Becoming Christian: On the Identification of Christ-Believers as Χριστιανοί

Abstract

The origin of the designation χριστιανός is ambiguous. In this article, the use of this term is studied with special emphasis on how it reflects the self- understanding of the early Christians in the respective texts. In the late first and early second centuries, the term appears to have been something of a title of honour and an ideal which Christ-believers wished to attain. Toward the end of the second century, χριστιανός was somewhat diluted into referring to Christians as a group in general.

Keywords:

• Christian
• χριστιανός
• 1 Peter
• Acts
• Pliny
• Ignatius of Antioch
• Suetonius
• Epistle to Diognetus