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Which titles for Jesus appear in the New Testament?
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Christology
The Transfiguration, the nature of Jesus as the Son of God being revealed to the apostles Peter, James, and John, mosaic icon, early 13th century; in the Louvre, Paris.
In the New Testament, various titles are used to describe Jesus, reflecting early Christian theological reflection on his mission and identity. These titles include:1
- Son of Man: A prominent title in the Gospels, often associated with a heavenly figure expected to judge the world and usher in the kingdom of God.12
- Son of God: Used to denote Jesus' unique relationship to the Father.1
- Messiah (or Christ): Derived from the Greek christos and Hebrew meshiah, meaning "the anointed one." It signifies the belief that Jesus was the anointed son of King David.13
- Lord (Greek: Kyrios): The most widely used title in the apostolic age, implying adoration and serving as a comprehensible term for non-Jews.1
- Judge and High Priest: Descriptions found in the apostolic writings, such as the Epistle to the Hebrews.1
- Lamb of God: A title used by John the Baptist, though it appears sparingly in the rest of the apostolic writings.1
- Servant of God: Another title used in the New Testament, though it saw limited usage afterward.1
Additionally, Jesus was referred to by descriptive names such as "Jesus son of Joseph," "Jesus of Nazareth," or "Jesus the Nazarene".3