"Jesus is Lord" (Greek: Κύριος Ἰησοῦς, romanized: Kýrios Iēsoûs) is the shortest credal affirmation found in the New Testament, one of several slightly more elaborate variations.
[1] It serves as a statement of faith for the majority of Christians who regard Jesus as both fully man and God.
In antiquity, in general use, the term "lord" was a courtesy title for social superiors, but its root meaning was "ruler".
"[7] In Pauline Christianity, J. N. D. Kelly points out creed-like slogans attributed to Paul the Apostle in Galatians, 2 Thessalonians, Romans and 1 Corinthians,[8] though they never formed a fixed, standard creed.
In the early days, the similar formula "Jesus is the Christ" was found, but this faded into the background when its original Messianic significance was forgotten.