Dave:
A summary of my position would include the following:
1. The Old Testament spoke of a new and everlasting name to be bestowed upon the people of God in the gospel age (Isa. 56:5, 6; 62:2; 65:14, 15). If this was not the name “Christian,” then what was the new name?
2. Isaiah especially associated the reception of the new name with the call of the Gentiles (62:2); the name Christian was not given until the Gentiles were admitted into the church (cf. Acts 10; 11:26).
3. The term chrematizo (translated “were called” - Acts 11:26) is employed nine times in the New Testament. It is, without exception, used in contexts wherein the calling is of God. Some suggest that the grammatical construction of this passage indicates that the name was bestowed by Barnabas and Saul (Woods, p. 67).
4. It is inconceivable that Peter would have encouraged the early saints to “glorify God” (1 Pet. 4:16) by the use of a paganistically bestowed “slang” term. The early disciples did not adopt other pejorative titles (cf. Acts 24:5,14).
5. Paul rebuked the Corinthian brothers for wearing human names, e.g., Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, because, he said, these men were not crucified for you, nor were you immersed into their names (1 Cor. 1:12,13). The implication clearly is that since Christ was crucified for them, and as they had been baptized into His name, they had the right to wear His name. What would that have been if not “Christian?”
6. There is another indication that the Christian name was divinely bestowed. James wrote concerning that “honorable name” which the Christians had “called upon” (passive voice form) them (5:7). “This expression clearly reveals its OT background (Deut. 28:10; 2 Chron. 7:14; Amos 9:12). A man was dedicated to God by calling God’s name over him. The act indicated that he belonged to God. So Christians bear the worthy name of Christ as indication that they are his people” (Burdick, p. 179).
BaIz, Horst and Schneider, Gerhard (1990), Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), Vol. 1.
Burdick, Donald W. (1981), “James,” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Ed., Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), Vol. 12.
Campbell, Alexander (1914), Campbell-Purcell Debate (Nashville: McQuiddy).
Free, Joseph & Vos, Howard (1992), Archaeology and Bible History (Grand Rapids: Baker).
Green, Samuel G. (1907), Handbook to the Grammar of the Greek Testament (London: Religious Tract Society).
Kistemaker, Simon J. (1990), New Testament Commentary-Acts (Grand Rapids: Baker).
Moffatt, James (1906) in: A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, Ed. J. Hastings, (Edinburgh: T.&T. Clark) Vol. I.
Russell, Bertrand (1975), “What Is an Agnostic?” Religions of America, Ed., Leo Rosten (New York: Simon & Schuster).
Russell, Bertrand (1967), Why I Am Not a Christian (New York: Simon & Schuster).
Shelly, Rubel (1984), I Just Want to Be a Christian (Nashville: 20th Century Christian).
Turner, Nigel (1981), Christian Words (Nashville: Nelson).
Vine, W.E. (1940), Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Westwood, NJ: Fleming Revell),Vol. I.
Woods, Guy N. (1976), Questions and Answers (Henderson, TN: Freed-Hardeman College), Vol. I
A summary of my position would include the following:
1. The Old Testament spoke of a new and everlasting name to be bestowed upon the people of God in the gospel age (Isa. 56:5, 6; 62:2; 65:14, 15). If this was not the name “Christian,” then what was the new name?
2. Isaiah especially associated the reception of the new name with the call of the Gentiles (62:2); the name Christian was not given until the Gentiles were admitted into the church (cf. Acts 10; 11:26).
3. The term chrematizo (translated “were called” - Acts 11:26) is employed nine times in the New Testament. It is, without exception, used in contexts wherein the calling is of God. Some suggest that the grammatical construction of this passage indicates that the name was bestowed by Barnabas and Saul (Woods, p. 67).
4. It is inconceivable that Peter would have encouraged the early saints to “glorify God” (1 Pet. 4:16) by the use of a paganistically bestowed “slang” term. The early disciples did not adopt other pejorative titles (cf. Acts 24:5,14).
5. Paul rebuked the Corinthian brothers for wearing human names, e.g., Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, because, he said, these men were not crucified for you, nor were you immersed into their names (1 Cor. 1:12,13). The implication clearly is that since Christ was crucified for them, and as they had been baptized into His name, they had the right to wear His name. What would that have been if not “Christian?”
6. There is another indication that the Christian name was divinely bestowed. James wrote concerning that “honorable name” which the Christians had “called upon” (passive voice form) them (5:7). “This expression clearly reveals its OT background (Deut. 28:10; 2 Chron. 7:14; Amos 9:12). A man was dedicated to God by calling God’s name over him. The act indicated that he belonged to God. So Christians bear the worthy name of Christ as indication that they are his people” (Burdick, p. 179).
BaIz, Horst and Schneider, Gerhard (1990), Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), Vol. 1.
Burdick, Donald W. (1981), “James,” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Ed., Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), Vol. 12.
Campbell, Alexander (1914), Campbell-Purcell Debate (Nashville: McQuiddy).
Free, Joseph & Vos, Howard (1992), Archaeology and Bible History (Grand Rapids: Baker).
Green, Samuel G. (1907), Handbook to the Grammar of the Greek Testament (London: Religious Tract Society).
Kistemaker, Simon J. (1990), New Testament Commentary-Acts (Grand Rapids: Baker).
Moffatt, James (1906) in: A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, Ed. J. Hastings, (Edinburgh: T.&T. Clark) Vol. I.
Russell, Bertrand (1975), “What Is an Agnostic?” Religions of America, Ed., Leo Rosten (New York: Simon & Schuster).
Russell, Bertrand (1967), Why I Am Not a Christian (New York: Simon & Schuster).
Shelly, Rubel (1984), I Just Want to Be a Christian (Nashville: 20th Century Christian).
Turner, Nigel (1981), Christian Words (Nashville: Nelson).
Vine, W.E. (1940), Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Westwood, NJ: Fleming Revell),Vol. I.
Woods, Guy N. (1976), Questions and Answers (Henderson, TN: Freed-Hardeman College), Vol. I