BIBLE DOCTRINE II
LECTURE 32
CHRISTOLOGY – THE NAMES & OFFICES OF CHRIST
THE NAMES & TITLES OF JESUS CHRIST
The 5 most common names/titles of Jesus
Title / Jesus / Christ / Lord / Son of Man / Son of GodMt / 172 / 17 / 52 / 32 / 9
Mk / 93 / 7 / 18 / 14 / 4
Lk / 98 / 13 / 87 / 26 / 6
Jn / 254 / 21 / 43 / 12 / 11
Acts / 68 / 31 / 108 / 1 / 2
Heb / 14 / 13 / 17 / 4
James / 2 / 2 / 14 / -
Peter / 20 / 29 / 21 / -
John / 14 / 14 / 1 / 8
Jude / 5 / 5 / 6 / -
Rev / 14 / 11 / 21 / 2 / 1
Gospels / 617 / 58 / 200 / 84 / 30
Paul / 221 / 406 / 279 / - / 4
Others / 137 / 105 / 188 / 3 / 15
NT Total / 975 / 569 / 667 / 87 / 49
[JBSmith, Greek-English Concordance To the New Testament: A Tabular and Statistical Greek-English Concordance…]
The following is taken from David Cloud’s ‘Attendance to Doctrine’ ebook.
Pastor Warner’s work is in [brackets].
JESUS. “In the gospel records He is called ‘Jesus,’ His personal name by birth into the world (Mt. 1:21; Lk. 1:31).
Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Its basic meaning is ‘Saviour—salvation’ (He saves, delivers, makes free, makes safe).
It is the N.T. equivalent of ‘Joshua.’ This precious name occurs nearly 700 times in the N.T.; over 600 times in the gospels alone.
We account for the infrequent use of this peerless name in the Epistles due to the new position of Jesus as risen and exalted. ‘Christ Jesus’ or ‘Jesus Christ’ is the name used in the Epistles for this new position of exaltation and glorification. These titles are used upwards of 200 times. ‘Jesus’ alone is used about 40 times in the Epistles” (Boyd).
[The name ‘Jesus’ was a common name used by the Jews in that ‘era’. But, this Jesus was a specific Jesus --
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:]
CHRIST. “This is the Greek word for the Hebrew ‘Messiah,’ meaning ‘anointed.’
This title occurs about 50 times in the gospels as compared to about 300 times in the Epistles.
‘Christ’ is an official designation, or title, and is usually written with the article prefixed as ‘the Christ.’ When Jesus said to His disciples, ‘whom say ye that I am?’ Peter replied, ‘Thou art “The Christ”, the Son of the living God’ (Mt. 16,16)” (Boyd).
[Though, it does not always have to have the article ‘the’ before it:
Acts 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Christ is not Jesus’ last name.
“It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people.”
(Easton's Bible Dictionary)
Christ is a Person, not just an ‘office’ or position.
Matt 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David]
JESUS CHRIST. “This double title appears only five times in the gospels, but is used 184 times by Paul, Peter, and John in their Letters. The lowly humbled Man on the earth, Jesus, is now the exalted and glorified Man in the heavens, Christ. What He was as ‘Jesus,’ and what He is as ‘Christ’ combined, give the force of this title. The sufferings of earth and the glories of heaven are thus wondrously linked in the divine order of the names ‘Jesus Christ’” (Boyd.).
[May these two names never be separated! They go together uniquely; for, no other ‘person’ is, was, or can be, ‘the Christ’…only Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, is ‘Christ’!]
CHRIST JESUS. This title is not used in the gospels but appears 58 times in Paul’s epistles and in 1 Peter. The reversal of the order emphasizes the deity and exalted status of the risen, ascended Lord.
[Should we ever use the name ‘Jesus’ alone, without the term ‘Christ’ (or Lord) with it?
The word ‘Jesus’ occurs 290 times from Romans thru Revelation and is without ‘deity’ designation (i.e. Christ or Lord) in only about 10 instances. It ought to be very rare for us to use the name ‘Jesus’ alone. The Charismatics and Ecumenicals seem to throw the name around by itself fairly frequently…I would be very careful of this.
LORD Where the word “Lord” appears in the New Testament it is a translation of the Greek word “kurios” (kurioß).
The word “Lord” in the New Testament is used of God in the context of both “Lord” (Master) and “LORD” (Jehovah). Compare the following Old Testament and New Testament scriptures to note this important point:
Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Matt 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord….
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.]
LORD JESUS CHRIST. The full title of the Saviour appears 132 times in the epistles. “This is the full written title of our blessed Saviour, connecting His authority (Lord) with His manhood (Jesus) and glory (Christ)” (Boyd.).
[This title does not appear in the New Testament until Acts 11:17. “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?”
The NIV perverts and omits the deifying names of Christ! ‘Jesus’is missing 36 times; ‘Christ’is missing 44 times; ‘Lord’ is missing 35 times; ‘God’ is missing 31 times! Total ommited deifying names associated with the name Jesus is 146 !]
SON OF DAVID. This title is used 14 times in the New Testament and identifies Jesus as the Son who has inherited David’s throne.
[This was a prophetic title.
Jesus is of the lineage of King David -
Matt 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matt 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Matt 22:44-45 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?]
SON OF MAN. The term “son of man” appears 108 times in the Old Testament, and refers to men in general (Nu. 23:19; Job 25:6; Ps. 146:3) and to Ezekiel in particular (93 times).
In Daniel 7:13, the title “son of man” refers to Christ prophetically. “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”
The term “son of man” appears 85 times in the New Testament (81 times in the gospels and four times in the epistles).
And, except possibly for Heb. 2:6, it always refers to Christ.
He often used this term when referring to himself; Matt 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
It describes his identity with mankind and with humanity in his incarnation, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
[Jesus was indeed a man… a human male.]
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
[Jesus was indeed the son of ‘man’; not a male (i.e. Joseph), but of the generic ‘man’, ‘mankind’ (thru Mary).]
SON OF GOD. This title describes the eternal Sonship and Deity of Jesus Christ. He is God, the Second Person of the Trinity. It appears in 42 verses.
Matt 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matt 26:63,64 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said:
Mark 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
[This was a title of deity; the ‘Son of man’ was a title of humanness.
Some blasphemously declare “How could God have a son?” It may not make sense to the mere mortal mind, but it definitely makes sense to God, for He has placed it in the Bible in 42 separate verses.]
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OTHER NAMES AND
TITLES OF CHRIST
Advocate (1 Jn. 2:1).
Bread of Life (Jn. 6:35).
Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15).
Chief Cornerstone (Ep. 2:20).
Consolation of Israel (Lk. 2:25).
Counsellor (Is. 9:6).
Cornerstone (Mt. 21:42).
Dayspring (Lk. 1:78).
Door (Jn. 10:7,9).
Emmanuel (Mt. 1:23).
Everlasting Father (Is. 9:6).
Friend (Jn. 15:15).
Friend of Sinners (Mt. 11:19).
God (Jn. 20:28).
Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11).
Governor (Mt. 2:6).
Gift of God (Jn. 4:10).
Greater than Jonah (Mt. 12:41).
Greater than Solomon (Mt. 12:42).
Holy One of God (Mk. 1:24).
Heir (Mt. 21:38).
King of Israel (Mt. 2:2; 21:5; 25:34).
I AM (Jn. 8:58).
Judge (2 Ti. 4:8).
Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29).
Life (Jn. 11:25).
Light of the World (Jn. 8:12).
Living Water (Jn. 7:37-38).
Lord of glory (1 Co. 2:8).
Master (Mt. 10:24).
Mediator (1 Ti. 2:5).
Messiah (Jn. 1:41).
Mighty God (Is. 9:6).
Nazarene (Mt. 2:23).
Only Begotten Son (Jn. 1:14).
Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6).
Prophet (Mt. 13:57).
Physician (Mt. 9:12).
Rabbi (Jn. 1:38).
Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25).
Rock (1 Co. 10:4).
Savior (Mt. 1:21).
Shepherd (Mt. 26:31).
Son of God (Mt. 14:33).
Son of man (Mt. 8:20).
Son of David (Mt. 21:9).
Son of Abraham (Mt. 1:1).
Sower (Mt. 13:3,37).
Stumblingstone (Ro. 9:33).
True Vine (Jn. 15:1).
Truth (Jn. 14:6).
Wonderful (Is. 9:6).
Word (Jn. 1:1).
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THE OFFICES OF CHRIST
We now enter upon a study of the work of Jesus Christ, a subject which is generally viewed in its three stages: past, present, and prospective (future) —orasa presentation of our Lord in His three distinctive offices — Prophet, Priest, and Potentate (King).
PROPHET — One Who Speaks to the People for God.
Deut 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Acts 3:20,22 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Mt 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Hb 1:2a Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…
Christ’s Present Prophetic Ministry --
Jn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
PRIEST — One Who Speaks to God for the People.
Ps 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.
Christ’s Present Priestly Ministry.
Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
POTENTATE — One Who Reigns over the People as God.
Is 9:6,7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rv 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Heb 7:1-3 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
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