Das Christentum in der Weltgeschichte des Theophilos von Antiochia

This study explores the protreptic work Ad Autolycum by Theophilus of Antioch as a representative example of early Christian engagement with Greco-Roman intellectual culture. Addressed to a pagan interlocutor, the trilogy functions as an »introduction to Christianity for elites,« aiming to respond to educated criticisms of Christian doctrine and worldview. Theophilus structures his defense around fundamental theological questions posed by Autolycus - regarding the nature of God and the hope of salvation - framing them within the broader discursive context of Roman-era truth-seeking (τὰ πρὸς τοὺς θεούς) and the core themes of the imperial-era discourse on religion. Theophilus argues that Christian revelation and knowledge of God surpass Greek philosophical traditions, emphasizing the historical veracity and soteriological uniqueness of the Christian message. He finds all Christian principles and the Christian way of life firmly grounded in biblical primeval history. Christianity is thus the »original norm« both in terms of accurate discourse about God and faith in Him as well as in the practice of faith in everyday life, making it unrivaled. Through this framework, Theophilus not only asserts the intellectual credibility of Christianity but also embeds Christian truth into a universal history centered on divine revelation.