívhat did not exist [2 Macc. 7: 28], bringing it into existence so that his greatness might be known and apprehended through his works."4

1 i Tim. 3: 2. Already Luke says (Luke 1: 4) that his aim is to strengthen in the faith his Theophilus, who has already been given instruction: ïva èmyvtôç népi cSv KaTTixtí^tl? Xóywv tt)v dot^aXetav. This also indicates that some kind of catechesis was obviously given from the very beginning of Christianity.

2 2 Tim. 2: 24-25.

3 Rom. 1: 20.

4 1.4. Ad Autolycum is uoted and referred to using the method applied in Rick Rogers, The Life and Thought of a Second-Century Bishop, Lanham/Mary- land, 2000. The first number refers to the book, the second to the chapter. The

uotations in English are taken from R. M. GRANT, Theophilus of Antioch Ad Autolycum, Oxford, 1970. Grant uotes Ad Autolycum in a different way.