Titles of Christ
The following questions and answers are from the “Baptist Catechism of 1677” also known as “Keachs Catechism”. The word “catechism” simply means “teaching”. The three questions posed are in regards to Christ and how He fulfills His role as Prophet, King, and Priest.
In the Old Testament we see different men that God raised up who bore these titles. Three separate and distinct positions of authority that each were called to do. For example though John the Baptist by all rights could have been a Priest (because he was Levite), he was called instead to be a prophet and never served as a Priest like his father before him. He preached in the wilderness instead of serving in the Temple. Another example is how a King of Israel was not allowed to serve as a Priest nor was he allowed to offer up sacrifices in the Temple, as King Uzziah learned in 2 Chronicles 26, and was struck down with leprosy for attempting to do so.
But throughout scriptures it testified of One who would come and fulfill all three of these roles of Prophet, Priest, and King for His people and in scripture we can see where Jesus fulfilled everyone and continues to do so today in the lives of every believer. Truly, only One was worthy to wear all three of these titles. Jesus Christ, the very Son of God that was slain to receive power, riches, honour, and glory. Who arose and now sits at the right hand of the Father, forever interceding as Prophet, King, and Priest for those who put their faith and trust in Him and Him alone.
Below is a commentary on His titles from the Orthodox (Protestant) Creed of 1679.
Orthodox Creed of 1679
(General Baptist Confession of Faith)
Article XVII (17)
(Of Christ And His Mediatorial Office)
“And in this Office of Mediator, he hath the Dignity of Three Offices, Priest, Prophet, and King: all which Offices are necessary for the benefit of his Church, and without which we can never be saved. For in respect of our Ignorance, we stand in need of his Prophetical Office, and in respect of our Alienation from God, and imperfect Services, and God’s Wrath and Justice, we stand in need of his Priestly Office, to reconcile God to us, and us to God; and in respect of our bondage to Sin and Satan, and averseness to return to God, we need his Kingly Office, to subdue our Enemies; and deliver us captives out of the kingdom and power of Sin, and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdom. And thus (in our Nature) he living the life of the Law, and suffering the penalty due to us, continually presents us at the Throne of Grace, so is a most wonderful and compleat Mediator for his Elect.”
Q. 28. How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by this Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
John 1:18
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:26
“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
John 15:15
“For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”
Acts 3:22-26
Q. 29. How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executes the office of a priest, in His once offering up of Himself, a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.
“who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
1 Peter 2:24
“so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
Hebrews 9:28
“and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
Ephesians 5:2
“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
Hebrews 2:17
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”
Hebrews 7:25-27
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
Romans 8:34
Q. 30. How does Christ execute the office of a King?
A. Christ executes the office of a king, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.
“The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, In the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of thy youth.”
Psalm 110:2-3
“And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, Art not the least among the princes of Juda: For out of thee shall come a Governor, That shall rule my people Israel.”
Matthew 2:6
“For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:11-16