Bible Trivia - 8/22/2008

Question: What term was used to refer to the disciples for the first time in Antioch?

Answer: Christians. (Acts 11:26)

Comments: The term "Christian" was not originally a self-designation of the followers of Jesus. It was applied as a term of derision by their opponents in Antioch. James Hastings (1852-1922) expounds: "The Roman authorities, who first designated the disciples of Jesus as Christians, attempted thereby to characterize them as a political group or party, held together by their loyalty to the party head, Christos. While originally the title was given for juridical convenience without implying a derogatory sense, the pagan mob must at a very early time have associated it with heinous crimes and vices ... Not too much emphasis should be placed, therefore upon the etymology of christos. Though literally meaning the ‘Anointed One," i.e. the Messiah, the title soon lost its original denotation and became a personal name in the Greek-speaking church."

and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26, NASB)

Since the term "Christian" did not originate within the community of faith, it is not suprisingly that it appears infrequently in the New Testamment. In fact it occurs in only three verses: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and I Peter 4:16.

The term Christianianity was first documented in its present usage by Ignatius the Bishop of Antioch (35-110), in his Letter to the Magnesians."