Christ

Christ is the English representation of the Greek word ??????? (transliterated as Khristós), which means anointed. In the Christian religion it is a title given to Jesus of Nazareth, in which case "Christ" is capitalized, as a singularly descriptive title (The anointed). In English translations of the New Testament, the Greek ?????? ???????, and related phrases, are almost invariably translated Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus, leading the uninformed to mistake this title for the last name of Jesus of Nazareth. The part of Christian theology which focuses on the identity, life, teachings and works of Jesus, is known as Christology.

"The Anointed" in the Old Testament

In the Hebrew faith tradition, anointing (with oil) was a key element of religious ceremony by which specific people were explicitly marked or set aside for a specific role: priests, kings, and prophets. In some cases other materials were anointed with oil as well, to prepare them for religious ceremony. The importance of anointing is sometimes stressed by mentioning the need for it alongside reference to the person in question: e.g., "The priest that is anointed shall carry of the blood into the tabernacle of the testimony" (Lev 4:16). The Jews came to expect a savior who would embody the elements of priest, king, and prophet, and whom they therefore termed "the Messias", which served as a title. The association with being anointed and being a savior makes these words in some senses equivalent. They expressed their hopes for this savior particularly in their prayers known as the Psalms, which often make reference to God and "his anointed", many of which references Christians interpret as prophetic.

Related Topics:
Faith - Anointing - Oil - Priest - Kings - Prophet - Lev - Jew - Psalms

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