PMW 2024-020 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
The opening words in Revelation declare that it is a revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1a).
The fuller representation of Jesus’ name as “Jesus Christ” occurs only in Rev’s first five verses (1:1, 3, 5; both names are mentioned in 20:4 but not together). The name “Jesus” appears alone nine times (1:9 [2x]; 12:17; 14:12; 17:6; 19:10 [2x]; 22:16, 20). “Lord Jesus” is mentioned two times in the conclusion (22:20–21). He is referred to simply as “Lord” twice (11:8; 14:13).
Though Paul frequently uses “Jesus Christ” (Ro 1:4, 6–8; 1Co 1:1–3; 2Co 1:2–3; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1–3; Php 1:11; Col 1:1, 3; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 2:1–2; 1Ti 1:16; 2Ti 2:8; Tit 1:1; etc.), as does Luke in Acts (Ac 2:28; 3:6; 4:10; 8:12, 37; 9:34; 10:36, 48; 11:17; 15:26; 16:18; 20:21; 28:31), it occurs only rarely in the Gospels: three times in Matthew (1:1, 18; 16:21 [in two early mss]), once in Mark (1:1), and none in Luke. John uses this double name only twice in his Gospel, once in the opening (1:17) and later he records it as Jesus’ self-reference in his high priestly prayer (17:3). But he uses it more frequently in his first epistle which has a strong emphasis on the incarnation (1Jn 1:3; 2:1; 3:23; 4:2; 5:6, 20; 2Jn 7).
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