Presbyterians of the Past

New Testament Names and Designations for Jesus

“What’s in a name?” asks Juliet as she speaks to Romeo from the balcony in Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Whether a rose be called by another name, it would still have its sweet fragrance. But when it comes to the designations or names of Jesus in the New Testament there is quite a lot in a name with each one fully inspired and providing information about his person and work.

The list of designations for Jesus that follows this introduction was drawn from the “Index of the Designations of our Lord” on pages 307-11 of The Lord of Glory, which was written by B. B. Warfield and published by the American Tract Society of New York in 1907. The book was written to show the abundant evidence from Scripture testifying to the divinity of Christ in an era when his identity as the Son of God was not only increasingly questioned by some professing Christians but also denied. Editor John H. Kerr of the American Tract Society compiled an index of the designations for Jesus in the book with page references for the purpose of locating occurrences, so since the references are not needed for the current purpose, the page numbers have been removed. Some designations have been relocated in the list and use of “the” has been eliminated because it occurred repeatedly and interrupted the flow. For example, instead of listing “Author (the) and Perfector of our Faith,” for “the Author and Perfector of our Faith,” as did Kerr, the entry is written “Author and Perfector of our Faith.” Warfield was grateful to Kerr for his indexing work.

Any value the book may have is very greatly increased by the full and accurate index of the passages of Scripture cited, which has been prepared by the Rev. Dr. John H. Kerr, Secretary of the American Tract Society, to whom also is wholly due any accuracy which may have been attained in printing the book. The great pains which Dr. Kerr has taken in verifying the numerous references with his own hands and otherwise watching over the actual printing of the book, have made the printed volume almost as much his as the author’s; and the author takes this opportunity of acknowledging them and returning his thanks for them. There are two other indexes, one of which gives a list of the designations our Lord employed in the New Testament, while the other notes the authors cited.

The list that follows includes 163 designations for Jesus in the New Testament. Some of the terminology could have been updated but I wanted the list to read as the designations were presented in The Lord of Glory. Note that the list includes only those designations mentioned by Warfield in the book and may not be a complete list of New Testament terminology about Jesus . Clarification comments are included in brackets.

It is a devotional experience to read through this list and consider the aspects of Jesus’ person and work brought out by each one. The terminology is rich in its theology with an abundance of Old Testament language that looks forward to and describes Jesus. You might find it beneficial to read the list aloud and consider the greatness of the Son of God particularly in our era of suspicion regarding the supernatural. Even though Bible readers will be familiar with the terms, it is a different experience to read them gathered in a list. As the Crucifixion and Resurrection remembrance called Easter approaches, it is hoped this list of designations helps readers to think of the greatness of the Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus.

Barry Waugh


The Names and Designations of Jesus in the New Testament

Advocate

Advocate with the Father

Alpha and Omega

Amen, the Faithful and True Witness

Apostle and High Priest of our Confession

Author and Perfecter of our Faith

Author and Savior

Author of Life

Author of Salvation

Beginning and the End

Beginning of the Creation of God

Beloved

Bishop of our Souls

Bread of God

Bridegroom

Bright and Morning Star

Captain of Salvation

Chosen One of God

Christ

Christ a King

Christ Jesus

Christ Jesus our Lord

Christ Jesus our Savior

Christ Jesus the Lord

Christ of God

Christ the King of Israel

Christ the Lord

Christ the Son of the Living God

Comforter

Coming One

Despot [a household master or lord]

Door

Effulgence of God’s Glory

Elect of God

Eternal Life

Faithful and True

Faithful and True Witness

Faithful Witness

First and the Last and the Living One

Firstborn

Firstborn of the Dead

Glory

God

God and Savior, Jesus Christ

God over all

God’s Christ

God’s Own Son

God’s Son, Jesus

Good Shepherd

Good Teacher

Great God and Savior

Great Shepherd of the Sheep

Guide

He that hath the Keys of David

He that hath the Seven Spirits of God and the Seven Stars

He that hath the sharp, two-edged Sword

He that Holds the Seven Stars

He that is Holy and True

He that Loved us and loosed us from our sins

Heir of all things

High Priest

Holy and Righteous One

Holy One

Holy One of God

Holy Thing

House Master

Image of God

Image of God’s Substance

Immanuel

Jesus

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ our Lord

Jesus Christ our Savior

Jesus Christ the Lord

Jesus Christ the Nazarene

Jesus Christ the Righteous

Jesus Christ the Son of the Father

Jesus Master

Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus our Lord

Jesus, surnamed Christ

Jesus, the Galilean

Jesus, the King of the Jews

Jesus, the Nazarene

Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee

Jesus, the Son of David

Jesus, the Son of God

Jesus, the Son of Joseph

Jesus, the Son of the Most-High God

King

King of Israel

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

King of the Jews

Lamb

Lamb of God

Lamb that hath been slain

Life

Life Eternal

Light

Light of Man

Light of the World

Lion that is of the Tribe of Judah

Living One

Lord

Lord and Christ

Lord and God

Lord and Savior

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Lord Christ

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus Christ

Lord of Glory

Lord of Lords and King of Kings

Lord of the House

Lord’s Christ

Man

Man Child

Master

Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Master of the House

Mediator of the New Covenant

Messiah

Nazarene

Only begotten

Only begotten from the Father

Only begotten God

Only begotten Son

Only begotten Son of God

Paraclete

Priest

Prince

Prince and Savior

Prince of Life

Principle of the Creation of God

Prophet

Rabbi

Rabboni

Resurrection and the Life

Righteous One

Root and Offspring of David

Ruler of the Kings of the Earth

Savior

Savior of the World

Sent of God

Servant of God

Shepherd

Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls

Son

Son of Abraham

Son of David

Son of God

Son of Joseph

Son of Man

Son of the Blessed

Son of the Living God

Son of the Most High

Son of the Most-High God

Teacher

True God and Eternal Life

Word

Word of God

Word of Life


AMEN, AND AMEN

Join the Mailing List

Be the first to know about the latest posts on Presbyterians of the Past.
Loading

Contact the Author

Subscribe to RSS