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What is a Christian?
        CHRIS'TIAN
     Acts 26:28. This was a name given to the followers of our Saviour, and its proper beautiful meaning is "a follower of Christ." The Christians called themselves first "disciples," "believers," "brethren," "saints." The name "Christian" originated at Antioch. Acts 11:26, about the year 42 or 43, and probably (like the names " Nazarenes " and "Galilgeans ") as a term of reproach or contempt. The word occurs in only three places in the New Testament -viz. in the two passages before cited and in 1 Pet 4:16, where it is implied that the very name was associated with reproach and suffering. Tacitus (b. about a.d. 54), a profane historian, tells us of the low or vulgar people called the followers of Christ, or Christians. The term Christian is now employed (1) in contradistinction to pagans, Jews, and Mohammedans, and (2) to denote the open professors of religion, in contradistinction from those who are not professors. In some countries it is still a term of bitter reproach, and the assumption of it is attended with persecution, cruelty, and death. The Christian religion is received at the present day (as it is supposed) by nearly one-third of the inhabitants of the world -i. e. over 400,000,000 among 1,460,000,000. But in point of intelligence, civilization, and influence on the world the Christian nations far surpass all other nations combined. One of the most recent estimates is the following: Jews......................................7,000,000 Mohammedans................230,000,000 Pagans..............................793,000,000 Roman Catholics..............216,000,000 Protestants.......................130,000,000 Eastern Christians.............84,000,000 .......................................1,460,000,000


Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'christian' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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