Where does the name Theophilus come from?
Mia Phillips
Updated on April 24, 2026
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Simply so, what is the meaning of the name Theophilus?
Theophilus (biblical) Both Luke and Acts were written in a refined Koine Greek, and the name "θεόφιλος" ("Theophilos"), as it appears therein, means friend of God or (be)loved by God or loving God in the Greek language.
Likewise, who was Theophilos? Theophilos (Greek: Θεόφιλος; sometimes Latinized or Anglicized as Theophilus or Theophilo; 800-805 – 20 January 842 AD) was the Byzantine Emperor from 829 until his death in 842. He was the second emperor of the Amorian dynasty and the last emperor to support iconoclasm.
Thereof, why did Luke write Theophilus?
As Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and 'explained the Way of God to him more accurately' (Ac 18:26, NRSV), so Luke writes his first book for Theophilus so that he might know the certain truth regarding Jesus and his teachings.
Who did Luke write his Gospel for?
In contrast to either Mark or Matthew, Luke's gospel is clearly written more for a gentile audience. Luke is traditionally thought of as one of Paul's traveling companions and it's certainly the case that the author of Luke was from those Greek cities in which Paul had worked.
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