Shane Rosenthal - Luke's Key WItness - Theophilus - notes from Kirk and Steven

[Steven Avery]

Substack

earlier version of the book?
J. Warner Wallace on Theophilus
https://substack.com/@shanerose/note/c-58147408

Theophilus the High Priest
https://substack.com/@shanerose/note/c-58953205

Substack goes to thehumbleskeptic
Who Is Theophilus?
Episode 79 • Featuring Peter G. Bolt

Luke's Key Witness

An archaeological discovery sheds light on the identity of Joanna, a disciple of Jesus and witness to the empty tomb. Download a PDF of the book or read a free sample.

substack.com

Video

Who Is Theophilus?

Episode 79 • Featuring Peter G. Bolt

www.humbleskeptic.com

 

[Steven Avery]

 

[Steven Avery]

Does this critic make a good point?

reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicBiblical/comments/1g4l9im

 

[Steven Avery]

BCHF
Dating the Gospel of Mark - Page 4 -
https://earlywritings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=195335#p195335

Steven Avery » Sun Sep 07, 2025 9:21 pm

Mrvegas wrote: ↑Sun Aug 24, 2025 10:17 am
With regard to Luke and Theophilus, why that specific Theophilus? Although probably too late, there was also Theophilus of Antioch (mid-late 2nd century) who converted from paganism. How uncommon was the name?

There are many harmonies and connections that match with the high priest Theophilus.

e.g. here is the first paragraph from

Luke's Key Witness
Shane Rosenthal

An ossuary dating back to the first century was discovered a few decades ago near Jerusalem. This ancient burial box belonged to a woman named “Yehohanah” (Joanna) who was the granddaughter of “Theophilus the high priest.”1 The Jewish historian Josephus wrote about a high priest with that name who served in that office from 37-41 AD,2 and since Luke dedicated his Gospel to a “most excellent Theophilus” (Lk 1:3), many scholars over the past few centuries have suggested that this could be the individual he
specifically had in mind. But what’s particularly intriguing is the fact that in two places in his Gospel (Lk 8:3, 24:10), Luke also mentions a disciple of Jesus named ‘Joanna.” .....

 

[Steven Avery]

People who fit with the correct Theophilus

Theophilus
Josephus, Theophilus was no longer alive by the fall of 67 AD.113

113 Just after the fall of Gamala, which took place in 67 AD, Josephus described Theophilus' younger brother Ananus ben Ananus as "the
oldest living high priest” (War, 4:151, 238). Since Theophilus was older than Ananus, this comment is a clear implication that he was no
longer living at that time.
For a helpful timeline of the Jewish War, see:
https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/roman-jewish-wars/roman-jewish-wars-5/

Joanna

Chuza

Annas
2 Josephus (Ant. 18:123,19:297, 20:223). This Theophilus was the son of Annas, the high priest who interrogated Jesus in Jn 18:19.

Caiaphas