The word Christian

[Gerbolski]

This is just a discussion on the word Christian.

Was it first said in a positive way towards believers or as a mockery ?

Here is a verse:

Act 11:26
(26) And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Here is a comment on this:

(John Gill)

(...whether this name of Christians, which comes from Christ, and signifies anointed ones, was given by their enemies, or their friends, by others, or themselves, is not certain, though it is most likely the latter;...)

So here John Gill shows some of the possibilities of how the word Christian came to be.

And I will just leave others to comment on this, and then we can look into how the word is used in other verses of the bible.

 

[B-A-C]

Act 11:26

Two other verses.

Acts 26:28 – King Agrippa says to Paul: “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
1 Peter 4:16 – Peter writes: “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
The word Christian comes from the Greek Christianos, meaning “follower of Christ” or “belonging to Christ.”
Although, not everyone who claims to be a Christian, meets this definition. They "believe in Jesus", but they aren't
a follower. They don't obey His teachings. Although almost all of them would say that they "belong" to Jesus.

Was it originally a derogatory term?​

Most scholars believe yes, at least initially.

In Acts 11:26, the name was likely given by outsiders in Antioch, not by the believers themselves.
The suffix -ianos often implied a political faction or group, sometimes with a dismissive tone.
Over time, Christians embraced the term, especially as seen in 1 Peter 4:16, where Peter encourages believers not to be ashamed of it.

 

[B-A-C]

John 10:27 -- "My sheep know my voice and they follow me". thought on this.. follow the leader, a game children play. When the leader jumps, you jump, when the leader crawls, you crawl, when the leader runs, you run, etc... the idea is, whatever the leader does, is what you do, if you refuse to follow, are you really a follower?

 

[Gerbolski]

Two other verses.

Acts 26:28 – King Agrippa says to Paul: “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
1 Peter 4:16 – Peter writes: “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
The word Christian comes from the Greek Christianos, meaning “follower of Christ” or “belonging to Christ.”
Although, not everyone who claims to be a Christian, meets this definition. They "believe in Jesus", but they aren't
a follower. They don't obey His teachings. Although almost all of them would say that they "belong" to Jesus.

Was it originally a derogatory term?​

Most scholars believe yes, at least initially.

In Acts 11:26, the name was likely given by outsiders in Antioch, not by the believers themselves.
The suffix -ianos often implied a political faction or group, sometimes with a dismissive tone.
Over time, Christians embraced the term, especially as seen in 1 Peter 4:16, where Peter encourages believers not to be ashamed of it.

Ya there are especially the 2 views, for myself I see it more as because of their witness, they saw Christ in them, and as a result they called them Christians, but whatever the case, the word Christian itself is not a negative word, it is just showing you belong to Christ.

And like you said Peter used it in a positive way.

1Pe 4:16
(16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

 

[Gerbolski]

Ya Here is the Greek definition for the word Christian.

(Strong's concordance)

(G5546
Χριστιανός
Christianos
khris-tee-an-os'
From G5547; a Christian, that is, follower of Christ: - Christian.
Total KJV occurrences: 3)

 

[Gerbolski]

And in truth even though the word Christian is not wrong, many, and many things go by the word Christian.

I myself will always call myself a Christian, but I can understand if some believers, have a hard time doing so, because it has truly come to a place of losing it's meaning, that is why when talking to people or unbelievers, I tend to show then a distinction so people know the difference.