INRI

Definition and Meaning

INRI is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of the Latin phrase Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." Because classical Latin had no separate letter J, Iesus (Jesus) and Iudaeorum (of the Jews) were written with an I. For this reason the abbreviation is written INRI rather than INRJ. The abbreviation refers to the title, or notice of the charge, placed on the cross above Jesus Christ, and it is commonly inscribed on a small plaque at the top of crosses in paintings and sculpture. Such a notice was a placard stating the crime for which a condemned person was being executed.

Biblical and Historical Background

All four Gospels record that a notice was placed on the cross, though its wording differs slightly in each:

• Matthew 27:37: "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
• Mark 15:26: "THE KING OF THE JEWS."
• Luke 23:38: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
• John 19:19: "JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

INRI follows the wording found in the Gospel of John. John 19:20 states that the notice was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. In the verses that follow, John 19:21–22, the chief priests ask that it be changed to read, "he said, I am King of the Jews," but Pontius Pilate refuses, answering, "What I have written I have written." For the Roman authorities, the inscription stated the charge of sedition. Christian tradition has read it as a paradox that proclaimed the kingship of Jesus.

In the art of the Western church, the Latin abbreviation INRI came into wide use. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, ΙΝΒΙ, the initial letters of the Greek wording, is used instead. The Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome holds a relic said to be part of this title, but its authenticity is reportedly disputed among scholars.

Practice in the Korean Church

Plaques bearing INRI are used chiefly with crucifixes, that is, crosses bearing a figure of Jesus. Consequently, in Korea they are most often seen on crucifixes and in sacred art in Catholic churches.

Most Korean Protestant churches use an empty cross without a figure. The Reformed tradition, including Presbyterians, tends to be cautious about the use of images in worship spaces. For this reason, the INRI inscription is rarely seen in the sanctuaries of Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, Full Gospel, and similar churches. In traditions that have retained more of the liturgical heritage, such as the Anglican Church of Korea and Lutheran churches, believers sometimes encounter the phrase through crucifixes or paintings of the crucifixion.

Regardless of denomination, sermons during Holy Week and Bible studies frequently take up the text of the title in John 19, "JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS," and connect it with the kingship of Christ. Protestants encounter its content far more often through this biblical text than through the abbreviation INRI.