Basic HTML Version
$
(
$
, 5580) denotes “one who falsely lays claim to the
name and office of the Messiah,” Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22.¶ See
Note
under
ANTICHRIST
.
CHRISTIAN
(
I$
, 5546), “Christian,” a word formed after the Roman style,
signifying an adherent of Jesus, was first applied to such by the Gentiles and is found in
Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16.
Though the word rendered “were called” in Acts 11:26 (see under
CALL
) might be
used of a name adopted by oneself or given by others, the “Christians” do not seem to
have adopted it for themselves in the times of the apostles. In 1 Pet. 4:16, the apostle is
speaking from the point of view of the persecutor, cf. “as a thief,” “as a murderer.” Nor is
it likely that the appellation was given by Jews. As applied by Gentiles there was no
doubt an implication of scorn, as in Agrippa’s statement in Acts 26:28. Tacitus, writing
near the end of the first century, says, “The vulgar call them Christians. The author or
origin of this denomination, Christus, had, in the reign of Tiberius, been executed by the
procurator, Pontius Pilate” (Annals xv. 44). From the second century onward the term
was accepted by believers as a title of honor.¶
CHRYSOLITE
$
(
$
, 5555), lit., “a gold stone” (
$
, “gold,”
, “a
stone”), is the name of a precious stone of a gold color, now called “a topaz,” Rev. 21:20
(see also Exod. 28:20 and Ezek. 28:13).¶
CHRYSOPRASUS
$
(
$ $
, 5556), from (
$
, “gold,” and
, “a leek”), is a
precious stone like a leek in color, a translucent, golden green. Pliny reckons it among the
beryls. The word occurs in Rev. 21:20.¶
For
CHURCH
see
ASSEMBLY
and
CONGREGATION
CINNAMON
(
1
, 2792) is derived from an Arabic word signifying “to emit
a smell”; the substance was an ingredient in the holy oil for anointing, Ex. 30:23. See also
Prov. 7:17 and Song of Sol. 4:14. In the NT it is found in Rev. 18:13. The cinnamon of
the present day is the inner bark of an aromatic tree called
.¶
CIRCUIT
(
$ !$
, 4022), “to go about” ( , “about,”
, “to go”),
is said of “navigating a ship under difficulty owing to contrary winds,” Acts 28:13,
RV
,
“we made a circuit,” for
KJV
, “we fetched a compass.” See
COMPASS
,
STROLLING
,
WANDER
.
CIRCUMCISION, UNCIRCUMCISION, CIRCUMCISE
A. Nouns.
1.
(
$ )
, 4061), lit., “a cutting round, circumcision” (the verb is
), was a rite enjoined by God upon Abraham and his male descendants and
dependents, as a sign of the covenant made with him, Gen. 17; Acts 7:8; Rom. 4:11.