In the Bible and other Christian texts, Jesus Christ is known by a variety of names and titles, from the Lamb of God to the Almighty to the Light of the World. Some titles, such as the Savior, express Christ's role within the theological framework of Christianity, while others are primarily metaphorical.

Common Names and Titles for Jesus Christ

In the Bible alone, there are more than 150 different titles used in reference to Jesus Christ. However, some titles are much more common than others:

Christ: The title "Christ" is derived from the Greek Christós and means "the anointed one." It is used in Matthew 16:20: "Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ." The title also appears at the very beginning of the Book of Mark: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Son of God: Jesus is referred to as the "Son of God" throughout the New Testament—for example, in Matthew 14:33, after Jesus walks on water: "And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'" The title emphasizes Jesus's divinity. Lamb of God: This title appears only once in the Bible, though in a crucial passage, John 1:29: "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" The identification of Jesus with the lamb emphasizes Christ's innocence and obedience before God, an essential aspect of the crucifixion. New Adam: In the Old Testament, it is Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, who precipitate the fall of man by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. A passage in First Corinthians 15:22 positions Jesus as a new, or second, Adam who by his sacrifice will redeem the fallen man: "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." Light of the World: This is a title Jesus bestows on himself in John 8:12: "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" Light is used in its traditional metaphorical sense, as the energy that allows the blind to see. Lord: In First Corinthians 12:3, Paul writes that "no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says 'Jesus is accursed!' and no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit." The simple "Jesus is Lord" became an expression of devotion and faith among early Christians. Logos (The Word): The Greek logos can be understood to mean "reason" or "word." As a title for Jesus, it first appears in John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Later in the same book, the "Word," synonymous with God, is also identified with Jesus: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Bread of Life: This is another self-bestowed title, which appears in John 6:35: "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'" The title identifies Jesus as a source of spiritual sustenance. Alpha and Omega: These symbols, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, are used in reference to Jesus in the Book of Revelation: "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life." Many Biblical scholars believe the symbols represent the eternal rule of God. Good Shepherd: This title is another reference to Jesus's sacrifice, this time in the form of a metaphor that appears in John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Other Titles

The titles above are just a few of those that appear throughout the Bible. Other significant titles include: