Χριστός. (Christos) in John 1:20: Noun Nominative Singular Masculine

Noun: the word names a title or designation for a person, here used as a substantive in the clause.

Nominative: the form normally marks a subject or a predicate term, and here it fits the predicative sense in the stated denial.

Singular: the form is grammatically singular in this occurrence, matching one identified referent in the sentence.

Masculine: the noun belongs to the masculine grammatical class, which describes form and agreement, not a theological gender claim.

ὁ Χριστός

It stands in the complement area of the clause with εἰμὶ and is identified by the article, so it functions as the asserted title in the spoken denial.

It names the role or identity being denied: 'I am the Christ.'

It is not the grammatical subject of the sentence, and the nominative form alone does not decide every nuance beyond the stated identity claim.

High: The form names the messianic identity explicitly denied by John.

Predicate nominative title. names the title denied of the speaker. Attached to the direct denial, 'I am not the Christ'. Governed by the being verb in the confession. The form marks the identity role, while the context supplies John's witness function.

What identity does John deny? He denies being the Christ; the nominative title functions as the predicate identity.

Direct: The form directly supports a rendering of the title as the denied identity.

Predicate nominatives near a being verb should be read from the clause and discourse, not from case alone.

The nominative title alone proves messianic theology: The title is significant, but this form guide should restrict the claim to John's explicit denial in context.

The witness reads, 'Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐγὼ ὁ Χριστός,' so the form occurs in a clear statement of denial within the verse.

Χριστός is the established title meaning the anointed one, the Messiah, or the Christ, and here it functions as that recognized designation.

The nominative form fits the clause as a predicate expression after 'I am,' so it supports an identity claim rather than a mere descriptive modifier.

In this verse the grammar helps present a plain refusal of the messianic title, which is the point of the confession in context.

Within John, this title consistently points to Jesus as Messiah, so the form here aligns with the Gospel's larger messianic identification.

For readers and teaching, the form can be rendered simply as 'the Christ' or 'the Messiah' in a statement of denial.

Do not derive more than the clause supports, such as a shift in meaning from the lemma, a separate doctrinal system, or a gender-based theological claim.