| Summary: | The most likely original derivation of paganus is from the late military sense, civilian as contrasted with a miles Christi. However, the term is not part of the 3nd century Christian literary vocabulary. In Christian writers of the 4th century, the term is said to have from paganus, "rustic". On the basis of his etymology, their use of the term is abusive, that is, they wished to lump the rustic non-Christian farmer with the proud, wealthy, senatorial pagans of the cities for rhetorical effect.
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Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Paganus: Evolution and Use 
Paganus