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The first known usage of this term can be found in the New Testament of the Bible, in Acts 11:26: “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” The term was thus first used to denote those known or perceived to be disciples of Christ. Similarly, in the two other New Testament uses of the word (Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16), it refers to the public identity of those who follow Jesus.

As a noun, Christian (Gr. Χριστιανός and variant Χρηστιανός, Strong’s G5546) is an appellation deriving from the name “Christ” and is derived from the Greek noun Christos which means “anointed one,” itself a translation of the Hebrew word Moshiach or “Messiah”. Many people associate the word “Christ” exclusively with Jesus. However, as this identification is not accepted within Judaism, in Hebrew Christians are called “Nazarenes” (Notzri), because Jesus was from the province of Nazareth.

For many, “Christian” also means to be a member or adherent of one of the organized religious denominations of Christianity. As an adjective, the term may also describe anything associated with Christianity.

Usage among Christians

The term “Christian” is variously defined among different Christian groups. Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and many Protestants, believe that a Christian is one who is a member of the church, which one enters through the sacrament of baptism. In this way, infants who are baptized may also be considered Christians. Certain denominations, such as the Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches teach that adult baptism is the transition from non-Christian to Christian, and so define a Christian as one who has been baptized as a repenting adult. Others, including many born-again Christians, believe that a Christian is one who believes and follows Jesus and repents of their sins, though the proof of this is found in agreeing to the doctrines set forth in the Bible, and doing what it says.

Usage in the Muslim world

Among some in the Arab Muslim world, the term “Christian” is seen as being synonymous with Western culture.

“Christendom”

The term “Christendom” has been used to refer to the medieval and renaissance notion of the Christian world as a sort of social and political polity. In essence, the vision of Christendom is a vision of a Christian theocracy, a government devoted to the enforcement of Christian values, and whose institutions are suffused with Christian piety. In this vision, members of the Christian clergy wield significant secular and political power. Secular rulers are their subordinates and agents; and national or political divisions are subsumed under the unitary government of a unique and universal church institution. This tempting vision of an earthly crown was one of the greatest challenges to the institutional Christian church.

“Christian” as a derogatory word

In some cases, the term Christian is used in a derogatory sense. This arises from anti-Christian sentiment arising from affiliation with colonialism or, in the case of Muslims, reaching all the way back to the time of the faith’s foundation.

United States as a “Christian” nation

In the history of the United States, it has been common for some politicians to refer to United States as a “Christian” nation implying that the nation is founded on Christian principles and that the “Christian” nature of the nation does and should affect the way its citizens view the nature and mission of their country. The Barbary pirates once accused the United States of being a Christian nation and used that to justify their acts of piracy against the United States. This accusation is disputed by the Treaty of Tripoli.

It is important to note, however, that the United States is officially secular, with church and state being separated. Furthermore, the vast majority of the founding fathers followed a religion called Deism, with many of them critizing Orthodox Christianity