Bible Dictionaries
Jesus

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

is a transliteration of the Heb. "Joshua," meaning "Jehovah is salvation," i.e., "is the Savior," "a common name among the Jews, e.g., Exodus 17:9; Luke 3:29 (RV); Colossians 4:11 . It was given to the Son of God in Incarnation as His personal name, in obedience to the command of an angel to Joseph, the husband of His Mother, Mary, shortly before He was born, Matthew 1:21 . By it He is spoken of throughout the Gospel narratives generally, but not without exception, as in Mark 16:19,20; Luke 7:13 , and a dozen other places in that Gospel, and a few in John.

"'Jesus Christ' occurs only in Matthew 1:1,18; 16:21 , marg.; Mark 1:1; John 1:17; 17:3 . In Acts the name 'Jesus' is found frequently. 'Lord Jesus' is the normal usage, as in Acts 8:16; 19:5,17; see also the reports of the words of Stephen, Acts 7:59 , of Ananias, Acts 9:17 , and of Paul, Acts 16:31; though both Peter, Acts 10:36 , and Paul, Acts 16:18 , also used 'Jesus Christ.'

"In the Epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude, the personal name is not once found alone, but in Rev. eight times (RV), Revelation 1:9; 12:17; 14:12; 17:6; 19:10 (twice); 20:4; 22:16.

"In the Epistles of Paul 'Jesus' appears alone just thirteen times, and in the Hebrews eight times; in the latter the title 'Lord' is added once only, at Hebrews 13:20 . In the Epistles of James, Peter John, and Jude, men who had companied with the Lord in the days of His flesh, 'Jesus Christ' is the invariable order (in the RV) of the Name and Title, for this was the order of their experience; as 'Jesus' they knew Him first, that He was Messiah they learnt finally in His resurrection. But Paul came to know Him first in the glory of heaven, Acts 9:1-6 , and his experience being thus the reverse of theirs, the reverse order, 'Christ Jesus,' is of frequent occurrence in his letters, but, with the exception of Acts 24:24 , does not occur elsewhere in the RV.

"In Paul's letter the order is always in harmony with the context. Thus 'Christ Jesus' describes the Exalted One who emptied Himself, Philippians 2:5 , and testifies to His pre-existence; 'Jesus Christ' describes the despised and rejected One Who was afterwards glorified, Philippians 2:11 , and testifies to His resurrection. 'Christ Jesus' suggests His grace, 'Jesus Christ' suggests His glory." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 26,29.]