From ChatGPT on 6/16/2025.
Prompt – When do critical bible scholars believe that Jesus’ followers began calling him Christ? Cite all sources.
Critical Bible scholars generally believe that Jesus’ followers began calling him “Christ” (Greek: Christos, meaning “Anointed One,” equivalent to Hebrew Mashiach or “Messiah”) only after his death and the emergence of resurrection belief—not during his lifetime. The term “Christ” likely became widely used among his followers in the very earliest years of the post-Easter Jesus movement, within the first decade after his crucifixion, but not before.
Summary of Scholarly Views
1. Jesus Was Not Called “Christ” During His Lifetime
Most critical scholars agree that Jesus did not go around claiming the title “Messiah,” nor was he commonly referred to as such by others during his ministry.
- Bart D. Ehrman states: “The idea that Jesus was the messiah was a conclusion drawn by his followers after his death—not something he himself declared or that others widely accepted during his lifetime.”
(How Jesus Became God, 2014, ch. 2) - E.P. Sanders also emphasizes that Jesus was not widely seen as the Messiah during his life: “It is not likely that many people hailed Jesus as the messiah during his lifetime.”
(The Historical Figure of Jesus, 1993, p. 241)
2. Title “Christ” Used by Earliest Believers Shortly After Resurrection Belief
The title Christos began to be used by Jesus’ followers very shortly after the resurrection experiences, likely in Aramaic-speaking circles (with Mashiach) and quickly translated into Greek in the diaspora communities.
- James D.G. Dunn suggests that the confession “Jesus is the Christ” was part of the earliest Aramaic-speaking Christian faith: “The confessional formula ‘Jesus is the Christ’… must go back to the earliest days of the movement.”
(Jesus Remembered, 2003, pp. 333–336) - Larry Hurtado agrees that “Christ” was used from the very beginning of the movement: “The application of the title ‘Christ’ to Jesus is attested already in the earliest strata of Christian tradition.”
(Lord Jesus Christ, 2003, p. 99)
3. Paul’s Letters Are the Earliest Written Evidence (~50 CE)
Paul uses “Christ” prolifically in his epistles (e.g., 1 Thessalonians, ca. 50 CE), and scholars believe this reflects common usage before Paul wrote—possibly from the 30s CE, just a few years after Jesus’ death.
- Richard Bauckham notes: “The title ‘Christ’ was already firmly embedded in Christian usage before Paul began his mission.”
(Jesus and the God of Israel, 2008, p. 213) - Paul’s use of Christos is not explained or justified in his letters, implying that it was already common and accepted terminology.
4. Messianic Expectations Shaped Posthumous Identification
After Jesus’ death, his followers re-read Scripture through the lens of his resurrection and suffering, retroactively identifying him as the prophesied Messiah.
- N.T. Wright argues: “Jesus did not fit the standard messianic mold, but the resurrection convinced his followers to reconfigure their messianic expectations around him.”
(The Resurrection of the Son of God, 2003, pp. 587–592)
Timeline Overview (Critical Scholarly Consensus)
| Time Period | Description | Use of “Christ” |
|---|---|---|
| During Jesus’ life (c. 28–30 CE) | Jesus may have spoken of God’s kingdom but did not claim the title “Messiah” publicly or frequently. | Rare or not used |
| Post-crucifixion (c. 30–33 CE) | Resurrection belief leads to reinterpretation of Jesus as Messiah. | Begins in early Aramaic-speaking circles |
| Early missionary activity (c. 33–50 CE) | Widespread usage of “Jesus Christ” or “Jesus the Christ” in oral tradition. | Common in liturgy and confession |
| Paul’s letters (from c. 50 CE onward) | Paul assumes “Christ” is already a title. | Fully embedded in theology and community identity |
Primary Sources for Further Study
- Bart Ehrman, How Jesus Became God (2014)
- E.P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus (1993)
- James D.G. Dunn, Jesus Remembered (2003)
- Larry Hurtado, Lord Jesus Christ (2003)
- Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the God of Israel (2008)
- N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (2003)
