Why Aren't Christians Jews?
by Pastor Walter Snyder

Q: "Christian" means "Christ-like" but if Christ was a Jew and Christians have different
beliefs from Jews how are we being like Christ?

A: ~Christian~ means "of" or "belonging to Christ." Used of a person, a Christian is one who
professes a belief in Jesus Christ. The word first appears in Acts 11:26, "And in Antioch the
disciples were first called Christians." Only twice more is it repeated. Believers were also called
"The Way" and other things by themselves and by others. For some time, many of the original
Jewish believers still thought of themselves as Jews as well as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Antioch was basically a Gentile congregation. Paul and Barnabas, among others, spent over a year
teaching and building up the little flock. As this group became more prominent, the people of
Antioch might have been confused about this new group. Since it had Jewish leaders and roots in
Judea, many likely thought of it as one more sect or political subdivision of Judaism. However,
these disciples could point out that they were not Jews: They (Gentile believers) wouldn't receive
circumcision or bind themselves to the laws of Israel. They confessed Christ as a descendent of
Judah, Jesse, and David; they didn't claim to be Jews themselves.

Probably, "Christian" became a nickname hung on the Antioch Church by those on the outside.
Yet like many nicknames applied by others, those so named began using the word of themselves.
The title may be based on military terminology. Latin often used the plural ending -iani to denote
the soldiers of a specific general and, by extension, partisans of an individual. Thus, Tacitus writes
of the ~Galbiani~, or "Galban's soldiers." At a slightly later date, the ~Augustiani~ were the
chanting sycophants who led public honor and worship of Nero Augustus. This use is consistent
with the ~Caesarani~, the slaves and clients of the Roman emperors. In the Gospels, we
encounter the ~Herodianoi~, who may have been partisans or clients of Herod.

~Christiani~ or ~Christianoi~ would be slaves, soldiers, partisans, or members of the household
of Christ. When Luke says the disciples "were called Christians," this could mean that they were
an officially registered and publicly acknowledged religious entity. In the beginning, there was be
no great concern with being called both "Christian" and "Jew" if that's what one was. Early
Jewish believers communed together yet still worshiped in the temple (Acts 2). However, the
disciples themselves note earlier in Acts 11 that one need not become a Jew to be a Christian
(11:1-18).

A problem with deciding whether to use "Jew" stems from deciding what a Jew is. At times, both
Scriptural and secular usage indicate that anyone who followed the Hebrew Scriptures, claimed
lineage from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and was circumcised was a Jew. The word appears late
in the Old Testament, during and after the Babylonian captivity. Following the division of the
kingdom under Solomon's sons Rehoboam and Jeroboam, Judah and Benjamin were the only
tribes in the southern kingdom. "Israel"---once the name of the whole family, nation, and
kingdom---was claimed by the ten northern tribes. When they were carried off, scattered, and
destroyed as a nation by the Assyrians, only Judah remained. "Jew" comes from "Judah."

However, Christ and the disciples, especially St. John, often use "Jew" in a negative sense. In the
fourth Gospel, the Jews oppose Jesus. They spy on him, plot against him, and finally scheme his
capture and execution. Jesus distinguishes them from the true heirs of Abraham, who haven't
deserted the promised Messiah. John 1:19 tells us, "The Jews sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask [John the Baptist], 'Who are you?'" Just a bit later, after Philip runs to get his
friend Nathaniel to come see if Jesus wasn't the One promised in Moses and the prophets, Jesus
greets him by saying, "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." Here, the distinction is
religious. "Jews" are those who forget the prophecies and are either accommodate Roman rule,
often making a profit from it, or else have become legalistic fundamentalists inventing new laws
rather than emphasizing God's promises.

A the Church spread from Jerusalem and Judea, both believers and non-believers increasingly saw
that whatever they were, "Jew" wasn't an accurate title for the followers of Jesus. While other
terms came and went, "Christian" stuck. Concisely and accurately it denoted both their allegiance
to Christ and, especially, His possession of them. Christ was born "King of the Jews," but (John
1:11), "He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him." However, John continues
in verses 12 and 13, "But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right
to become children of God. who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will
of man, but of God."

So then, Christians are not Jews, for many rejected Him already in His own generation. Yet Jews
can be (and some are) Christians, since He is their Savior every bit as much as He is of the
Gentiles. The Lord says in John 4:22, "Salvation is from the Jews," although many of the Jews
themselves may not be saved. Therefore, as the Gospel was preached, Paul would go first to the
synagogues, leaving for the Gentiles only after Christ's own people rejected the message. Acts
13:46 notes, "And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly [to the Jews], saying, 'It was necessary
that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves
unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.'"

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version~<TM>, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Ask the Pastor, © 2002 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this
disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and
redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States
and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions
concerning the property of others.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."