What doesChristmean?

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The word "Christ" is not a personal name but an official title. It comes from the Greek ὁ χριστός (*ho christos*), which is the equivalent of the Hebrew *mashiach* — "Messiah." Both words mean the same thing: "the Anointed One." Morrish's Bible Dictionary gives the foundational definition: An official title of the Lord Jesus, which became used as a name. In John 1:41; John 4:25 this title is linked with the Messiah of the O.T. The Jews and Samaritans were expecting THE MESSIAH, "which is called Christ." We find the title 'Messiah' in Dan. 9:25-26 in the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. The Hebrew word is *mashiach* and signifies 'anointed.' This term is employed as to the Lord Jesus in Ps. 2:2: the rulers set themselves against Jehovah and His 'Anointed.' The same word is used in reference to the high priest and the king as God's anointed; but the Lord Jesus is emphatically '*the* Anointed,' this being the signification of the Word '*the* Christ' which should be read in many places in the N.T. where the A.V. simply has 'Christ.' In the Gospels it is nearly always 'the Christ,' and often in the Epistles, except where it is Jesus Christ, or Christ Jesus which has more the character of a name. It refers to the Lord as Man, being anointed with the Holy Ghost. The dictionary further explains that when Christ was rejected by the Jews, His Messianic honours were deferred — but not defeated: Being rejected as Messiah on earth, He is made as risen from the dead both Lord and Christ, Acts 2:36, and thus the counsels of God with regard to Him, and man in Him, are effectuated. Saints now are spoken of as having been chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world. All things in heaven and on earth are to be headed up in the Christ, Eph. 1:10. ### The Three-Fold Office F. W. Grant brings out the rich meaning packed into this single title: Again the name "Christ," which every one knows, is but the Greek form of the Hebrew "Messiah," speaks of Him as the One anointed of God to be the Deliverer in three necessary ways: a Prophet to bring out of error; a Priest to open the way to God; a King to govern for God. Grant further explains what confessing that name involves: To confess His name involves thus the confession of His absolute deity; His true humanity; His salvation of His people; His being their only and sufficient Teacher, Intercessor and Lord. ### Christ as the Anointed Head F. B. Hole, commenting on Acts 2, draws out the distinction between Christ's two great titles — "Lord" and "Christ": As Lord He is the great *Administrator* on God's behalf, whether in blessing or in judgment. His shedding forth the Spirit had been an act of administration, which had revealed His Lordship. As Christ He is the anointed *Head* of all things, and particularly of the little handful of His own left upon earth. His reception from the Father of the Spirit on their behalf, preliminary to shedding Him forth, had revealed His Christhood. And on Psalm 2, Hole writes: This Man is "*His Anointed,*" that is, Jehovah's Christ. He is the One anointed to carry out all the Divine pleasure, and sustain everything in a way that shall be worthy of God. ### Christ and the Anointing Believers Receive F. B. Hole, commenting on 1 John 2, connects the title "Christ" with the anointing given to every believer: Jesus is the Christ, that is, the Anointed One: we have received the Anointing so that the truth may abide in us, and then as a consequence, we shall abide in the Son and in the Father. ### The Anointed in the Psalms Hamilton Smith, writing on Psalm 92, adds: The anointed is the title of one appointed to rule. Christ, in His day, was anointed by the Holy Spirit of whom the oil is a type. In the day of His exaltation He will see the righteous judgment upon all His enemies. ### Synthesis "Christ" is the most exalted title Scripture gives to Jesus as Man. The Hebrew *mashiach* and the Greek *christos* both mean "the Anointed One" — pointing to One set apart and empowered by God for a unique mission. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil to mark their divine appointment; but Jesus is emphatically *the* Anointed — the One in whom all three offices converge: Prophet to reveal God's truth, Priest to open the way to God, and King to govern for God. He was anointed not with oil but with the Holy Spirit Himself (Acts 10:38), and as the risen, glorified Man He has been officially installed as "both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36) — the anointed Head of all things, and especially of His people on earth.