Who first referred to disciples of Christ (the church) as "Christians?"

[Runningman]

In Acts 11:25-26 disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. I have some questions.

Please pick one, or all of them if you want, and provide any insight. Thank you. 🙏🏻

1. Who first referred to disciples of Christ as Christians?
2. Given the word 'Christian' only appears twice in the New Testament (1 Peter 4:16) how did it become the dominant term used to refer to disciples of Christ or the church in general?
3. Why are we referred to less often as saints or God's elect even though the terms 'saint' and 'elect' are used with higher frequency than 'Christian' in the Bible?
4. I heard once that 'Christian' was initially a derogatory term. Is that true?

Acts 11:25-26 (KJV)
25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 

[JaumeJ]

Thank you for these good and important questions that should provoke so many to so much in Jesus Yeshua.

 

[ewq1938]

His title is Christ which means anointed and Messiah. Naturally his followers would be called Christians.

 

[JaumeJ]

Christ means anointed.

Messiah means anointed Yahweh.

Jewus is from a trail of eymological transliterations from the original transliteration, Yeshua.

Yeshua is from Yeshi and Yahweh meaning My Reedemer Yah(weh).

Somehow, the people of the God of Israel, the El of Israel, drifted away from the original Hebrew meanings of so many words by transliteration or simply changes.

Bethlehame or Beit lecham, the house of bread, and what better name for the place where our Bread from Heaven is brorn.

There are dozens more examples of these dibulgative translations, and I have shared many of them over the years, so I will ot bore any here who do not want to give any credit to eh very first who believed the Messiah. God bless all who will see and hear.

 

[Hakawaka]

In Acts 11:25-26 disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. I have some questions.

Please pick one, or all of them if you want, and provide any insight. Thank you. 🙏🏻

1. Who first referred to disciples of Christ as Christians?
2. Given the word 'Christian' only appears twice in the New Testament (1 Peter 4:16) how did it become the dominant term used to refer to disciples of Christ or the church in general?
3. Why are we referred to less often as saints or God's elect even though the terms 'saint' and 'elect' are used with higher frequency than 'Christian' in the Bible?
4. I heard once that 'Christian' was initially a derogatory term. Is that true?

Acts 11:25-26 (KJV)
25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

1. I heard it was the enemies of Christ, they were calling His followers "lil Christs" basically Christians.
2. It became the dominant term in my opinion because they just ran with the name as it was more simple to call someone a Christian than a "follower of Christ" or a "disciple of the way" or something. Oh you guys disciples of the Way? instead of saying "Oh you guys are Christians?" Its just easier.
3. Saints in our society bring to people's minds images of roman catholic saints with their halos. Elect on the other hand gives off an aura of superiority which also puts people off, I think Christian is a good word.
4. I heard that too, dont know if its true but sounds plausible.

 

[Runningman]

1. I heard it was the enemies of Christ, they were calling His followers "lil Christs" basically Christians.
2. It became the dominant term in my opinion because they just ran with the name as it was more simple to call someone a Christian than a "follower of Christ" or a "disciple of the way" or something. Oh you guys disciples of the Way? instead of saying "Oh you guys are Christians?" Its just easier.
3. Saints in our society bring to people's minds images of roman catholic saints with their halos. Elect on the other hand gives off an aura of superiority which also puts people off, I think Christian is a good word.
4. I heard that too, dont know if its true but sounds plausible.

That's interesting and I agree. So choosing the term Christian,instead of one of the alternatives, is just a way to simplify the title for ease of speech.

It also seems to serve the the two-fold purpose of distancing oneself from the perception of being superior to non-Christians and association with the RCC.

Many Catholics I've talked to seem to prefer to be called Catholic rather than Christian. Have you noticed that and, if so, do you think they want to distance themselves from Protestants?

 

[JerryInBoston]

Early followers of Jesus were first referred to as those in or of "the way", as Jesus told His disciples He was the "way." When disciples of Jesus were persecuted for their faith, and were called "little Christ's", which was meant to be a derogatory term, that term took on a special honor for those that love the Lord, and so it is today.

Many Christians have been killed over the last near 2,000 years specifically for their faith in Jesus, and were given the option to escape death if they renounced their faith. It's a testament to the power of God almighty that they chose Jesus, even their deaths came by some ofthe most brutal and depraved methods.

A time is coming where world-wide mass persecutions of Christians will begin, resulting in the martyrdom of many for their faith in Jesus.

I pray, dear Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please give each and every one of us the strength and zealous love for you that we never ever fall away. In Jesus's Holy name. Amen.

 

[Runningman]

Early followers of Jesus were first referred to as those in or of "the way", as Jesus told His disciples He was the "way." When disciples of Jesus were persecuted for their faith, and were called "little Christ's", which was meant to be a derogatory term, that term took on a special honor for those that love the Lord, and so it is today.

Many Christians have been killed over the last near 2,000 years specifically for their faith in Jesus, and were given the option to escape death if they renounced their faith. It's a testament to the power of God almighty that they chose Jesus, even their deaths came by some ofthe most brutal and depraved methods.

A time is coming where world-wide mass persecutions of Christians will begin, resulting in the martyrdom of many for their faith in Jesus.

I pray, dear Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please give each and every one of us the strength and zealous love for you that we never ever fall away. In Jesus's Holy name. Amen.

Amen.

Yes, persecution for not just carrying the title of Christian, but also being a Christian, are possible. At some point or another there's a good chance we'll receive varying degrees of persecution. I have my own stories about that. Just keep trusting God. We're never alone.

 

[JaumeJ]

Early followers of Jesus were first referred to as those in or of "the way", as Jesus told His disciples He was the "way." When disciples of Jesus were persecuted for their faith, and were called "little Christ's", which was meant to be a derogatory term, that term took on a special honor for those that love the Lord, and so it is today.

Many Christians have been killed over the last near 2,000 years specifically for their faith in Jesus, and were given the option to escape death if they renounced their faith. It's a testament to the power of God almighty that they chose Jesus, even their deaths came by some ofthe most brutal and depraved methods.

A time is coming where world-wide mass persecutions of Christians will begin, resulting in the martyrdom of many for their faith in Jesus.

I pray, dear Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please give each and every one of us the strength and zealous love for you that we never ever fall away. In Jesus's Holy name. Amen.

With all respect due, I cannot understand how this information has been maintained faithfully to this day, whil aside from the Bible we have no records of those times reliable enough to be so detailed/ Certainly there may be writers of our times who have thought this is what occurred but where do they get this exact information? Goe bless..j

 

[JerryInBoston]

With all respect due, I cannot understand how this information has been maintained faithfully to this day, whil aside from the Bible we have no records of those times reliable enough to be so detailed/ Certainly there may be writers of our times who have thought this is what occurred but where do they get this exact information? Goe bless..j

With which part of the statement do you take issue?

 

[JaumeJ]

With which part of the statement do you take issue?

You should already know by my own post ealier, my own determinations, not conclusions, are touched upon there. If you want I coud put it below here..I will...

Christ means anointed.

Messiah means anointed Yahweh.

Jewus is from a trail of eymological transliterations from the original transliteration, Yeshua.

Yeshua is from Yeshi and Yahweh meaning My Reedemer Yah(weh).

Somehow, the people of the God of Israel, the El of Israel, drifted away from the original Hebrew meanings of so many words by transliteration or simply changes.

Bethlehame or Beit lecham, the house of bread, and what better name for the place where our Bread from Heaven is brorn.

There are dozens more examples of these dibulgative translations, and I have shared many of them over the years, so I will ot bore any here who do not want to give any credit to eh very first who believed the Messiah. God bless all who will see and hear.
mY UNDERSTANDING IS BASE PRIMARILY ON THE TRANSLATIONS OF KEY WORDS WHICH INDICATE THE FULFILLMENT OF CERTAIN PROPHECY. iT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY THE EARLY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED jESUS yESHUA WOULD HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH BEING SIMPLY OF THE FAITH OF aBRAHAM, NOT SEEKING SOME WORLDLY TITLE TO live under.
For me the word, Christianity, is tantamount to an early title for a new denomination,the first of man.Jesus made children of Abraham...ergo we are of the faith of Abraham.

 

[John146]

In Acts 11:25-26 disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. I have some questions.

Please pick one, or all of them if you want, and provide any insight. Thank you. 🙏🏻

1. Who first referred to disciples of Christ as Christians?
2. Given the word 'Christian' only appears twice in the New Testament (1 Peter 4:16) how did it become the dominant term used to refer to disciples of Christ or the church in general?
3. Why are we referred to less often as saints or God's elect even though the terms 'saint' and 'elect' are used with higher frequency than 'Christian' in the Bible?
4. I heard once that 'Christian' was initially a derogatory term. Is that true?

Acts 11:25-26 (KJV)
25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

I'll add another term...believers.

 

[John146]

In Acts 11:25-26 disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. I have some questions.

Please pick one, or all of them if you want, and provide any insight. Thank you. 🙏🏻

1. Who first referred to disciples of Christ as Christians?
2. Given the word 'Christian' only appears twice in the New Testament (1 Peter 4:16) how did it become the dominant term used to refer to disciples of Christ or the church in general?
3. Why are we referred to less often as saints or God's elect even though the terms 'saint' and 'elect' are used with higher frequency than 'Christian' in the Bible?
4. I heard once that 'Christian' was initially a derogatory term. Is that true?

Acts 11:25-26 (KJV)
25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

The most frequent NT term may be brethren. But be careful, some of it's usages are referring to Jews.

 

[Runningman]

For me the word, Christianity, is tantamount to an early title for a new denomination,the first of man.Jesus made children of Abraham...ergo we are of the faith of Abraham.

That's interesting. Did the earliest Jewish converts to Christianity still call themselves Jews or did that adopt a new title? How about Gentiles? Were they under the impression they were converting to Judaism under the new covenant?

 

[Hakawaka]

That's interesting and I agree. So choosing the term Christian,instead of one of the alternatives, is just a way to simplify the title for ease of speech.

It also seems to serve the the two-fold purpose of distancing oneself from the perception of being superior to non-Christians and association with the RCC.

Many Catholics I've talked to seem to prefer to be called Catholic rather than Christian. Have you noticed that and, if so, do you think they want to distance themselves from Protestants?

I think they do yeah. They want to specifically say CATHOLIC instead of just Christian. Lord knows what catholics of today want, they are very ecumenical

 

[JaumeJ]

That's interesting. Did the earliest Jewish converts to Christianity still call themselves Jews or did that adopt a new title? How about Gentiles? Were they under the impression they were converting to Judaism under the new covenant?

Forgive my in and outs. The Jews were called Jews because they occupied what was Judah and because most of them were of the Tribe of Judah.
There was no such denomination as Judaism, however being of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, eleven and the twohalf tribes of Joseph, this came to be the reference word to those first believers of Judah.
Since that time, their descendants who did not come to Jesus did begin to have their own structures of belief creating not one JUdaism but many.
Israel was the chosen of God, however not because of its righteousness, no, beacause God had a plan for it. Then it was a Theocracy supossedly Headed by our Father with a High Priest between it and its people.
The Children of Israel, while they were in the wilderness, were disobedient, and by their disobedience salvation was gained by the nations.
eThe denomination of Israel was not a denomination at nor is it for those who believe and cleave to Jesus Chrisst, it is the faith of Abraham.

If you consider Abram was renamed by our Maker from Abram to Abraham, and know it means Honored Father of Nations, you may come to realize the faith of Abraham is in refernce to our Heavenly Father, ergo, Jeus Yeshua has made us all His children.
Believe Jesus Yeshua, and you are saved, there is no reason you must believe me, believe Him. God bless you always..

 

[Runningman]

I think they do yeah. They want to specifically say CATHOLIC instead of just Christian. Lord knows what catholics of today want, they are very ecumenical

That's interesting. Ever look up what the word Catholic means? It has an entirely different meaning than what Christian means.

catholic kăth′ə-lĭk, kăth′lĭk

• adj.
  Of broad or liberal scope; comprehensive.
• adj.
  Including or concerning all humankind; universal.

 

[JerryInBoston]

You should already know by my own post ealier, my own determinations, not conclusions, are touched upon there. If you want I coud put it below here..I will...

Christ means anointed.

Messiah means anointed Yahweh.

Jewus is from a trail of eymological transliterations from the original transliteration, Yeshua.

Yeshua is from Yeshi and Yahweh meaning My Reedemer Yah(weh).

Somehow, the people of the God of Israel, the El of Israel, drifted away from the original Hebrew meanings of so many words by transliteration or simply changes.

Bethlehame or Beit lecham, the house of bread, and what better name for the place where our Bread from Heaven is brorn.

There are dozens more examples of these dibulgative translations, and I have shared many of them over the years, so I will ot bore any here who do not want to give any credit to eh very first who believed the Messiah. God bless all who will see and hear.
mY UNDERSTANDING IS BASE PRIMARILY ON THE TRANSLATIONS OF KEY WORDS WHICH INDICATE THE FULFILLMENT OF CERTAIN PROPHECY. iT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY THE EARLY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED jESUS yESHUA WOULD HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH BEING SIMPLY OF THE FAITH OF aBRAHAM, NOT SEEKING SOME WORLDLY TITLE TO live under.
For me the word, Christianity, is tantamount to an early title for a new denomination,the first of man.Jesus made children of Abraham...ergo we are of the faith of Abraham.

ישוע המשיח Hebrew
ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ Greek
Jesus Christus German
Jesus Christ English

No matter how you write it, no matter how speak it, the name Jesus Christ means the same thing: God's anointed will deliver/rescue.

Christianity is not a denomination or a religion. Christianity is a person and His name is Jesus the Christ. Christianity is having a relationshipship with and having faith in Jesus the Christ.

The 1st century believers had a personal relationship with and faith in Jesus. And followers of Jesus fot the past near 2,000 yearshave a relationship with and faith in Jesus.

You're making way too much out of language translations and transliterations.

Today, since Babel actually, we don't all speak the same language. We don't all have the ability to learn different languages.

By the grace of God, the Word of God has been revealed to the world from the ancient languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to nearly every known language in the world.

Rejoice.

 

[JerryInBoston]

You should already know by my own post ealier, my own determinations, not conclusions, are touched upon there. If you want I coud put it below here..I will...

Christ means anointed.

Messiah means anointed Yahweh.

Jewus is from a trail of eymological transliterations from the original transliteration, Yeshua.

Yeshua is from Yeshi and Yahweh meaning My Reedemer Yah(weh).

Somehow, the people of the God of Israel, the El of Israel, drifted away from the original Hebrew meanings of so many words by transliteration or simply changes.

Bethlehame or Beit lecham, the house of bread, and what better name for the place where our Bread from Heaven is brorn.

There are dozens more examples of these dibulgative translations, and I have shared many of them over the years, so I will ot bore any here who do not want to give any credit to eh very first who believed the Messiah. God bless all who will see and hear.
mY UNDERSTANDING IS BASE PRIMARILY ON THE TRANSLATIONS OF KEY WORDS WHICH INDICATE THE FULFILLMENT OF CERTAIN PROPHECY. iT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY THE EARLY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED jESUS yESHUA WOULD HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH BEING SIMPLY OF THE FAITH OF aBRAHAM, NOT SEEKING SOME WORLDLY TITLE TO live under.
For me the word, Christianity, is tantamount to an early title for a new denomination,the first of man.Jesus made children of Abraham...ergo we are of the faith of Abraham.

המשיח Hebrew
ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ Greek
Jesus Christus German
Jesus Christ English

No matter how you write it, no matter how speak it, the name Jesus Christ means the same thing: God's anointed will deliver/rescue.

Christianity is not a denomination or a religion. Christianity is a person and His name is Jesus the Christ. Christianity is having a relationshipship with and having faith in Jesus the Christ.

The 1st century believers had a personal relationship with and faith in Jesus. And followers of Jesus fot the past near 2,000 yearshave a relationship with and faith in Jesus.

You're making way too much out of language translations and transliterations.

Today, since Babel actually, we don't all speak the same language. We don't all have the ability to learn different languages.

By the grace of God, the Word of God has been revealed to the world from the ancient languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to nearly every known language in the world.

Rejoice.

 

[JerryInBoston]

I think they do yeah. They want to specifically say CATHOLIC instead of just Christian. Lord knows what catholics of today want, they are very ecumenical

Much like the adoption of the word Christian to describe followers of Jesus in the first century, the term katholikos (catholic) was reportedly first used by late 1st century early 2nd century church elder Ignatius of Antioch. The term katholikos took root after Ignatius was arrested and allowed to write the seven major churches in Asia Minor, ending each letter with exhortation to the Κatholikos Εkklesia Xριστοσ- Universal Church of Christ.