menu icon in the top, right corner of the screen.
icon above to close this box.
icon at the bottom of the screen below the browser—if you don't see it, swipe up to unhide it.
Appendix
Principal Christological Titles in the New Testament
The frequencies of the most important titles for Jesus in the New Testament are suggestive of their relative importance for how New Testament authors understood his identity, roles, and functions. They are also interesting given that common patterns in Latter-day Saint parlance—such as a pronounced preference for referring to Jesus as “the Savior” or “the Redeemer” rather than by his personal name—seem to be a result of the usage of these titles in Restoration scripture rather than the pattern in the New Testament.
The following chart presents seven names and titles in order of their frequency in the New Testament. The Gospels, which recount the mortal ministry of Jesus Christ, overwhelming refer to the Lord by his given name “Jesus” (see boldface 625). Note, however, the pronounced Pauline preference for “Christ” (406) and to a lesser extent “Lord” (276). Notice also that the Johannine corpus—in this case the Gospel of John (33) and 1 John (24)—produces the greatest numbers of references for “Son of God” and the only New Testament references to “Only Begotten” (see the entry below for the translation of monogenēs).
Jesus | Lorda | Christ | Son of God | Savior | Only Begotten | Redeemerb | |
| Gospels | |||||||
| Matthew | 172 | 48 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Mark | 97 | 19 | 8 | 7 | |||
| Luke | 100 | 83 | 16 | 13 | 2 | ||
| John | 256 | 43 | 21 | 33 | 1 | 4 | |
| Gospels total | 625 | 193 | 60 | 68 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Acts | 68 | 109 | 31 | 7 | 2 | ||
Pauline Letters Romans | 38 | 45 | 68 | 6 | |||
| 1 Corinthians | 27 | 67 | 69 | 2 | |||
| 2 Corinthians | 20 | 29 | 49 | 1 | |||
| Galatians | 17 | 6 | 41 | 4 | |||
| Ephesians | 21 | 25 | 46 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Philippians | 22 | 15 | 38 | 1 | |||
| Colossians | 8 | 13 | 26 | ||||
| 1 Thessalonians | 17 | 25 | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2 Thessalonians | 12 | 19 | 13 | ||||
| 1 Timothy | 14 | 8 | 16 | ||||
| 2 Timothy | 14 | 17 | 15 | 1 | |||
| Titus | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Philemon | 7 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Pauline total | 221 | 276 | 406 | 15 | 6 | 0 | |
| Hebrews | 14 | 17 | 13 | 12 | |||
| James | 2 | 15 | 2 | ||||
| 1 Peter | 11 | 6 | 21 | 1 | |||
| 2 Peter | 9 | 15 | 8 | 5 | |||
| 1 John | 12 | 10 | 24 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 John | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |||
| 3 John | |||||||
| Jude | 5 | 7 | 5 | ||||
| Revelation | 14 | 23 | 11 | 1 | |||
69 | 84 | 74 | 40 | 6 | 1 | ||
| New Testament totalc | 983 | 662 | 571 | 130 | 17 | 5 | 0 |
Jesus | Lorda | Christ | Son of God | Savior | Only Begotten | Redeemerb | |
| Book of Mormon | 187 | 1573 | 388 | 59 | 12 | 9 | 41 |
| Doctrine and Covenants | 103 | 735 | 132 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 22 |
| Pearl of Great Price | 13 | 202 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 1 |
| Restoration scripture | 303 | 2510 | 536 | 92 | 39 | 47 | 64 |
a. All New Testament occurances of "Lord" in this chart refer to Jesus Christ (or, by extension, to deity more generally) and do not include instances in which the term is used for a temporal master, owner, teacher, or ruler.
b. For details on the surprising absence of the title "Redeemer" in the New Testament, see the entry below.
c. New Testament Statistics are by physical count.
The following entries provide detailed breakdowns for these and other christological titles in the New Testament arranged alphabetically.
Christ (571)
Literally the Greek christos, like the Hebrew māšîaḥ, means “the anointed one.” Early Israelite kings and priests were regularly anointed, and in some instances prophets were as well (e.g., Elisha in 1 Kings 19:16). In the intertestamental period, various messianic expectations arose, usually centering in a looked-for Davidic king or sometimes a legitimate Aaronide priest who would restore the kingdom and right worship. Early Christians saw Jesus as the Messiah or chosen one, increasingly in a spiritually salvific sense but also linked with actual kingship in connection with his promised eschatological return, judgment, and rule.
“Christ” appears in the New Testament 571 times. Particularly in the Gospels, it serves as a title. Sometimes it functions as an attributive title in the formulation “Christ Jesus,” but most often in the rest of the New Testament it serves as part of the proper name “Jesus Christ,” or, frequently, as a name by itself.
Christ used as a title, usually as a predicate as in “Jesus is the Christ” (48)
Matthew (9): 1:16; 2:4; 16:16, 20; 22:42; 26:63, 68; 27:17, 22 Mark (4): 8:9; 13:6, 21; 14:61 Luke (13): 2:26; 3:15; 4:41 (2x); 9:20; 20:41; 22:67; 23:2, 35, 39 | John (14): 1:20, 25, 41; 3:28; 4:25, 29, 42; 6:69; 7:26, 41; 9:22; 10:24; 11:27; 20:31 Acts (6) 2:26; 4:26; 9:22; 17:3; 18:5, 28 1 John (2) 1:22; 5:1 |
Christ as an attributive title with the name “Jesus” in the formulation “Christ Jesus” (58; 54 times in the Pauline letters)
Acts (1): 19:4 Romans (6): 3:24; 8:1, 2, 39; 15:5; 16:3 1 Corinthians (5): 1:2, 30; 4:15; 15:31; 16:24 2 Corinthians (1): 4:5 Galatians (5): 2:4; 3:26, 28; 4:14; 6:15 Ephesians (7): 1:1; 2:6,7, 10, 13; 3:11, 21 Philippians (9): 1:1; 2:5; 3:3, 8, 12, 14; 4:7, 19, 21 | Colossians (3): 1:4, 28; 2:6 1 Thessalonians (2): 2:14; 5:18 1 Timothy (6) 1:12, 14, 15; 2:5; 3:13; 6:13 2 Timothy (8): 1:1, 2, 9, 13; 2:1, 10; 3:12, 15 Philemon (2): 1:6, 23 Hebrews (1): 3:1 1 Peter (2): 5:10, 14 |
Christ as a name (the pronominal use; 264; 219 in the Pauline letters)
Matthew (4): 1:17; 11:2, 23:8, 10 Mark (3): 9:41; 12:35; 15:32 John (5): 7:27, 31, 41, 42; 12:34 Acts (8): 2:30, 31; 3:18; 8:5; 9:20; 17:3; 24:24; 26:23 Romans (35): 1:16; 5:6, 8; 6:4, 8, 9; 7:4; 8:9, 11, 17, 34, 35; 9:1, 3, 5; 10:4, 6, 7; 12:5; 14:9, 10, 15, 18; 15:3, 7, 18, 20, 29; 16:5, 7, 9, 10, 16 1 Corinthians (47): 1:6, 12, 13, 17 (2x), 23, 24; 2:16; 3:1, 11 (2x); 4:1, 10 (2x), 15, 17; 5:7; 6:15 (2x); 7:22; 8:11, 12; 9:12, 18, 21; 10:4, 9, 16 (2x); 11:1, 3 (2x); 12:12, 27; 15:3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 (2x) 2 Corinthians (38): 1:5 (2x), 21; 2:10, 12, 14, 15, 17; 3:3, 4. 14; 4:4; 5:10, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20 (2x); 6:15; 8:23; 9:13; 10:1, 5, 7 (x3), 14; 11:2, 3, 10, 13, 23; 12:2, 9, 10; 13:3 Galatians (25): 1:6, 7, 10, 22; 2:16, 17 (2x), 20 (2x), 21; 3:13, 16, 17 (2x), 29; 4:7, 19; 5:1, 2, 4, 24; 6:2, 12 | Ephesians (27): 1:3, 10, 12, 20; 2:5, 12, 13; 3:4, 6, 8, 17, 19; 4:7, 12, 13, 15, 20, 32; 5:2, 5, 14, 23, 25, 32; 6:5, 6 Philippians (18): 1:10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27, 29; 2:1, 16, 30; 3:7, 8, 9, 18; 4:13 Colossians (20): 1:2, 7, 24, 27; 3:1 (2x), 3, 4, 11, 13, 16, 24; 2:2, 5, 8, 11, 17, 20; 4:3, 12 1 Thessalonians (3): 2:6; 3:2; 4:16 2 Thessalonians (2): 2:2; 3:5 1 Timothy (2): 2:7; 5:11 2 Timothy (1): 2:19 Philemon (1): 1:8 Hebrews (9): 3:6, 14; 5:5; 6:1; 19:11, 14, 24, 28; 11:26 1 Peter (10): 1:11 (2x), 19; 2:21; 3:16, 18; 4:11, 13, 14; 5:1 2 John (2): 1:9 (2x) Revelation (4) 11:15; 12:15; 20:4, 6 |
Christ (excluding “Jesus Christ”) in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (312), Doctrine and Covenants (41), Pearl of Great Price (7)
Together with “Jesus” as the compound, proper name “Jesus Christ” (201)
Matthew (2): 1:1, 18 Mark (1): 1:1 Luke (3): 2:11; 24:26, 46 John (2): 1:17; 17:3 Acts (16): 2:38; 3:6, 20; 4:10; 5:42; 8:12, 37; 9:34; 10:36; 11:17; 15:11, 26; 16:18, 31; 20:21; 28:28 Romans (27): 1:1, 3, 6, 7, 8; 2:16; 3:22; 5:1, 11, 15, 17, 21; 6:3, 11, 23; 7:25; 13:14; 15:6, 8, 16, 17, 30; 16:18, 20, 24, 25, 27 1 Corinthians (17): 1:1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10; 2:2; 3:11; 5:4 (2x); 8:6; 9:1; 15:57; 16:22, 2.3 2 Corinthians (10): 1:1–3, 19; 4:5; 5:18; 8:9; 11:31; 13:5, 14 Galatians (11): 1:1, 3, 12; 2:16 (2x); 3:1, 14, 21; 5:6; 6:14, 18 Ephesians (12): 1:1–3, 5, 17; 2:20; 3:1, 9, 14; 5:20; 6:23,24 Philippians (11): 1:1–2, 6, 8, 11, 19, 26; 2:11, 21; 3:20; 4:23 | Colossians (3): 1:1, 2, 3 1 Thessalonians (9): 1:2 (2x), 3; 2:19; 3:11, 13; 5:9, 23, 28 2 Thessalonians (11): 1:1–2, 8, 12 (2x); 2:1, 14, 16; 3:6, 12, 18 1 Timothy (9): 1:1 (2x), 2, 16; 4:6; 6:3, 14; 5:2.1 2 Timothy (6): 1:2, 10; 2:3, 8; 4:1, 22 Titus (4): 1:1, 4; 2:13; 3:6 Philemon (4): 1:1, 3, 9, 25 Hebrew (3): 10:10; 13:8, 21 James (2): 1:1; 2:1 1 Peter (9): 1:1, 2, 3 (2x), 7, 13; 2:5; 3:21; 4:11 2 Peter (8): 1:1 (2x), 8, 11, 14, 16; 2:20; 3:18 1 John (8): 1:3, 7; 2:1; 3:23; 4:2–3; 5:6, 20 2 John (2): 1:3, 7 Jude (4): 1:1 (2x), 4, 17, 21 Revelation (7): 1:1, 2, 5, 9 (2x); 12:17; 2:21 |
Jesus Christ in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (68), Doctrine and Covenants (84), Pearl of Great Price (8)
High Priest (11)
Unique to the book of Hebrews is the explicit identification of Jesus as a high priest, although Revelation 1:10–20 presents Jesus in the guise of a heavenly high priest who stands in the midst of seven candles that are reminiscent of the temple menorah. Some scholars have also seen the reference to Jesus’s inner tunic that was “without seam” (John 19:23) as a sign that John meant to present Jesus as a priest so that he was not only the sacrifice but also the sacrificer.
Hebrews (11): 2:17; 3:11; 4:14, 15; 5:5, 10; 6:20; 7:26; 8:11; 9:11; 10:21
Lamb (28)
Several New Testaments writers present Jesus either as a sacrificial lamb or more specifically as the Lamb of God. While only the Gospel of John explicitly describes Jesus this way twice in its beginning (1:29, 36), this imagery informs its passion narrative, which presents Jesus as the ultimate paschal lamb.
Acts (1): 8:32 1 Peter (1): 1:19 | Revelation (21): 5:8, 13; 6:1, 16; 7:9, 10, 14, 17; 12:11; 14:4 (2x), 10; 15:3; 17:14 (2x); 19:7, 9; 21:9, 14, 22, 24 |
Lamb of God (2)
John (2): 1:29, 36
Lamb Who Was Slain (3)
Revelation (3): 5:6, 12; 13:8
Lord (662)
The use of the Greek term kyrios is broad, having as many as four possible meanings. These include its simple use for “master” or “owner”; as a form of polite address, meaning simply “sir”; in a courtly sense when used of a social superior; and, significantly, as a Greek translation of the Hebrew term `adōnay, which was regularly used to substitute for the divine name YHWH, or “Jehovah.”
For YHWH, the God of Israel, whether the Father or the Premortal Jesus Christ; Lord God; Lord our God (162)
Matthew (18): 1:20, 22, 24; 2:13, 15, 19; 3:3; 4:7, 10; 5:33; 9:38; 11:25; 21:9, 42; 22:37, 44; 23:39; 28:2 Mark (9): 1:3; 11:9, 10; 12:11, 29 (2x), 30, 36; 13:20 Luke (42): 1:6, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 25, 28, 32, 38, 43, 45, 46, 58, 66, 68, 76; Luke 2:9 (2x), 15, 22, 23 (2x), 24, 26, 29, 38, 39; 3:4; 4:8, 12, 18, 19; 5:17; 10:2, 27, 41; 12:37; 13:35; 19:38; 20:37; 20:42 John (4): 1:23; 12:13, 38 (2x) Acts (37): 1:24; 2:20, 25, 34, 39; 3:22; 4:24, 26, 29; 5:9, 19; 7:30, 31, 33, 37, 39, 59; 8:24, 26, 39; 9:39; 12:7, 11, 17, 23; 13:2, 10, 11, 47; 14:43; 17:24; 18:25 (2x); 20:19; 21:14, 20; 22:16 | Romans (9): 4:8; 9:28, 29; 10:16; 11:3, 34; 12:19; 14:11; 15:11 1 Corinthians (1): 14:21 2 Corinthians (2): 6:17, 18 Hebrews (13): 1:20; 7:21; 8:2, 8, 9, 10, 11; 10:16, 30 (2x); 12:5, 6; 12:5, 6; 13:6 James (5): 4:10; 5:4, 10, 11 (2x) 1 Peter (3): 2:3; 3:23, 15 2 Peter (1): 3:8 Jude (3): 1:4, 5, 9 Revelation (15): 4:8, 11; 11:15, 17; 15:3, 4; 16:5, 7, 10; 18:8; 19:1, 6; 21:22; 22:5, 6 |
Lord for the mortal Jesus
Used as a polite form of address for Jesus (21)
Matthew (9): 8:2, 6, 8; 9:28; 15:22, 25, 27; 17:15; 20:30, 31, 33 Mark (2): 7:28; 10:51 | Luke (7): 5:12; 7:6; 9:57, 59, 61; 18:41; 19:8 John (3): 6:34; 8:11; 9:36 |
When used with special meaning for the Lordship of Jesus, especially by his disciples (69)
Matthew (21): 7:21 (2x), 22 (2x); 8:21, 25; 12:8; 13:51; 14:28, 30; 16:22; 17:4; 18:21; 21:3; 22:43, 44, 45; 24:42; 26:22; 27:20; 28:6 Mark (6): 2:28; 5:19; 9:24; 11:3; 12:36, 37 Luke (18): 5:8; 6:5, 46 (2x); 9:54; 10:17, 40; 11:1; 12:41; 13:23; 17:37; 19:34; 20:42, 44; 22:33, 38, 49; 23:42 | John (22): 6:68; 9:38; 11:3, 12, 21, 27, 32, 34, 39; 13:6, 9, 13, 14, 25, 36, 37; 14:5, 8, 22; 20:2, 13; 21:20 Acts (2): 2:34; 10:36 |
Lord for the resurrected, glorified Jesus
After-the-fact references by evangelists as post-Easter narrators (17)
Luke (13): 7:13, [31]; 10:1; 11:39; 12:42; 13:15; 17:5, 6; 18:6; 19:8; 22:31, 61 (2x) | John (4): 4:1; 6:23; 11:2; 20:20 |
Encounters with the “Risen Lord” (include evangelists as a postresurrection narrators (25)
[Mark, long ending (2): 16:19, 20] Luke (2): 24:3, 34 John (10): 20:18, 25, 28; 21:7 (2x), 12, 15, 16, 17, 21 | Acts (10): 1:6; 9:5 (2x), 6 (2x), 10 (2x), 11, 13, 15 Revelation (1): 1:8 |
References to the “Lord Jesus,” “Jesus our Lord” (30)
Acts (13): 1:21; 4:33; 7:59; 8:16; 9:29; 11:20; 19:5, 10, 13, 17; 20:24, 35; 21:13 Romans (3): 4:24; 10:9; 14:11 1 Corinthians (1): 11:23 2 Corinthians (3): 1:14; 4:10, 14 Galatians (1): 6:17 Philippians (1): 2:19 | Colossians (1): 3:17 1 Thessalonians (2): 4:1, 2 2 Thessalonians (1): 1:7 Philemon (1): 1:5 Hebrews (1): 13:20 2 Peter (1): 1:2 Revelation (1): 22:20 |
References to “Christ the Lord,” “Lord Christ” (2)
| Luke (1): 2:11 | Colossians (1): 3:24 |
References to the “Lord Jesus Christ,” “Christ Jesus our Lord,” “Jesus Christ our Lord” (99)
Acts (6): 11:17; 15:11, 26; 16:31; 20:21; 28:31 Romans (13): 1:3, 7; 5:1, 11; 6:11, 23; 7:25; 13:14; 15:6, 30; 16:18, 20, 24 1 Corinthians (13): 1:2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10; 5:4 (2x), 5; 6:11; 8:6; 16:22, 23 2 Corinthians (4): 1:2, 3; 11:31; 13:14 Galatians (3): 1:3; 6:14, 18 Ephesians (9): 1:2, 3, 15, 17; 3:11, 14; 5:20; 6:23, 24 Philippians (3): 1:2; 3:20; 4:23 Colossians (2): 1:2, 3 1 Thessalonians (9): 1:1 (2x), 3; 2:19; 3:11, 13; 5:9, 23, 28 | 2 Thessalonians (11): 1:1, 2, 8, 12 (2x); 2:1, 14, 16; 3:6, 12, 18 1 Timothy (6): 1:1, 2, 12; 6:3, 14; 5:21 2 Timothy (3): 1:2; 4:1, 22 Titus (1): 1:4 Philemon (2): 1:3, 25 James (2): 1:1; 2:1 1 Peter (1): 1:3 2 Peter (6): 1:8, 11, 14, 16; 2:20; 3:18 2 John (1): 1:3 Jude (3): 1:4, 17, 21 Revelation (1): 22:21 |
References to “the Lord” alone (likely of Jesus by context and usage; 237)
Acts (41): 2:21, 36, 47; 3:19; 5:14; 8:25; 9:1, 17, 27, 35, 42; 10:4, 14, 36, 48; 11:8, 16, 21 (2x), 23, 24; 13:12, 48, 49; 15:17 (2x), 35, 36; 16:10, 14, 15, 32; 18:8, 9; 20:21; 22:8, 10 (2x); 19; 23:11; 26:15 Romans (20): 5:21; 8:39; 10:12, 13; 12:11; 14:6 (x4), 8 (x3), 9; 16:2, 8, 11, 12 (2x), 13, 22 1 Corinthians (52): 1:31; 2:8, 16; 3:5, 20; 4:4, 5, 17, 19; 6:13 (2x), 14, 17; 7:10, 12, 17, 22 (2x), 25, 32 (2x), 34, 35, 39; 9:1 (2x), 2, 5, 14; 10:21 (2x), 22, 26, 28; 11:11, 20, 23, 26, 27 (2x), 29, 32; 12:3, 5; 15:31, 47, 57, 58 (2x); 16:7, 10, 19 2 Corinthians (20): 2:12; 3:16, 17 (2x), 18; 4:5; 5:6, 8, 11; 8:5, 9, 19, 21; 10:8, 17, 18; 11:17; 12:1, 8; 13:10 Galatians (2): 1:19; 5:10 Ephesians (16): 2:21; 4:1, 5, 17; 5:8, 10, 17, 19, 22, 29; 6:1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 21 | Philippians (11): 1:14; 2:11, 24, 29; 3:1, 8; 4:1, 2, 4, 5, 10 Colossians (9): 1:20; 2:6; 3:16, 18, 20, 23, 24; 4:7, 17. 1 Thessalonians (14): 1:6, 8; 2:15; 3:8, 12; 4:6, 15 (2x), 16, 17 (2x); 5:2, 12, 27 2 Thessalonians (7): 1:9; 2:8, 13: 3:1, 3, 4, 5 1 Timothy (2): 1:14; 6:15 2 Timothy (14): 1:8, 16, 18 (2x); 2:7, 14, 19, 22, 24; 3:11; 4:8, 14, 17, 18 Philemon (3): 1:16, 20 (2x) Hebrews (3): 2:3; 7:14; 12:14 James (8): 1:7, 12; 2:1; 4:15; 5:7, 8, 14, 15 1 Peter (2): 1:25; 2:13 2 Peter (7): 2:1, 9, 11; 3:2, 9, 10, 15 Jude (1): 1:14 Revelation (5): 1:10; 11:18; 14:3; 17:4; 19:16 |
Lord as a temporal master, owner, teacher, or ruler (60 additional New Testament occurrences)
Lord in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (1,570), Doctrine and Covenants (720), Pearl of Great Price (199).
Only Begotten, Only Begotten Son (5)
The KJV rendering of the Greek monogenēs as “Only Begotten” is probably better translated “one and only,” “uniquely begotten,” or even “one of a kind.” Still, the traditional rendering has parallels in Restoration scripture and underscores the fact that Jesus was the literal, and only, begotten of the Father in the flesh.
| John (4): 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18 | 1 John (1): 4:9 |
Only Begotten in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (9), Doctrine and Covenants (13), Pearl of Great Price (26)
Redeemer (0)
While Redeemer is not a title that appears in the New Testament, the concept of God or his servant as being a personal and national redeemer was an important promise in the Old Testament, especially in the later writings of Isaiah (Job 19:25; Psalms 19:14; 78:35; Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7, 26; 54:5, 8; 59:20; 60:16; 63:16; Jeremiah 50:34).
Redeemer in the Old Testament (18)
Redeemer in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (41); Doctrine and Covenants (22), Pearl of Great Price (1)
While not used in the New Testament, the concept can be seen in the use of the verb redeem and the noun redemption.
Redeem (9)
Luke (2): 1:68; 24:21 Galatians (2): 3:13; 4:5 Titus (1): 2:14 | 1 Peter (1): 1:18 Revelation (3): 5:9; 14:3, 4 |
Redeem in the Old Testament (88)
Redeem in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (59), Doctrine and Covenants (26), Pearl of Great Price (2)
Redemption (11)
Luke (2): 2:38; 21:28 Romans (2): 3:24; 8:23 1 Corinthians (1): 1:30 | Ephesians (3): 1:7, 14; 4:30 Colossians (1): 1:14 Hebrews (2): 9:12, 15 |
Redemption in the Old Testament (9)
Redemption in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (51), Doctrine and Covenants (39), Pearl of Great Price (2)
Savior (17)
The title “Savior,” or “deliverer” (Hebrew, môšîā`; Greek, sōtēr), was one frequently used of God in the Old Testament (2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 106:21; Isaiah 19:20; 43:3, 11; 45:15, 21; 49:26; 60:16; 63:8; Jeremiah 14:8; Hosea 13:4). Understood in a Jewish context as a national and perhaps spiritual deliverer, it was also a term that appeared frequently in Hellenistic and Roman imperial propaganda of rulers who were benefactors to their subjects, bringing peace, security, and prosperity.
Nevertheless, “Savior” is a fairly rare title in the New Testament, occurring only three times in the Gospels and some of the other instances in the New Testament actually applying to God the Father. Relatively speaking, it is much more frequent in Restoration scripture.
Savior used of Jesus (17)
Luke (2): 1:47; 2:11 John (1): 4:42 Acts (2): 5:31; 13:23 Ephesians (1): 5:23 Philippians (1): 3:20 | 2 Timothy (1): 1:10 Titus (3): 1:4; 2:13; 36 2 Peter (5): 1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18 1 John (1): 4:14 |
Savior in the Old Testament (16)
Savior in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (12), Doctrine and Covenants (19), Pearl of Great Price (4)
Used in letters where the subject is most likely God the Father (6)
1 Timothy (3): 1:1; 2:3; 4:10 Titus (2): 1:3; 2:10 | Jude (1): 1:25 |
Son of David (20)
Son of David, David’s Son (16 [17])
Matthew (9): 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30, 31; 21:9, 15, 42 Matthew [1]: 1:20 (for Joseph, Mary’s husband) | Mark (3): 10:47, 48; 12:35 Luke (4): 3:31; 18:38, 39; 20:41 (David’s son) |
His father David (1)
| Luke (1): 1:32 |
Seed of David (3)
John (1): 7:42 Romans (1): 1:13 | 2 Timothy (1): 2:8 |
Son of God (125)
Perhaps the most important christological title, Son of God is most common in the Johannine corpus, where forms of it appear 33 times in the Gospel of John, 24 times in 1 John, and 2 times in 2 John.
Son of God, Son of the Most High God, Son of the Highest, Son of the Living God, Son of the Father, Son of the Blessed (53)
Matthew (9): 4:3, 6; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 26:63; 27:40, 43, 54 Mark (5): 1:1; 3:11; 5:7; 14:61; 15:39. Luke (8): 1:32, 35, 38; 4:3, 9, 41; 8:29; 22:70 John (11): 1:34, 49; 3:18; 5:25; 6:69; 9:35; 10:36; 11:4, 27; 19:7; 20:31 Acts (2): 8:37; 9:20 Romans (1): 1:4 | 2 Corinthians (1): 1:19 Galatians (1): 2:20 Ephesians (1): 4:13 Hebrews (4): 4:14; 6:6; 7:3; 10:29 1 John (8): 3:8; 4:15; 5:5, 10, 12, 13 (2x), 20 2 John (1): 1:3 Revelation (2): 2:8 |
Son of God in Restoration scripture: Book of Mormon (51), Doctrine and Covenants (21), Pearl of Great Price (6)
His Son, His Son Jesus Christ, my Son, thy Son (30)
John (3): 3:17; 17:1 (2x) Acts (3): 3:13, 26, 33 Romans (5): 1:3, 9; 5:10; 8:3, 29 1 Corinthians (1): 1:9 | Galatians (3): 1:16; 4:4, 6 1 Thessalonians (1): 1:10 Hebrews (5): 1:2, 5 (2x); 3:6; 5:5 1 John (9): 1:3, 7; 3:23; 4:9, 10; 5:9, 10, 11, 20 |
His Holy Child, Thy Holy Child (2)
| Acts (2): 4:27, 30 |
The Son, the Son of the Father (33)
Matthew (4): 11:27 (x3); 28:19 Luke (3): 10:22 (x3) John (15): 3:35, 36 (2x); 5:19 (2x), 20, 21, 22, 23 (2x), 26; 6:40; 8:35, 36; 14:13 | 1 Corinthians (1): 15:28 Hebrews (3): 1:8; 5:8; 7:28 1 John (6): 2:22, 23 (2x), 24; 4:14; 5:12 2 John (1): 1:9 |
My Beloved Son (7)
In the Synoptics, God uses this address at the baptism and transfiguration of Jesus; 2 Peter 1:17 also refers to the transfiguration.
Matthew (2): 3:17; 17:5 Mark (2): 1:11; 9:7 | Luke (2): 3:22; 9:35 2 Peter (1): 1:17 |
Son of Man (89)
The title “Son of Man” appears eighty-five times in the Gospels, almost always in the mouth of Jesus as the most common title for himself, and four other times later in the New Testament (Acts 7:56; Hebrews 2:6 [quoting Psalms 8:4]; and Revelation 1:13; 14:14). Latter-day Saints, because of the insights of Restoration scripture (Moses 6:57; see D&C 78:20; 95:17), tend to interpret this title as a way of referencing Jesus as the Son of God, who himself is known as “Man of Holiness.” In the Old Testament, however, it most commonly was used to refer to a mortal being (e.g., Psalm 8:4; Isaiah 51:12; and Ezekiel passim). The book of Daniel introduced the term in reference to an eschatological figure who would come with power and glory (Daniel 7:13; 8:17), and this was the use that became prevalent in the intertestamental period. While this eschatological use may have been how people at the time of Jesus would likely have understood the term, all three uses may obtain in the Gospels according to context. Accordingly, some passages emphasize the mortality of Jesus, as in the passion predictions; others clearly refer to his second coming; and others view this term as a sign of his divine authority to teach and act.
In a mortal or ambiguous context (9)
Matthew (4): 8:20; 11:19; 13:37; 16:13 Luke (4): 6:22; 7:34; 9:58; 11:30 | Hebrews (1): 2:6 (Psalm 8:4) |
Emphasizing mortality in a passion context (32)
Matthew (10): 12:40; 17:9, 12, 22; 20:18, 28; 26:2, 24 (2x), 45. Mark (9): 8:31; 9:9, 12, 31; 10:33, 45; 14:21 (2x), 41. | Luke (6): 9:22, 44; 18:31; 22:22, 48; 24:7. John (7): 3:14; 6:53; 8:28; 12:23, 34 (2x); 13:31. |
Emphasizing Jesus’s divine authority (17)
Matthew (4): 9:6; 12:8, 32; 18:11 Mark (2): 2:10, 28 Luke (5): 5:24; 6:5; 9:56; 12:10; 19:10 | John (5): 1:51; 3:13; 5:27; 6:27, 62 Revelation (1): 1:13 |
Emphasizing an eschatological role (31)
Matthew (14): 10:23; 13:41; 16:27, 28; 19:28; 24:27, 30 (2x), 37, 39, 44; 25:13, 31; 26:64 Mark (4): 8:38; 13:26, 34; 24:62 Luke (11): 9:26; 12:8, 40; 17:22, 24, 26, 30; 18:8; 21:27, 36; 22:69 | Acts (1): 7:56 Revelation (1): 14:14 |
