THE WAY AS CHRISTIANS WERE CALLED THEN

“THE WAY” AS USED IN THE SCRIPTURE
In the first place, "way" is used to suggest a course or path, a way of life that is definable and distinguishable. For instance, there is a "way of wisdom," the "way of the ant," and the "way to her house" (Prov. 4: 11; 6: 6; 7: 8). This usage of "way" involved the FIGURATIVE.
In this vein, we read of the "way of God." The writer of Psalms 119:15 wrote, "I will mediate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways" (KJV). “I study yout instructions; I examine your teachings” (Good News Bible, GNB) To the converse, we read of the false way. "Through thy precepts I get understanding," he further declared, "therefore I hate every false way" (Ps. 119: 104). God's way or the way of the righteous leads to spiritual life (Prov. 12: 28). The Bible teaches the free moral agency of man (freedom of choice, compare. Ps. 44: 18, 119: 101). Man can elect to leave God's way (Prov. 15: 10). Regarding man, we read how man often rationalizes his way. This is expressed in the language, "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits" KJVProv. 16: 2). “You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord Judges your motives” (GNB)
While others may concede the understandability of God's way, they contend that the way of righteousness cannot be understood alike; hence, true unity based on truth cannot be attained. "The way of the slothful man is an hedge of thorns," wrote the wise man, "but the way of the righteous is made plain" (Prov. 15: 19). Many centuries later, the apostle Paul wrote: "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3: 4; 4: 1-6). While God's way is plain and understandable and capable of being traveled, it is narrow and confining. Jesus taught,: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7: 13, 14).
In New Testament terminology and concept, there is no doubt or question about "the way." Jesus emphatically and decisively said of himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Jn. 14: 6). Therefore, all religions that deny Jesus and his Sonship, are not in the way that leads people to God.
More so, the prophet Isaiah prophesied of the way thus: "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called THE WAY OF HOLINESS; the unclean shall not pass over it;…but the redeemed shall walk there" (Isa. 35:8-9). The Book of Acts is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, as the new age, "The Way," was introduced in Acts chapter two. Knowledge of "the way" grew until it was said, "…verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world" (Rom. 10: 18).
ACTS OF APOSTLES UNDERSTANDING OF “THE WAY”.
In basic harmony with usage found in the Bible as quoted above, " the way" is used by the writer of Acts to MEAN A COURSE OR PATH. The angel spoke thus to Philip: "Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert" (Acts 8: 26). In Acts 2: 28, "way" (Greek hodos) in the expression "ways of life" is spiritually or figuratively used. Thus, "way" is used in Acts BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY. Paul rebuked a false teacher in the following manner: "And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13: 10). We learn two things from this verse, the ways of the Lord are right and they can be perverted by man. Such perversion constitutes the "false way" concerning which the Psalmist said he hated (Ps. 119: 104). The Lord's way and man's way, then, do not intermingle or interchange. To seek to blend or merge them constitutes perversity.
 Another insight as to how "way" is used in Acts is seen in Paul's statement to the people of Lystra. "Who in times past suffered all nations to walk," Paul explains, "in their own ways" (Acts 14: 16). Consistent with the idea and concept of "way," we read of men walking or traveling. In this case, they are walking in their own ways as opposed to God's ways. Paul said there was a time when God had some tolerance for this matter, but this time was past (compare Acts 17: 30, 31).
OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE, "WAY" IS USED IN ACTS AS PERTAINING TO THE COURSE THAT RESULTS IN MAN'S SALVATION. "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation," said the women concerning whom Paul later performed a miracle (Acts 16: 17 ff.). One might say that a certain highway leads to a certain city. It could be that the particular road is the only way to arrive at that city. By traveling that road, one would end up at the desired destination. In a spiritual sense, this is precisely what is meant by "way of salvation" (Greek: odon soterias). The fact of the "way of salvation" not only shows salvation is obtainable, but the expression also indicates that there is a way that leads to salvation, a way that must be followed to arrive at salvation. This brings us to our next and final observation of "way" in Acts.
It is in the Book of Acts that "way" takes on a new, special meaning and usage. Acts presents the concept of "the way." It was said of Saul, "And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem" (Acts 9: 2). "This way" is literally "the way" (tes odou). "The way" clearly distinguishes the way of Christianity apart from other ways and also suggests the exclusiveness of the way of Christ. The Jews at Ephesus "spoke evil of that way before the multitude," we are told. Again, the Greek is "the way." We also read, "And the same time there arose no small stir about that way" (Acts 19: 23). "The way" was despairingly called "heresy" by some (Acts 24: 14). We also read that Felix acquired "more perfect knowledge of that way" (Acts 24: 22). "THE WAY" STANDS OUT IN ACTS AS A STRIKINGLY DIFFERENT SYSTEM.
The lesson regarding "the way" in Acts is that Christianity is a course that can be defined and determined. It is a course that can be entered and traveled, having a definite destination, heaven. "The way" is a way that has many clear and readable road and directional signs in order that it can be safely navigated. There are many alleged roads or ways to heaven, but they in reality lead to hell (Prov. 14: 12, Matt. 7: 13, 14,). There are also many man-made roadblocks, detours, and barricades put in place by man.
Jesus had said to His disciples, "I am the way, the truth and the life no man comes to the Father but by Me." The term "THE WAY" REFERRED TO THOSE WHO WERE TRUSTING IN JESUS CHRIST AS THE WAY TO GOD. In Acts 9:2, we find that Paul was authorized to go to Damascus to find those of this way and bind them and bring them to Jerusalem to the tribunal. In Acts 16:1, when Paul was in Philippi he was followed by a girl with an evil spirit that cried, "These men are the servants of the most high God, who show us the way of salvation. Acts 18:25, speaking of Apollo it said that he was instructed in the way of the Lord. In Acts 18:6, when Aquila and Priscilla heard him they took him aside and instructed him in the way of God more completely. In Ephesus (Acts 19:9), many were hardened to the message of Paul and believed not, they began to speak evil of that way. In Acts 22:4, Paul speaks of persecuting this way. In Acts 24:14, Paul confessed that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers. In Acts 24:22, we read that when Felix heard these things he had a more complete knowledge of that way. No.1 THE WAY is a word that was synonymous with the word CHRISTIAN. It seems that the Romans considered the Way to be a sect of Judaism rather than a separate religion (Remember that these followers of Christ were Jews and of Judaism. Jesus was not a Christian. Jesus observed Judaism. So, the Jews saw the Chrstians then as those in Judaism with a radical teaching. They were never seen as a new religion but a radical sect in Judaism). No.2 PRESUMABLY, the early followers of Christ referred to themselves as followers of the Way because of Jesus’ statement in John 14:6 that He is “the way and the truth and the life.” Luke says that Aquila and Priscilla explained to Apollos “the way of God” more fully (Acts 18:26). Peter refers to Christianity as “the way of truth” (2 Peter 2:2). And the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus’ broken body is the “new and living way” for us to enter the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19–20). SUMMARILY, THE WAY is the name followers of Christ were identified with, before they were called CHRISTIANS in Antioch. Acts 11:26 says that it was in Antioch that BELIEVERS (GNB)/ DISCIPLES (HOLY BIBLE) were first called CHRISTIANS. It means that there may have been a name or a phrase they were identified with, before they were called Christians. St Paul began his Missionary journey around 33-36AD from this Church in Antioch, and this was the period believers were first called Christians. Since then in Antioch, there is no indication, both biblical and extra-biblical that they were still called Christians, rather they still refer to themselves as BELIEVERS/ DISCIPLES OF CHRIST/FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY.  Then, the first use of the  word CHRISTIANITY was by Saint Ignatius of Antioch around 100AD. So, the concepts of CHRISTIANITY AND CATHOLIC CHURCH began with Saint Ignatius of Antioch.  Note that 100AD is the beginning of 2nd century.
Today there are various Bibles that include The Way in their titles. There is also a book by Josemaria Escriva, founder of the Catholic Opus Dei, titled The Way. Additionally, there is a cult called The Way or The Way International.
CATHOLIC was first used to describe the Christian Church in the early 2nd century to emphasize its universal scope. The term has been incorporated into the name of the largest Christian communion, the Catholic Church. Protestant churches use the term “Catholic Church”  to refer broadly to all believers in Jesus Christ across the world and the ages, regardless of denominational affiliation (This explains why many of the Protestant Churches are doing communion services now, to obey Jesus’ command. Some do it once a month, someone do it twice a month. Some use it as a special programme to attract members. Some Protestant Pastors are wearing Alb and Chasuble today, and so on).
The first use of the term “Catholic Church” was by Saint Ignatius of Antioch in his letter SMYRNAEANS written around 110AD. The term as used by St Ignatius means UNIVERSAL, and refers to the UNIVERSAL CHURCH of Jesus Christ. From our interactions so far, we know that, from the first century to fifth century, the Church was one. So Ignatius of Antioch trued to give followers of Christ a name, which they are to be called. You still remember that there is no Islamic religion then, it were only Judaism and pagan worship.
© UTAZI PRINCE MARIE BENIGNUS SFDPM