Definition and Characteristics of Being a Christian
Definition and Characteristics of Being a Christian
The term "Christian" was first used at Antioch to describe the followers of Jesus Christ, likely as a term of reproach [1]. The name stuck, and it is used only three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16) [1, 3]. To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death, resulting in a new creature in Christ, where "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" [5, 8, 9].
The early Christians were known among themselves by various names, including "brethren," "disciples," "believers," and "saints" [1, 3]. The characteristics of a Christian include faith, hope, and love, with hope being "an essential and fundamental element of Christian life" [2]. Christians are also marked by humility, a grace that is well-pleasing to God and preserves the soul in tranquillity [6].
According to the apostle Paul, a Christian is one who has been freed from sin and has become a servant to God, bearing fruit unto holiness [10]. This transformation is rooted in the believer's union with Christ, where they are "not [their] own, but [Christ's]" [4]. The Christian life is characterized by a love for righteousness and a conformity to Christ, with the goal of being holy because God is holy [13].
The characteristics of Christ himself serve as a model for Christians, including being holy, righteous, faithful, true, just, guileless, sinless, and spotless [7]. Christians are also called to be hard-working, having integrity, and caring for others [11]. In their daily lives, Christians are distinguished by their friendly disposition towards solitude, quietness, tranquillity, and peace [12].
Throughout history, Christians have been understood to be those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, believing in his divinity, incarnation, and salvific work [14]. This belief is not merely intellectual but is accompanied by a deep conviction and a public confession of faith, which is seen as a duty, privilege, and dictate of gratitude and loyalty [14].
The Christian life is not merely a matter of external observance but is marked by an inner transformation, where the believer is renewed in knowledge and becomes a new creation [15]. This transformation is characterized by a putting off of the old man and a putting on of the new, with the Christian being renewed in knowledge after the image of their Creator [15].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Christian — The name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Christian — The disciples, we are told, (Acts 11:26) were first called Christians at Antioch on the Orontes, somewhere about A.D. 43. They were known to each other as, and were among themselves called, brethren, (Acts 15:1,23; 1 Corinthians 7:12) disciples, (Acts 9:26; 11:29) believers, (Acts 5:14) saints, (Romans 8:27; 15:25) The name "Christian," which, in the only other cases where it appears in the New Testament, (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16) is used contemptuously, could not have been applied by the early disciples to themselves, but was imposed upon them by the Gen”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 7:22 (BBE) — For he who was a servant when he became a Christian is the Lord's free man; and he who was free when he became a Christian is the Lord's servant.”
- King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 5:17 — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, Character Of — Altogether lovely -- Song 5:16. Holy -- Lu 1:35; Ac 4:27; Re 3:7. Righteous -- Isa 53:11; Heb 1:9. Good -- Mt 19:16. Faithful -- Isa 11:5; 1Th 5:24. True -- Joh 1:14; 7:18; 1Jo 5:20. Just -- Zec 9:9; Joh 5:30; Ac 22:14. Guileless -- Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22. Sinless -- Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21. Spotless -- 1Pe 1:19. Innocent -- Mt 27:4. Harmless -- Heb 7:26. Resisting temptation -- Mt 4:1-10. Obedient to God the Father -- Ps 40:8; Joh 4:34; 15:10. Zealous -- Lu 2:49; Joh 2:17; 8:29. Meek -- Isa 53:7; Zec 9:9; Mt 11:29. Lowly in heart -- Mt 11:29. Merciful ”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 5:17 (Geneva1599) — Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a newe creature. Olde things are passed away: beholde, all things are become newe.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 6:22: But now being made free from sin - As being free from righteousness is the finished character of a sinner, so being made free from sin is the finished character of a genuine Christian. And become servants to God - They were transferred from the service of one master to that of another: they were freed from the slavery of sin, and engaged in the service of God. Fruit unto holiness - Holiness of heart was the principle; and righteousness of life the fruit.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:28: 4:28 Christians are to be hard-working people who have integrity and care for others (cp. 1 Thes 4:11; 2 Thes 3:6-12).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — 8. THE SAME, P. 657.: Universally, the Christian is friendly to solitude, and quiet, and tranquillily, and peace.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 106: Contrition of the Sophists, and auricular Confession (as they call it), and the Satisfaction of actual performance, are opposed to the free forgiveness of sins. 49. The two parts of a Christian life are laid down: 1. The love of righteousness; that we may be holy, because God is holy, and because we are united to him, and are reckoned among his people; 2. That a rule may be prescribed to us, which does not permit us to wander in the course of righteousness, and that we may be conformed to Christ. A model of this is laid down to us”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 65: the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Confession does not make a man a Christian. It is the public avowal that he is a Christian; that he is a believer in Christ, in his divinity, in his incarnation, and in his being and doing all that He claimed to be, and that the Scriptures declare He did for us and our salvation. Such confession is a duty, a privilege, and a dictate of gratitude and loyalty, which cannot be repressed. His people will g”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 3:10: And have put on the new man - See on Rom 12:1-2 (note). Is renewed in knowledge - Ignorance was the grand characteristic of the heathen state; Knowledge, of the Christian. The utmost to which heathenism could pretend was a certain knowledge of nature. How far this went, and how much it fell short of the truth, may be seen in the writings of Aristotle and Pliny. Christianity reveals God himself, the author of nature; or, rather, God has revealed himself, in the Christian system with which he has blessed mankind. Christianity teaches a man the true knowledge both ”