I decided to look at the title “Christians” because today
the word is thrown about randomly and seems to have no particular meaning.
Mormons claim to be Christians, however their belief in “more”[i]
than others, makes them very different to biblical Christians. Even among
biblical Christians there is great diversity. The term Christian is defined in
many ways, some say they are Christian because they live in a “Christian
nation”, some people who go to Church claim to be Christian because they do
that. There are “Christian atheists” who believe, “…only the Christian knows that God is dead,”[ii]
The internet tells people to click on a link and become a Christian. Just about
every Church believes it has a monopoly on truth and is the real Christian
body.
The term Christian is the Anglicized version of the Greek
word Christianos (Χριστιανούς). The same
goes for the designation “Christ” which is from the Greek word Christos (Χριστός).
The Greek word Christos means “the anointed one”. Most dictionaries define the
term Christian as “a follower of Christ”. That is true in English because the
suffix “ian” stands for “belonging to”, therefore a Christian is one who
belongs to Christ. In the first century the word from which Christ comes meant
anointed. The Hebrew word mâshı̂yach, from which we get the term Messiah, also
meant anointed. Luke wrote, “…it
was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.[iii]
It must be understood that Luke wrote in Greek and the people in Antioch
mostly spoke Greek. When people in the first century said the word Christos
they were saying anointed, not the English title Christ. The terms Christ and
Christian do not do justice to Jesus the anointed one, nor his disciples who
recognized Jesus as the Christ, “you are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God.”[iv]
We have to realize that the people writing the scriptures
did not write in English. “Translators” have changed the meaning of certain
words by transliteration of the Greek into English lettering. In the case where
there is no English word to use as an accurate translation of a Greek word,
transliteration may be suitable. But, adapting a Greek word to English should
never be done to mask its actual meaning. The anglicizing of a Greek word which
has a specific meaning should not be done. Unfortunately that has been the
practice when a word’s true meaning doesn’t fit accepted doctrines. Baptism is
an anglicized word, the Greek word meant to dip or immerse. The actual meaning of
baptism didn’t fit with the practice of infant baptism or sprinkling. By
changing the lettering from Greek to English a new word was introduced with a
meaning that permitted existing practices. The Greek word ekklesia was
Latinized to ecclesia, and later a completely different word Church was
substituted for the Greek word, masking the original meaning. Christ, is an
anglicized word, which has lost its meaning. “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God.” Jesus
replied that, “flesh and
blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”[v]
If we look at Peter’s response to Jesus asking the disciples,
“…who do you say that I am?”[vi]
Peter didn’t just give a name, but, responded saying “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God.”[vii]
Peter by divine insight claimed Jesus to be the Anointed of God, the one
foretold in scripture.[viii]
The title “The Anointed” was reserved for kings and priests appointed by God. Jesus
was the promised king of Israel. Peter could have answered the question of
Jesus’ identity by giving his name, you are Jesus. That would have been
correct, but that was not what Jesus was asking. Jesus previously asked, “Who do people say that the Son of
Man is?”[ix]
The Son of Man was Jesus’ self-designation used frequently in the synoptic
gospels. The prophet Daniel in a vision saw “One like a Son of Man” who would
establish a kingdom and be king.[x] The
question Jesus asked had to do with prophecy and the future of the Jewish nation.
It had to do with his purpose in coming to earth, the establishment of the
kingdom of heaven on earth. And, of major concern to all people, it had to do
with our eternal redemption, a place in the kingdom of God. By changing the
Greek lettering in the English equivalent all that is lost. As purportedly some
child responded about Christ, it was Jesus’ surname.
The point needs to be made concerning the term Christian
similar to what has been said about Christ”. The disciples didn’t invent the
term Christians[xi];
that was a term attributed to them by thers.[xii]
If people have to announce that they are Christians, maybe they are missing the
qualities arly disciples evidenced. What Jesus said of false prophets is true
of discipleship, “you ill
know them by their fruits.” I do not believe that making the sign of a
cross or praying in the end zone after scoring, or, protesting “unchristian”
events and laws, are the acts that should draw attention to one’s life. I
believe that if our behaviours reflect God’s love and grace we will be seen as
followers of Jesus. Peter alone of scripture authors used the term Christian
saying, “…if anyone suffers
as a Christian,”[xiii]
they should not be ashamed. The Greek word Christianós meant of course a
follower or one who belonged to The Anointed One. Disciples were mocked for
believing Jesus was the Son of God, or, that he was King of a spiritual
kingdom.
Christian:
of or belonging to the religion based
on the teachings of Jesus Christ:
a Christian charity/organization
the Christian faith
This definition of Christian is quite hollow compared the
descriptive term of being a follower of The Anointed One, considering what is
incumbent in the acknowledgement of Jesus the Son of God. In addition disciples
accept the rule of Jesus, he is King and we are his subjects.
[i]
https://www.lds.org/topics/christians?lang=eng
[ii]
Altizer, Thomas J. J. The Gospel of Christian Atheism. Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press, 1966.
[iii]
Act 11:26
[iv]
Mat 16:16
[v]
Mat 16:17
[vi]
Mat 16:15
[vii]
Mat 16:16
[vii] The Complete Word Study Dictionary - Christós; fem. Christe, neut.
christón, adj. from chrío (G5548), to anoint.
Χριστός… means "spreadable," "smeared on,"
"anointed," as noun … "ointment," … Χριστός is never related to persons outside the LXX, the NT, and
dependent writings.
[ix]
Mat 16:13
[x]
Dan 7:13, 14
"I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds
of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of
Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory
and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might
serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.
[xi]
The Complete Word Study Dictionary - Christianós; gen. Christianoú, masc.
noun from Christós (G5547), Christ. A name given to the disciples
or followers of Christ, first adopted at Antioch. It does not occur in the NT
as a name commonly used by Christians themselves (Act_11:26; Act_26:28;
1Pe_4:16). The believers first became known as Christians as an
appellation of ridicule.
[xii]
Evidence suggests that the term Christian was at the time of Peters writing a
reproach. The term first used contemptuously of disciples in Antioch was not
adopted by the early disciples. “1 Peter belongs to a time when the mere profession of Christianity was
a crime in the eyes of the state…”
[xiii]
1Pe 4:14-16If you are reviled for the name of
Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a
troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be
ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
[xiv]
Cambridge Dictionaries
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