Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of the New Testament and of the Christian faith. Born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem, He is believed by Christians to be the Son of God and the promised Messiah. He spent roughly three years in public ministry, teaching, healing, and performing miracles before being crucified under Pontius Pilate. Christians believe He rose from the dead on the third day, conquering sin and death, and ascended to heaven.

Etymology & Roots

Jesus is the Greek form (Ἰησοῦς, Iesous) of the Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua), itself a contracted form of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshua, Joshua). The name compounds יְהוֹ (Yeho-), the divine name YHWH, with the root יָשַׁע (yasha'), "to save" or "to deliver." The full meaning is therefore "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." This etymology is explicitly stated in Matthew 1:21: "you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

The name Joshua (Yehoshua) was common in the Second Temple period; Yeshua was its everyday contracted form. The Greek Iesous passed through Latin Iesus into English as Jesus, while the fuller Hebrew form became English "Joshua."

Biblical Bearers

The supreme bearer is Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and Messiah, whose birth, ministry, death, and resurrection constitute the center of the New Testament. The angel Gabriel named Him before His birth (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31). Paul declares that at His name every knee will bow (Philippians 2:9–11). A second Jesus — Jesus called Justus — is mentioned by Paul as a Jewish co-worker (Colossians 4:11).

The Old Testament Joshua (Yeshua) is theologically considered a type or foreshadow of Jesus, leading Israel into the promised land as Christ leads His people into spiritual rest (Hebrews 4:8).

Theological Significance

No name in human history carries greater theological weight. "Yahweh is salvation" — this is not merely a title but the declaration of an entire redemptive program compressed into one word. When Mary named her son Jesus, she placed divine salvation into a human cradle. The name announces that the God of Israel, who had always promised to save His people, has now come personally to accomplish what no human agent could.

From the Exodus to the exile, Yahweh had saved Israel through intermediaries; in Jesus, salvation arrived incarnate. His resurrection vindicated the name, and His glorification elevated it above all names (Philippians 2:9), so that calling upon the name of Jesus became the very definition of saving faith (Romans 10:13).

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