Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Christian"

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)

Christian
the name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to
the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names
by which the disciples were known among themselves were
"brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But
as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name
"Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This
name occurs but three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26;
26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16).

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Christian \Chris"tian\, a.

{Christian Endeavor, Young People's Society of}. In various
Protestant churches, a society of young people organized
in each individual church to do Christian work; also, the
whole body of such organizations, which are united in a
corporation called the United Society of Christian
Endeavor, organized in 1885. The parent society was
founded in 1881 at Portland, Maine, by Rev. Francis E.
Clark, a Congregational minister. Christian Era \Christian
Era\
The era in use in all Christian countries, which was intended
to commence with the birth of Christ. The era as now
established was first used by Dionysius Exiguus (died about
540), who placed the birth of Christ on the 25th of December
in the year of Rome 754, which year he counted as 1 a. d.
This date for Christ's birth is now generally thought to be
about four years too late.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Christian \Chris"tian\, a.
1. Pertaining to Christ or his religion; as, Christian
people.

3. Pertaining to the church; ecclesiastical; as, a Christian
court. --Blackstone.

4. Characteristic of Christian people; civilized; kind;
kindly; gentle; beneficent.

The graceful tact; the Christian art. --Tennyson.

{Christian Commission}. See under {Commission}.

{Christian court}. Same as {Ecclesiastical court}.

{Christian era}, the present era, commencing with the birth
of Christ. It is supposed that owing to an error of a monk
(Dionysius Exiguus, d. about 556) employed to calculate
the era, its commencement was fixed three or four years
too late, so that 1890 should be 1893 or 1894.

{Christian name}, the name given in baptism, as distinct from
the family name, or surname.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Christian \Chris"tian\, n. [L. christianus, Gr. ?; cf. AS.
cristen. See {Christ}.]
1. One who believes, or professes or is assumed to believe,
in Jesus Christ, and the truth as taught by Him;
especially, one whose inward and outward life is conformed
to the doctrines of Christ.

The disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch. --Acts xi. 26.

2. One born in a Christian country or of Christian parents,
and who has not definitely becomes an adherent of an
opposing system.

3. (Eccl.)
(a) One of a Christian denomination which rejects human
creeds as bases of fellowship, and sectarian names.
They are congregational in church government, and
baptize by immersion. They are also called {Disciples
of Christ}, and {Campbellites}.
(b) One of a sect (called {Christian Connection}) of
open-communion immersionists. The Bible is their only
authoritative rule of faith and practice.

Note: In this sense, often pronounced, but not by the members
of the sects, kr[=i]s"chan.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

Christian
adj 1: (religion) relating to or characteristic of Christianity;
"Christian rites" [syn: {Christian}]
2: following the teachings or manifesting the qualities or
spirit of Jesus Christ [ant: {unchristian}]
n : a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and is a
member of a Christian denomination [syn: {Christian}]


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