History, Archaeology & Luke's Most Excellent Theophilus
In this new video, I provide additional evidence in favor of linking Luke's Theophilus with the Jerusalem high priest, and discuss the implications for our understanding of both Luke & Acts.
If you’re a fan of the podcast, you may have noticed that it’s been a while since I’ve released a new episode. In light of the new exposure I received from my last video on the Joanna ossuary (close to 200K views), I decided to create a follow-up video that presents additional evidence in favor of linking Luke’s Theophilus to Theophilus the high priest. In this video, I walk through Tal Ilan’s criteria for identifying the same individual from a variety of ancient sources and conclude that there is an “excellent” case to be made for linking Luke’s Theophilus with Theophilus the high priest. So, how does this view impact our understanding of Luke’s two volumes? Watch this video to find out!
Here are some of the comments I received for my last video—and which encouraged me to create additional content in this format:
Most Excellent Humble Skeptic, I will never read Luke and Acts the same way again. Thank you! — Teacher Deb
I had never heard this before, and I am a Bible archaeology nerd. Wow! — Mark
Great channel—please make more archaeology content! — Jordan
This infers that Luke wrote his Gospel and Acts to Theophilus as an explanation for, and a defense of, Joanna’s faith. Remarkable! I admit to being dumbfounded by this. — Tim
It’s fascinating to think that Luke and other apostles…were just documenting what they knew. Not composing a fiction, not inventing a doctrine. Just describing the events that actually took place. Fascinating! — Delicious Crepes
This evidence of Joana, granddaughter of Theophilus, definitely strengthens my faith in the Gospel of Luke. Glory to God & His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ —DA 1898
This is so well done. I'd say: It is the most relevant archeological/text-critical discovery of the past two millennia. — Hans
WOW, mind officially blown...Thanks for bringing this to our attention! — NSnowman
This is my first hearing of any of this. I didn’t even know there was a Joanna ossuary! Thank you so much for digging this all out so thoroughly. Great work! — RockofAlethia
The implications of this are enormous. The dating of Luke's writings according to this ossuary discovery places it between AD 37 and AD 67. I mean, wow! Not far removed from the events of Jesus' life. Within the lifetime of both Theophilus and Joanna! — Echo-yr1cr
POW—mind blown! I love the Gospel of Luke [and] never considered Theophilus to be a real name but merely a title. Being the high priest of Judea fits perfectly. Thank you! — Gordon
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RELATED RESOURCES
Videos
History, Archaeology & Luke’s Most Excellent Theophilus
An Archaeological Discovery Sheds Light on Luke
Have Archaeologists Discovered Biblical Bethsaida?
Articles
Simon of Cyrene: An Intriguing Archaeological Discovery, Shane Rosenthal
Julia Crispina…A Case Study in Historical Identification, Tal Ilan
Who is Theophilus? Notes to Ep. #79, Peter Bolt and others
The Implications of 70 AD, Shane Rosenthal
A Pre-70 Date for the Gospels & Acts, Shane Rosenthal
The Date of John’s Gospel, Revisited, Shane Rosenthal
Bart Ehrman on Jesus & The Claim of Resurrection, Shane Rosenthal
Who is Sergius Paulus? Shane Rosenthal
Is Luke a Trustworthy Historian?, Sir William Ramsay
Can We Trust Luke’s History of the Early Jesus Movement? Shane Rosenthal
On Faith & History, Shane Rosenthal
Episodes
Who is Theophilus? #79 with Peter Bolt
Luke, Theophilus & Joanna, #80 with Jim Sibley
A Forensic Approach to the Gospels, #81 with J. Warner Wallace
Did Josephus Ever Mention Jesus? Episode #77 with T.C. Schmidt
Jesus in Josephus & Other Ancient Texts, Episode #78 with T.C. Schmidt
Faith Founded on Facts, Episode #15 with Lennox, Bauckham, and others
Stories of Jesus: Can They Be Trusted? Episode. #61 with Peter J. Williams
Are the Gospels History or Fiction? Episode #52 with John Dickson
The Messiah’s Redemptive Mission, Episode #72
Jacob’s Ladder, Episode # 63 with Richard Bauckham and Michael Horton
Did The Exodus Ever Happen? Episode #69 with David Rohl
Locating Golgotha, Episode #17 with David Rohl
The Jesus of History, Episode # 12
The Gospel Creed, Episode #9
Books
Luke’s Key Witness, Shane Rosenthal
Who Are Joanna & Theophilus? (e-book) Richard Anderson
The Historicity of Saint Luke, Wesley W.S. Lukas
Jesus & The Eyewitnesses, Richard Bauckham
Testimonies to the Truth, Lydia McGrew
Can We Trust The Gospels? Peter J. Williams