τίτλος

From the study of John 19:19

Range of meaning

A Greek borrowing of the Latin titulus: a board, label or notice; an inscription on a monument or boundary-stone; a placard carried in a procession; in criminal settings, the notice giving the cause of punishment (Latin causa poenae).

Against the English

KJV and WEB 'title'. ESV and NASB 'inscription'. NIV 'notice'. BSB 'notice'. NLT 'sign'. 'Title' is etymologically exact, since English 'title' comes from titulus, but today it suggests a rank or a book's name.

How it drifted

In 1611 'title' could still mean an inscription or label. Since then the main sense has narrowed to an honorific ('the title of King') or a name for a work. A reader of 'Pilate wrote a title' can easily think Pilate gave Jesus a royal title, which merges the placard with its wording.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it appears only here and in v.20. Mark 15:26 uses the native Greek phrase 'the inscription of his charge' (hē epigraphē tēs aitias), and Matthew 27:37 has 'his charge.' Roman writers describe the custom: Suetonius (Caligula 32.2) mentions a slave led around with a placard stating the reason for his punishment, and (Domitian 10.1) a spectator thrown to the dogs with a placard reading 'a Thracian supporter who spoke impiously.' Cassius Dio (54.3.7) has a man led to crucifixion with writing that announced the cause of death. Eusebius (Church History 5.1.44) has the martyr Attalus paraded with a tablet in Latin: 'This is Attalus the Christian.'

From the study of John 19:20

Range of meaning

A Greek spelling of the Latin titulus: an inscription, label, notice or placard. In Roman usage a titulus could be a label on goods, an inscription on a monument, or the board stating a condemned person's offence, carried in front of them or fixed near them at execution.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT say 'title'. BSB and NIV say 'sign', ESV and NASB 'inscription'. 'Sign' and 'inscription' give the right physical picture. 'Title' was accurate in 1611, when English title still kept its Latin sense of an inscription or heading, but a modern reader hears 'book title' or 'rank'.

How it drifted

English 'title' comes from titulus. Over time its main sense moved from 'inscription' to 'name of a work' and 'designation of rank'. The KJV kept the older wording.

Used elsewhere in the period

Roman writers describe such placards. Suetonius (Caligula 32.2) tells of a slave led around with a titulus stating his crime. Suetonius (Domitian 10.1) mentions a man thrown to dogs with a placard. Cassius Dio (54.3.7) has a slave crucified after being led through the forum with writing declaring the cause of his death. Eusebius (Church History 5.1.44) records the martyr Attalus led around the amphitheatre at Lyons in AD 177 with a board reading 'This is Attalus the Christian.' In the NT only John uses the Latin loanword. The Synoptics call it the 'charge' (aitia, Mark 15:26; Matt 27:37) or 'inscription' (epigraphē, Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38).