Christian

Jim West jwest at Highland.Net
Tue May 25 10:36:06 EDT 1999


Perhaps we need to take account as well of 1 Peter 4:16, which suggests that
if one "suffers as a "christian", nonetheless let him not be ashamed; but
instead let him glorify God in spite of this name".  Now why would one be
ashamed if a name or term was not used derisively?  Further, it is
abundantly clear that the word is insulting when one sees that the term
"chrestianos" (good fellow), found in Sinaiticus!, meant something snide as
well- and was a derisive term applied to Christians as well.  Further,
Tacitus, in Annals 15.44, has "... Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the
most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called
Christians by the populace...."  The populace evidently using the term
derisively of a group they hated (unless we are to accept the unlikely
proposition that they meant it as a compliment of people they despised????).

In sum- there is precious little evidence that the term was not intended
derisively while there seems ample evidence that it was.  Perhaps thats why
the suggestion is relatively widespread.

Best,

Jim
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jim West, ThD
email- jwest at highland.net
web page-  http://web.infoave.net/~jwest




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