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A historically commonly used abbreviation (used for example on English 17th-century church monuments and pedigrees) [2] is Xpian, using the Greek Chi Rho Christogram Χρ, short for Χριστός, Christ. The Greek form of the baptismal name is Χριστιανός, a Christian. The name denotes a follower of Jesus Christ, thus a Christian.
The term "disciple" represents the Koine Greek word mathētḗs (μαθητής), [3] which generally means "one who engages in learning through instruction from another, pupil, apprentice" [4] or in religious contexts such as the Bible, "one who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a pedagogical reputation or a particular set of views, disciple, adherent."
The Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos), meaning ' follower of Christ ', comes from Χριστός (Christos), meaning 'anointed one', [19] with an adjectival ending borrowed from Latin to denote adhering to, or even belonging to, as in slave ownership. [20]
According to Acts 11:26, the term Christian (Greek: Χριστιανός), meaning "follower of Christ", was first used in reference to Jesus's disciples in the city of Antioch. [11] The earliest recorded use of the term "Christianity" (Greek: Χριστιανισμός) was by Ignatius of Antioch, in around 100 AD. [12]
The UBS Greek Dictionary also describes an apostle broadly as a messenger. The Louw-Nida Lexicon gives a very narrow definition of a special messenger, generally restricted to the immediate followers of Jesus, or extended to some others like Paul or other early Christians active in proclaiming the gospel.
It was a common practice in the ancient Near East to confer kingship to new rulers by anointing them, rather than by crowning them. [6] It is in this context that the Hebrew term Māshīaḥ (Messiah, meaning "anointed") was originally used, referring to an eschatological figure who was expected to rise from the royal line of David and who would rule like a divine king, being God's 'anointed ...
Jesus came to be called "Jesus Christ" (meaning "Jesus the Khristós", i.e. "Jesus the Messiah" or "Jesus the Anointed") by Christians, who believe that his crucifixion and resurrection fulfill the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, especially the prophecies outlined in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. [12]
The word Christian is used three times in the New Testament: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16.The original usage in all three New Testament verses reflects a derisive element in the term Christian to refer to followers of Christ who did not acknowledge the emperor of Rome.