The Names of Jesus - Elmer Towns

who influences or guides a student not only intellectually but morally. Jesus is unique among
teachers in that He alone can teach the truth and lead us most fully in the way of truth.
THE SOVEREIGN NAMES OF JESUS
Several. different names of Jesus are translated with the English word “master,” including
most of the instructive names of Jesus cited above. But at least three titles of Christ include in
their meaning the idea of mastery over someone or something. These too are service names of
Christ, for they demonstrate His power and authority over others and, therefore, evince His
ability to serve.
Epistates
Luke alone uses the Greek word epistates; he uses it six times of Christ (Luke 5:5; 8:24-
45; 9:33,49; 17:13). It is a strong term, meaning “chief, commander, leader, or overseer. “ It
relates closely to the word translated “bishop” in the King James Version, which is a title of the
pastor in a church (I Timothy 3: 1). It designates the absolute authority of the one so addressed
and would ordinarily be considered an honorable title. It was apparently never used except by a
disciple and in every case occurs within a context in which the speaker's view of Jesus is
somewhat defective. It is always followed by the user being rebuked for his action or conclusion,
or the user experiencing something that causes him to grow in his understanding of who Jesus is.
Oikodespotes
Jesus used the term oikodespotes to refer to Himself in several of His parables. It is
translated “master of the house” (Matthew 10:25; Luke 13:25; 14:21), “goodman of the house”
(Matthew 20:11; 24:43; Mark 14:14; Luke 12:39), and “householder” (Matthew 13:27,52; 20:1;
21:33). This was the usual title for the master over the household stewards. It emphasizes the
absolute control of that master over those stewards. Jesus used this title in two contexts. First, He
is master over His disciples, who are stewards of the mysteries of God. Secondly, in those
eschatological parables in which He used this term in the context of His return, He is master over
all mankind. By this title, Jesus claimed absolute authority over men both in this life and that to
come.
Despotes
Only once is Jesus referred to by the term despotes and that by Peter in his second epistle
(II Peter 2:1), where the King James Version reads “Lord.” Vine suggests this word refers to
“one who has absolute ownership and uncontrolled power. “ It is perhaps the strongest title of
Christ that argues for His Lordship. It was commonly used in Greek to refer to a master who
exercised a rigid authority over his slaves and is the root of its English derivative, “despot,”
referring to any ruler having absolute control, particularly a tyrant or oppressive leader. The
negative connotation—abuse of power—is not necessarily implied in this term, only the absolute
nature of his authority.