What were Christians known as before the time of Christ?

Question

OK, besides Judaism, what were some of the other religions that brought about the Christian faith?

Answer 1

Before being called Christians the title "The Way" was their connoatation:

(Acts 9:1-2) “9 But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women. . .”

--How could they be known as Christians before Christ , he instituted Christianity? There was no knowledge of Christ other than what was prophecised about him becoming the Messiah, Shiloh, Anointed one etc.
--As far as others , the only others after the Jews were the gentile converts , that is in Christ's Christianity.

(Acts 2:5-12) “5 As it was, there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, reverent men, from every nation of those under heaven. 6 So, when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Indeed, they were astonished and began to wonder and say: “See here, all these who are speaking are Gal·i·le´ans, are they not? 8 And yet how is it we are hearing, each one of us, his own language in which we were born? 9 Par´thi·ans and Medes and E´lam·ites, and the inhabitants of Mes·o·po·ta´mi·a, and Ju·de´a and Cap·pa·do´ci·a, Pon´tus and the [district of] Asia, 10 and Phryg´i·a and Pam·phyl´i·a, Egypt and the parts of Lib´y·a, which is toward Cy·re´ne, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cre´tans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.” 12 Yes, they were all astonished and were in perplexity, saying one to another: “What does this thing purport to be. . .”........46 And day after day they were in constant attendance at the temple with one accord, and they took their meals in private homes and partook of food with great rejoicing and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and finding favor with all the people. At the same time Jehovah continued to join to them daily those being saved."

--You sound like your indicating that the worship Christ instituted for his Father , Jehovah God,--was some offshoot of other religions, that is far from being right.

The Jewish system of things acted only as a Shadow of what Christ would bring in as to true worship--

(Hebrews 10:1) “10 For since the Law has a shadow of the good things to come, but not the very substance of the things, [men] can never with the same sacrifices from year to year which they offer continually make those who approach perfect.”
(Hebrews 9:11-14) “11 However, when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come to pass, through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, 12 he entered, no, not with the blood of goats and of young bulls, but with his own blood, once for all time into the holy place and obtained an everlasting deliverance [for us]. 13 For if the blood of goats and of bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who have been defiled sanctifies to the extent of cleanness of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of the Christ, who through an everlasting spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works that we may render sacred service to [the] living God?”

The Law covenant as instituted by Moses was just a stepping stone in true worship:

(Galatians 3:23-25) “23 However, before the faith arrived, we were being guarded under law, being delivered up together into custody, looking to the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor.”

Answer 2

Christianity comes directly from the Jewish faith. Jesus was a Jew and practiced Jewish faith and tradition. The word Christianity simply implies Christ like. Many Jewish people simply failed to see the identity of the Messiah, as it is foretold in the Bible. Those that started Christianity were Jews that knew the Messiah had come. Many Jews will, however, know the identity of Christ at the second coming. Like many Gentiles (all who are not Jewish) there will be Jewish that still do not believe. They have made their eternal choices then. To this day, they are his chosen people and the apple of his eye! FYI, I am a Christian.

Answer 3

Christianity has very little in common with Judaism. They have much more in common with pagan religions, which taught the doctrine of a dying and resurrected savior of mankind. This savior was the son of the sun deity and the offspring of a virgin, was born in a cave or manger, was precocious as a child, had 12 followers, was persecuted and killed (often on a tree, cross, or post), was buried for three days, then came to life and promised to return again later. All of the elements were already there long before Christianity existed; only the names of people and places were changed to suit a new audience. The whole myth revolves around the sun and its "death" in winter, followed by its "resurrection" in spring, and the promise of its return again and again. Christians worship a sun god.

Answer 4

Followers

Answer 5

Well, you kind of answered your own question. Early Christians were mainly Jews who believed the Messiah had come.

As the faith matured, however, it drew upon a number of myths and legends that were popular at the time. This doesn't take away from the faith, as any religion still practiced today is a product of its time.

I've read there were gods from other faiths and traditions that had lives similar to Jesus' -- the son of God, could perform miracles, died as a sacrifice, rose from the dead, etc.

Answer 6

they were actually called Hebrews. The children of the God with no name. And they were not Christians because Christ had not yet hit the scene. The term Christian means to be Christlike. Therefore, there were not Christians until after Christ came.

Answer 7

I would say Zoroastrinism had a major influence on Judaism and therefore Christianity. Until the Babylonian exile, Judaism had no conception of the devil or hell for example.

The Babylonians also influenced the Greeks and therefore through platonic thought, Christianity.

Answer 8

By faith people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.
But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world. They wandered over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
All of these people we have mentioned received God's approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.
Hebrews 11:33-40

"People of Faith"

Answer 9

What brought about the Christian faith was the birth of Jesus as the son of God...

Answer 10

The Hellenistic Mystery schools. Paul uses the word 'mysterion' over 30 times in reference to Christianity. The word 'mysterion' in Greek was a reference to the Mystery schools of Dionysus, Demeter, Adonis, Tammuz, Osiris, etc.

I'm not advocating Gnosticism, mind you - but Christianity supplanted the Mysteries in Rome because it was a Mystery school. It was practiced in secret, its members were sworn to secrecy before initiation, its deeper theological truths were hidden from the neophytes, and it used ritual and symbolism to inculcate moral virtue through an experiential demonstration of the immortality of the soul. It also taught the 'greater mystery' of the Eleusian Mysteries.