The Biblical origin of the word: Christian
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Acts 26:28
The translation in Greek for Christ is “anointed one” and the ending means “follower of”. Put them together and the word meant “follower of the anointed one”. Jews would not have labeled those that followed Jesus with this word, Christian. They did not believe He was the promised Messiah. Instead, it seems that the early believers were referred to by the Jews as the “Nazarene sect” (Acts 24:5). This was probably a negative label since Nazareth was such a small, inconsequential place.
We know from the New Testament that the followers of Jesus often went by the following names (followed by some of the many references):
- Disciples – Acts 6:1-2, 18:23, 21:16
- Saints/Holy People – Acts 9:13, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Colossians 1:12
- Brothers/Sisters – Acts 6:3, Ephesians 6:23, James 1:2
Acts 11:26 clearly states that the people of Antioch first called the disciples of Jesus, “Christians”. Antioch was the capital of Syria, and was a large cosmopolitan city where the people were known to dole out nicknames. Some 15 or so years later, we read this verse in Acts 26:28 where the name is once again used. In both cases, “Christian” was probably used as a negative label.
In 1 Peter 4:12-16, Peter admonished his readers to be ready for persecution for the reason of being a Christian. “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (vs. 14, 16). This insinuated that it was a negative label at the time, but one they were encouraged to embrace. And so we now embrace it to this day.
Mark my words: a day is coming when we, Americans, will be persecuted for our faith. Being called a believer, a Christian, a follower of Christ, will once again be a negative label as it is in other parts of the world. That day is fast approaching for us. There are already signs that this is happening now. Without repentance and revival, judgment is surely coming to America.
Jesus told us to rejoice in our persecution. Be ready:
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:11
