According to the Bible, neither God nor Jesus Christ classified people as Christians. This term came from non-believers or outsiders. They used this term to refer the group of people with the apostles teaching about Christ, and then, they called them “chrestians”, with the letter “e” and after 300-year ( 350 CE or A.D. ) this was changed to the Christians (Christi-anos) with the letter “i” , term which appeared manipulated on the ancient manuscripts in order to justify the idea of creating another religion mixed with other pagan belief for political purposes, under the sarcastic and noble goal to stop the believers persecution, which finally ended at the middle of the 4th century (340-350 AD). Nowadays, this word means one of the most important meaning for a part of the society who believe in the Saviour Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Brethren
The Jews people considered that word Christos as a sacred word, they could no use it as a mockery to identify the new group of people followers of Jesus. This word must come from other sources and possible to used by Jews to make fun of this group of believers. According to Mountain Man Graphics (2019), states and describes the chronologic changing of this word, the original word on the oldest manuscripts shows the word “Chrestian (χρηστιανος)” which comes from the Greek word “Chrestus - Χρηστός” (Chrest) according to Strong James number 5543 and this was calculatedly transformed into “Christ” and “Chrestna” (Chrestians) purposely changed into “Christians” in a script dated about 115 CE, the original meaning of this word is employed, gracious and kind, a few this word was used as a mockery by gentiles and others in Antioch referring to the Jesus disciples. Additionally, this word was used to refers to people from Crete.Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. - Leonardo da Vinci
On the other hand, in Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16, according to messicanic.org the word on the Original Aramaic Translation was Christus as the following picture shows, the article states “The Zlama Qashya vowel produces the "eh" sound and is displayed as two vertical dots below the letter (as seen above). If this word was to produce the "ih" sound (as in Christian), we should see two horizontal dots called Zlama Pseeqa.” (messianic.org, n.d.) the sounds are different from both vowels (Learn Assyrian Online, 2020) as well as the Aramaic Peshitta text was manipulated according to the article published by messianic.org, n.d.
Christian
Adjective: of, relating to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings, of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, of or relating to Christians, exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike, decent; respectable, human; not brutal; humane.
Noun: a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity, a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ, a member of any of certain Protestant churches, as the Disciples of Christ and the Plymouth Brethren. (www.dictionary.com)
How many times was mentioned in the Bible?
Is mentioned in three times in the bible, two of them were by non-believers’ citizens of Antioch witnesses of the apostles’ activities on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Act 11:20 “And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus”)
1. Acts 11:26; And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
2. Acts 26:28; Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
3. 1 Peter 4:16; Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
There is not too much to analyse about it, this term was used 3 times, two times by non-believers as Luke states in Act (who wrote Act of Apostles) and Peter (who wrote his book) this was the term used for external people who wanted to point at the specific group of people who preach the gospel or to Jesus. The first two situations were mentioned by people unconverted or unbelievers when they saw Paul and Peter and other men of God and their lifestyle, and the third time was by King Agrippa in front of Apostle Paul in his appealing. One of the main and crucial points is that neither Luke nor Paul, even Jesus never said to call themselves as a “Christian” there are no pieces of evidence in the Bible supporting this. Additionally, there are some points on the table that we need to analyse.
Greek terms
Act 11:26, And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians G5546 first in Antioch.
According to Yah’s Elect network (2018); It states that the name Christians / Christ-ianos comes from the mockery of the people who saw this group of Jesus’ followers expecting the Messiah of Israel, this article also declares “At first the followers of Jesus were called DISCIPLES (Greek Strongs #3101--pupil/learner: men-Acts 9:18, 26; women-Acts 9:35, 36); because of their religious faith they were called "BELIEVERS AND SAINTS." MEN were called BRETHREN-(Acts 9:30, 31; and WOMEN SISTERS -(Acts 16:1, 1Cor 7:15, 1Tim 5:2). In Antioch, a Syrian city (Acts 11:26), the disciples were first called Christianos (christi-anos, christi Strongs #5547 + abrev anosios Strongs #462)”.
G5546 Χριστιανός / Christianos / khris-tee-an-os' / From G5547; a Christian, that is, follower of Christ: - Christian. (Total KJV occurrences: 3)
- the word or term “Khris-tee” G5547 Χριστός / Christos / khris-tos' / From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ. (Total KJV occurrences: 569)
- the word or term “an-os” G462 ἀνόσιος / anosios an-os'-ee-os / From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3741; wicked: - unholy. (Total KJV occurrences: 2, in 1Tim 1:9-unholy and 2Tim 3:2-unholy)