# Jesus Christ — Leviathan character guide > Jesus Christ in Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Jesus, Christ, the Lord Jesus, our Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour **First appearance:** 0003-part-i-of-man ## Snapshot The promised Redeemer whose second coming Hobbes insists has not yet arrived, leaving Christians under civil sovereigns rather than any earthly vicar. ## Who they are Hobbes reads Christ's threefold office — redeemer, teacher, and future king — as a timeline that keeps the kingdom of God strictly in the future, not in the present Church. That single move dismantles the Pope's claim to speak in Christ's name and to unmake a king's authority over his own subjects. Every argument about obedience in the middle chapters runs through this figure, whether Hobbes is honoring him or fencing him off from earthly politics. ## Relationships ### [Pope Zachary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/pope_zachary) _professional_ Jesus Christ and Pope Zachary interact frequently as spiritual leader and his earthly representative, with Zachary acting as a mediator of Christ's authority. ### [Moses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/moses) _professional_ Jesus Christ and Moses are linked as lawgiver and fulfiller of the law, with Moses often serving as a prophetic forerunner to Christ. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/peter) _professional_ Jesus Christ and Peter share a master-disciple relationship, with Peter as the chief apostle and foundation of the Church. ### [David](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/david) _family_ David is an ancestor of Jesus Christ according to the flesh, with Christ often called the Son of David in messianic prophecy. ### [St. Paul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/st_paul) _professional_ Jesus Christ and St. Paul have a master-apostle relationship, with Paul as a later convert and chief missionary to the Gentiles. ### [St. Matthew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/st_matthew) _professional_ Jesus Christ and St. Matthew share a teacher-disciple bond, with Matthew being one of the twelve apostles and a gospel writer. ### [Elijah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/elijah) _professional_ Elijah and Jesus Christ are connected as prophetic predecessor and messianic fulfillment, with Elijah appearing at the Transfiguration. ### [Naaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/naaman) _psychological_ Jesus Christ and Naaman are linked through a healing narrative, with Naaman's cleansing serving as a type of spiritual purification by Christ. ### [Julius Caesar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/julius_caesar) _social_ Jesus Christ and Julius Caesar are contemporaries in a political sense, with Caesar representing the Roman imperial power under which Christ lived. ### [Timothy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/timothy) _professional_ Jesus Christ and Timothy are connected through Paul's mentorship, with Timothy as a younger apostolic delegate and spiritual son. ### [Holy Ghost](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/holy_ghost) _family_ The Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ are co-equal persons of the Trinity, with the Spirit descending upon Christ at his baptism. ### [Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/abraham) _family_ Abraham is the patriarchal ancestor of Jesus Christ, with Christ being the promised seed through whom all nations are blessed. ## In the story ### [III: Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/iii-of-the-consequence-or-train-of-imaginations) Mentioned in the example of the train of thought from the civil war to the delivering up of Christ and the thirty pieces of silver. ### [Of Persons, Authors, and Things Personated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xvi-of-persons-authors-and-things-personated) Personated God as the Son of man, sent to reduce the Jews and induce all nations into the kingdom of His Father. ### [XX: Of Dominion Paternal, and Despotical](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xx-of-dominion-paternal-and-despotical) Acknowledged paying taxes to Caesar and commanded his disciples to take the ass and colt, showing submission to sovereign authority. ### [Of Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxv-of-counsel) Cited as an example of counsel: 'Sell all thou hast; give it to the poor; and follow me' is counsel because the reason is drawn from our own benefit. ### [Of the Office of the Sovereign Representative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxx-of-the-office-of-the-sovereign-representative) Referenced as the sovereign of sovereigns and in the context of divine authority. ### [Part III: Of a Christian Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/part-iii-of-a-christian-commonwealth) Central figure whose authority and teachings are interpreted in relation to sovereign power. ### [Of the Principles of Christian Politics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxii-of-the-principles-of-christian-politics) Mentioned as the Messiah and King of the Jews, and as warning of false Christs and false prophets performing great miracles. ### [XXXIII: Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxiii-of-the-number-antiquity-scope-authority-and-interpreters-of-the-books-of-holy-scripture) Christ is referenced as the one who represented the person of God during His life on earth, and as the subject of the Gospels and prophecies. ### [XXXVI: Of the Word of God, and of Prophets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxvi-of-the-word-of-god-and-of-prophets) Christ is called 'the Word of God' as the thing promised; His incarnation is the performance of God's promise. ### [XXXVIII: Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Salvation, the World to Come, and Redemption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxviii-of-the-signification-in-scripture-of-eternal-life-hell-salvation-the-world-to-come-and-redemption) Christ's sacrifice redeems believers, restoring the eternal life lost by Adam's sin. ### [Of the Signification in Scripture of the Word Church](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxix-of-the-signification-in-scripture-of-the-word-church) Referred to as the head of the Church. ### [Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xli-of-the-office-of-our-blessed-saviour) Discussed as the Messiah with three offices: Redeemer, Prophet/Teacher, and King; His sacrifice and resurrection are analyzed, and His earthly ministry is shown to be non-political. ### [Of Power Ecclesiastical](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xlii-of-power-ecclesiastical) Referenced as the one who did not give the Pope the power to command, judge, or punish except by excommunication, and whose vicar cannot exercise government until His second coming. ### [XLIII: Of What Is Necessary for a Man’s Reception Into the Kingdom of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xliii-of-what-is-necessary-for-a-man-s-reception-into-the-kingdom-of-heaven) Referred to as the foundation of faith; His precept 'Fear not those that kill the body' is cited; He expounded the law of Moses and gave counsel to obey existing laws. ### [Part IV: Of the Kingdom of Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/part-iv-of-the-kingdom-of-darkness) Contrasted with Satan as the light of the world and the true king. ### [Of Spiritual Darkness, from Misinterpretation of Scripture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xliv-of-spiritual-darkness-from-misinterpretation-of-scripture) The kingdom of God is not yet come; Christ's second coming is awaited, and Christians are in the kingdom of grace by promise. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/jesus_christ - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters