According to Greek scholar Richard Lenski, it is unlikely that Theophilus was a believer when Luke called him “most excellent, ” for“ in all Christian literature,... no brother Christian is ever addressed by such a title of earthly distinction. ”
Kā raksta Bībeles pētnieks Ričards Lenskis, tajā laikā, kad Lūka vērsās pie Teofila ar godbijīgo uzrunu, Teofils, visticamāk, nebija kristietis, jo ” visā kristīgajā literatūrā neviens kristietis nav uzrunāts ar šādu pagodinošu titulu ”.