Where did the word “Christian” come from? And what does it mean? And when did Christians start to use it?

Answer 1

Traditionally, the word Christian comes from the title Christ which means "anointed". It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew title Messiah. According to the Bible, the followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. Acts 11:26

But surprisingly, according to Theophilus, a 2nd century bishop of Antioch who wrote a defense or apology for Christianity against the pagans, Christians are called "Christians" because they anoint themselves with oil.
(Theophilus to Autolycus Book I, Chapter XII)

This early church father had actually never heard of "Jesus" or "Christ" at all. In all he writings he never mentions him. In Book III of his Magnum Opus he even includes a history of the world from Adam to Marcus Arelius and never mentions Jesus or Christ once, neither his birth, death or resurrection.

Unbelievable? Not really. The earliest Christians were actually followers of a Hellenized Judaism that worshiped God as Logos and followed a spiritual Son of God. The concept of Jesus of Nazareth was not introduced until much later and did not gain universal acceptance until the Council of Nicaea.

Answer 2

The Word Christian developed when enemies of the saints of Jesus Christ started calling them "Christians" after the name of who they claimed to follow. The saints eventually adopted this name-title for themselves and from thereon they began to be known as Christians. Acts 11:26 "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." So it appears that Antioch was the place where they were called Christians first. Christian means a follower of Jesus Christ. I think that people in general started to use it in Antioch around 40 A.D - 60 A.D. but I'm not sure when the disciples themselves started calling each other Christians.

Answer 3

The word Christian means "follower of Christ"

Acts 11:26 .......And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable number; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."

Answer 4

The word "Christian" was first used by people as a derogatory name for the followers of Jesus, but the Christians accepted this name and used it for themselves. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, and it means "followers of Christ." Many "Christians" today quite obviously do not follow Christ.

Answer 5

Christians are followers of Christ(Jesus).
Most early Christian societies were started in the 3rd century.

Answer 6

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Answer 7

The term was first used in Acts 11:26 and it identifies you as a follower of Christ Jesus. I think it was an insult at the time it was used.

Answer 8

Derived from the Greek word for Messiah, Christos

Answer 9

The word "Christ" comes from greek, which is basically the same thing as the Hebrew "Messiah," or Anointed One. It just means followers or believers in Jesus.

Answer 10

In the Book of Acts it says it was first used of the believers in Ephesus.It means "Little Christs".Before that they were called followers of "The Way".Just a Jewish sect.