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The Names Christians Wear
The Many Names of Christianity
•Bible uses many
terms to describe
Christians.
•Each illustrates the
character, outlook,
behavior or identity of
the Christian.
•Do we fit the
descriptions?
•The first name is………….Christian!
•Would it surprise you to know the word
“Christian” only appears three times in the
Bible?
•The word finds its origin in Acts 11:26
•“…So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul
met with the church and taught great
numbers of people. The disciples were
called Christians first at Antioch.”
•Who first called them
Christians?
•Two major parties of
scholars on the
question.
•Theory 1 – The name
was divinely delivered
•Theory 2 -- The name
was derisive and given
by the enemies of the
church to ridicule them.
•Meaning of the verb CHREMATISAI
•Can’t tell from the immediate context who
was doing the calling.
•Infinitive aorist active – “were called”
•Yet other clues might help us
 Modern translations
 KJV – “…and the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.”
 ISV – “…It was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.”
 NIV – “…The disciples were called Christians
first at Antioch.”
 Websters (Common) – “…And the disciples
were first called Christians in Antioch.”
 Clarification?
 YLT – “…the disciples also were divinely
called first in Antioch Christians.”
 Marshall’s interlinear: (English beneath
Greek translation) – “…and it happened to
them also year a whole to be assembled in the
church and to teach a crowd considerable,
(and) to call firstly in Antioch the disciples
Christians.”
 My view: God called them Christians
•The Meaning of the Name
•To be like Christ
•Of, or relating to Christ
•The understanding is
that a Christian follows
the example of and
strives to be like Christ
Jesus.
•The name applied to
those who were
formerly called
“disciples”
 Modern Shades of Meaning:
 A well known Christian leadership magazine
identified five different classes of Christians
in our modern society. They are as follows:
 Type 1 – Active Christians –
19%
 Believe salvation comes
through Jesus
 Are committed church goers
 Are Bible readers
 Accept leadership positions
 Invest in personal faith
development
 Feel obligated to share their
faith (75%)
 Type 2 – Professing
Christians (20%)
 Believe salvation comes
through Jesus
 Focus on personal
relationship with God and
Christ
 Different actions from Type 1
 Less involved in church
 Less commitment to bible
reading or evangelism
 Type 3 – Liturgical Christians
(16 %)
 Predominantly Catholic and
Lutheran
 Regular churchgoers
 High level of spiritual activity
through service to church or
community.
 Recognize the authority of
the church.
 Type 4 – Private Christians
(24%)
 Largest and youngest group
 Believe in God and in doing
good things.
 Own a Bible but do not read it.
 Spiritually interested, but not in
a church context.
 Few attend, almost none are
leaders.
 Type 5 – Cultural
Christians (21%)
 Little outward religious
behavior.
 Aware of God, but little
relationship or
devotion.
 Do not view Jesus as
essential to salvation.
 Favor universality in
theology.
 Tightening The Definition:
Matthew 7:21 -"Not everyone
who says to me,
'Lord, Lord,' will
enter the
kingdom of
heaven, but only
he who does the
will of my Father
who is in heaven.
 Living The Name Christian
 1 Peter 4:16 -- ”…but if anyone suffers as a
Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to
glorify God in this name.”
 We are to bear the name without shame.
 We are to bear the name as divinely assigned.
 We are to bear the name through which we
glorify God.
 What kind of Christian are you?
 On fire? Devoted? Active? Maturing?
 So-so? Occasional? Peripheral?
 Name only? Unaware? Uninvolved? Outer
fringe?
 Where should you be?