Folia Theologica 18. (2007)
László Perendy: The Outlines of Systematic Theology in the Ad Autolycum of Theophilus of Antioch
176 L. PERENDY the Christological aspects of Theophilus' thought. Some scholars even talk about a sort of Christology without Christ.26 Nevertheless, 1 think that the observation made by R. M. Grant that Theophilus identifies both the Logos and the Power of the Most High with Jesus is significant. 27 The aim of the bishop here is obviously antignostic, but this kind of identification of the divine and human elements in Jesus of Nazareth is undeniably essential for the later development of Christology. The statement that Christ is the •npcüTÓTOKOS of all creation is also remarkable as to the further evolution of Christology. Theophilus is preoccupied not only with the beginning, but also with the end of the world. As to the questions of eschatology, Theophilus follows the argument of Athenagoras: God, who was able to create ex nihilo, will also be able to resurrect the dead. God will re-create man in resurrection, which is a sort of second creation.28 In my mind we have been able to observe a process, how - by defending Christians against the charge of atheism, and presenting monotheism - Theophilus' apology turns into catechesis: not only the Christian doctrine of God, but also the basic ideas of trinitology, Christology, soteriology, anthropology, ecclesiology, and eschatology are touched upon. We can add that some fundamental questions of Christian exegesis and morality are also treated by the author. And now we have arrived at the disputed question of the literary genre of the Ad Autolycum. R. M. Grant observes the following: "The arrangement of the first book is rather remarkable and suggests that catechetical materials on various subjects have been rearranged in order to provide an apologetic discussion."29 Rick Rogers reminds us that "... Theophilus' vocation is that of a professional church leader, a bishop, whose duties probably included some 26 J. BENTIVEGNA, A Christianity without Christ by Theophilus of Antioch, in Studia Patristica 13 (= TU 116) (1975) 107-130. 27 R. M. GRANT, Scripture, Rhetoric and Theology in Theophilus, in Vigiliae Christianae 13 (1959) 33-45, 39. 28 ATHENAGORAS, De Resurrectione, passim. 29 R. M. GRANT, Theophilus of Antioch Ad Autolycum, Oxford, 1970, x.
