“Christ” Is Not Jesus’ Last Name: What the Title Means, Who Else Was Named Jesus, and Why It Matters

 

“Christ” Is Not Jesus’ Last Name: What the Title Means, Who Else Was Named Jesus, and Why It Matters

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1. “Christ” Is a Title, Not a Surname

It’s a common misconception—spoken casually or half-jokingly—that “Christ” is Jesus’ last name. In truth, “Christ” is a title with deep theological roots and profound implications.

The word “Christ” comes from the Greek Christos (Χριστός), which translates the Hebrew word Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), meaning “anointed one.” In Jewish tradition, this referred to someone chosen and consecrated by God—usually a king or high priest (see 1 Samuel 10:1, Psalm 2:2).

“The title ‘Christ’ means ‘Anointed One’ (Messiah). Jesus is called ‘the Christ’ because he was the one anointed by the Holy Spirit in his baptism to be the priest, prophet, and king expected by Israel.”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, §436

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2. Messianic Expectations in Judaism

In the Second Temple period, Jews awaited a Messiah who would deliver Israel from foreign oppression, restore the Davidic monarchy, and inaugurate God’s kingdom on earth. The idea of a coming anointed one was multi-dimensional: some expected a warrior-king, others a priestly leader or apocalyptic figure (see Daniel 7, Psalms of Solomon 17–18, 1 Enoch).

As Jacob Neusner, a leading Jewish scholar of Rabbinic Judaism, noted:

“The Messiah concept was never singular or fixed in Judaism. Some expected a political leader, others a moral teacher, still others a heavenly agent of God’s justice.”
— Judaism and the Interpretation of Scripture, 2004

So when the early followers of Jesus declared, “Jesus is the Christ,” they weren’t giving him a surname. They were making a radical theological claim: that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these messianic hopes, though in a way that redefined them.

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3. Jesus: A Common Name

The name “Jesus” (Yeshua in Aramaic) was not unique. It was a popular name in first-century Judea, derived from Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning “Yahweh saves.”

The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus refers to more than twenty individuals named Jesus, including:

• Jesus ben Ananias, a prophet who warned Jerusalem before its fall (Josephus, Jewish War 6.5.3)

• Jesus ben Sira, the author of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus

Even in the New Testament, there’s another figure named Jesus Barabbas (Matthew 27:16–17), a prisoner released instead of Jesus of Nazareth.

The Catechism clarifies:

“‘Jesus’ means in Hebrew: ‘God saves.’ At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his mission (Luke 1:31).”
— CCC §430

In other words, the significance lies not in the name “Jesus,” but in what he was believed to be: the Christ.

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4. Early Christian Proclamation: “Jesus is the Christ”

This declaration—Iēsous ho Christos—was foundational for early Christians. St. Peter’s confession in Matthew 16:16 is pivotal:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The Council of Nicaea (325 CE) affirmed that Jesus the Christ is “true God from true God,” co-eternal with the Father. The Creed speaks not only of his divine identity but also his mission:

“For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven… was crucified… rose again on the third day…”

The Christ was not merely a title of honor—it was the recognition that Jesus was the one anointed not to rule by sword, but to suffer, die, and rise for the redemption of the world.

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5. Christ and Messiah: Continuity and Conflict

For many Jews, Jesus did not fit the expected Messianic mold. He did not overthrow Rome or restore the Temple. As Rabbi David Wolpe puts it:

“The Christian claim is that Jesus redefined Messiahship around his death and resurrection. For Jews, the Messiah has not yet come because the world is still broken.”
— Why Faith Matters, 2008

However, for early Christians like St. Paul, this redefinition was the entire point:

“We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:23–24

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6. Why It Matters Today

Understanding that “Christ” is a title—not a last name—forces us to reckon with the full weight of the claim: that a Jewish teacher from a backwater Roman province was God’s anointed, the fulfillment of Israel’s hopes, and the Savior of the world.

It also reminds us:

• Jesus wasn’t the only “Jesus”—but his followers claimed he was the only Christ.

• The Christian faith rests not on his name but on his identity and mission.

• The word “Christ” links Judaism’s prophetic vision with Christianity’s proclamation.

As Pope Benedict XVI wrote:

“The term ‘Christ’ is not just a name. It contains the whole mystery of the anointed one who comes to save and who suffers. Without understanding the meaning of Messiah, we do not understand Jesus.”
— Jesus of Nazareth, 2007

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Conclusion

Jesus of Nazareth was not the only man named “Jesus,” but for billions, he is the only one worthy of the title “Christ.” That title wasn’t an afterthought—it was the heart of the early Christian faith, rooted in Jewish messianism and transformed through the cross.

To call him “Jesus Christ” is to declare: this Jesus is God’s chosen one, the one who saves—not just in name, but in reality.