Over the centuries, Jesus’ name has evolved with many variations of nicknames. The Bible has a variety of names for Him to adding to the confusion. However, one thing is sure, Jesus does not have a God-assigned middle name. Learn about the names of Jesus, who He is, and why you should know the Son of God.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus, also known as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Galilee, and Jesus of Nazareth, was a religious leader of Christianity. Today, because of His work on earth, He is the savior of all who calls on His name. He was born between 6-4 BCE in Bethlehem and died between 30 CE and 33 CE in Jerusalem. The Bible teaches us that Jesus was far more than just a prophet, a great teacher, or a righteous human being. He was also part of the Trinity – the Godhead – making Him and God one (John 10:30).
As the Messiah, Jesus is the only path to salvation and the presence of God for all eternity. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Without Jesus, we no longer have a covenant with God, nor do we gain access to God for a relationship or for eternal life. Jesus is the only bridge to fill the gap between the sins of men and the perfection of God to allow the two to commune.
Who named Jesus in the Bible?
In Luke 1:31 in the Bible, the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” In Hebrew, the name Jesus was Yeshua or Y’hoshua. However, the name changes for every language. At the time, the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. As Greek did not have a sound similar in English, this translation chose the Jesus we know today as the best match. However, the closest translation is Joshua, which has the same meaning.
What does Jesus’ Name Mean?
Despite the translation, the name of Jesus offers more power than you can imagine. Our Savior’s name means “Yahwah [God] saves” or “Yahwah is salvation.” Among Jews living in the first century CE, the name Jesus was very common. Due to His ties to the Galilean town of Nazareth, where He spent His formative years, Jesus was frequently referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 21:11; Mark 1:24). Although it is a popular name, Jesus’ significance cannot be overstated.
A number of titles are applied to Jesus of Nazareth throughout the Bible. Immanuel (Matthew 1:23), the Lamb of God (John 1:36), and the Word (John 1:1) are just a few examples (John 1:1-2). His many appellations include Christ (Col. 1:15), the Son of Man (Mark 14:1), and Lord (John 20:28). The use of “H” as a middle initial for Jesus Christ is a name that is not seen elsewhere in the Bible. Exactly what does this letter imply?
Does Jesus Have a Middle Name?
No, Jesus never had a middle name. During His lifetime, people simply when by their first name and either their father’s name or their location. Jesus would have been Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Son of Joesph. While many people may try to give Jesus a middle name, which we will discuss below, He never had one, at least not on earth.
What was Jesus’ last name?
Throughout the time of Jesus’ life, Jewish culture did not practice the usage of official surnames as a means of differentiating individuals from one another. Instead, Jews referred to one another by their first names unless the first name in question was particularly common. Since Jesus had an extremely popular first name during that historical period, as mentioned above, by either adding ‘son of’ or their physical home such as ‘of Nazareth.’
While we often say Jesus Christ, Christ is not Jesus’ last name. The Greek used in Catholic Churches use the Greek contraction IHC which people later used to pull a middle name and last name when it was shorted to IHC. The IHC component can also be written as JHC or JHS in a form that is somewhat Latinized. This is the origin of the interjection, which seems to assume that H is Jesus’ middle initial and Christ is his surname rather than his title.
However, the term “Christ” is not a name but rather an insult; despite the fact that many people in today’s society use it as if it were Jesus’ surname, “Christ” is not actually a name at all. The Jews of the time would use this name to insult Jesus as He claimed to be the prophesied Messiah, and they were waiting for someone else, a military leader.
What Does Jesus H. Christ Mean?
Above, we talked about how the Greeks used the contraction or monogram IHC for Jesus, which, over the centuries, English speakers appropriated to mean Jesus (Iesus was the Greek translation) H. Christ. This was never the translation of Greek terminology. It is impossible to refute the fact that people have used every possible method to make fun of the name of Jesus. They have given Him every name they can think of, yet this has not altered the Messiah’s true identity or diminished the splendor or power that he possesses.
After some time, the expression “Jesus H. Christ” started to be taken as a joke, and it also started to be used as a mild swear word. In spite of the fact that the Bible makes reference to Jesus Christ, the letter H was created by humans. It is blasphemy to use God’s name in vain or in a meaningless way, as when someone uses the letter H as a middle initial for Jesus Christ. Using the name of Jesus [H.] Christ in a curse is a grave offense.
Do you know Jesus?
To know Jesus is to have a relationship with Him, the Savior. Being a Christian requires more than just having head knowledge of Jesus; rather, it requires a personal relationship with the man himself. When Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent,” He was referring to the necessity for people to have a relationship with the Redeemer (John 17:3).
Many people have personal relationships with friends and family but not with the person who died to save them from sin. Also, it’s easy for people to follow and learn about those they idolize, such as sports heroes or famous people. However, it’s better to learn of Jesus as He saved you and wants to know you personally to help create good in your life (Jeremiah 29:11).
When someone has a genuine knowledge of Jesus, it is based on a connection with him or her; they spend time together and converse on a regular basis. When we come to know Jesus, we come to know God as well. “We are aware… that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding in order for us to know him who is true,” the Bible says (1 John 5:20).
Romans 10:9 says, “you will be saved if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.” You have to have faith that Jesus is Lord and that He rose from the dead in order to be saved. Because of your sin, He had to give His life as a sacrifice (1 Peter 2:24).
If you put your faith in Him, you will be given Jesus, and you will be adopted into His family (John 1:12). You have also been given eternal life, as it is written in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This life offers an eternity spent in heaven with Christ, and it is available to you as well as anybody other who places their faith in Him.
The passage in Ephesians 2:8–9 that describes how salvation is the outcome of God’s benevolence reads as follows: “Because it is by grace you have been saved through faith.” And this is not something you have accomplished on your own; rather, it is a gift from God and not the result of your own efforts so that no one may brag about it. The knowledge of Jesus that is required for salvation is not dependent on what we do; rather, knowing Jesus begins with faith in Him, and the foundation of our ongoing relationship with Him is always faith.
To get to know Jesus and have faith in him, you are not required to pray any particular prayer. You are simply told to call on the name of the Lord. To know Jesus, you simply need to read His word and talk to Him through prayer and worship.
Conclusion
Jesus has many names but no dedicated middle name. During His life here, He was called Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Son of Joseph, as was common. Using any name referring to Jesus can cause us to sin by using God’s (or one part of the Trinity) in vain. Instead, choose to call Jesus your Lord and Savior by maintaining a relationship with Him.
