Theophilus of antioch trinity. Theophilus wrote a defense and explanation of Christianity in AD 168. Theophilus's apology is most notable for being the earliest extant Christian work to use the word "Trinity" (Greek: τριάς trias; English: three), although it does not use the common formula of "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit " to describe the Trinity. Trinity The Trinity, tempera and gold on parchment by Taddeo Crivelli, from a manuscript from 1460–70; in the J. "God, His Word and His Wisdom. Jun 4, 2025 · He is credited with being among the first to use the term 'Trinity' and was an early advocate for the New Testament writings, referring to them as 'the Holy Scriptures. c. Because Theophilus wrote in Greek, he did not use the Latin word trinitas, but the Greek word trias (τριάς). Eusebius mentions Theophilus’ writing against the heretic, Marcion, as being instrumental in defeating the heresy, but the only surviving work of Theophilus is his Apology to Autolycus. 180 A. Some of the The first three days before the creation of the heavenly bodies are types of the Trinity— τύποι τῆς τρίαδος —the first place in Christian writings where the word is known to occur (lib. Theophilus became the bishop of Antioch in the sixth year of the reign of Marcus Aurelius, which is the year 168. He defines the Trinity as God, his Word (Logos), and his Wisdom (Sophia) [94] in the context of a discussion of the first three days of creation, following the early Christian practice of identifying the Holy Other followers of Jesus believed and taught the doctrine of the Trinity years before the council of Nicea - Writing in the second century Theophilus of Antioch in his apology to Autolycus refers to the Father Son and Holy Spirit as " Triados " ( Trinity Greek ). Eusebius and Jerome, however, mention numerous works of Theophilus that existed in their time. ' The first of the early Church Fathers to be recorded using the word "Trinity" was Theophilus of Antioch, writing in the late 2nd century. e. He was the 7th bishop of Antioch, Paul's home church. ii. 15)— i. Jul 11, 2025 · Before creeds and councils, Theophilus and Tertullian gave us the Trinity—without Greek philosophy. Aug 28, 2012 · Theophilus became the bishop of Antioch in the sixth year of the reign of Marcus Aurelius, which is the year 168. Trinity meant: God, His Word and His Wisdom (Spirit). " The silence regarding the Apology of Theophilus in the East is remarkable. Discover the story that changes everything. T heophilus was the seventh Bishop of Antioch from 169 to 182. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Theophilus of Antioch is the earliest Church father documented to have used the word "Trinity" to refer to God. The word Trinity was first used by Theophilus of Antioch to Autolycus. He believed in a trinity of God, His Word, and His Wisdom, based on biblical and typological arguments. It did not mean the doctrine of the Trinity in the modern sense of the word. ) was the first known writer to use the word "trinity" in a theological sense. Oct 6, 2022 · Rising from the intellectual crossroads of Antioch, Theophilus stands as a liminal figure in the evolving contours of early Christian thought—a convert from paganism, a bishop of the ancient East, and the first to employ the term “triad” in reference to the Holy Trinity. Mar 1, 2018 · Theophilus of Antioch (c. [2] Eusebius and Jerome, among others, noted that Theophilus wrote a number of works against the heresies that prevailed in his day. God the Father holds the crucified Christ, with the dove—as the Holy Spirit—between the two. His sharp polemics, infused with biblical conviction and rhetorical elegance, display a man both formed by Greek Feb 14, 2017 · The Image of God For God is seen by those who are enabled to see Him when they have the eyes of their soul opened: for all have eyes; but in some they are overspread, and do not see the light of th… Oct 16, 2022 · Mar Theophilus, the Patriarch of Antioch – Oct 17 I First to use the word ‘Trinity’ in Christian Theology Published by Jacob P Varghese on October 16, 2022 Theophilos born, in a pagan family near Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in Mesopotamia, modern Antakya, modern Turkey, is a saint of the Syrian Church, sixth bishop of Antioch. Jerome also credited Theophilus with the works Commentaries on the Gospels and on the Book of Proverbs. D. Debate exists as to whether the earliest Church Fathers in Christian history believed in the doctrine of the Trinity – the Christian doctrine that God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons sharing one homoousion (essence). However, the earliest use of a term to refer to the triunity of God is actually by Theophilus of Antioch, who beat Tertullian to it by at least 20 years. . eplpq vsvgemm enhpkxr diwbqn trfe cje ywuh stfn rnejv cheq