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{{otheruses1|the relational term "Christian"|Christian (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Christianity}} |
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A '''Christian''' {{audio2|En-us-Christian.ogg}} is a person who adheres to [[Christianity]], a [[Monotheism#Christian view|monotheistic]] [[relationship]] centered on the life and teachings of [[Jesus Christ|Jesus of Nazareth]] as presented in the [[New Testament]]<ref>[[BBC]], [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/Christianity/ ''BBC - Religion & Ethics - Christianity'']</ref> and interpreted by Christians to have been prophesied in the [[Hebrew Bible]]/[[Old Testament]].<ref> [[Book of Isaiah]] [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=29&chapter=53&version=31 ''Book of Isaiah, Chapter 53.'']</ref> |
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== Etymology == |
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The word comes from Greek {{polytonic|Χριστιανός}} (''khristianos''), from {{Polytonic|Χριστός}} (''khristos'') meaning "the [[anointing|anointed]]."<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Christ Christ] at Etymology Online </ref> In the ([[Greek Language|Greek]]) [[Septuagint]] version of the [[Hebrew Bible]], ''khristos'' was used to translate the [[Hebrew (language)|Hebrew]] מָשִׁיחַ (''{{unicode|Mašíaḥ}},'') ([[messiah]]), meaning "[one who is] anointed."<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=messiah Messiah] at Etymology Online </ref> |
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The first known usage of the term Χριστιανός ''(khristianos)'' can be found in the [[New Testament]], in {{bibleverse||Acts|11:26|31}}: "the disciples were called Christians first in [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]]." The name Christian was thus first used to denote those known to be teachers or leaders of the church (saints). They were [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] and followers of [[Jesus Christ]]. The other two New Testament uses of the word also refer to the public identity of those who follow [[Jesus]]. The Jewish king said the [[Apostle Paul]] had almost persuaded the king "to become a Christian" ({{bibleref2|Acts|26:28}}). Writing in {{bibleref2|1Peter|4:16|Message|1 Peter 4:16, ''The Message'' translation}}, the [[Apostle Peter]] encouraged believers who are abused "because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!" |
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The earliest recorded use of the term ''outside'' the Bible was when [[Tacitus on Jesus|Tacitus]] recorded that [[Nero]] blamed the "Christians" for the [[Great Fire of Rome]] in [[64 AD|AD 64]].<ref>[http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/tacitus.html Tacitus (c. 55 -117 CE): Nero's persecution of the Christians], online at Washington State University</ref> |
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"Christian" also means a member or adherent of a church or other organized group within Christianity. As an adjective, the term may also describe anything associated with Christianity, or even remotely thought to be consistent with Christianity, as in "the ''Christian'' thing to do." |
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== What is a Christian? == |
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The ''American Heritage Dictionary'' defines a Christian as "one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ and follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus; one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus."<ref>''[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/christian The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition].'' Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.</ref> |
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A wide range of beliefs and practices is found across the world among those who call themselves Christian. A 2007 survey in the [[United States]] identified the following typical categories:<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/004/1.19.html "5 Kinds of Christians — Understanding the disparity of those who call themselves Christian in America.] ''Leadership Journal'', Fall 2007. </ref> |
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# ''Active Christians:'' Committed to attending church, Bible reading, and sharing their faith that [[salvation]] comes through Jesus Christ. |
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# ''Professing Christians:'' Also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" as the key to being a Christian, but focus on personal relationships with God and Jesus more than on church, Bible reading or sharing faith. |
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# ''[[Liturgy|Liturgical]] Christians'': High level of spiritual activity, mainly expressed by attending and recognising the authority of the church, and by serving in it or in the community. |
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# ''Private Christians:'' Believe in God and in doing good things, but not within a church context. In the American survey, this was the largest and youngest segment. |
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# ''Cultural Christians:'' Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation. They are the least likely to align their beliefs or practices with biblical teachings, or attend church. They favor a [[universalism|universal]] theology that sees many ways to God. A cultural Christian may also be an [[atheist]] or [[agnostic]] who was raised in the Christian religion and still enjoys the ceremonies or community ties with the religion of their upbringing. |
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Other countries may not show the same variety, especially where there is active [[persecution of Christians]]. |
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People who have a distinct heritage and come to believe in Jesus may also identify themselves differently. ''[[Messianic Judaism|Messianic Jews]]'' believe that they are a sect of [[Judaism]] and that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and the [[Divinity|Divine]] [[Salvation|Savior]]. They seek to live in obedience to the Hebrew Scriptures, including the [[Torah]] and [[Halakha]]. |
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== In other languages == |
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In other European languages the word is similar, such as Chrétien in French. The Chinese word is {{linktext|基|督|徒}} ([[pinyin]]: jīdū tú), literally "Christ follower." |
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As the identification of "Christ" with Jesus is not accepted within Judaism, in [[Talmud]]ic [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] Christians are called ''Notzri'' ("[[Nazarene]]s"), because Jesus is described in the New Testament as being from the city of [[Nazareth]].<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nazarene Nazarene] at Etymology Online </ref> |
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Among [[Arab]]s (whether Christians, Muslims or belonging to other faiths), as well as in other languages influenced by the [[Arabic language]] (mainly in [[Islam|Muslim]] cultures influenced by Arabic as the [[liturgy|liturgical]] language of Islam), two words are commonly used for Christians: ''Nasrani'' (نصراني), and ''Masihi'' (مسيحي) meaning followers of the Messiah.<ref name="KhaledAhmed">Khaled Ahmed, [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02%5C19%5Cstory_19-2-2006_pg3_4 Pakistan Daily Times].</ref><ref name="SOFIR">Society for Internet Research, [http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005539.php The Hamas Charter], note 62 (erroneously, "salidi").</ref> Where there is a distinction, ''Nasrani'' refers to people from a Christian culture and ''Masihi'' means those with a religious faith in Jesus.<ref name="Tayler">Jeffrey Tayler, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=98dQ39WOoUUC&pg=RA1-PA41&lpg=RA1-PA41&dq=masihi+nasrani&source=web&ots=LESqWUSy43&sig=ABHlcsuLXyO4iZBR2gMP4dnoux8 Trekking through the Moroccan Sahara].''</ref> In some countries ''Nasrani'' tends to be used generically for non-Muslim white people.<ref name="Tayler">Jeffrey Tayler, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=98dQ39WOoUUC&pg=RA1-PA41&lpg=RA1-PA41&dq=masihi+nasrani&source=web&ots=LESqWUSy43&sig=ABHlcsuLXyO4iZBR2gMP4dnoux8 Trekking through the Moroccan Sahara].''</ref> Another Arabic word sometimes used for Christians, particularly in a political context, is ''Salibi;'' this refers to [[Crusades|Crusaders]] and has negative connotations.<ref name="SOFIR">Society for Internet Research, [http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005539.php The Hamas Charter], note 62 (erroneously, "salidi").</ref><ref>Akbar S. Ahmed, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=kXY9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=salibi+crusader&source=web&ots=R_6x5wvD-L&sig=iSIt3GH4P7yJg-OrI39idUrO0AA Islam, Globalization, and Postmodernity],'' p 110.</ref> |
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<!-- [[Nasrani]] redirects here -->The word Nasrani is generally understood to be derived from Nazareth.<ref name="KhaledAhmed"/> In some areas of the Arab world, tradition holds{{Fact|date=October 2008}} that it derives from ''nasr'' ("victory"), and means "people of victory" in reference either to early successes of the Christian religion or to the initial Christian Ethiopian support for [[Muhammad]] during his early conflicts in Arabia. ''Nasrani'' is also sometimes said to derive from ''[[ansar (Islam)|ansar]]'', which means "disciple". The [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]] people are a Christian ethno-religious group from Kerala, India. |
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== See also == |
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{{wiktionary|Christian}} |
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* [[Conversion to Christianity]] |
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* [[Christendom]] |
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== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Christians|Christians]] |
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[[Category:Christian terms]] |
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[[af:Christene]] |
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[[ar:مسيحيون]] |
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[[arc:ܡܫܝܚܝܐ]] |
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[[cs:Křesťan]] |
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[[de:Christ]] |
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[[fy:Kristen]] |
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[[hi:ईसाई]] |
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[[ig:Christian]] |
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[[ia:Christiano]] |
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[[it:Cristiano (religione)]] |
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[[ky:Христиан]] |
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[[ht:Kretyen]] |
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[[la:Christianus]] |
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[[mk:Христијани]] |
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[[nl:Christen]] |
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[[ja:キリスト教徒]] |
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[[nds:Christ]] |
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[[simple:Christian]] |
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[[ur:عیسائی]] |
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[[zh:基督徒]] |
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[[ko:기독교]] |
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