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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead... the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the...
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Faith Cross
Supporter
The simple answer to this question is that the word "Christian" first originated during the days of the early church, in the city of Antioch, after Jesus ascended back into heaven. The word simply means Followers of Christ. To explain the origin of Christianity in a fuller sense would be to say that God had a plan before the world was created. The entirety of history is really "His Story" of how He made man with a plan to create a loving relationship between Himself and mankind. He called and used key people down through history, continually working His plan into fulfillment. He sovereignly chose Abraham to be the Father of the faith, promising him that if he would walk in faith that he would bless him, make him the father of many nations, and that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed by a descendant who would be the Messiah and Saviour of the world. Through Abraham, God chose the nation of Israel to be His Bride, that they should show His glory to the world around them. The Old Testament records the stories of Abraham and his descendants, telling the failures and the triumphs of people down through the ages, who God had called into His plan. He always had a key moment in mind that He would send His own son to save mankind from their wretched state. And when the fullness of time had come, He sent His son Jesus Christ, with the specific purpose that Jesus would die for the sins of mankind, and bring them back into the loving relationship with His God. After Jesus had completed His task on earth, He lived, died, rose again and ascended back to His Father in heaven, the followers of Jesus started to spread the word of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the nations around. The followers of Christ became known as Christians.
Susan Mireles
Supporter
The answer is simple. The origins of Christianity are Jesus Christ, who was sent to earth by his father in heaven, God. Those who believe this will have everlasting life and shall not perish.
Derek Blake
Supporter
I think that the answer is in the question. The name Christianity contains the element Christ. The word Christianity only came into being around 1300AD. The etymology of the word states: 'cristente', "Christians as a whole; state of being a Christian; the religion founded by Jesus," from Old French 'crestienté' "Christendom; spiritual authority; baptism" (Modern French 'chrétienté'), from Church Latin 'christianitatem' (nominative 'christianitas'), noun of state from 'christianus' (see Christian). Gradually respelled to conform with Latin. Christendom is the older word for it. Old English also had 'cristennes'. The word 'christianus' (from the Greek) came into existence as an insult and was spat rather than said, soon after the early church was formed, The early followers referred to the faith as 'The Way', after Jesus stated that He was the "Way, the truth and the light" [John 14:1]. The faith spread like wild-fire across the ancient world, mainly to the west, but had little effect on Islam, which was already well established from the roots of Ishmael [Genesis 21:14-19]. Ishmael, with his mother, were outcasts and founded that faith. Christ is then the founder and origin of Christianity and Ishmael is the flawed origin of islam. Christianity was founded by God incarnate, whereas Islam was founded by a man.
Vijaya Lekamge
Supporter
My opinion is that Christianity originated before the garden of Eden and the fall of man, in the mind of God. It began with the Word: John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. Revelation: 13 :8: The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 1: 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, God, who knew the end from beginning, knew what would happen, when He created Adam and Eve. He knew what the cost was going to be to Himself, to redeem man. He took the initiative to search for man after he sinned, knowing that he had sinned, and desiring the confession of Adam, that he had disobeyed God. God rejected the works of Adam and Eve, who had "sewn fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 3:7) God made the coats of animal skins. Genesis 3: 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. God shed the blood of a sinless animal to cover the nakedness of the man and woman. God made a promise in Genesis 3: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. God spoke about the seed of the woman. About 1600 years later, God destroys the world by a flood. Only 8 were saved, only a remnant. Only those who were in the ark. Noah may have preached for 100 years saying that judgement was coming, but nobody listened and entered the ark. The ark is the Lord Jesus. Only those "in Christ ", will be saved. To Noah God made a promise, his seed. About 400 years later, God called a man. Genesis 12: 1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The Apostle Paul, explains this calling, in Romans 4: 1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 saying, “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect
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