[Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Friday morning
to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.  Here is a quest-
ion and answer from my files:

QUESTION AND ANSWER

QUESTION: -- Was the name "Christian" given as a derogatory
                            name during the first century?

ANSWER: -- Actually, followers of Christ were called by many 
                        different names during the time of the writing of the
New Testament.  Names such as:  saints, believers, disciples, the redeemed, 
etc.  But the name "Christian" came to be used 
and accepted very early in the Christian era, and with good reas-
on.  And where would you learn that the name "Christian" was a
derogatory term, except it was applied by some enemies of Christ?  Actually, 
the prophet Isaiah wrote about a new name
which would be given to God's people.  Notice what he says:

       "Unto them will I give in My house adn within My walls a memorial and 
a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will
give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off...And the
nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory, and
thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehov-
ah shall name...And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen; and 
the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and He will call
His servants by another name" (Isa. 56:5; 62:2; 65:15).

       The apostle Paul and Barnabas had spent about a year in An-
tioch, preaching and teaching the church there.  This was the 
first church of Christ of which we have record that there were 
both Jews and Gentiles worshiping together.  Because these two men were 
inspired by the Holy Spirit in their teaching (Acts
2:1-4; 1 Cor. 2:11-13), we must assume their teaching was from
God.  Now read with me: "And it came to pass, that even for a
whole year they were gathered together with the church, and
taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christ-
ians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26).  The Gentiles had seen God's
righteousness, as Isa. 62:2 had declared would happen.  Now,
these "in the house of God" (the church) are called "Christians."
Exactly as God had foretold through Isaiah.  And the prophet
leaves no doubt that the name came from God -- not from the 
enemies of the Lord.

       But let's read further.  Paul preached to King Agrippa (see 
Isa. 62:2, above), and Agrippa was "almost persuaded" (Acts 26:
28).  But he was almost persuaded to be what?  "Then Agrippa
said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
Notice Paul's reply:  "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).
Rather than repudiating the "Name" which King Agrippa assign-
ed to the followers of Jesus, Paul tacitly accepted it and encour-
aged him and others to become Christians -- as Paul himself was.

       Later, the apostle Peter wrote,  "For let none of you suffer as
a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other
men's matters: but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.  For the time is
come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin
first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel
of God?  And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the
ungodly and sinner appear?" (1 Pet. 4:15-18).  Please notice that
these to whom the apostle is writing are in "the house of God"
(vs. 17).  They (and we) are to "glorify God in this name" (Christ-
ian).  Rather, then, than being a derogatory name, the name
"Christian" is the name which God has given, and in which we
are to glorify Him in our lives.  (It is a name in which we should
glorify God and be most happy to be called, JWS).  ----- Clem
Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 27, July 4, 2008.   </HTML>
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