Two books of the New Testament open with the same dedication. Luke begins his Gospel by writing to “most excellent Theophilus”, and the book of Acts picks up where it left off: “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus…”
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Luke 1:3 (KJV)
We don’t know much about Theophilus. What we do know is the meaning of the name: from the Greek theos (God) and philos (loving, beloved, friend). A lover of God, a friend of God, or one loved by God.
A name that is also an invitation
Those meanings are the heart of TPC. Every reader of Luke’s Gospel is, in a sense, being handed a letter addressed to a lover and friend of God. The account was written “that thou mightest know the certainty of those things”, so that the friendship could rest on something sure.
What it means for us
- We gather as friends, not as an audience. Everyone brings something.
- We start with Jesus. Friendship with God is not an idea we invented; it is an offer he made.
- We keep the door open. The point of being friends of God is to make more of them.
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