Jesus’ or Jesus’s?

Long ago, a question posted in the Sharper Iron forum regarding the possessive form of “Jesus.” Is it Jesus’ or Jesus’s or something else?

Commenters provided good answers for the English usage and style options at the time. In short, Chicago Manual of Style called for one option, while other style guides had different rules.

Today, style manuals still differ on this point. In some cases, though, their specifications have changed.

Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)

According to Chicago Manual of Style Online, CMOS used to have complex rules for the possessive forms of proper names ending in ‘s’ or ending in letters that sound like ‘s,’ but those rules are now streamlined.

The sixteenth edition (2010) then eliminated all remaining exceptions (including one for names ending in a silent s that had been added to the fifteenth edition [2003]), and that’s where CMOS stands today—that is, add an apostrophe plus an s to form the possessive of any person’s name, regardless of number of syllables or ancient pedigree.

So whether you’re referring to “Moses’s leadership” or (to bring things up to date) “Harris’s speech”—or, yes, “Walz’s speech,” though single-syllable names ending in z were never in question—Chicago’s rule for forming the possessive of a person’s name is now the same for all.

For those following CMOS, the possessive form of Jesus is Jesus’s.

Lest there be too much clarity on the topic, though, even CMOS Online says it’s OK to break CMOS’ rules sometimes.

Q. It just occurred to me that “Achilles’ heel” is wrong, according to CMOS 7.17. It should be “Achilles’s heel,” right?

A. Technically, yes: “Achilles’ heel” is contrary to Chicago style, which would call for “Achilles’s heel.” CMOS 7.19 addresses the issue directly: “Classical proper names of two or more syllables that end in an eez sound form the possessive in the usual way (though when these forms are spoken, the additional s is generally not pronounced).” For example, “Euripides’s tragedies.” But like Achilles’s mother, we failed to cover “Achilles’ heel,” a term that therefore remains vulnerable to stylistic ambiguity. Thankfully, Merriam-Webster is there to shield us from the arrows of editorial uncertainty. We defer to that resource and consider “Achilles’ heel” as an established exception to Chicago style.

We get some helpful pronunciation guidance here. Although Jesus does not end in an eez sound, I for one think the advice should still apply. In that case, Jesus’ and Jesus’s and Jesus would all sound the same out loud.

Associated Press Stylebook (APS)

According to a 2024 AP article, APS calls for a different solution from CMOS.

The Associated Press Stylebook says “use only an apostrophe” for singular proper names ending in S: Dickens’ novels, Hercules’ labors, Jesus’ life.

Nice and simple.

The article delves at some length into differing opinions on the question and claims that Webster doesn’t really care either way.

Pulju said he expects the ’s form to become dominant eventually. But for now, he—along with the Merriam-Webster dictionary—says either way is acceptable.

Let the reader decide. See, Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide. (Spoilers: it’s complicated, but on Jesus and Moses, Merriam Webster leans AP.)

The same AP article offers some history of interest to word nerds:

Timothy Pulju, a senior lecturer in linguistics at Dartmouth College, said that until the 17th or 18th century, the possessive of proper names ending in S—such as Jesus or Moses—often was simply the name itself with no apostrophe or additional S. Eventually, the apostrophe was added (Jesus’ or Moses’) to denote possession, though the pronunciation remained the same.

Proper Names vs. Other Nouns

Sometimes sources get a little confusing on the question because various style guides may have different rules for ordinary nouns ending in ‘s’ vs. proper names ending in ‘s.’

GrammarBook.com discusses the difference and the solution they prefer:

One method, common in newspapers and magazines, is to add an apostrophe plus s (’s) to common nouns ending in s, but only a stand-alone apostrophe to proper nouns ending in s.

Examples:

the class’s hours
Mr. Jones’ golf clubs
The canvas’s size
Texas’ weather

GrammarBook.com recommends a common sense alternative, though:

Another widely used technique, the one we favor, is to write the word as we would speak it. For example, since most people saying “Mr. Hastings’ pen” would not pronounce an added s, we would write Mr. Hastings’ pen with no added s. On the other hand, most people would pronounce an added s in “Jones’s,” so we’d write it as we say it: Mr. Jones’s golf clubs. This method explains the punctuation of for goodness’ sake.

Rule 2: To show plural possession of a word ending in an s or s sound, form the plural first; then immediately use the apostrophe.

Examples:
the classes’ hours
the Joneses’ car
guys’ night out
two actresses’ roles

Summing Up

Language is constantly changing because, in reality, nobody is in charge. The people who use the language do what they want with it, and over time, it changes as new consensuses (consensi?) form. And there are always marginal cases where there really is no consensus.

This is one of those. If you want to go with AP, use “Jesus’ life.” If you want to go with Chicago, use “Jesus’s life.” (But please, pronounce it “Jesus” either way.)

For what it’s worth (slightly more than a screen door on a submarine), the Aaron Style Guide says “s’s” looks cluttered. Clutter bad. Avoid. (The same guide says semicolons bad; ugly.)