Lord's Day 12: The Name Christian and What It Means

Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.
By Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.

Ordained Minister, M.Div.

May 30, 2026

2 min read

Oil painting of a believer anointed as a Christian in baptism with golden light and the Heidelberg Catechism open nearby

Lord's Day 12 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks a deceptively simple question: Why is He called Christ, meaning Anointed? The answer opens into one of the most illuminating doctrines in the catechism: the threefold office of Christ as prophet, priest, and king, and the believer's participation in each.

Christ's Threefold Anointing

In the Old Testament, kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil as a sign of their divine appointment. Jesus fulfills all three offices: as Prophet, He reveals God's will fully and finally. As Priest, He offered Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice and now intercedes for His people. As King, He rules over all things for the benefit of His church and will bring His reign to its consummation.

What Christians Share in Christ's Anointing

The catechism's answer to Q32 explains that Christians bear the name Christian because they are anointed with the Holy Spirit and share in Christ's anointing. This means believers participate derivatively in each office: as prophets they confess Christ's name and live as witnesses to His truth; as priests they offer themselves as living sacrifices; as kings they reign over sin and death in this life and will reign with Christ forever.

The name Christian is therefore not merely a religious label or cultural identifier. It is a description of identity: those who belong to the Anointed One and who, by His Spirit, share in what He is and does. Every Christian carries a title that encompasses prophet, priest, and king.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lord's Day 12 of the Heidelberg Catechism cover?

Lord's Day 12 (Questions 31–32) explains the title 'Christ' — meaning 'anointed one' — and what it means for believers to be called 'Christians.' It teaches that Jesus is the anointed Prophet, Priest, and King, and that Christians share in this anointing.

Why is Jesus called 'Christ' and what does that title mean?

Christ comes from the Greek word for 'anointed,' equivalent to the Hebrew Messiah. Jesus is anointed as Prophet (proclaiming God's will), Priest (interceding and atoning for us), and King (ruling and defending us). This threefold office is called the munus triplex and is central to Reformed Christology.

What does it mean to be called a 'Christian'?

According to Lord's Day 12, being called a Christian means sharing in Christ's anointing — being a prophet who confesses his name, a priest who offers oneself as a living sacrifice, and a king who fights against sin and the devil with a free and good conscience. The name is not merely a label but a vocation.

What is the 'threefold office' of Christ?

The threefold office (munus triplex) describes Christ's work as Prophet, Priest, and King. As Prophet he reveals God; as Priest he reconciles us to God through his sacrifice and intercession; as King he reigns over all things for the salvation of his people. Calvin developed this framework and the Heidelberg Catechism enshrines it.

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