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What was Jesus's last name?

We often refer to Jesus as Jesus Christ, and some people assume that Christ is Jesus's last name. But Christ is actually a title, not a last name. So if Christ isn't a last name, what was Jesus's last name? The answer is Jesus didn't have a formal last name or surname like we do today.

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What Was Jesus' Last Name?

by Angel Studios | December 20, 2022

We often refer to Jesus as Jesus Christ, and some people assume that Christ is Jesus’s last name. But Christ is actually a title, not a last name. So if Christ isn’t a last name, what was Jesus’s last name? The answer is Jesus didn’t have a formal last name or surname like we do today. So why didn’t Jesus have a last name?

Why Didn’t Jesus Have a Last Name?

Culturally, during Jesus’s lifetime, the Jews didn’t use formal surnames to distinguish people from each other. Last names weren’t commonplace in the area or culture, so very few people used them. Instead, the Jews would refer to each other by first names, unless the first name was common. Jesus was a common first name at the time, so he likely would have been referred to with a distinguisher. Many people would refer to his parentage and most likely call him “Jesus son of Joseph” or “Jesus son of Mary,” like how Peter was referred to as “Simon, son of Jonah” in Matthew 16:17 and “James son of Zebedee” in Mark 3:17. Another way people would distinguish between those with common names was to refer to their hometown. Many people had their hometowns attached to their names like Lucius of Cyrene (Acts 13:1), Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27:56), and Judas Iscariot (Matthew 10:4). In the Bible, we do see Jesus referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth,” so he was likely often referred to by his hometown.

When Did Jesus Become Known as Jesus Christ?

Christ is a title that means the “Anointed One” or “Chosen One.” Jesus wasn’t referred to as Christ during his mortal ministry but instead gained the title after his death and resurrection, as shown in scriptures that come after his ascension back to heaven like 2 Peter 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Jude 1:1, and Revelation 1:1. The Biblical writers call him “Jesus Christ” to show that he is the Savior and Chosen One of God. It’s another way of saying that Jesus is the Messiah. Overall, Jesus didn’t have a formal last night. Instead he was most commonly called “Jesus son of Joseph” or “Jesus of Nazareth.” After his resurrection, he was called Jesus Christ to show that he is the Messiah and Savior of the world. To learn more about Jesus’s mortal ministry and the time and culture that he lived during, stream The Chosen and see it come to life.

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What gospels were left out of the Bible?

Gospels unearthed They had unearthed several early Christian texts including gospels of Thomas, Philip and Mary that had been buried away for around 1,600 years. These gospels were some of the many alternative books about Jesus that weren't included in the Christian Bible. More items...

Why were the lost gospels thrown out?

In the 2nd-3rd Centuries there were attempts to work out which of the gospels should be read as scriptures. The four gospels of the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - were already being used as scriptures in early church services in Rome and perhaps other places too. These gospels were probably written in the mid to late 1st Century. They were accepted as either written by Jesus’ apostolic disciples or the followers of these disciples. Some of the lost gospels were written significantly later, in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries - and this would have counted against them.

No mass appeal

In comparison to what became mainstream Christianity, which was open to all who believed, the lost gospels were sometimes elitist. They spoke of the mysterious way to finding enlightenment through understanding the hidden meanings in Jesus’ words. One possible reason they were not included in the emerging New Testament is they were not meant to be part of a wider canon or to be read as scripture in church - instead each one was meant to be read by an elect few.

Roman Empire

When the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312, he wanted to use it as a way of unifying his fragmented Empire. There was then a concerted effort to standardise Christian doctrines and to promote an agreed canon of New Testament scriptures. So some of the “apocryphal” writings were side-lined, or even suppressed. But the vast majority simply stopped being reproduced. By the end of the 4th Century, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were widely accepted as integral to the 27 texts which constitute the New Testament. Together with the Old Testament, these form the canon of Christian sacred scriptures.

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