" It appears that, by a widely prevalent error, the Christians were generally called Chrettiani(Xf}rj(mavoi, Sneton. Nero, 16 ; Claud. 25) and their founder Chres- ttu (q. d. xp^<rr6gt exceUenf), a mistake which is very easily accounted for (Lactant. Inttit. Div, iv, 7), and one which the Christians were the less inclined to re- gret, because it implied their true and ideal character (Gem. Alex. Strom, II, iv, 18 ; Tert. Apol, c. 3). See Chbbsti Ajf 8. The explanation of the name Christian, as referring to the * unction from the Holy One,' al- though supported by the authority of Theophilus Anti- ochenns (A.D. 170), * who lived not long after the death of John' (ad Avblyc. i, 12), can only be regarded as an adaptation or an after-thought (see Jer. Taylor, Z>ijc. ofConfrm. § 8).
" The adoption of the name marks a very important epoch in the history of the Church ; the period when it had emerged, even in the Gentile observation, firom its Jewish environment, and had enrolled followers who continued Gtntilee in every respect, and who dif- fered widely from the Jewish proselytes. * It express- ed the memorable fact that a community consisting primarily of Jews, and directed exclusively by them, could not be denoted by that name, or by any name among them. To the disciples it signified that they were witnesses for a king, and a king whom all na- tions would be brought in due time to acknowledge' (Maurice, Eccl. But. p. 79). See Buddens, De origine, dignHate et ttfu nominie Chrietiani (Jen. 1711 ; also his MitceU. Soar, i, 280 sq.); Wetstenii Nov. Test, in Acts xi; Zeller, BibL WMerh. s. v. Christen, etc." (Kitto,
S.V.).
To be denominated Christian was, in the estimation of the confessors and martyrs, their highest honor. This is illustrated in the narrative which Ensebius has copied from an ancient record, of one Sanctus of Vien- na, who endured all the inhuman tortures which art could inflict. His tormentors hoped, by the continu- ance and severity of his pains, to extort from him some acknowledgment which might implicate him ; but he withstood them with imflinching fortitude, neither dis-
CHRISTIAN
270
CHRISTIANITY
dosing to them his aame, nor his ntJdvt land, nor his condition in life, whether f^reeman or slave. To all their interrogatories he only replied, Christiamu sum; affirming that his name, his country, and his kindred all were indaded in this. Of the same import was the deportment of the martyr Lncian, as related by Clirysostom. To eyery question he replied, ** 1 am a Christian." " Of what country are you ?" " I am a Christian." '* What is your occupation ?'* *' I am a Christian.'* "Who are your psrents?" *'I am a Christian."— Bingham, (?H^. Ecdes, bk. i, ch. L
Chriatlail, first bishop of Prussia, was bom at Freienwalde, in Pomeranis, in the latter part of the 12th century. He became a monk of the Cisterdan order, in which he acquired great eminence for his piety and learning. In 1210 he went as missionary to Prussia, which country had before resisted all at- tempts at Christianization. He proved successftil in his undertaking, and was made bishop of Prussia in 1214. In order to give a permanent protection to the Church, he foftnded, in 1216, the order of the Knights of Christ. He died m 1241.— Neander, Ch. Hiatory (Torrey), iv, 48 ; M*Lear, Miuuma in Middle Ages^ p. 841.
Christianity, (1) in the objeetim tm$e, is the re- ligion of Christians, induding doctrines, morals, and institutions. Of Christianity, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the sole foundation and source, as containing **all things necessary to salva- tion ; so that whatever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation" (art. vi o/tAe Church of England). (2) In the subjec- tive sense, it denotes the Christian fsith and life of the individual, in which is manifested the life of Christ, the God-man, imparted through the Holy Spirit. The statement of Christian doctrines, in scientific form, is the object of theology (q. v.). The special doctrines are treated under thefar proper heads in this dictionary. The proof of the divine origin and authority of Chris- tianity is the province of Apologetics^ or the Evidences of Christianity^. See Apolooetics ; Evidences. The statement of the practical prindples of Christian- ity bdongs to Ethics or Morals (q. v.). The institu- tions of Christianity are treated under the heads Chubch, Baptism, Lord's Suppee, Ministry, Sao- RAuArrs. The aggressive movements of Christianity in heathen countries are treated under Missions ; its present territorial extent under Christendom.
The historg of Christiam^f is the history of the re- ception of the teachings, ordinances, and institutions of Christ among men, and embraces what is more commonly, but less properly, called the history of the Christian Church. We give a brief survey of the his- tory of Christianity, and divide it for this purpose into five periods.
I. From ^ Foundation of Chris^amtg until its Es- tablishment as a State Religion in the Fourth Century. — When Christ appeared upon earth, both paganism and Judaism had lost thdr influenoo over the mass of the people. Presentimente of the proclamation of a purer religion were widdy disseminated. Among the Jews, the Messianic hopes which had been awakened by the prophete had gained new strength from the political oppression nnder which the nation so long suffered. Christ confined his preaching to the Jews, and we read in the Gospels that large crowds of the people were always eager to hear him, though the most influ- ential sects of those times, the Pharisees and Saddu- cees, opposed him. After the ascension of Christ, the disdples were prepared, by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, to cany on the dissemi- nation of Christianity. The first congregation was es- teblished at Jerusalem, the second at Antioch. In Ju- dea, and especially in Jerusalem, the apostles and other