Way, the — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

One of the names applied to the early Christian community (Acts 9:2). It was apparently used by both the Jewish and the secular community and appeared in both positive and negative assessments of the church (19:9, 23 OET ACT 19:9 · OET ACT 19:23; 22:4; 24:14, 22 OET ACT 24:14 · OET ACT 24:22). Paul’s use of the term in his defense before Felix suggests that the name had at least quasiofficial acceptance (24:14, 22 OET ACT 24:14 · OET ACT 24:22). Quite likely, the term came from Jesus’ own statement, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6).

Show passage in OET: ACT 9:2

OET-RV ACT 9:2

2 and obtained official letters to enable him to enter the Jewish meeting halls (Grk. synagogues) in Damesek (Damascus) so that if he found either male or female followers of Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus), he could arrest them and bring them to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) in chains.

OET-LV ACT 9:2

2 he _requested letters from him to the synagogues into Damaskos/(Dammeseq), so _that if he _may _find any of _the way, being both men and women, having _been _bound he _may _bring them to Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim).

Show passage in OET: ACT 19:9; ACT 19:23

OET-RV ACT 19:9

9 But as some of them refused to believe and became hardened against his teaching and started telling everyone that the Yeshua way was evil, Paulos stopped teaching in the meeting hall and taught the followers at Turannos’ school instead.

OET-RV ACT 19:23

23 But while he was still there, a major disturbance hit the Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) followers.

OET-LV ACT 19:9

9 But when some were _being _hardened and were _disbelieving, speaking _evil of the way before the multitude, having _withdrew from them he _set _apart the apprentices/followers, in _every day discussing in the school of _Turannos.

OET-LV ACT 19:23

23 And concerning the that time, a_ not little _disturbance became concerning the way.

Show passage in OET: ACT 22:4

OET-RV ACT 22:4

4 I used to persecute the followers of ‘The Path’ even to death—tying up both men and women and handing them over to the prisons

OET-LV ACT 22:4

4 who I _persecuted this the way until death, binding and giving _over to prisons, both men and women,

Show passage in OET: ACT 24:14; ACT 24:22

OET-RV ACT 24:14

14 However, I must confess that I follow ‘The Path’ that they call a sect which serves the God of our ancestors and believes everything in Mosheh’s (Moses’) law as well as the writings of the prophets.

OET-RV ACT 24:22

22 But Felix who was already familiar with followers of ‘The Path’, announced that the trial would be adjourned until Commander Lusias arrived when he would investigate further.

OET-LV ACT 24:14

14 But I _am _confessing this to _you that according _to the way which they _are _calling a_sect, thus I _am _serving unto _the ancestral god, believing in _all the things throughout the law and in _the things having _been _written in the prophets,

OET-LV ACT 24:22

22 But the Faʸlix he _put _off them, having _known more _exactly the things concerning the way, having _said:
Whenever Lusias the commander may _come _down, I _will _be _investigating the things concerning you _all,

Show passage in OET: JHN 14:6

OET-RV JHN 14:6

6 And Yeshua answered, “I am the path and the truth and the life. No one can get to the father except via me.

OET-LV JHN 14:6

6 Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) is _saying to _him:
I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No _one is _coming to the father, except not/lest by me.

Jump to OET ACT 9:2 section.

Jump to OET ACT 19:9 section. · OET ACT 19:23 section.

Jump to OET ACT 22:4 section.

Jump to OET ACT 24:14 section. · OET ACT 24:22 section.

Jump to OET JHN 14:6 section.

Followers of the Way

Early Christianity was far from being an abstract belief; it was a whole way of life. The new way of living was obvious to those around Christians and to the Christians themselves, for they were following Jesus’ lifestyle, the way he had lived and taught. Soon the term “this Way” or “the Way” meant Christian. Thus Saul (the pre-Christian name of Paul) was sent to Damascus to arrest anyone belonging to “the Way” (Acts 9:2). Christians may also have used the term to describe themselves; Luke referred to the Christian movement as “the Way” (Acts 19:9, 23 OET ACT 19:9 · OET ACT 19:23; 24:22). It may be the only name Christians and non-Christians both used for the new movement.

Show passage in OET: ACT 24:22

OET-RV ACT 24:22

22 But Felix who was already familiar with followers of ‘The Path’, announced that the trial would be adjourned until Commander Lusias arrived when he would investigate further.

OET-LV ACT 24:22

Jump to OET ACT 24:22 section.