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Acts 11:26 |
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And 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.
Note 2 at Acts 11:26: The name "Christian" comes from the Greek word "Christianos" meaning "Christlike" or "follower of Christ." It is only used three times in the New Testament (here; Acts 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). This name did not originate with the followers of Christ, but was a term of scorn used by the opponents of Christianity to criticize the followers of Jesus as acting just like that Jesus of Nazareth who claimed to be the Christ.
Although the unbelievers did not intend this name to be flattering, it was actually one of the highest compliments that a believer could be paid. The church adopted this name for themselves and used it to describe themselves as early as the second century A.D..
If many so called Christians were arrested today and tried on charges of being Christlike, there wouldn't be enough evidence to convict them. Such was not the case with the first century church. Even their enemies admitted they were just like Jesus.
