The Greek word
Christos is the translation of the Hebrew Mashiach
‘Messiah’, both meaning ‘anointed’. In the Old Testament a prophet, a priest and
a king were anointed, and these three titles are included under the all-covering
term ‘Christ’. The employment of the names and titles ‘Jesus’, ‘Jesus Christ’
and ‘Christ Jesus’ is an index of the line of teaching which discriminates in
their use. Jesus is the most usual name for the Lord during His earthly life,
and is only employed by the apostle Paul in exceptional circumstances. We are
not, however, attempting an analysis of the names and titles of our Lord
generally, in this article, but wish to draw attention to one title of
dispensational importance namely ‘Christ Jesus’. The Revised Version, having
access to manuscripts that were unknown at the time of the Authorized Version,
have made a number of changes, which are significant. In the accompanying
concordance, it will be seen that in the A.V. the title ‘Christ Jesus’ is found
in Acts 19:4, Hebrews 3:1 and 1 Peter 5:10 and 14, but in the R.V. these four
references are excluded, Acts 19:4 and Hebrews 3:1 reading ‘Jesus’ and 1 Peter
5:10 and 14 reading ‘Christ’. Accepting the revised text we discover an
important dispensational feature. The title ‘Christ Jesus’.
A concordance of the
differences in the Authorized
and Revised Versions with respect to the title ‘Christ Jesus’.
Reference
R.V. Reading
A.V. Reading
Acts 19:4
Jesus
Christ Jesus
Acts 24:24
Christ Jesus
Christ
Rom. 6:3
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Rom. 6:11
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ our Lord
Rom. 8:11,34
Christ Jesus
Jesus and Christ
Rom. 15:16,17
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
1 Cor. 1:4
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
2 Cor. 1:1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Gal. 2:16
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Gal. 3:14
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Gal. 5:6
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Gal. 5:24
Christ Jesus
Christ
Eph. 1:1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Eph. 2:20
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Eph. 3:1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Eph. 3:6
Christ Jesus
Christ
Phil. 1:1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Phil. 1:8,26
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Col. 1.1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Col. 1:28
Christ
Christ Jesus
Col. 4:12
Christ Jesus
Christ
1 Tim. 1:1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ and Lord Jesus Christ
1 Tim. 4:6
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
1 Tim. 5:21
Christ Jesus
The Lord Jesus Christ
2 Tim. 1:1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
2 Tim. 1:10
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
2 Tim. 2:3
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
2 Tim. 4:1
Christ Jesus
The Lord Jesus Christ
Titus 1:4
Christ Jesus
The Lord Jesus Christ
Phile. 1
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Phile. 6
Christ
Christ Jesus
Phile. 9
Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ
Heb. 3:1
Jesus
Christ Jesus
1 Pet. 5:10,14
Christ
Christ Jesus
This is a complete list of all the changes in connection with the title ‘Christ
Jesus’ that have been made from the A.V. to R.V. The title occurs many more
times, but in these cases it is unchanged in the R.V. and so can easily be
found. It will be observed that the references to ‘Christ Jesus’ in Hebrews and
Peter go out, which means that all the remaining references belong to the
ministry of the apostle Paul.
The title seems to stress a new aspect of Christ’s position and glory,
pointing away to the seated One at the right hand of God, rather than to the One
Who walked the earth, and came only to Israel. In all this, of course, it is
always the same Person; only the title is changed. The title ‘Son of Man’, for
example, has no place in the epistles to the Church, but this does not of course
mean that we in any way belittle His perfect humanity. So, in the case of the
title ‘Christ Jesus’, it is again the same Person, but we do well to note that
this particular title belongs exclusively to the ministry of the apostle Paul.
It is of design and with definite reference to the exclusive nature of the
position indicated that Ephesians speaks of those who belong to the Church of
the Mystery as being made to sit together in heavenly places ‘in Christ Jesus’
(Eph. 2:6), that when speaking of the high calling of God to the Philippians
Paul adds ‘in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 3:14), or that when speaking of the holy
calling of those who were chosen before age-times, he should speak of that
purpose and grace that were given to them ‘in Christ Jesus’ (2 Tim. 1:8,9). Just
as we have already seen John’s gospel brings one into the family of faith, while
Paul’s gospel makes one a son, so here, while all blessings that ever can be
enjoyed must flow from the One Mediator between God and man, the distinctive
title given to the One Mediator varies according to the dispensational
privileges that are being rehearsed, and that to the Church of the one Body the
title of the Saviour ‘Christ Jesus’ is of peculiar importance and sanctity.
