A title first applied to professed believers at Antioch. Acts 11:26 . Agrippa used it when addressing Paul. Acts 26:28 . Peter accepts it, saying that to suffer as a 'Christian ' is a cause of thanksgiving. 1 Peter 4:16 .

It was not long, alas! before the outward profession of Christbecame separated from true faith in Him in the great mass who were recognised as Christians in the world, and in practice they became anything but followers of Christ, as both scripture and history show. To learn what Christianity is according to God, we must turn, not to the great professing body, but to the scriptures, which testify clearly of the declension which was even then begun.