CALLED CHRISTIANS AT ANTIOCH BY WHOM?

June 14, 2024

L. John Bost

Introduction

God’s people are known as Christians. We call each other Christian. We are commonly called Christians by non-Christians. I did a Google search for the word “Christian” and found about 165,000 entries. Yet the word occurs only three times in the Bible. Not that that matters because if it occurred only once, that would not make it any less valid.

Though Christian is a common word today, there are many definitions of the word. Webster defines “Christian” “one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.” That is a misleading definition. While every Christian professes belief in Jesus Christ, not everyone who professes belief in Jesus Christ is a Christian. As an adjective, Webster defines “Christian,” “of or relating to Christianity” – for example, “Christian scriptures.” He further describes “Christian,” "of, relating to, or being a Christian” – ex. “Christian responsibilities.”      And here is an interesting one, “treating other people in a kind or generous way” – Ex. “has a very Christian concern for others.”   Certainly, one can have a “kind or generous way” and not be a Christian. And, Webster continues, “has a very Christian concern for others.”

To many, anyone who is a member of a church, whether the church of Christ or any of the hundreds of denominations, is a Christian.

The purpose of this article, however, is not to define Christianity, but to determine just how the followers of Jesus came to be known as “Christians.”

Who Called the Disciples “Christians?”

Some say the name had its origins in the mind of the enemies of Christians (speaking of Luke’s statement in Acts 11:26, “ the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch,” which we will consider in a moment. How did the disciples come to be known as “Christians?” What does the Bible say?

“First Called Christians at Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

Please read Acts 11:19-26[1]. In verse twenty-six, Luke writes, “…and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Who were these people who were “called Christians?” Luke tells us that some of those who had been scattered abroad by the persecution that came after Stephen’s stoning came to Antioch, where they “preached the word,” and “preached the Lord Jesus.” As a result of the preaching of the word of Jesus, “a large number who believed turned to the Lord.” When the church at Jerusalem heard of the converts at Antioch, they sent Barnabas there, “And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.” Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch, “And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers…” Then Luke makes the well-known statement, “…and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”[2] (KJV, “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”). 

The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Disciple is from a Greek word defined by both Thayer and Strong as “learner, pupil, Disciple.”[3] Vine defines the word, “…indicating thought accompanied by endeavor…hence it denotes ‘one who follows one's teaching.’”[4]

Note the verbs in Acts 11:19-26 – “speaking the word,” “Preaching the Lord Jesus,” “taught considerable numbers.” As a result of this “speaking the word,” “preaching the Lord Jesus,” and “teaching  considerable numbers,” “A large number who believed turned to the Lord,” “considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.”[5]

So we see that, as a result of “speaking the word,” “preaching the Lord Jesus,” and “teaching considerable numbers,” many became “learners” and “followers,” that is, disciples of the Lord Jesus. Of these  large numbers who became disciples, Luke tells us, “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Before I move on, something to consider that you may not have known – the word, disciple, is found 261 times in the first five books of the New Testament and never occurs again outside of the book of Acts.

But who called them “Christians?” Some say the enemies of Christ and His disciples called them “Christians,” in derision, meaning that, when they called them “Christians,” they were mocking, making fun of them!  However, there is not a shred of evidence that that is the case!

So, who called them Christians?

The prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 62:2[6], “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” “And you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate.” What is the “new name” which will be given to God’s people that would be given by the Lord?

The new name is not saints. That word appears 100 times in scripture; It occurs 60 times in the New Testament. Luke uses the word eleven times before this statement in Acts 11:26. So there is nothing “new” about the word or name “saint!”

The “new name” is not brethren. That word appears over 500 times in the Bible, including 328 in the Old Testament. Luke uses the word 53 times in the book of Acts, including 17 times before Acts 11:26. So the “new name” is not brethren!

 Further, it is not brother, which is the singular word for which brethren serves as the plural, as that word is found over 300 times in the Bible, most of which occur in the Old Testament.

The new name is obviously not Jew, Hebrew, Israel, Israelites, or children of Israel. It was not children of God or sons of God, as that designation is almost as Old as the earth itself.

Nor is it any of myriads of denominational names out there, as these were not given by God at all! Further, they all came into existence centuries after Luke's words in Acts 11:26.

So, what is the “new name which "the mouth of the Lord would name?” Christian is the only new name given to the Lord’s people. Every other name born by His people had already been taken long before “the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch!             

Who called the disciples “Christians?”  God said, “And you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate” (Is. 62:2).

A Name to Be Given in the Walls of the House of God

.Isaiah wrote the words of God in Isaiah 56:5, “Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.”[7] Paul writes in 1Timothy 3:15[8]:

…but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

The new name would be given within the walls of God’s house, that is, in His church. Do you understand what that means? It means that the name Christian was not given in derision by those outside of the church, but by God Himself inside of the church!                                         

God called the disciples Christians at Antioch, and they were no longer called disciples after the book of Acts.

How Important Is the Name Christian?

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:16[9], “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” What does Peter say here? “If any man suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed.” “He is to glorify God in this name.” Again, “He is to glorify God in this name.” Peter says we are to glorify God in the name Christian.  

How can a child of God glorify God in a name given by His enemies in derision?!        The obvious answer is, he cannot!

Conclusion

By whom was the name Christian given? God promised to give His people a new name (Is. 62:2).  That new name would be given within the walls of the House of God, which is the church. Christian is the only new name given to God’s children. So, the new name, Christian, was given by God Himself. 

Peter said if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1 Pet. 5:16). How does one glorify God in the name Christian? He should wear the name Christian as the exclusive religious name of the child of God, not hyphenated with another name. He should live a godly, obedient, holy, and devoted life. He should repeat the name Christian under all circumstances where it would be proper, not being ashamed, ever to do so. When Paul stood before the judgment seat of King Agrippa, he asked him, “King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” Paul’s response is profound:  “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains” (Acts 26:27-29) [10]