The Divine Names and Titles All
names and titles used of one Person represent the different relationships
which are sustained by Him. GOD.
I AM. Used by Christ of Himself, in John 8:58. See note on Exodus 3:14. FATHER. FATHER. Greek Pater. Expresses relationship, the correlative of which is "son". When used of man it not only denotes parentage, but it sometimes has the wider meaning of "ancestor", "founder", or a "senior" (as in 1John 2:13,14); also the author or source of anything (John 8:44. Hebrews 12:9); and expresses a spiritual relationship, as in 1Corinthians 4:15. When used of God it denotes His relationship to His "beloved Son"; and to those ("sons") who have been begotten (not "born", see note on Matthew 1:1) into a new creation. It implies "sons", not "offspring", as in Acts 17:28,29. These were "offspring", and were existing (Greek huparcho), as such, according to nature, on the ground of creation; not "sons" as being "begotten" into a new creation. ALMIGHTY. ALMIGHTY. Greek Pantokrator. This title belongs to the same God, as Creator, but expresses His relationship to all He has created, by the exercise of His power over "all the works of His hands". It occurs only in 2Corinthians 6:18. Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7,14; 19:6,15; 21:22. POTENTATE. POTENTATE. Greek Dunastes = a mighty Prince, or Ruler (compare English "dynasty"). Used of God, only in 1Timothy 6:15. Elsewhere used, only twice, of earthly rulers, in Luke 1:52 (generally), and of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:27. LORD. This is the rendering of two Greek words: i. Kurios, and ii. Despotes; and one Aramaic, iii. Rabboni.
So much depends on the presence or absence of the Greek Article, when used of the Divine relationship, that these are carefully distinguished in the subdivisions below. For obvious reasons the four Gospels have been treated, below, apart from the other books of the New Testament.
By others than His disciples.
Rendered "Sir" six times: John 4:11,15,19,49; 5:7; 20:15 (Mary, addressing the supposed gardener). By the Holy Spirit frequently in the narratives of the Evangelists.
B. In the other books of the New Testament.
EMMANUEL. EMMANUEL. Hebrew `Immanuel = God (El) with us (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8). Used of Christ, Matthew 1:23, being another proof of His Deity (see No. VI. i. a. 2. A. a. b.). MESSIAH. This is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Mashiah, with the same meaning, Anointed. Used twice of Christ (John 1:41; 4:25). CHRIST. This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Mashiah. See No. VIII. Christos has the same meaning, from chrio , to anoint. Hence, the Noun is used of and for the Messiah, and in the Gospels should always be translated "Messiah", as well as in the Acts, and sometimes in the later books of the New Testament. JESUS. Iesous is the same as the Hebrew Jehoshua, or the abbreviated form of Joshua (compare Hebrews 4:8), and means [the] Salvation of Jehovah, or Jehovah [the] Saviour. The name "Jesus" expresses the relation of Jehovah to Him in Incarnation, by which "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians. 2:8); Who, being God, did not deem His glory a thing not to be thus relinquished (see note on "robbery", Philippians 2:6). The name "Jesus" is the name associated with "the shame" which He endured in order to "save His People from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). His People therefore never addressed Him as "Jesus", but always as "Master" (No. XIV. v) or "Lord" (VI. i. a. 3). (John 13:13,14. Luke 6:46), and so should all His people to-day; not following the example of demons (Matthew 8:29), or of His enemies, who irreverently called Him "Jesus". JESUS CHRIST. In the combination of these two names, the former is emphatic by its position, the second being subsidiary and explanatory. In the Gospels it means "Jesus the Messiah". In the Epistles it means Jesus Who humbled Himself but is now exalted and glorified as Christ. Care should be taken to note the various readings. CHRIST JESUS. This is the converse of "Jesus Christ" (XI) and denotes the now exalted One, Who once humbled Himself. CHRIST THE LORD. This is the Hebrew Mashiah Jehovah = Jehovah's Anointed, as in 1Samuel 24:6. Occasionally only in Luke 2:11; and with the Article = the Anointed of Jehovah, Luke 2:26. MASTER. This title is the translation of eight distinct Greek words, which are all carefully distinguished in the notes.
The Lord spoken of as "Master" by Himself eight times: three times in Matthew (10:24,25; 26:18); once in Mark (14:14); thrice in Luke (6:40,40; 22:11); once in John (13:14). The Lord spoken of as "Master" by others than Himself six times: twice in Matthew (9:11; 17:24); once in Mark (5:35); once in Luke (8:49); twice in John (11:28; 13:13). Spoken of others than the Lord twice, and rendered "master" in John 3:10. James 3:1. In other renderings once "doctor" (Luke 2:46), and ten times "teacher", once of the Lord (John 3:2), and nine times of human teachers (Acts 13:1. Romans 2:20. 1Corinthians 12:28,29. Ephesians 4:11. 1Timothy 2:7. 2Timothy 1:11; 4:3. Hebrews 5:12).
Used of others than the Lord four times (Matthew 23:7,7,8. John 3:26).
THE SON OF GOD. This title expresses the relation of the Son to the Father (Matthew 1:20. Luke 1:31,35); and of all those who are begotten of God (see note on Matthew 1:1. 1John 3:1). It differs therefore from the relationship expressed by "the Son of man", which relates to "dominion" in the earth (see XVI, below). As the Son of God, Christ is "the heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2), and is invested with "all power", and is "the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25), having power to raise the dead (John 5:25). As "the Son of man", all judgment is committed to Him (John 5:27) in the earth. See on No. XVI, below. THE SON OF MAN. This title, when used of Christ, always has the Article; and the word for man is anthropos (see Appendix 123. I). When used of a human being, as in Ezekiel, it never has the Article (see notes on Psalm 8:4, and Ezekiel 2:1). To the "first man, Adam" was given dominion over the works of the Creator (Genesis 1:26). Through the Fall (Genesis 3), this dominion was forfeited, and lost, and is now in abeyance; no one son of Adam having any right to universal dominion. Hence, all the chaos, "unrest", and conflicts between men and nations, which must continue until He shall come Whose right it is to rule in the earth (Ezekiel 21:27). The great enemy, who wrought all the mischief at the Fall, has tried, from time to time, to exercise this authority by setting up some human head. He tried Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, and others, and in later days Napoleon; but he will finally succeed for a brief period with the Antichrist, until "the second man", "the last Adam" (1Corinthians 15:45), "the Son of Man", to Whom all dominion in the earth has, in the counsels of God, been given, shall take unto Him His great power and reign. All this and more is contained in His title as "the Son of Man". Its first occurrence is in Psalm 8, where in verses 1 and 8 His connection with the "earth" is proclaimed; and "dominion" over it is given to Him. It denotes Him Who is "the heir of all things", in virtue of which all things shall one day be put under His feet. "But now we see not yet all things put under Him. But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels", humbling Himself unto death, even the death of the Cross (compare Hebrews 2:8,9). In support of this the occurrences and distribution of this title in the New Testament are full of significance and instruction. (1) As to the occurrences. We find the expression eighty-eight times: Matthew 8: 20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8,32,40; 13:37,41; 16:13,27,28; 17:9,12,22; 18:11; 19:28; 20:18,28; 24:27,30,30,37,39,44; 25:13,31; 26:2,24,24,45,64. Mark 2:10,28; 8:31,38; 9:9,12,31; 10:33,45; 13:26; 14:21,21,41,62. Luke 5:24; 6:5,22; 7:34; 9:22,26,44,56,58; 11:30; 12:8,10,40; 17:22,24,26,30; 18:8,31; 19:10; 21:27,36; 22:22,48,69; 24:7. John 1:51; 3:13,14; 5:27; 6:27,53,62; 8:28; 12:23,34,34; 13:31. Acts 7:56. Hebrews 2:6.4 Revelation 1:13; 14:14. On John 9:35 see note there.The first is in Matthew 8: 20, where the first thing stated of, and by, the One Who humbled Himself is that in this same earth "the Son of man had not where to lay His head."The second, in like manner, is connected with the earth, and shows that He was God, as well as Man, having "authority on earth to forgive sins" (Matthew 9: 6); and so the order of the occurrences may be carried out.Note, in this connection, the contrast between the relationship to mankind of the Lord, as "the Son of God", and as "the Son of man" in John 5:25-27. Compare Acts 10:40-42; 17:31. (2) As to the distribution of this title: out of the
whole number (88), no less than 84 are in the Four Gospels, which contain the record of
His coming for this special purpose; and of His rejection. They are all used by the Lord
of Himself. This distribution of the title shows us that it has nothing whatever to do with "the Church of God"; and that those who belong to it have no relation to the Lord Jesus as "the Son of Man". They stand related to Him as "the Son of God". The distribution between the four separate Gospels is equally significant. In Matthew it occurs 32 times. Matthew 8:20 is the first occurrence in the New Testament, and it is interesting to contrast it with the last occurrence (Revelation 14:14). In the first He had "not where to lay His head", but in the last that head has on it "a golden crown", and in His hands is seen "a sharp sickle". With this He reaps in judgment the harvest of the earth, for the time to reap it will then have come. This is emphasized by the word "earth" being 6 times repeated in the verses 15,16,18,19. In Mark it occurs 14 times, which is twice seven; the two of testimony, and the seven of spiritual perfection of Jehovah's Servant. In Luke it occurs 26 times. In John it occurs 12 times, the number which stands associated with Divine governmental perfection. (See Appendix 10.) Similarly significant are the first and last occurrences in the Four Gospels respectively : the first being in connection with the humiliation of "the Son of man", and the last with His glorification. Compare Mathew 8:20 with 26:64; Mark 2:10 with 14:62; Luke 5:24 with 24:7; and John 3:13,14 with 13:31. Thus, while as "the Son of God" He is "the Heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2), as "the Son of man" He is the Heir to that dominion in the earth which was entrusted to the first man, and forfeited by him. Expresses the relation of the Son of man, as being heir to the land given to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21). Expresses His relationship, as being the Heir to David's throne (2Samuel 7:12-16. Isaiah 11:1. Acts 2:29-32; 13:33-37. Revelation 5:5; 22:16). NOTES Because, in Mark, the presentation of the Lord is as "Jehovah's Servant"; and a servant is not usually addressed as Lord. See notes on page 1381. This is not a peculiarity of Mark, but shows the accuracy and perfection of this presentation by the Holy Spirit. Once by a Gentile, the other being omitted by the Critical texts (though not by the Syr.). The reference in Hebrews 2:6 is a quotation from Psalm 8:4, and refers to "the first man", Adam; and only by application to the Lord. |