Bible Dictionaries
Christian

Holman Bible Dictionary

(chrihss' shuhn) The Greek Christianos originally applied to the slaves belonging to a great household. It came to denote the adherents of an individual or party. A Christian is an adherent of Christ; one committed to Christ; a follower of Christ. The word is used three times in the New Testament. 1. Believers “were called Christians first in Antioch” because their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ (Acts 11:26 ). 2 . Agrippa responded to Paul's witness, “Almost thou persuade me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28 ). He spoke of becoming an adherent of Christ. 3. Peter stated that believers who “suffer as a Christian” are to do so for the glory of God (1 Peter 4:16 ). A Christian is one who becomes an adherent of Christ, whose daily life and behavior facing adversity is like Christ.

Darrell W. Robinson