We live in a world where Satan is convincing people that even to use the word Christian is unbiblical. This is a scheme by Satan to create another division between members of the body of Christ. Jesus prays that there be unity among his disciples (John 17:20-21); Satan is always seeking to divide us and cause confusion among believers.
This article discusses the biblical and historical use of the word Christian and its applicability to the disciples of Jesus Christ in every generation.
In the New Testament scriptures for nationality identity contrasting purposes, there are two groups of people: those who are biological descendants of Jacob/Israel and those who are not. Those who are biological descendants of Jacob/Israel are called Jews and Israelites. Those who are not biological descendants of Jacob/Israel are called Gentiles. Gentiles who are citizens of Greece geographical areas are called Greeks. There are other terms sometimes used to refer to these two groups but for this article these are the terms of interest.
Some claim that in the New Testament the words Gentile and Greek refer to Israelites who were of the Northern Kingdom of Israel who were not being faithful to the law of Moses.
For purposes of this article, I concede that even if the terms Gentile and Greek sometimes do refer to Israelites of the Northern Kingdom, in most instances the words Gentile and Greek at least include those who are not biological descendants of Jacob/Israel. I also note there are a few instances in the New Testament where the words Jew and Israelite as well as Gentile and Greek seemingly refer to the spiritual mindset or heart condition of the person rather than his/her biological nationality or natural citizenship. Nevertheless, in this article the focus is not on the spiritual mindset or heart condition with respect to nationality identity contrasting purposes.
For simplicity, this article henceforth will use the word Jew to refer to Jew/Israelite.
The root of the word Christian is the word Christ. The word Christian fundamentally means a disciple of Christ. Therefore, the words Christian and the phrase Disciple of Christ are synonymous and are therefore interchangeable. This means that biblically speaking Christians are disciples of Christ.
Disciples of Christ consists of both Jews and Gentiles. With respect to national identity, the term Christian distinguishes those Jews and Gentiles who are disciples of Christ from those Jews and Gentiles who are not disciples of Christ.
A biological Jew who becomes a Christian is still a biological Jew but also a Christian. A biological Gentile who becomes a Christian is still a biological Gentile but also a Christian.
The word Christian (Greek Christianos, Strongs G5546) does appear in the English translation of the Bible (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; and 1 Peter 4:16). It is a derivative of the English word Christ (Greek word Christos, Strong’s G5547). Christianos is a derivative of the Greek Word Christos. Christos is Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah. (Of course, I write these all in their English form. It is all about one’s native language.)
Christian is a word in the Bible and is explicitly identified by Peter in 1 Peter 4:16 as an honorable word. It is not mandatory that one uses the word Christian. However, it is an honorable word to use if one chooses. The word Christian first appears in scripture in Acts 11:26 where it says: …And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Notice the word disciples is used in both John 8:31-32 and Acts 11:26. The phrase disciples of Christ is not found in scripture but we know when the word disciples is used in Acts 11:26 the reference is to disciples of Christ in contrast to disciples of John the Baptist as referenced in Matthew 9:14.
Consequently, it is righteous to label oneself Christian as it is an identifier for a group of folks who share some significant measure of the same beliefs although there are some differences in their beliefs.
But note, there is no commandment to identify as a Christian; it is a matter of human preference since its usage is not a violation of the holy scriptures.
The Bible in referring to the disciples of Jesus Christ says they were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26).
But in that verse nor elsewhere in the Bible does it say who first called the disciples Christians at Antioch. In that same verse it does speak of Paul and Barnabas assembling with the church at Antioch for a year.
Any claim that it was pagans who used the word in a derogatory or mockery manner is a claim rooted in human speculation for such a claim is unsubstantiated by scripture. In fact, scriptures of Peter and Paul mentioned already suggest such a claim is in fact false given that both Peter and Paul use the word Christian as an honorable term.
In fact, given the context of that verse it is just as reasonable and perhaps even more so to conclude that the church at Antioch first gave themselves that name or maybe either Paul or Barnabas than it is to conclude that other than the church established that name. This could have occurred by direction of the Holy Spirit or as a matter of human preference.
The disciples seem to be content with that name as there is no record that they spoke out against the use of the name in regard to the disciples of Christ. This is in contrast to their sharp rebuke of those who were calling Paul and Barnabas pagan God names and offered to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as in Acts 14:11-18.
Indeed, in 1 Peter 4:16 Peter says “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf”. In 1 Peter 4:16, the “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian” goes with the “let him not be ashamed”. Peter is contrasting the evil in verse 1 Peter 4:15 with doing good as a Christian glorifying God. Peter says let not a person be ashamed to do good as a Christian even if it means suffering for doing good. Peter says it is better to suffer for doing good which is what Christians are to do than to suffer for doing evil. Therefore, Peter declares being identified as a Christian a positive.
Agrippa says that Paul almost persuaded him to be a Christian (Acts 26:28). Agrippa said this after Paul gave his testimony concerning Paul’s conversion from a non-believer in Christ (Acts 26:2-11) to a believer in Christ (Acts 26:12-27).
The scripture records Paul response as: “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” (Acts 26:29). What was Paul saying he wished Agrippa would be? He was saying he wish Agrippa would become precisely what Agrippa said he was almost convinced to be. What is that? It is a Christian of course.
In other words, in Paul’s conversation with Agrippa, Paul tells Agrippa he wished Agrippa was as he is except for being in chains. He does not say he did not wish Agrippa to be a Christian but rather implicitly says he wished Agrippa was not almost a Christian but altogether a Christian. But Paul said not only Agrippa but also all who heard his voice/words.
Thus, both Peter and Paul acknowledge the validity of using the word Christian in referring to the disciples of Jesus Christ. Peter does so explicitly and Paul does so implicitly.
Clearly the apostles Peter and Paul validate the use of the word Christian by every believer. So it seems to me to be dishonorable for a believer to claim he/she is not a Christian or to render use of the word as problematic.
The apostles validate and honor the word Christian despite the fact that believers did not always do right then just as now. The apostles clearly did not allow that fact to allow them to be ashamed of the word Christian. Neither should we, especially ministers.
Thus, anyone who is a true follower or disciple of Jesus Christ is a Christian; this is true even if they use other labels or nomenclature to describe or identify themselves.
That is, if they want to identify with Peter and Paul and the other biblical Christians, then they would not have any objection to at least the occasional use of the word Christian even if they prefer to regularly use some other label to distinguish themselves from other believers.
For example, a person may on a regular basis identify themselves as a Baptist; but such a person certainly should not have a problem identifying themselves as Christian in alliance with other Christian denominations in contrast to other religions/faith such as Islam, Judaism, or Buddhism, etc.
No where in Acts or elsewhere does the scriptures explicitly or implicitly say anyone in the bible used the word Christian in a derogatory fashion.
Indeed, one cannot be a believer in Christ and not be a Christian whether he or she uses that word or not.
Early disciples of Christ just as today used a variety of words to refer to themselves as did others in referring to them. The word Christian was just one of those words and it clearly was and should be now viewed as an honorable word though an optional word.
