The name of Caesar Augustus
The Roman Emperor who was in power when Jesus was born had many titles some of which have a strange similarity to those given to Jesus. The Roman Caesars made claims to deity that the Bible teaches only God can make. For instance, Caesar Augustus was known as the Blessed One, the Anointed One (the Messiah), the Pax Romana - The one who brings peace, the Pontifex (i.e. the Priest). He was regarded as a god and claimed that at the age of 17 he could bring men to God. He was also called the Divine Son of God in 42 BC at the age of 21. History shows that the claims to be divine were not supported by lifestyle, behaviour or power.
The claims that Jesus is God revealed in the flesh have been substantiated time and time again by eyewitness records to his perfect life, miraculous powers and glorious resurrection.
Names are significant in Western culture.
Parents choose names for their children after much thought and discussion. For the rest of a person's life, he/she is identified by the name he/she was given before birth. Proverbs 22:1, ‘A good name is more desirable than great riches.’ In the biblical world, a good name meant more than even a good reputation, because it identified the character of the person carrying it.
