Difference between revisions of "INRI" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
(Restructured article)
m (Protected "INRI": copyedited [edit=sysop:move=sysop])
 
(26 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Jesus Crucifixion 0040.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The [[crucified]] Jesus with the initials INRI above him.]]
+
{{Approved}}{{Submitted}}{{Images OK}}{{copyedited}}
'''INRI''' is an acronym of the [[Latin language|Latin]] phrase <small>'''IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM'''</small> (Jesus Nazarenus, rex Judæorum), which translates to [[English language|English]] as: "[[Jesus]] [[Nazarene]], [[King of the Jews]]". It appears in the [[New Testament]] of the Christian Bible in the [[Gospel of John]] ({{bibleverse-nb||John|19:19|KJV}}). Within [[Western Christianity]] many [[crucifix]]es and other depictions of the [[crucifixion]] include a stylized plaque or parchment, called a [[titulus (inscription)|titulus]] or title, bearing only the Latin letters INRI, occasionally carved directly into the cross, and usually just above the head of Jesus. 
+
[[Image:Jesus Crucifixion 0040.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The [[Crucifixion|crucified]] Jesus with the initials INRI above him.]]
  
A ''Christogram'' is a monogram or combination of letters which forms an abbreviation for the name of [[Jesus]] [[Christ]], and is traditionally used as a [[Christian symbolism|Christian symbol]]. Different types of Christograms are associated with the various traditions of [[Christianity]]. A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one [[symbol]]. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or [[logo]]s.  
+
'''INRI''' is an acronym of the [[Latin language|Latin]] phrase <small>'''IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM'''</small> (Jesus Nazarenus, rex Judæorum), which translates into [[English language|English]] as "[[Jesus]] [[Nazarene]], King of the Jews." This title appears in the [[New Testament]] in the [[Passion]] narrative of the [[Gospel of John]] ({{bibleverse-nb||John|19:19|KJV}}). During Jesus' [[crucifixion]], a ''Titulus Crucis'' (Latin for "Title of the Cross") was inscribed in wood and placed above Jesus head. In the context of the Crucifixion, the ''titulus'' ''IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM'' (and its translation), written in three languages ([[Hebrew]], [[Latin]], and [[Greek]]), was affixed to the [[cross]]. Within [[Western Christianity]], many [[crucifix]]es and other depictions of the crucifixion include a stylized plaque or parchment, called a titulus (title), bearing the Latin letters INRI, occasionally carved directly into the cross, and usually just above the head of Jesus.  
  
==Etymology==
+
A ''[[Christogram]]'' is a monogram or combination of letters which forms an abbreviation for the name of [[Jesus]] [[Christ]], and is traditionally used as a [[Christian symbolism|Christian symbol]]. Different types of Christograms are associated with the various traditions of [[Christianity]]. A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one [[symbol]].  
In Hebrew, the phrase is commonly rendered ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודים (''Yeshua` HaNotsri U'Melech HaYehudim'' {{IPA2|jeːʃuːɑʕ hɑnːɑtseri meleχ hɑjːəhuðiːm}}), which translates instead to "Jesus the Nazarite and King of the Jews." This version was most probably chosen in order that the acronym constitute the [[tetragrammaton]] (יהוה) name corresponding with [[Yahweh]] or [[Jehovah]]. It is possible that the titulus was written in [[Aramaic]], the local vernacular, rather than Hebrew.
 
  
Many [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es use the [[Greek language|Greek]] letters '''INBI''' based on the Greek version of the inscription, ''{{Polytonic|Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων}}''. Some representations change the title to "ΙΝΒΚ" ''{{Polytonic|ὁ Bασιλεὺς τοῦ κόσμου}}'' ("The King of the World"), or "ΙΝΒΔ" ''{{Polytonic|ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῆς Δόξης}}'' ("The King of Glory"), not implying that this was really what was written, but reflecting the tradition that [[icon]]s depict the spiritual reality rather than the physical reality. Some other Orthodox Churches (such as the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]]) use the Latin version INRI. The [[Russian Orthodox Church]] uses ІНЦІ (the [[Church Slavonic]] equivalent of INBI) or the abbreviation Цръ Слвы ("King of Glory").  
+
==Historical context==
 
+
According to the biblical accounts of Jesus' death and [[crucifixion]], it is said that Jesus was captured in [[Jerusalem]] and brought to [[Pontius Pilate]] to be questioned for the alleged crime of treason/sedition to the [[Roman Empire]]. However, when Pilate asked Jesus if he was indeed the alleged "King of the Jews," it is notable that Jesus neither confirmed nor denied this claim, simply replying that he was thus being called so. Jesus' ambivalence on this point was taken as implicit acquiescence of the charge and thus gave Pilate grounds to condemn Jesus as a potential threat to Roman governance as well as a disturbance of the peace. Yet, the bible also records that Pilate found no ill in Jesus and did not wish to crucify him; however, to appease the crowd's demands, Jesus was condemned to die by crucifixion. As the Roman soldiers nailed Jesus on the cross, they mocked him and placed a signpost on the cross that said "Jesus of King of the Jews."  This title was appended to the cross to tease Jesus and to ridicule his followers' belief that he was the [[messiah]] who would lead the Jews in overthrowing Roman rule. In Latin, the abbreviation of this phrase is INRI.
==Origins==
 
As Pilate was loath to crucify Jesus without justification, he used the standing Roman treaty with the Jews which allowed them limited self-government, see [[Iudaea Province]] for details.  When the Jewish priests complained that Jesus was interfering with that self-rule by claiming to be the Son of God (see [[Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus]]), Pilate challenged him to deny that he was the "King of the Jews". Jesus did not deny the accusation.  Pilate's reluctance to crucify Jesus, according to Christian texts, stands in contrast to his willingness to crucify countless thousands of other Jews and [[Samaritans]] during his rule.<ref>[[Josephus]], ''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'', [http://earlyjewishwritings.com/text/josephus/ant18.html Book XVIII] (c. A.D. 94)</ref>
 
 
 
Some believe that the justification for his crucifixion was his claim to an illegitimate title. However, {{bibleverse||John|19:21-22|KJV}}, alludes that Pilate rejected the charge that Jesus was crucified because he falsely claimed to be king and instead stated that Jesus was crucified because he ''was'' the King of the Jews. Thus, some Christians as early as the second century<ref>[[Tertullian]], ''Apologeticum c. Gentes'', [http://www.tertullian.org/lfc/LFC10-06_apologeticum.htm#C21 chapter 21] (A.D. 198)</ref> report that Pilate was convinced that Jesus was the [[Messiah]].  
 
  
 
==Gospel Versions==
 
==Gospel Versions==
In the [[Gospel of John]] ({{bibleverse-nb||John|19:19-20|KJV}}) the inscription is explained:
+
In the [[Gospel of John]] ({{bibleverse-nb||John|19:19-20|KJV}}) the inscription is explained: "And [[Pontius Pilate|Pilate]] wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, <small>JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS</small>. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin" (King James Version).
<blockquote>And [[Pontius Pilate|Pilate]] wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, <small>JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS</small>. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. (King James Version)</blockquote>
 
  
Each of the other accounts for Jesus's death have a slightly different sign: [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Matthew|27:37|KJV}}) "This is Jesus the King of the Jews"; [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Mark|15:26|KJV}}) "The King of the Jews"; and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Luke23:38|KJV}}) "This is the King of the Jews". The title was written in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Latin language|Latin]].
+
Each of the other accounts for Jesus's death have a slightly different sign: [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Matthew|27:37|KJV}}) "This is Jesus the King of the Jews"; [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Mark|15:26|KJV}}) "The King of the Jews"; and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Luke23:38|KJV}}) "This is the King of the Jews." The title was written in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Latin language|Latin]].
  
 
{| style=border-collapse:collapse border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
 
{| style=border-collapse:collapse border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
Line 32: Line 26:
 
|- align=center
 
|- align=center
 
|style="text-align:centre;"|Inscription
 
|style="text-align:centre;"|Inscription
||ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ||ουτος εστιν ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων<br><small>HIC·EST·REX·IVDÆORVM</small><br> זה ומלך היהודים</small><br> ||ουτος εστιν ιησους ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ||ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודים <br>ιησους ο ναζωραιος ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων<br><small>IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM</small>
+
||ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ||ουτος εστιν ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων<br/><small>HIC·EST·REX·IVDÆORVM</small><br/> זה ומלך היהודים</small><br/> ||ουτος εστιν ιησους ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ||ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודים <br/>ιησους ο ναζωραιος ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων<br/><small>IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM</small>
 
|- align=center
 
|- align=center
 
|style="text-align:centre;"|English translation
 
|style="text-align:centre;"|English translation
Line 38: Line 32:
 
|}
 
|}
  
==Christian Symbolism==
+
==Christian symbolism==
A ''chrismon'' is one of number of [[Christian]] [[symbol]]s intended to represent aspects of the Person, life or ministry of [[Jesus Christ]] and the life, ministry or history of the [[Christian Church]] through a single image, emblem or monogramThe term "chrismon" comes from the Latin phrase "Christi Monogramma", meaning "monogram of Christ". By definition, the literal monogram of Christ is the more commonly named [[labarum]] or "Chi Rho", which is the [[Greek letters]] Χ ("chi") superimposed upon Ρ ("rho"). Often, the Ρ is formed to look like a shepherd's crook and the Χ like a cross, symbolizing Jesus Christ as [[The Good Shepherd (Christianity)|Good Shepherd]] of his flock, the Christian Church.
+
Throughout history, a number of [[symbol]]s have been used in [[Christianity]] to represent aspects of the life and teachings of [[Jesus Christ]] as well as the [[Christian Church]]. In the early years of the growth of the church, it was dangerous for Christians to practice their faith in public because they were persecuted by the [[Roman Empire]]. As a result, certain symbols arose to secretly convey the teachings of Jesus without raising the notice of Roman authorities. Among these symbols were the so-called ''nomina sacra'' (meaning "sacred names"), which were abbreviations of  divine names/titles used in early Greek scripture. Terms of reverence for Christ such as Lord, Son, Spirit, Savior, and so on, were written with overlines to indicate their special importance for the early Christians. Starting in the third century the ''nomina sacra'' were sometimes shortened by contraction in Christian inscriptions, resulting in sequences of Greek letters such as IH (iota-eta), IC (iota-sigma), or IHC (iota-eta-sigma) for Jesus (Greek Iēsous), and XC (chi-sigma), XP (chi-ro), and XPC (chi-rho-sigma) for Christ (Greek Christos). Here "C" represents the medieval "lunate" form of Greek sigma; sigma could also be transcribed into the Latin alphabet by sound, giving IHS and XPS. One of the oldest Christian symbols is the ''Chi-Rho'' or [[Labarum]]. It consists of the superimposed Greek letters [[Chi (letter)|Chi]] {{polytonic|Χ}}; and [[Rho (letter)|Rho]] {{polytonic|Ρ}}, which are the first two letters of christ in Greek. Technically, the word ''labarum'' is Latin for a standard with a little flag hanging on it, used in the army. A Christogram was added to the flag as an image of the Greek letters Chi Rho, in the late Roman period.  
  
Chrismons can be found in all sizes, any sort of construction, and are used in numerous applications.  Perhaps most commonly, chrismons are used to adorn liturgical devices and [[Christmas Trees]] during [[Advent]] and [[Christmas]], where they are made from various materials ranging from [[needlepoint]] to woodwork and metalwork. They can also be found as decorations in and outside of Christian church buildings and homes, and even found on gravestones and personal stationary.
+
In the [[Latin]]-speaking Christianity of medieval Western Europe (and so among Catholics and many [[Protestant]]s today), the most common Christogram is "IHS" or "IHC," derived from the first three letters of the [[Greek language|Greek]] name of Jesus, ''iota-eta-sigma'' or ΙΗΣ. Here the Greek letter ''eta'' was transliterated as the letter ''H'' in the Latin-speaking West (Greek ''eta'' and Latin-alphabet ''H'' had the same visual appearance and shared a common historical origin), while the Greek letter ''sigma'' was either transliterated as the Latin letter ''C'' (due to the visually-similar form of the lunate sigma), or as Latin ''S'' (since these letters of the two alphabets wrote the same sound). Because the Latin-alphabet letters ''I'' and ''J'' were not systematically distinguished until the seventeenth century, "JHS" and "JHC" are equivalent to "IHS" and "IHC."
  
''Nomina sacra'' means "sacred names" in [[Latin language|Latin]], and can be used to refer to traditions of abbreviated writing of several frequently occurring divine names or titles in early [[Greek language]] [[Holy Scripture]]. The Bruce Metzger's book ''Manuscripts of the Greek Bible'' lists 15 such expressions from Greek papyri: the Greek counterparts of God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, Son, Spirit, David, cross, Mary, Father, Israel, Savior, Man Jerusalem, and Heaven.  The contractions were written with overlines.
+
"IHS" is sometimes interpreted as meaning ''Iesus Hominum Salvator'' ("Jesus, Savior of men," in Latin), or connected with ''In Hoc Signo''. Some uses have even been created for the English language, where "IHS" is interpreted as an abbreviation of "I Have Suffered" or "In His Service." Such interpretations are known as backronyms. Its use in the West originated with St. Bernardine of Siena, a 13th Century priest who popularized the use of the three letters on the background of a blazing sun to displace both popular pagan symbols and seals of political factions like the Guelphs and Ghibellines in public spaces.
  
Starting in the third century the ''nomina sacra'' were sometimes shortened by contraction in Christian inscriptions, resulting in sequences of Greek letters such as IH (iota-eta), IC (iota-sigma), or IHC (iota-eta-sigma) for Jesus (Greek Iēsous), and XC (chi-sigma), XP (chi-ro) and XPC (chi-rho-sigma) for Christ (Greek Christos).  Here "C" represents the medieval "lunate" form of Greek sigma; sigma could also be transcribed into the Latin alphabet by sound, giving IHS and XPS.  
+
==Alternate forms==
 +
Many [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es use the [[Greek language|Greek]] letters '''INBI''' based on the Greek version of the inscription, ''{{Polytonic|Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων}}''. Some representations change the title to "ΙΝΒΚ" ''{{Polytonic|ὁ Bασιλεὺς τοῦ κόσμου}}'' ("The King of the World"), or "ΙΝΒΔ" ''{{Polytonic|ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῆς Δόξης}}'' ("The King of Glory"), not implying that this was really what was written, but reflecting the tradition that [[icon]]s depict the spiritual reality rather than the physical reality. Some other Orthodox Churches (such as the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]]) use the Latin version INRI. The [[Russian Orthodox Church]] uses ІНЦІ (the [[Church Slavonic]] equivalent of INBI) or the abbreviation Цръ Слвы ("King of Glory").  
  
One of the oldest Christograms is the ''Chi-Rho'' or [[Labarum]]. It consists of the superimposed Greek letters [[Chi (letter)|Chi]] {{polytonic|Χ}}; and [[Rho (letter)|Rho]] {{polytonic|Ρ}}, which are the first two letters of christ in Greek.  Technically, the word ''labarum'' is Latin for a standard with a little flag hanging on it, used in the army. A Christogram was added to the flag as an image of the Greek letters Chi Rho, in the late Roman period. So ''Christogram'' and ''labarum'' are not originally synonyms.
+
In Hebrew, the phrase is commonly rendered ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודים (''Yeshua` HaNotsri U'Melech HaYehudim'' {{IPA2|jeːʃuːɑʕ hɑnːɑtseri meleχ hɑjːəhuðiːm}}), which translates instead to "Jesus the Nazarite and King of the Jews." This version was most probably chosen in order that the acronym constitute the [[tetragrammaton]] (יהוה) name corresponding with [[Yahweh]] or [[Jehovah]]. It is possible that the titulus was written in [[Aramaic]], the local vernacular, rather than Hebrew.
 
 
The most commonly encountered Christogram in English-speaking countries in modern times is the X (or more accurately, Greek letter Chi) in the abbreviation ''[[Xmas]]'' (for "Christmas"), which represents the first letter of the word ''Christ''.
 
 
 
In the [[Latin]]-speaking Christianity of medieval Western Europe (and so among Catholics and many [[Protestant]]s today), the most common Christogram is "IHS" or "IHC", derived from the first three letters of the [[Greek language|Greek]] name of Jesus, ''iota-eta-sigma'' or ΙΗΣ. Here the Greek letter ''eta'' was transliterated as the letter ''H'' in the Latin-speaking West (Greek ''eta'' and Latin-alphabet ''H'' had the same visual appearance and shared a common historical origin), while the Greek letter ''sigma'' was either transliterated as the Latin letter ''C'' (due to the visually-similar form of the lunate sigma), or as Latin ''S'' (since these letters of the two alphabets wrote the same sound).  Because the Latin-alphabet letters ''I'' and ''J'' were not systematically distinguished until the 17th century, "JHS" and "JHC" are equivalent to "IHS" and "IHC".
 
 
 
"IHS" is sometimes interpreted as meaning ''Iesus Hominum Salvator'' ("Jesus, Savior of men", in Latin), or connected with ''In Hoc Signo''. Some uses have even been created for the English language, where "IHS" is interpreted as an abbreviation of "I Have Suffered" or "In His Service". Such interpretations are known as backronyms. Its use in the West originated with St. Bernardine of Siena, a 13th Century priest who popularized the use of the three letters on the background of a blazing sun to displace both popular pagan symbols and seals of political factions like the Guelphs and Ghibellines in public spaces.
 
 
 
==Notes==
 
<references/>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
*Grabar, ''Christian Iconography: A Study of its Origins.'' Princeton University Press, 1968.
+
*Dilasser, Maurice. ''The Symbols of the Church.'' Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN 081462538x.
*Grosse, R. "Labarum", ''Realencyclopädie der klassischen Altertumswissenschaft'' vol. 12, pt 1(Stuttgart) 1924:240-42.
+
*Grabar, Andre. ''Christian Iconography: A Study of its Origins.'' Princeton University Press, 1981. ISBN 978-0691018300.
*Grégoire, H. "L'étymologie de 'Labarum'" ''Byzantion'' '''4''' (1929: 477-82).
+
*Hurtado, L.W. ''The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins.'' Cambridge, 2006. ISBN 978-0802828958.
* Hurtado, L.W. ''The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins,'' Cambridge 2006.
+
*Karlin-Hayter, Patricia. ''Oxford History of Byzantium.'' Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 9780198140986.
*Lipinsky, A. "Labarum" ''Lexikon der christlichen Ikonographie'' '''3''' (Rome:1970)
+
*Paap, A.H.R.E. ''Nomina Sacra in the Greek Papyri of the First Five Centuries.'' Papyrologica Lugduno-Batava VIII Leiden, 1959.
*Paap, A.H.R.E. ''Nomina Sacra in the Greek Papyri of the First Five Centuries,'' Papyrologica Lugduno-Batava VIII (Leiden 1959).
+
*Sill, Gertrude Grace. ''A Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art.'' Touchstone, 1996. ISBN 978-0684826837.
*Dilasser, Maurice. ''The Symbols of the Church.'' Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN 081462538x
+
*Steffler, Alva William. ''Symbols of the Christian Faith.'' Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN 978-0802846761.
*Karlin-Hayter, Patricia. ''Oxford History of Byzantium.'' Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 9780198140986
 
*Kitzinger, Ernst. ''The Cult of Images in the Age before Iconoclasm.'' Dumbarton Oaks, 1954, quoted by Jaroslav Pelikan, in  ''The Spirit of Eastern Christendom 600-1700.'' University of Chicago Press, 1974. ISSN 0070-7546
 
  
 
[[Category:Philosophy and religion]]
 
[[Category:Philosophy and religion]]
Line 73: Line 57:
 
[[Category:Christianity]]
 
[[Category:Christianity]]
  
{{Credits|Christogram|226477126|Chrismon|182149602|Nomina_sacra|223487690|Monogram|228315907|INRI|225951924}}
+
{{Credits|Christogram|226477126|Chrismon|182149602|Nomina_sacra|223487690|Monogram|228315907|INRI|225951924|Titulus_(inscription)|136969373}}

Latest revision as of 00:24, 25 February 2009

The crucified Jesus with the initials INRI above him.

INRI is an acronym of the Latin phrase IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM (Jesus Nazarenus, rex Judæorum), which translates into English as "Jesus Nazarene, King of the Jews." This title appears in the New Testament in the Passion narrative of the Gospel of John (19:19). During Jesus' crucifixion, a Titulus Crucis (Latin for "Title of the Cross") was inscribed in wood and placed above Jesus head. In the context of the Crucifixion, the titulus IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM (and its translation), written in three languages (Hebrew, Latin, and Greek), was affixed to the cross. Within Western Christianity, many crucifixes and other depictions of the crucifixion include a stylized plaque or parchment, called a titulus (title), bearing the Latin letters INRI, occasionally carved directly into the cross, and usually just above the head of Jesus.

A Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters which forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, and is traditionally used as a Christian symbol. Different types of Christograms are associated with the various traditions of Christianity. A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol.

Historical context

According to the biblical accounts of Jesus' death and crucifixion, it is said that Jesus was captured in Jerusalem and brought to Pontius Pilate to be questioned for the alleged crime of treason/sedition to the Roman Empire. However, when Pilate asked Jesus if he was indeed the alleged "King of the Jews," it is notable that Jesus neither confirmed nor denied this claim, simply replying that he was thus being called so. Jesus' ambivalence on this point was taken as implicit acquiescence of the charge and thus gave Pilate grounds to condemn Jesus as a potential threat to Roman governance as well as a disturbance of the peace. Yet, the bible also records that Pilate found no ill in Jesus and did not wish to crucify him; however, to appease the crowd's demands, Jesus was condemned to die by crucifixion. As the Roman soldiers nailed Jesus on the cross, they mocked him and placed a signpost on the cross that said "Jesus of King of the Jews." This title was appended to the cross to tease Jesus and to ridicule his followers' belief that he was the messiah who would lead the Jews in overthrowing Roman rule. In Latin, the abbreviation of this phrase is INRI.

Gospel Versions

In the Gospel of John (19:19-20) the inscription is explained: "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin" (King James Version).

Each of the other accounts for Jesus's death have a slightly different sign: Matthew (27:37) "This is Jesus the King of the Jews"; Mark (15:26) "The King of the Jews"; and Luke (KJV) "This is the King of the Jews." The title was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin.

Mark Luke Matthew John
Verse Mk 15:26 Lk 23:38 Mt 27:37 Jn 19:19-20
Inscription ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ουτος εστιν ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων
HIC·EST·REX·IVDÆORVM
זה ומלך היהודים
ουτος εστιν ιησους ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודים
ιησους ο ναζωραιος ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων
IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM
English translation The King of the Jews This is the King of the Jews This is Jesus, the King of the Jews Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews

Christian symbolism

Throughout history, a number of symbols have been used in Christianity to represent aspects of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as well as the Christian Church. In the early years of the growth of the church, it was dangerous for Christians to practice their faith in public because they were persecuted by the Roman Empire. As a result, certain symbols arose to secretly convey the teachings of Jesus without raising the notice of Roman authorities. Among these symbols were the so-called nomina sacra (meaning "sacred names"), which were abbreviations of divine names/titles used in early Greek scripture. Terms of reverence for Christ such as Lord, Son, Spirit, Savior, and so on, were written with overlines to indicate their special importance for the early Christians. Starting in the third century the nomina sacra were sometimes shortened by contraction in Christian inscriptions, resulting in sequences of Greek letters such as IH (iota-eta), IC (iota-sigma), or IHC (iota-eta-sigma) for Jesus (Greek Iēsous), and XC (chi-sigma), XP (chi-ro), and XPC (chi-rho-sigma) for Christ (Greek Christos). Here "C" represents the medieval "lunate" form of Greek sigma; sigma could also be transcribed into the Latin alphabet by sound, giving IHS and XPS. One of the oldest Christian symbols is the Chi-Rho or Labarum. It consists of the superimposed Greek letters Chi Χ; and Rho Ρ, which are the first two letters of christ in Greek. Technically, the word labarum is Latin for a standard with a little flag hanging on it, used in the army. A Christogram was added to the flag as an image of the Greek letters Chi Rho, in the late Roman period.

In the Latin-speaking Christianity of medieval Western Europe (and so among Catholics and many Protestants today), the most common Christogram is "IHS" or "IHC," derived from the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus, iota-eta-sigma or ΙΗΣ. Here the Greek letter eta was transliterated as the letter H in the Latin-speaking West (Greek eta and Latin-alphabet H had the same visual appearance and shared a common historical origin), while the Greek letter sigma was either transliterated as the Latin letter C (due to the visually-similar form of the lunate sigma), or as Latin S (since these letters of the two alphabets wrote the same sound). Because the Latin-alphabet letters I and J were not systematically distinguished until the seventeenth century, "JHS" and "JHC" are equivalent to "IHS" and "IHC."

"IHS" is sometimes interpreted as meaning Iesus Hominum Salvator ("Jesus, Savior of men," in Latin), or connected with In Hoc Signo. Some uses have even been created for the English language, where "IHS" is interpreted as an abbreviation of "I Have Suffered" or "In His Service." Such interpretations are known as backronyms. Its use in the West originated with St. Bernardine of Siena, a 13th Century priest who popularized the use of the three letters on the background of a blazing sun to displace both popular pagan symbols and seals of political factions like the Guelphs and Ghibellines in public spaces.

Alternate forms

Many Eastern Orthodox Churches use the Greek letters INBI based on the Greek version of the inscription, Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων. Some representations change the title to "ΙΝΒΚ" ὁ Bασιλεὺς τοῦ κόσμου ("The King of the World"), or "ΙΝΒΔ" ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῆς Δόξης ("The King of Glory"), not implying that this was really what was written, but reflecting the tradition that icons depict the spiritual reality rather than the physical reality. Some other Orthodox Churches (such as the Romanian Orthodox Church) use the Latin version INRI. The Russian Orthodox Church uses ІНЦІ (the Church Slavonic equivalent of INBI) or the abbreviation Цръ Слвы ("King of Glory").

In Hebrew, the phrase is commonly rendered ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודים (Yeshua` HaNotsri U'Melech HaYehudim IPA: [jeːʃuːɑʕ hɑnːɑtseri meleχ hɑjːəhuðiːm]), which translates instead to "Jesus the Nazarite and King of the Jews." This version was most probably chosen in order that the acronym constitute the tetragrammaton (יהוה) name corresponding with Yahweh or Jehovah. It is possible that the titulus was written in Aramaic, the local vernacular, rather than Hebrew.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Dilasser, Maurice. The Symbols of the Church. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN 081462538x.
  • Grabar, Andre. Christian Iconography: A Study of its Origins. Princeton University Press, 1981. ISBN 978-0691018300.
  • Hurtado, L.W. The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins. Cambridge, 2006. ISBN 978-0802828958.
  • Karlin-Hayter, Patricia. Oxford History of Byzantium. Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 9780198140986.
  • Paap, A.H.R.E. Nomina Sacra in the Greek Papyri of the First Five Centuries. Papyrologica Lugduno-Batava VIII Leiden, 1959.
  • Sill, Gertrude Grace. A Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art. Touchstone, 1996. ISBN 978-0684826837.
  • Steffler, Alva William. Symbols of the Christian Faith. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN 978-0802846761.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.