[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":348},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content-/terms/christian":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":339,"extension":340,"meta":341,"navigation":343,"path":344,"seo":345,"stem":346,"__hash__":347},"content/terms/christian.md","Christian",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":330},"minimark",[9,13,17,22,33,39,48,53,67,71,79,98,105,113,122,155,158,170,174,177,187,190,194,197,219,231,234,246,249,261,277,285,288,300,304,317],[10,11,5],"h1",{"id":12},"christian",[14,15,16],"p",{},"Have you ever wondered where the name \"Christian\" actually comes from? While it is now a globally recognized identity, its origins in the first century might be more controversial than you think. This article explores whether the term was initially a badge of honor or a derogatory label meant to mock the early followers of Jesus.",[18,19,21],"h2",{"id":20},"origin-in-antioch","Origin in Antioch",[14,23,24,25,32],{},"According to ",[26,27,31],"a",{"href":28,"rel":29},"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christians",[30],"nofollow","Wikipedia",":",[34,35,36],"blockquote",{},[14,37,38],{},"Christians are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words Christ and Christian derive from the Koine Greek title Christós (Χριστός), a translation of the Biblical Hebrew term mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) (usually rendered as messiah in English). While there are diverse interpretations of Christianity which sometimes conflict, they are united in believing that Jesus has a unique significance.",[14,40,41,42,47],{},"Likewise, ",[26,43,46],{"href":44,"rel":45},"https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/christian",[30],"the Cambridge Dictionary"," defines a \"Christian\" as:",[34,49,50],{},[14,51,52],{},"someone who believes in and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ",[14,54,55,56,59,60,66],{},"The Apostle Paul does not refer to his followers as \"Christian\". Instead, he calls them \"",[26,57,58],{"href":58},"saints","\" (",[61,62,65],"span",{"className":63,"dataReference":65},[64],"bible-ref","Romans 1:7"," (ESV)). This term refers to people who are set apart for God.",[18,68,70],{"id":69},"biblical-context","Biblical Context",[14,72,73,74,78],{},"Some interpretations of ",[61,75,77],{"className":76,"dataReference":77},[64],"1 Peter 4:16"," suggest that it is a privilege to be called a \"Christian\" because it \"glorifies\" God. However, if one reads the prior verses, it appears that the name may have been an insult in the first century. Peter encourages his followers not to be ashamed of the name. Instead, they should use the opportunity to \"glorify God in that name.\"",[34,80,81],{},[14,82,83,84,88,89,92,93,97],{},"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If ",[85,86,87],"strong",{},"you are insulted for the name of Christ",", you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or fas a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers ",[85,90,91],{},"as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name",". — ",[61,94,96],{"className":95,"dataReference":96},[64],"1 Peter 4:12-16"," (ESV)",[14,99,24,100,104],{},[61,101,103],{"className":102,"dataReference":103},[64],"Acts 11:26",", the term \"Christian\" originated from Antioch:",[34,106,107],{},[14,108,109,110,97],{},"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. — ",[61,111,103],{"className":112,"dataReference":103},[64],[14,114,115,116,121],{},"The text does not explicitly state that the disciples chose this name for themselves. The citizens of Antioch were ",[26,117,120],{"href":118,"rel":119},"https://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/11-26.htm",[30],"historically known for coining mocking nicknames",". Another recording of the term in the Bible occurs during Paul's defense before King Agrippa:",[34,123,124,131,134,141,148],{},[14,125,126,127,130],{},"And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ",[85,128,129],{},"you are out of your mind","; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”",[14,132,133],{},"But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.”",[14,135,136,137,140],{},"“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? ",[85,138,139],{},"I know that you believe",".”",[14,142,143,144,147],{},"And Agrippa said to Paul, “",[85,145,146],{},"In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?","”",[14,149,150,151,97],{},"— ",[61,152,154],{"className":153,"dataReference":154},[64],"Acts 26:24-28",[14,156,157],{},"In this context, King Agrippa may have been mocking Paul publicly to defend his own reputation. If the name was an established identity or an honor for Paul, he likely would have used it to address his followers. However, he does not use the word \"Christian\" in any of his letters.",[14,159,160,161,165,166,169],{},"Critiques of the \"insult\" theory point to the Greek word ",[162,163,164],"em",{},"chrematisai"," in ",[61,167,103],{"className":168,"dataReference":103},[64],", which can sometimes imply a divine appointment or revelation. This suggests the name might have been divinely given rather than coined by mockers. Additionally, the \"-ian\" suffix was a common Latin form to denote allegiance, which could imply a straightforward descriptor of being \"of Christ\" without necessarily being derogatory.",[18,171,173],{"id":172},"modern-global-identity","Modern Global Identity",[14,175,176],{},"Today, billions of people identify as \"Christian.\"",[34,178,179,182],{},[14,180,181],{},"According to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, there were 2.2 billion Christians around the world in 2010. ... Christians make up the majority of the population in 158 countries and territories. 280 million Christians live as a minority. About half of all Christians worldwide are Catholic, while more than a third are Protestant (37%). Orthodox communions comprise 12% of the world's Christians. Other Christian groups make up the remainder.",[14,183,150,184],{},[26,185,31],{"href":28,"rel":186},[30],[14,188,189],{},"This global identity includes various religions, church denominations, and sects. Depending on the audience, the \"Christian\" label can be a benefit or a hindrance due to different historical and cultural misunderstandings.",[18,191,193],{"id":192},"alternative-designations","Alternative Designations",[14,195,196],{},"The original disciples often identified themselves as \"the Way.\" For example:",[34,198,199],{},[14,200,201,202,205,206,214,215,97],{},"But Saul, still breathing threats and murder ",[85,203,204],{},"against the disciples of the Lord",", went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ",[85,207,208,209],{},"the ",[26,210,213],{"href":211,"rel":212},"https://biblehub.com/greek/3598.htm",[30],"Way",", men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. — ",[61,216,218],{"className":217,"dataReference":218},[64],"Acts 9:1-2",[14,220,221,222,225,226,230],{},"This was potentially a shortened form of \"servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you ",[85,223,224],{},"the way"," of salvation\" (",[61,227,229],{"className":228,"dataReference":229},[64],"Acts 16:17"," (ESV)). Today, this proclamation is often called \"the gospel.\"",[14,232,233],{},"Another example occurs in Ephesus:",[34,235,236],{},[14,237,238,239,92,242,97],{},"About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning ",[85,240,241],{},"the Way",[61,243,245],{"className":244,"dataReference":245},[64],"Acts 19:23",[14,247,248],{},"The disturbance was caused by the teachings of \"the Way\" being in conflict with local business interests, such as the sale of idols. Paul testified to the core beliefs of this group:",[34,250,251,254],{},[14,252,253],{},"And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:...",[14,255,256,257,260],{},"But this I confess to you, that according to ",[85,258,259],{},"the Way, which they call a sect",",",[262,263,264,268,271,274],"ul",{},[265,266,267],"li",{},"I worship the God of our fathers,",[265,269,270],{},"believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,",[265,272,273],{},"having a hope in God which these men themselves accept,",[265,275,276],{},"that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.",[34,278,279],{},[14,280,150,281,97],{},[61,282,284],{"className":283,"dataReference":284},[64],"Acts 24:14-15",[14,286,287],{},"This designation is in line with Jesus' own description of himself:",[34,289,290],{},[14,291,292,293,295,296,97],{},"“I am ",[85,294,224],{},", and the truth, and the life. — ",[61,297,299],{"className":298,"dataReference":299},[64],"John 14:6",[18,301,303],{"id":302},"conclusion","Conclusion",[14,305,306,307,311,312,316],{},"The term \"Christian\" ",[26,308,310],{"href":309},"#origin-in-antioch","originated in Antioch"," and appeared in a ",[26,313,315],{"href":314},"#biblical-context","biblical context"," that suggests it may have been used as a derogatory label or insult.",[14,318,319,320,324,325,329],{},"Despite its potential origins, it has evolved into a ",[26,321,323],{"href":322},"#modern-global-identity","modern global identity"," that encompasses a vast and diverse population. However, the earliest followers of Jesus often preferred ",[26,326,328],{"href":327},"#alternative-designations","alternative designations"," like \"the Way\" to describe their faith and community.",{"title":331,"searchDepth":332,"depth":332,"links":333},"",2,[334,335,336,337,338],{"id":20,"depth":332,"text":21},{"id":69,"depth":332,"text":70},{"id":172,"depth":332,"text":173},{"id":192,"depth":332,"text":193},{"id":302,"depth":332,"text":303},"Explore the origin of the term 'Christian' and its use in the first century. Was it an insult or a title of honor? Discover the original name of the faith.","md",{"keywords":342},"Christian origin, Antioch, The Way, \u003Cspan class=",true,"/terms/christian",{"title":5,"description":339},"terms/christian","VCXDMmZc-kOZnxJe0PfDh5fpy5eWC6dk-kpeT4d9Qs0",1780776430367]