CHAPTER XXIV

OF THEOPHILUS, BISHOP OF ANTIOCH

THERE are three books containing the elements of the faith, addressed to Autolycus, which are ascribed to Theophilus, whom we have mentioned as bishop of Antioch; another, also, which has the title, “Against the heresy of Hermogenis;” in which he makes use of testimony from the Revelation of John, besides certain other catechetical works. And as the heretics, then, no less than at other times, were like tares destroying the pure seed of the apostolical doctrines, the pastors of the churches every where hastened to restrain them, as wild beasts, from the fold of Christ. Sometimes they did it by their exhortations and admonitions to the brethren, sometimes more openly contending with the heretics themselves, by oral discussions and refutations; and then again confuting their opinions, by the most rigid proofs in their written works.

Theophilus, therefore, with others, also contended against these, as is manifest from a work of no mean character, written by him against Marcion, which, together with others that we have mentioned, is still preserved. He was succeeded by Maximinus, the seventh from the apostles in the church of Antioch.