This is a follow up from the OP.
This is my logical analytical critique and assessment on the Titles of Christ. The Christological principle teaches that all titles in Scripture belong to the one and selfsame Person of the Son, not to his divine or human natures separately. And among the most delicate tasks of Christology is articulating how Scripture speaks of Christ without collapsing his natures or dividing his person. The biblical authors freely apply titles that reveal his eternal divine identity—such as “Lord of glory” or “I AM”—alongside titles that identify his genuine human lineage—such as “Son of David” or “Jesus of Nazareth.” The question arises: To whom do these titles belong? If titles attach to natures, Christ would be split into two persons. If titles attach to the one Person (subsistence), then the Hypostatic Union is preserved.
What does the Titles of Christ mean? Titles of Christ are the names, designations, and honorifics that Scripture applies to the one Person of the Son. A title identifies who he is, not merely what he is. Titles are therefore personal predicates, not natural descriptors. Every title—whether divine‑expressing or human‑expressing—names the same hypostasis, the eternal Son. Scripture never assigns titles to natures as if the natures were personal subjects.
Although some titles express his divinity, revealing who the Person is in relation to the Father from all eternity. Titles such as “Lord of glory,” “I AM,” “Only‑Begotten Son,” and “Wisdom of God” point to his eternal divine identity. These titles do not belong to the divine nature as if the nature were a separate “someone,” but they express the divine mode of existence of the one Person. Likewise, some titles express his humanity, such as “Jesus of Nazareth,” “Son of David,” “Son of Abraham,” and “Son of Mary.” These titles identify the same Person in his genuine human lineage and earthly life. They do not belong to the human nature as if the nature were a separate human person, but they express the human mode of existence of the one Son who became flesh
Even though these titles differ in what they express
⦁ Some reveal his divinity
⦁ Some reveal his humanity
still, they all identify the same Person, the eternal Son.
⦁ “Lord of Glory”
⦁ “Son of David”
⦁ “Author of Life”
⦁ “The Nazarene
Divine-Expressing Titles
Titles in Scripture always belong to the one, undivided Person of Christ, yet different titles express different aspects of His identity. Some titles reveal His eternal divine existence, such as “Lord of glory,” “I AM,” and “Wisdom of God.” These titles do not attach to the divine nature as if the nature were a separate subject; rather, they express the divine mode of existence of the one Person who is eternally begotten of the Father. When Scripture calls Him “Lord,” it is not naming a nature but identifying the Person who possesses the divine nature. Thus, divine‑expressing titles reveal who He is as God, without dividing Him into two subjects.
Titles that express the Son's Divinity. Divine‑expressing titles reveal who the Person is in His eternal relation to the Father. They do not belong to the divine nature as if the nature were a separate “someone,” but they express the divine mode of existence of the one Son.
Representative titles that express his Divinity:
⦁ The Only‑Begotten (John 1:18)
⦁ Savior (Luke 2:11)
⦁ The Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:8)
⦁ The Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
⦁ Prince (Acts 5:31)
These titles identify the same Person who is eternally begotten, consubstantial with the Father, and the source of life. When Paul speaks of “the Lord of glory” being crucified, he does not imply that the divine nature suffered, but that the Person who is Lord of glory suffered according to His humanity. The title expresses His divinity; the suffering occurs through His assumed humanity; the subject is one.
Human-Expressing Titles
Other titles express His humanity, identifying the same Person in His real human lineage and earthly life. Titles such as “Jesus of Nazareth,” “Son of David,” “Son of Abraham,” and “Son of Mary” express His genuine human descent and lived experience. These titles do not belong to the human nature as if the nature were a separate human person; they belong to the eternal Son who assumed a complete human nature. When Scripture calls Him “Jesus of Nazareth,” it is naming the Person who truly lived, grew, suffered, and died in our flesh. These titles express who He is as man, without implying a second personal subject.
Titles that express the Son's humanity. Human‑expressing titles identify the same Person in His real human lineage, earthly life, and lived experience. They do not belong to the human nature as if it were a separate human person; they belong to the eternal Son who assumed a complete human nature.
Representative titles that express his humanity:
⦁ Son of David (Matt 21:9)
⦁ The Nazarene (Matt 2:23)
⦁ Teacher (John 1:38)
⦁ The Prophet (John 6:14)
⦁ The Carpenter (Mark 6:3)
When Scripture calls Him “Jesus of Nazareth,” it names the Person who truly lived, grew, suffered, and died in our flesh. The title expresses His humanity, but it is the eternal Son who bears it. This is why there are many misunderstandings in Christology arise from failing to grasp that all titles belong to the Person and not to the distinctive natures. A title identifies a “who,” not a “what,” and therefore cannot be assigned to a nature as if the nature were a personal subject. Scripture never speaks of “the divine nature” being called Lord, or “the human nature” being called Jesus. Instead, every biblical name—whether “Son of God,” “Son of Man,” “Lord,” “Jesus,” or “Christ”—is predicated of the one hypostasis, the eternal Son. This preserves the unity of Christ’s identity and prevents the error of dividing Him into two acting subjects. The Person is the bearer of every title; the natures explain how that one Person exists and acts.
Doctrinal Framework
All titles belong to the one and selfsame indivisible Person and not to the distinctive natures. Some titles express His divinity. Some titles express His humanity. And none of the titles belong to the natures as if the natures were subjects. A title identifies a who (the Person of the Son), not the whats (the two natures), and therefore titles cannot be assigned to either nature as though the natures were already personal subjects. Since a nature cannot be a subject—because a nature is a what, not a who—titles must always be predicated of the Person alone. A title that expresses His divinity or humanity describes the mode of existence being revealed, not a separate subject. This is why Chalcedonian Christology insists that the one Person is the sole bearer of all predicates, while the natures explain the distinct modes in which that one Person exists and acts.
Framework: "All titles belong to the Person and not of the distinctive natures."
If titles were assigned to natures, Christ would be split into two subjects:
⦁ The divine nature is a subject bearing divine titles.
⦁ The divine nature is called "Only-begotten" (the divine nature cannot be begotten) and "Lord of Glory" (divine nature cannot be crucified).
⦁ The human nature is a subject bearing human titles.
⦁ The human nature is called "Teacher" (the human nature cannot teach) and "Carpenter" (human nature cannot carves).
Language Usages: “expresses his divinity/humanity.”
This is how to use the language in proper Chalcedonian grammar:
⦁ “Only‑Begotten” expresses his divinity.
⦁ “Wisdom of God” expresses his divinity.
⦁ “Savior” expresses his divinity.
⦁ “Author of Life” expresses his divinity
⦁ “Emmanuel” expresses his divinity.
⦁ “Son of David” expresses his humanity.
⦁ “The Prophet” expresses his humanity.
⦁ “The Carpenter” expresses his humanity.
⦁ “The Nazarene” expresses his humanity.
⦁ “Son of Mary” expresses his humanity.
Because all titles belong to the Person and not to the distinctive natures, Scripture can freely apply titles that express either His divinity or His humanity without implying two Christs. When Paul calls Him “the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8), this title expresses His divinity, yet it is the same Person who is crucified in the flesh. When the Gospels call Him “Jesus of Nazareth” or “Son of David,” these titles express His humanity, yet they refer to the same Person who pre‑exists Abraham and receives worship. The titles differ in what they express, but they do not differ in whose titles they are. They all name the one Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son who became man for our salvation.
This is why Chalcedonian Christology insists that all titles belong to the Person and not to the distinctive natures. If titles were assigned to natures, we would end up with two subjects—one divine and one human—each bearing its own set of names. That is the essence of Nestorianism. But when titles are assigned to the Person, we preserve the unity of Christ while still acknowledging the full integrity of both natures. The Person is one; the natures are two; and the titles identify the one Person who lives, speaks, acts, suffers, and reigns through both natures without confusion and division. This is the biblical and orthodox way to speak of Christ.
*I leave this logical analytical critique and assessment open to anyone who wants to question it, challenge it, or simply agree with it. I look forward to any discussion in this particular assessment. Thanks.
