In my previous blog entry, I began asking the question "What is Christianity?" I pointed out the fact that the early followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" in Antioch of Syria, and that it was meant as a derogatory term. "Christianity" is derived from that term, named after Christ. I asked the question, "If not for that term, what would Christians have been called? What were they called?" But more importantly, "What was their religion called?" Being that Jesus repeatedly corrected the Pharisees and Sadducees on religious matters, and the religion was not referred to as "Christianity" until well after the early followers of Jesus were first called "Christians," is Christianity nothing more than the true, purified form of Judaism (minus the laws, the sacrifices, etc.) as it was originally meant to be?
Remember, the Old Testament frequently spoke of the Gentile inclusion. What would they eventually be included into? In Romans 11, Paul dissects national Israel into two groups: believing Israel (true Israel) and unbelieving Israel (false Israel). The believing Gentiles are grafted in with believing Jews, making them part of believing Israel (true Israel). The true Israel is the true Church and the true Church is the true Israel. In Ephesians 2, Paul goes on to demonstrate how the two groups (Jews and Gentiles) have been joined together through Christ into one body. All early followers of Jesus believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So what religion did early "Christians" follow and practice? What was it called?
I ask these questions to get your minds working. "Christianity" is what their religion (what they followed and practiced) eventually became known as. But what was it called before that? If you want to know what the early followers of Jesus believed, you need to know the Old Testament. When Jesus referred to "Moses and the prophets," He was referring to the entire Old Testament. When Jesus and the Apostles referred to "the Scriptures," they were referring to the entire Old Testament. When reading the Gospels, you need to know that Jesus did not do away with the Old Testament, but instead expanded upon it: "You have heard it said... But I say..." He clarified it in a way that the Pharisees and Sadducees had missed. The entire New Testament is based upon the entire Old Testament writings and Jesus' expansion and explanation thereof. It does not replace it, it complements it.
CHRISTIANS
The term "Christian" is a Greek term (Christianos, Χριστιανός) that means "Christ Follower," "Follower of The Anointed." It was first bestowed upon the followers of Jesus in Antioch of Syria. Antioch was known for making up such nicknames. This term appears only thrice in the New Testament. Kenneth Wuest holds that all three usages reflect a derisive element in the term. It was originally used as a derogatory term with which to refer to the followers of Jesus. In Tacitus' Annals, he relates that "by vulgar appellation [they were] commonly called Christians."
"and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." (Acts 11:26)
"Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."" (Acts 26:28)
"but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name." (1 Pet. 4:16)
NAZARENES
Prior to this, the early followers of Jesus were called "Nazarenes," as used in Acts 24:5. The Hebrew equivalent of "Nazarene" is Notzrim, which occurs in the Babylonian Talmud, and is still the modern Israeli Hebrew term for Christian. The Arabic equivalent of "Nazarene" is Naṣrānī (plural, Naṣārā), which are the common words used for Christians. Masīḥī (followers of the Messiah) is the term used by Christians to refer to themselves. In 2014, when Christians were ejected from the city of Mosul, Naṣārā was spray-painted on every property where Christians had been.
"For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." (Acts 24:5)
THE WAY
The name that was widely used for believers, which is mostly unknown to Christians today, would be the title "The Way." This probably originated from Christ Himself, who called Himself "The Way" (John 14:6). This name was used widely in the Book of Acts. Even Paul introduces himself as a follower of "the Way" to the Governor, and not as a "Christian" (Acts 24:14), even though they were known as "Christians" by Acts 11:26.
"and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:2)
"But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus." (Acts 19:9)
"About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way." (Acts 19:23)
"But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;" (Acts 24:14)
"But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."" (Acts 24:22)
The early believers were also known as "a sect."
"For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." (Acts 24:5)
"But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;" (Acts 24:14)
"But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere." (Acts 28:22)
We have just seen what other terms the early followers of Jesus were referred to prior to being called "Christians," but that does not tell us what religion they followed and practiced; what it was called. Jesus' disciples were all Jewish. You might call them Messianic Jews. Gentile believers might be called Messianic Gentiles. But what religion did they follow and practice? We know full well what they believed; they believed the truths contained in the entire Old Testament, which we know from the Gospels that Jesus expanded upon, making it much more stringent and showing the impossibility to physically keep the Law (which Paul goes into detail about in Romans 7). We know they believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Is Christianity nothing more than the true, purified form of Judaism (minus the laws, the sacrifices, etc.) as it was originally intended? As I said, I am asking these questions to get your minds working. I honestly do not know the answer (or maybe I do and I am failing to put my finger on it), but the question intrigues me. As professing followers of Christ Jesus, we need to get back to the roots of our faith and believe as the early followers of Jesus did. Purely and wholeheartedly.
Please, do not blindly get hooked up on any of the information presented and posed here. No, we should not all go out and convert to Judaism, even if before it was referred to as "Christianity" it might have been known as Judaism. Why? Modern Judaism is a far cry different from what Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, the Apostles, and the early followers of Jesus believed. And just because the early followers of Jesus were referred to by "the Way" does not mean you need to go looking for and join some group calling itself The Way, because if they are anything like The Way International, they are a cult under the guise of "Christianity." In fact, any time some group tries to name their denomination according to what they think is the name of God's "true" Church in the Bible, claiming themselves to be the "true" church, they all turn out to be cults (e.g., the Church of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 3:5). Do not become legalistic about what we should be called or what our religion should be called. The only thing that matters is what the entire Bible teaches. Anything outside of that can be discarded.
Just so that I have not lost any of my readers, let me clarify what I am trying to get at. "Christianity" is what their religion (what they followed and practiced) eventually became known as. But what was it called before that? If it was not for the city of Antioch coming up with the derogatory term, their religion never would have come to be called "Christianity." So what was it called? Minus the Law, the sacrifices, etc., the Old Testament saints and the New Testament saints have the same faith. One looked forward to the Messiah, the other looked backward to the Messiah. I hope you understand what I am getting at. Hopefully it has gotten the gears of your mind turning, too. Do I actually need an answer to it? Not really. I know what I believe and in Whom I believe and that is all that really matters. But I am a thinker, and I often delve into such thoughts to try and learn more. This is what the noble Bereans were like.