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Equivalent Designations of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments

TitleEquivalent Designations of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsParry, Donald W.
Book TitleThe Jesus Christ Focused Old Testament: Making Sense of a Monumental Book
Pagination48-50
PublisherBook of Mormon Central
CitySpringville, UT

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There are several designations (descriptions, names, or titles) of the Lord in the Old Testament that correspond with Jesus Christ in the New Testament. For example, the Lord in the Old Testament is called “Shepherd” (Ps. 23:1), and Jesus Christ in the New Testament refers to Himself as “the good Shepherd” (John 10:11). These are called equivalent designations. One aim of such designations is to provide straightforward and direct evidence that Jesus Christ is indeed the Lord of the Old Testament. Here are three additional examples:

  1. The Lord in the Old Testament is designated King—“The Lord is King for ever and ever” (Ps. 10:16); Jesus Christ, in the New Testament, is also denominated King with these words: “Lord of lords, and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14).
  2. The Lord in the Old Testament is designated Rock—“Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me” (Ps. 28:1); Jesus Christ is also a Rock: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4).
  3. The Lord in the Old Testament revealed that every knee would bow unto Him: “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear” (Isa. 45:23). Correspondingly, the Apostle Paul wrote of Jesus Christ, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Phil. 2:10).

The chart presents several other examples of designations of the Lord of the Old Testament that correspond with Jesus Christ, including Almighty, Captain, Creator, Cornerstone, Judge, Savior, and Star.

Proper understanding of these designations demonstrates that Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament; furthermore, knowledge of equivalent designations adds great understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ and His divine and formidable work with individuals, peoples, and nations in both the Old and New Testaments. Beyond the examples in the chart, many others could also be set forth.

Designations

Old Testament

New Testament

Advocate

Jer. 50:34; Prov. 23:11; Lam. 3:58

1 John 2:1

Almighty

Gen. 17:1; Ex. 6:3; Ps. 91:1

2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 1:8

Captain

Josh. 5:13–15

Heb. 2:10

Cornerstone

Ps. 118:22

Matt. 21:42; Luke 20:17; Eph. 2:20

Creator

Gen. 1–2; Isa. 43:15

John 1:1­–3; Heb. 1:1–3; Col. 1:16

Deliverer

Ps. 18:2; 70:5

Rom. 11:26

Everlasting God

Gen. 21:33

Rom. 16:26

God of Israel

Ex. 5:1

Luke 1:68

God is with us (Immanuel)

Isa. 7:14

Matt. 1:23

I am

Ex. 3:14

John 8:58

Judge

Deut. 32:36; Judg. 11:27; Ps. 98:9

Acts 10:42; John 5:22

King

Ps. 10:16

Rev. 19:16

Lawgiver

Isa. 33:22

James 4:12

Light

Isa. 60:19

John 1:9; 8:12

Lord

Throughout the Old Testament

Throughout the New Testament

Lord of Lords

Deut. 10:17

Rev. 17:14; 19:16; 1 Tim. 6:14–16

Messiah

Dan. 9:25

John 1:41; 4:25

Purifier

Mal. 3:3

Titus 2:14

Redeemer

Isa. 41:14; 43:14; 44:6

Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7;

Titus 2:14

Righteous

Isa. 53:11

2 Tim. 4:8

Rock

Deut. 32:4; Ps. 28:1

1 Cor. 10:1–4

Savior

2 Sam. 22:3; Isa. 43:3; 49:26

Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Titus 1:4; 2:13; Phil. 3:20

Servant

Isa. 42:1

Matt. 12:18; Philip. 2:7

Shepherd

Ps. 23:1; 80:1

John 10:11; Heb. 13:20

Star

Num. 24:17

Rev. 22:16

Stone

Gen. 49:24; Isa. 28:16

Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:6–8

Sun

Ps. 84:11; Mal. 4:2

Matt. 17:2; Rev. 1:16

Truth

Deut. 32:4

John 14:6; Rev. 19:11

Witness

Isa. 55:4

Rev. 3:14

Chart by Donald W. Parry. Every Designation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments.

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