What is in a word anyway?
Spiritual gifts. Christian. What’s the big deal anyway?
This is just a brief overview of a two-part Latin word concerning gift or gifts and the title Christian.
I’m certain others have put this together long before me, but it may be of interest to those who do not research the scriptures and are curious about words.
Gifts (spiritual gifts) are known as chrismata: Latin meaning (plural) gift, present; spiritual/God-given gift, grace, talent; charisma (anointing). What is more telling is the first part of this two-part word, Chris, which means grace, and Mata, which means gift(s).
The other two-part word is Christian, first used in the Bible’s book of Acts in chapter 11:25-30 and was most likely used as an insult. Nevertheless, it has a revealing meaning. But, what it meant then was: “those of the party of Christ.”
Both the Bible and history suggest that the term Christian was probably meant as a mocking insult when it was first coined. Peter tells his readers not to be “ashamed” if they are called by that term (1 Peter 4:16).
However
The original Greek word for Christian is the word Χριστιανός Or “Christianós,” which is the combination of two Greek words for “Christ and Tian.” Christ translates to “anointed,” & Tian translates to “little.” So, the word “Christian” directly translates to “little anointed ones.” Or you can look at it differently where Chris and Tian mean grace and trim or “little graced ones.” Either way, by God’s grace, we are little ones anointed by God’s grace.
Today, Christian is also used as a mocking term outside the church. Peter has said that we are not to be ashamed. Regarding identification, I do not say I am a Christian but a follower of Jesus Christ. At that point, I hear: O, so you are one of those: a Christian! No matter, I know I am a little anointed by the grace of almighty God. Amen?
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