Scientist reveals where the 'H' in Jesus H. Christ comes from
Share:
'Jesus H. Christ' is an expletive that people often utter in surprise, disappointment, disgust, or astonishment. But where does the 'H' come from?. Dr Daniel McClellan, an honorary fellow at the University of Birmingham has finally revealed the back story of Jesus' supposed 'middle name'.
![[During the early history of the Church, Christians began creating symbols called Christograms which combined the first letters of Jesus' name or the title Christ. For example, the 'Chi-Rho' symbol combines the first two letters of Christ in Greek to make one symbol (pictured)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/13/16/94042123-14278835-image-a-13_1736784075789.jpg)
In a TikTok video, Dr McClellan explains that contrary to popular belief, the 'H' doesn't stand for anything at all. Instead, this letter has its origin in an ancient Greek symbol called a 'Christogram'. According to the expert, the nickname emerged from a long-forgotten joke about Jesus' initials.
![[Later, Christians made a Christogram using the first letters of 'Jesus' in Greek: Iota, eta, sigma. When these were transliterated into Latin, it became 'IHS' as pictured here on the Church of Gesu, in Rome]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/13/16/94042125-14278835-image-a-15_1736784113924.jpg)
Dr McClellan says: 'The most widely accepted theory is that it derives from a specific Christogram. 'A Christogram is a one, two, or three letter abbreviation that is used as a symbol to represent the name Jesus, the titled Christ, or the name Jesus Christ.'.
![[Dr McClellan says that the 'i' became a 'j' in the 16th century to create a Christogram which looked like 'JHC'. People then joked that this stood for Jesus H. Christ]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/13/16/94042023-14278835-image-m-17_1736784126394.jpg)
However, over hundreds of years, one of these symbols became warped through translation to leave the supposed initials JHC. In a TikTok, Bible expert Dr Daniel McClellan reveals the origins of the 'H' in Jesus H. Christ. In the early history of the church, Christians started to create symbols which abbreviated Jesus' name.
For example, one you might use without even knowing it is the abbreviation of Christmas to 'X-mas'. Dr McClellan says: 'The X represents the Greek letter 'Χ' or 'Chi' which is the first letter in the title Christ: Χρίστος (Christos).'. Likewise, in the Roman Catholic faith, you might see a symbol which looks like an 'X' with a tall 'P' emerging from it.
