The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Theophilus of Caesarea
fl. c. AD 195 (death unrecorded) · Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine · Paschal synod president · Caesarea Maritima
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Theophilus of Caesarea was
Bishop of Caesarea in the reign of Severus who, with Narcissus of Jerusalem, presided over the Palestinian synod in the great Paschal controversy — the assembly whose letter argued that Easter must fall on the Lord's day, not the fourteenth of the moon. Distinct from his contemporary Theophilus of Antioch, the apologist.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and roman emperors.
Common questions
When was Theophilus active?
Theophilus of Caesarea is dated fl. c. AD 195 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Theophilus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Theophilus write?
Theophilus of Caesarea has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Synodal letter of the Palestinian bishops on the Pascha. All are lost, known only from later citation.
Which early sources mention Theophilus?
Theophilus of Caesarea is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Theophilus from?
The archive associates Theophilus of Caesarea with Caesarea Maritima.
Writings (1)
Synodal letter of the Palestinian bishops on the Pascha
From the Caesarea synod of the paschal controversyA synodal letter of great usefulness, composed with the other bishops who were present. (after Jerome, On Illustrious Men 43)Lost — known only from later citation.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History V.22–25
c. AD 325The parishes in Palestine were presided over at that time by Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea, and Narcissus, bishop of Jerusalem — who drew up a lengthy discussion of the tradition concerning the passover.Eusebius of Caesarea · V.22 · source text
On Illustrious Men 43
c. AD 393Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine… composed, in union with the other bishops, a synodical letter of great utility against those who celebrated the passover with the Jews on the fourteenth day.Jerome · 43 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Theophilus.