HIS DISCIPLES

Early names of the followers of Jesus Christ

1. "His Disciples" - e.g., Luke 6:17

2. "The Way" - "(Saul) asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:2)

   "And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way." (Acts 19:23)

3. "Christians" - "And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." (Acts 11:26)

   "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' " (Acts 26:28)

   "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." (1 Peter 4:16)

4. "Beloved of God - "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints." (Romans 1:7)

5. "The Saints" - "... to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 1:1)

6. "The Church" - This is the most common name used in the New Testament for the followers of Jesus. "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified." (Acts 9:31) "Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue." (1 Corinthians 14:19)

   Jesus used the name "Church" Himself when He said, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

   Jesus called the church "My church." He is the one who established it. He said that His church would never be destroyed, and that He would be with His church always. "... and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

7. "Catholic" - "Where the bishop is present, there let the people gather, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." This was written by Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans around the year A.D. 100. For Ignatius, "Catholic Church" meant "The Universal Church."