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Though believers in Jesus are today known as Christians around the world, the word ‘Christian’ is actually only found three times in the Bible, according to an article in Relevant Magazine.
In Acts 11:26, the word was first used in the city of Antioch to describe believers in Jesus. As Relevant Magazine explains, “It wasn’t a name Jesus’ disciples gave themselves — it was a name given to them by the society in Antioch.”
While some believe the name was intended as a derogatory description, such as ‘Christ ones’ or ‘little Christs.’ Relevant suggests that this wasn’t exactly the case.
“Technically, the ending ‘-ian’ means ‘belonging to the party of,’ so ‘Christians’ meant those of Jesus’ party,” Relevant explains.
Like many ancient cities, Antioch was divided along ethnic lines, with people of the same ethnicity often living in the same area of the city.
However, the arrival of Christianity in the city saw an unusual thing happening. Jews were becoming Christians. Gentiles from different ethnic groups were becoming Christians.
The emergence of this distinctive group, whose members broke from their traditional ethnic and cultural divides, required a new name to identify it.
The name Christian caught on and quickly spread.
Within a few years, the term was even being used in Jerusalem. King Agrippa, the grandson of King Herod the Great, and the King of Judea, used the word in his interrogation of the Apostle Paul, stating, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28).
Peter also uses the word to describe the oppression of Christians by secular authorities, writing “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16). This again reveals that Christians were being treated as a distinct group within these ancient societies.