How many times is the word 'Christian' mentioned in the Bible?

Answer 1

in the Old Testament never

Another answer:

In the King James Version, it occurs three times... once as a plural in Acts 11:26, where converts to Christ were first called "Christians."

Again in Acts 26:28, where King Agrippa spews the word from his mouth at Paul:

"...'Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Christian...".

And, finally, in I Peter 4:16: "Yet if any man SUFFER as a Christian, let him not BE ASHAMED; but let him Glorify God on his behalf."

Most people don't consider that the name, "Christian" was not a "good thing to be" in those days when the name first popped up in Anioch... or any kind of "acceptible religion" to be associated with, as the world seems to be somewhat more tolerant of established religions, today.

In Antioch, the name "Christians" was used DERISIVELY... not with respect. Nor, was King Agrippa tolerant of that name that Paul's own people, the Jews, hated.

And the context of Peter's statement reveals that "suffering as a Christian" was expected, because Jesus, Himself, had told him and the other apostles: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, THE WORLD WOULD LOVE HIS OWN: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore THE WORLD HATETH YOU." (John 15:18-19 KJV)

The name "Christian" is not a good label to be under in this world... nor does The Bible truly reveal that it is, by the way its used these three times in the KJV.

More modern translations of the Bible, however, use the word "Christian" or "Christianity" much more freely than the more stringent and concise translation of the King James Version. These modern versions take certain liberties that aren't in the originally inspired texts that, perhaps, shouldn't be taken; in light of the fact that the world's acceptance of Jesus' name hasn't changed over the centuries.

The "New Living Translation" [NLT] of the Bible uses variations of "Christian" liberally... often in place of the world "saint" or other words and phrases:

"...He made you holy by means of Jesus Christ, just as He did all Christians everywhere...". (I Cor.1:2 NLT)

(Same verse; KJV)"...to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints...".

"As a result, you yourselves became an example to all the Christians in Greece." (I Thess.1:7 NLT)

(Same verse; KJV): "So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia."

The King James Version was guided more by the orginally- inspired texts, and earlier Greek, Latin, etc. translations that were derived from the original texts, than many of the modern, more liberal, translations of the Bible. But the King James Version reveals that the originally inspired manuscripts used the term "Christian" sparingly. Nor was it originally intended... nor IS it, today, truly a term of endearment in the world that hates that name and the Person from whom it's derived.