- His Genealogies
- Abraham to David
- David to Captivity in Babylon
- The Captivity to Christ
- His Names
- Jesus
- Christ
- Lord
- Shiloh
- Emmanuel
- Wonderful
- Counselor
- The Mighty God
- The Everlasting Father
- The Prince of Peace
- The Branch
- The Last Adam
- The Word of God
IV. THE GREATEST OF ALL BIBLE MEN
Because Christ is the light, lighting every man that cometh into the world (John 1:4, 9), all the men of the Bible, and all men of all ages for that matter, are related to the Man Christ Jesus, either directly or indirectly. In this alphabetical treatment of Bible men, we purposely omitted any specific reference to Him who was found in fashion as a Man so that we could devote an entire chapter to His descent and designations.
It must be understood that it is not our purpose to give a study in Christology. Professor Alexander Stewart says, “He who would worthily write the life of Christ must have a pen dipped in the imaginative sympathy of a poet, in the prophet’s fire, in the artist’s charm and grace and in the reverence and purity of the saint.” Our endeavor is to show His relation to men. Thomas Dekker wrote of Christ in 1570:
The best of man
That e'er wore earth about Him as a sufferer:
A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit,
The first true Gentleman that ever breathed.
In the days of His flesh, Christ constantly asserted His own superior greatness among men. No man dared make the same claim. Familiar as He was with the great saints in God’s portrait gallery, He could say of Himself, “Behold a greater is here” (Matt. 12; John 4:10-18; 8:53-58).
He was greater than Abraham in the pre-eminence of His rank. The Jews boasted that Abraham was the head and founder of their race. Christ is the Head of the Church.
He was greater than the Temple in the magnificence of His glory. The Temple was the center and expression of worship. Now we gather in His name whether it be in cabin or cathedral.
He was greater than Solomon in the excellence of His wisdom. Israel’s illustrious king was the richest and wisest of the kings, but both his wealth and wisdom were derived from Him who was made unto our wisdom.
He was greater than Jonah in the beneficence of His mission. The runaway prophet was against God blessing Gentiles as well as Jews. Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
He was greater than Jacob in the munificence of His gift. Jacob gave his people a well (John 4:12). Christ provided, for all who are His, rivers of living water (John 7:37-39).
Christ came into the world of men as the holiest Man ever born. In human form, He was the same as other Bible men but unique in character. All the men of the Bible, with the sole exception of Adam, were born with inherent evil (Ps. 51:5). Christ was born sinless (Heb. 4:15). He was separate from sinners in that He was without inherent or practiced sin. No man could convince or convict this Man among men of sin.