Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria Theophilus (9), bp. of Alexandria, succeeding Timotheus in the last week of July 385. He had probably been a leading member of the Alexandrian clergy. Socrates states that Theophilus (probably two years later, Clinton, Fast. Rom. i. 522) obtained from Theodosius a commission to demolish the pagan temples of Alexandria (Socr. … Continue reading “Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria”

THEOPHILUS Friend of God, an honorable person to whom the evangelist Luke addressed his gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles, Luk 1:3 ; Mal 1:1 . We can only say of him, in general, that most probably he was a man of some note, who lived out of Palestine, and had abjured paganism in … Continue reading “Theophilus”

Theophilestati (, most dear to God), a title of respect given to bishops in the early Church. This title frequently occurs in the emperor’s rescript in the civil law, and was of such common use in those times that Socrates (Proem. ad lib. vi) thinks himself obliged to make some apology for not giving it … Continue reading “Theophilestati”

THEOPHILANTHROPISTS A sect of deists, who, in September 1796, published at Paris a sort of catechism or directory for social worship, under the title of Manuel des Theanthrophiles. This religious breviary found favour; the congregation became numerous; and in the second edition of their Manual they assumed the less harsh denomination of Theophilanthropists, 1: e. … Continue reading “Theophilanthropists”

Theophany The ancient Greeks were accustomed, during a certain festival named , to display at Delphos before the public gaze the images of all their gods. denoted the apparition of one or more gods. The term thus understood was applied by ancient Christian writers to the manifestations of God under the Old Covenant and to … Continue reading “Theophany”

Theophanes, Saint Chronicler, born at Constantinople, about 758; died in Samothracia, probably 12 March, 817, on which day he is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology. He was the son of Isaac, imperial governor of the islands of the White Sea, and of Theodora, of whose family nothing is known. After the early death of his … Continue reading “Theophanes, Saint”

Theophanes of Byzantium the designation of two early ecclesiastical characters. 1. A historian who is supposed to have lived at Constantinople at the close of the 6th century. He wrote a history of the war waged with Persia from 567 to 573, and also, it is said, a history of the reign of Justinian. Photius … Continue reading “Theophanes of Byzantium”

Theophanes Kerameus (Kerameus, potter). Archbishop of Rossano in Calabria (1129-52), a celebrated homiletic writer. His sermons, ninety-one of which are known in manuscript, are mostly exegetical, and written in Greek, which was then still extensively spoken in Sicily and Southern Italy. They are remarkable for their simplicity and naturalness, and are masterpieces of oratorical skill … Continue reading “Theophanes Kerameus”

Theophanes styled CERAMIEUS, archbishop of Tauromemium, between Syracuse and Messina, in the firmer half of the 11th century (? see his own Homily 26, and Leo Allatius; but comp. Scorsus, ut infra). He also bore, it would seem, the name of Gregory, which occurs in several MSS. He wrote Homilies, sixty-two of which were publisher … Continue reading “Theophanes”

Theopathy (, God, and , feeling), a word used by Dr. Hartley as synonymous with piety or a sense of Deity. Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature