Born near the beginning of the second century in what is now Iraq he converted to Christianity as an adult and ultimately became the 6th Bishop of Antioch. 

Some of his writings have survived, including three letters to a pagan friend defending Jesus and Christianity. 

But he also had numerous occasions to defend the faith from attacks that came from within. 

One of the reasons we have the letters from Paul is because of the efforts of Marcion of Sinope. His efforts helped shape the New Testament. 

However, he was convinced that Paul was the only true Apostle of Jesus and that The God who sent Jesus was another, more powerful God than the God of the Jews. 

Theophilus was charged with excommunicating this gifted soul as a heretic. 

Though so much of them have been lost, his writings were important to early Christian historians like Iraneus and Cyprian. 

Theophilus of Antioch, please pray for us.