Sunday, June 17, 2018

"Christian"...what does that mean?

Just passing on an article that I wrote (in French) on the meaning of "Christian" in the New Testament and how it is used today.

On January 17, 2015, the burning of churches and Christian-related buildings in Niamey, and elsewhere in Niger, caused me to reflect on the meaning of Christian existence in today's societies.

For many, it is surprising that the expression "christian" is only used three times in the New Testament. Here are the occurrences in English (ESV) and Greek (NA28):
  • Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 
    • καὶ εὑρὼν ἤγαγεν εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν. ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν ὅλον συναχθῆναι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν, χρηματίσαι τε πρώτως ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τοὺς μαθητὰς Χριστιανούς. 
  • Acts 26:28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 
    • ὁ δὲ Ἀγρίππας πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον· ἐν ὀλίγῳ με πείθεις Χριστιανὸν ποιῆσαι. 
  • 1Pet. 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 
    • εἰ δὲ ὡς χριστιανός, μὴ αἰσχυνέσθω, δοξαζέτω δὲ τὸν θεὸν ἐν τῷ μέρει τούτῳ.
To explore this topic more, here is the article: "A Antioche ou à Niamey, être chrétien dérange"

Sorry, it has been translated yet...I will try to do that in the future. 

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