Christ

Christ, Greek term found in the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, translating varied forms of the Hebrew verb mashakh,”to anoint” (most frequently the nominal form mashiakh,”an anointed one”, from which the English “Messiah” is derived). The Hebrew conception of anointing was derived from the ancient magical idea that the application of oil endowed the person or object with certain superior and even supernatural qualities. In early Israel the custom of anointing thus signified the endowment of the person with the qualification for exalted office. The term Christ was applied not only to the priests (see Leviticus 4:3) as intermediaries between God and humanity but also to the kings (see 1 Samuel 2:10) as representatives of God in the theocracy who thereby assumed priestly functions. Later it was applied to the prophets (see 1 Kings 19:16) and was referred to even in connection with the patriarchs (see Psalms 105:15). In the development of the messianic concept, however, the meaning of the term was narrowed down to the redeemer and restorer of the Jewish nation (see Psalms 2:2).

In the New Testament the word Christ is used both as a common noun and as a proper name. In both uses it occurs with or without the definite article and either alone or in combination with other terms and names. Always when used as a proper name, and frequently when otherwise used, it is a designation of Jesus of Nazareth, as the expected Messiah of the Jews. It is from this application of the term that its English meaning is derived. See Christianity; Christology; Jesus Christ; Messiah.