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Bible Encyclopedias
Names of Christians
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or in early ages, are manifold, besides those found in the N.T. Thus the Church fathers used various appellations in describing Christians: Catholics, for while the Church remained one and undivided, it was properly called Catholic; Ecclesiastics, men of the Church; Dogmatics, men of the doctrine; Gnostics, men of knowledge. The names of reproach and derision heaped upon Christians were almost endless. The following are of importance in illustrating the condition of the primitive Church: Jews, for at first they were regarded merely as a Jewish sect; Nazarenes, always used in a bad sense; Galikeans, a name used by Julian the Apostate, who died with these words on his lips, "Vicisti, O Galilaee;" Greeks, for by the ancient Romans this was a term expressive of suspicion and contempt; Magicians, Sibyllists, from their being charged with corrupting the Sibylline books; Sarmentitii, from the fagots with which fires were kindled around martyrs at the stake; Senaxii, from the stake to which they were bound; Parabolani, from their being exposed to wild beasts; Βιαθάνατοι , self-murderers, because of their fearlessness of death; ῎Αθεοι, atheists; Νεώτεροι , new lights;, Σταυρολάτραι, worshippers of the cross; Plautinae prosapiae homines, pistores, men of the race of Plautus, bakers (Plautus is said to have hired himself to a baker to grind in his mill); Asinarii, worshippers of an ass; Abjecti, Creduli, Fatui, Hebetes, Idiotce, Imperiti, Lucifugae, Simplices, Stulti, Stupidi, etc.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Names of Christians'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/n/names-of-christians.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
