THE DEFINITION OF TITLES JESUS CHRIST AND CHRIST JESUS
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Though we today do not often place a person’s title, rank, official name, or other designation of dignity, in any other position than immediately preceding his name, (e.g. Queen Elizabeth; President Bush; General Patton, etc.), such designations can be attached to the name in other ways. And though we do not commonly do it in English, (even though it certainly can be done), it is often a very common feature in other languages, including both Hebrew and Greek. But since we do not employ this feature very often, (at least not today), this makes it so that when we do come across it we might not readily appreciate why it is done. The most common reason for attaching a person’s title, rank, or other designation of dignity, to his name in an ‘out of the ordinary’ way is to make it stand out; to have attention drawn to it; to have it emphasized for some particular purpose.
Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Php 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now when it comes to God’s use of “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus,” this is pretty much the reason. The word “Christ” primarily comes from the Davidic Covenant, (i.e. from the doctrine of the mechanical means by which God would put His “Jehovah-ness” into effect.) And as such “Christ” is a designation; something like a title. It designates the one who bears it as being the one spoken about in the Davidic Covenant. And, of course, this is who Jesus is, being “the Son of God”; being Adonai Jehovah enfleshed in the line of the seed of David as per the dictates of the Davidic Covenant. Hence the designation “Christ” is first and foremost attached to Jesus’ name to identify Him as being the one of whom the Davidic Covenant speaks. Wherefore Jesus is called “Jesus the Christ,” or “Jesus Christ,” with this particular combination of His name and designation being the most fundamental one, and conveying the most fundamental information about Him.
1Co 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1Co 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
However when this fundamental and usual combination of name and designation is reversed, (or also when the title/designation is used all by itself), this is done in order to lay the emphasis upon the title/ designation “Christ” for some particular reason. Hence it is usually done to bring the issue of Jesus’ “Christ-ness,” so to speak, to the forefront in our minds, so that we do not just think about the word
“Christ” as a designator that identifies the person of Jesus for who He is; but in order that we think about the things that are involved in ‘the doctrine of Christ,’ so that we think about Jesus for what He did, or does, as He accomplishes the things that need to be done as “the Christ.”
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
So very simply stated, “Jesus Christ” is most commonly used when there is no reason in the context for specifically drawing our attention to anything more than the issue of Jesus in His person being “the Christ.” On the other hand, “Christ Jesus” is most commonly used when there is reason in the context for specifically drawing our attention to Jesus’ “Christ-ness,” so that the focus of our attention and thinking is upon the issue of His accomplishments as “the Christ.”
Keith Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries