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2. "The Titles of Jesus"

Advanced Religious Studies – Reid G and Tyler S (Philip Allan Updates, 2002)

‘The Titles of Jesus', pages 270-271 © Advanced Religious Studies, Gordon Reid and Sarah Tyler, 2002, Philip Allan Updates

 

Throughout the New Testament Jesus is given a variety of titles and descriptions, many with symbolic meaning:

 

• Jesus

• This is a common first name for a Jewish male. It derives from Joshua and means ‘ The Lord is my help' .

     

• Christ

•  This was not part of Jesus's name, but was a title given to him. It comes from the Greek Christos and Hebrew Mashiah ( Messiah ) which mean ‘ anointed one'.
•  It was first used to describe anyone entrusted with a divine mission, such as a prophet, priest or king.
•   From this, the notion grew up that an anointed one would one day come from God to save Israel and usher in a new messianic age, the kingdom of God.
•  Many Jews saw the Messiah as the ideal human being who would destroy the enemies of Israel and set up a Jewish kingdom ruled by the line of David.
•   On the Last Day, the Messiah would gather together God's people for Judgment and life in paradise.

     

• Lord

• This was a title given to gods, including God in the Old Testament. It was little used by the Gospel writers, but a great deal by Paul (222 times) to express the idea of Christ's rule over the entire world.

   

• Son of Man

•  This was a title that Jesus used to describe himself.  
•  It came from the Old Testament and is the form of address used by God when talking to the prophet Ezekiel
•  It also refers to a heavenly figure mentioned in Daniel 7:13 as one who will some day come down from heaven to bring salvation and judgment.
•   Jesus seems to fulfil the roles attributed to this eschatological figure. He uses this term when he speaks of his messianic authority on earth and in the age to come, and also of his suffering, death and resurrection.

    

• Son of David

•  This was a Messianic title coming from the Old Testament notion that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David
•  Jesus' adoptive relationship with Joseph grafts him onto the Davidic line. 

     

• Son of God

•  In the Old Testament , this phrase was used to describe the King of Israel (Psalm 2:7). In the Gospels it highlights Jesus' unique relationship with God and for the evangelists it is the pre-eminent title for Jesus.
•   Mark brings his Gospel to a climax with the centurion's confession at the foot of the cross that ‘ Surely this man was the Son of God ' ( 15:39 ).

• I am ( Ego Eimi )

•   ‘I am' is the name of God, given to Moses in Exodus 3:14 .
•   Jesus uses it exclusively in the Fourth Gospel to highlight his own divinity.

• The Lamb

• At Passover, a lamb would be sacrificed as an atonement for sins. The evangelists see Jesus's death in the same way.

• This was itself highlighted by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who said that the Servant of God (possibly meaning the Messiah) would be ‘ led like a lamb to the slaughter ' (53:7).