Θεόφιλος
Theóphilos
G2321 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name: Theophilus, meaning 'one who is beloved by God' or 'friendly toward God.' Used as a personal name, conveying the sense of having a positive, favored relationship with a deity, particularly in Greco-Roman naming conventions. The lexical sense is rooted in expressions of friendship, affection, or devotion directed toward a god.
Semantic Range
proper name meaning 'friend of God,' 'dear to God,' 'God-beloved'; used as a personal name; sometimes interpreted honorifically as one loving or loved by a deity
Root / Etymology
Compound of θεός ('god, deity') and φίλος ('beloved, dear, friend'). The name follows a common Greek pattern of theophoric personal names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name Θεόφιλος appears in the New Testament as the dedicatee of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:3) and the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:1), likely referring to a specific individual of social standing, possibly a patron or official; it cannot be determined from context whether this refers to an actual individual or is an honorific title to a benefactor or exemplary devotee. Theophoric names (those incorporating the word for 'god' or the name of a deity) were widespread in the Hellenistic and Roman world, often expressing personal piety, divine protection, or aspiration for favor. In secular Greek literature and inscriptions, Θεόφιλος is attested as an ordinary personal name from as early as the classical period, borne by both Greeks and Hellenized non-Greeks. English Bible translations often render the name directly as 'Theophilus,' sometimes supplementing with interpretative glosses (e.g., 'friend of God'), but the phrase 'a Christian' in older lexica is interpretive and not part of the word's semantic content. The sense is comparable to other Greek names such as Ἀπολλόφιλος ('beloved of Apollo'). In the New Testament context, no evidence links the recipient Theophilus to Judean or Israelite identity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from θεός and φίλος; friend of God; Theophilus, a Christian:--Theophilus.
Root Family
θεός, φίλος (Theóphilos) — god, deity, friend, beloved, dear
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2321-01 |
Θεόφιλε | theophile | N VOC M SG |
Theophilus | O God-beloved one | Theophilos | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences