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§. 29. Of Iesus Christ joyned together.
THat the Hebrews might the more distinctly know who that Apostle and High-Priest was whom they ought to consider, the Apostle sets him down by name under these two titles, Christ Iesus. These two titles are applied to him, as our pro∣per and sirname to us.
Iesus was his proper Name, and by this was he most usually called while he lived* 1.1 on earth, as appears by the history of the Evangelists, A man that is called Iesus, made clay, &c. saith the man that being born blinde, received sight, Ioh. 9. 11. And in the Acts, where the Apostles dealing with the Jews is most insisted on, Iesus is oftenest mentioned. In the Epistles which were sent to the Gentiles, the title Christ is most frequently used. In this Epistle Iesus is used as oft as Christ. Both in and since the Apostles time, the title Christ hath been more frequent in Christi∣ans tongues and pens then Iesus.
Christ is a common name of the whole stock o•…•… family that cometh from God,* 1.2 even of all Gods children: Therefore they are called Christians, Act. 11. 26. Yea this very title Christ, is applied to them all, 1 Cor. 12. 12. Gal. 3. 16. In the He∣brew Dialect, this title was of old given to all Saints, as where the Lord saith, Touch not mine anointed, (Psal. 105. 15.) or a 1.3 my Christs. Iesus Christ are titles of different languages. The former is Hebrew, the later Greek: yet all other lan∣guages* 1.4 retain these two names, according to their proper Dialect.
Among other reasons of giving two titles of these two languages Hebrew and* 1.5 Greek, to the same person (by both which, and by either of which he is distin∣guished from all others,) this may be a principall one, that there is neither Iew, nor Greek, but all are one in Iesus Christ, Gal. 3. 28.
The whole world was then distinguished into these two sorts, Iew and Greek, Rom. 1. 16. & 10. 12. For by Christ the partition wall betwixt Jew and Greek, or Gentile, was broken down, Eph. 2. 14. Had not thus much been intended, be might have been called Iesus Messiah, which implieth as much as Iesus Christ.
This affords matter of gratulation to us Gentiles. The Jews Iesus is our Christ▪ Iesus Christ one and the same person. He is not only Iesus for the Jews, but Christ for the Gentiles, Matth. 1. 16. Luk. 2. 11. On this ground forms of gratulation were prescribed to the Gentiles, whereof the Apostle gathereth a catalogue toge∣ther, Rom. 15. 9, &c. we are of these Gentiles: It therefore becomes us well to meditate on that advise which the Apostle gives, Eph. 2. 11, 12, 13. This may also be an incitation to us to do what lieth in our power, by prayer or otherwise, for recalling the Jews. The name Iesus is still due to our Christ. He retaining that name will be ready to receive the Iews coming unto him. I am Iesus, saith He •…•…o persecuting Saul a Jew, implying thereby that he was ready to be a Saviour un∣to him.
Of this title Iesus, See more on Chap. 2. v. 9. §. 73.
Of this title Christ, See more on ver. 6. of this Chap. §. 54.