Greek: Χριστός (Christos, G5547) "Anointed" Hebrew: מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach, H4899) "Anointed one", transliterated into English as "Messiah" Meaning: Greek and Hebrew are translation-equivalents: both literally "the Anointed one." LXX consistently renders Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ as Χριστός, making "Christ" and "Messiah" the same title in two languages. Scripture quotations here are from the World English Bible (WEB).
OT background, three anointed offices
In the OT, anointing with oil consecrated three offices for divine service:
- Prophet, Elijah anoints Elisha as prophet 1 Kings 19:16; cf. Isaiah 61:1 "The Lord Yahweh's Spirit is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble."
- Priest, Aaron + sons anointed Exodus 28:41, 29:7, 40:13-15; Levitical priests anointed for sanctuary service.
- King, Saul anointed by Samuel 1 Samuel 10:1; David twice anointed 1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4, 5:3; later kings via prophet (Solomon at 1 Kings 1:39; Jehu at 2 Kings 9:6).
Jesus is presented in the NT as fulfilling all three offices simultaneously, the unique "anointed" who is Prophet, Priest, and King at once (this is the classic threefold-office Christology, articulated by Eusebius and formalized in Reformed theology).
Key OT Messianic anchors
| Passage | Content | Note | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genesis 3:15 | Seed of the woman crushing serpent's head | Protoevangelium, earliest Messianic anticipation | ||||
Genesis 12:3 | Genesis 22:18 | Genesis 49:10 | Blessing-to-all-nations through Abraham's seed; Shiloh from Judah | Abrahamic + Judah's-scepter strand | ||
Deuteronomy 18:15,18 | Moses: God will raise up "a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me" | Prophetic anointing | ||||
2 Samuel 7:12-16 | Davidic covenant, eternal throne | Royal anointing, anchor for "Son of David" | ||||
Psalms 2:1-12 | "against Yahweh, and against his Anointed" + "You are my Son. Today I have become your father." | Cited at Jesus's baptism + transfiguration + by Paul (Acts 13:33) | ||||
Psalms 110:1 | "Yahweh says to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand'" | Most-quoted OT verse in NT, establishes Christ at God's right hand | ||||
Isaiah 7:14 | Immanuel virgin-birth sign | ) | ||||
Isaiah 9:6-7 | "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" | Royal-titles bundle | ||||
Isaiah 11:1-10 | Branch from Jesse's stump; Spirit-rest | Davidic-line revival | ||||
Isaiah 42:1-9 | Servant Song 1, chosen servant bringing justice | First Servant Song | ||||
Isaiah 49:1-13 | Servant Song 2, light to the nations | Universal mission | ||||
Isaiah 50:4-11 | Servant Song 3, suffering disciple | Foreshadows passion | ||||
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 | Servant Song 4, suffering servant atonement | Most explicit pre-Christian Messianic suffering passage | ||||
Jeremiah 23:5-6 | "Yahweh-Tsidkenu", righteous Branch from David | Royal title Lord our Righteousness | ||||
Ezekiel 34:23-24; Ezekiel 37:24-25 | One Shepherd, David | Cross-link to | ||||
Daniel 7:13-14 | Son of Man receives everlasting kingdom | ) | ||||
Daniel 9:25-27 | 70-weeks timeline; "Messiah the Prince" cut off | Single OT explicit use of "Messiah" with timing | ||||
Micah 5:2 | Ruler from Bethlehem Ephrathah, "whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times" | Birthplace anchor | ||||
Zechariah 9:9 | King coming "humble, riding on a donkey" | Triumphal entry anchor | ||||
Malachi 3:1-3; Malachi 4:5-6 | Messenger preparing way; Elijah forerunner | John-the-Baptist anchor |
NT explicit identification
| Passage | Identification | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matthew 1:1 | "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham", opens NT with the title | ||||
Matthew 1:16 | "Joseph the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" | ||||
Matthew 16:16 | Mark 8:29 | Luke 9:20 | Peter's confession: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" | ||
John 1:41 | Andrew to Peter: "We have found the Messiah!" (which is, being interpreted, Christ) | ||||
John 4:25-26 | Samaritan woman: "I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ", Jesus replies: "I am he, the one who speaks to you" | ||||
John 20:31 | "These are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God", purpose statement of John | ||||
Matthew 26:63-64 | Mark 14:61-62 | Luke 22:67-70 | Caiaphas at trial: "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus: "I am" | ||
Acts 2:36 | Peter at Pentecost: "God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified" | ||||
Acts 9:22 | Saul/Paul "proving that this is the Christ" | ||||
Romans 1:1-4 | Paul's opening: the Good News "concerning his Son" … "who was declared to be the Son of God with power" | ||||
1 John 2:22 | "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?" | ||||
1 John 5:1 | "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God." |
Theological framing (multiple views)
Threefold-office Christology (mainstream Reformed + many Anglican / Lutheran), Jesus is the unique Anointed who is Prophet (revealing God), Priest (mediating to God), and King (ruling for God). Sources: Calvin Institutes II.15; Westminster Shorter Catechism Q23-26.
Two-natures emphasis (Chalcedonian), alongside the title's office content, "Christ" is the proper name of the one person in whom divine and human natures are united.
Davidic kingship emphasis (some Pentecostal + dispensational readings), emphasizes the still-future fulfillment of Davidic-throne promises during the millennial reign; the title carries unrealized eschatological content beyond present-spiritual rule.
Jewish-Messianic-Judaism reading, Jesus is the Mashiach foretold by the prophets; the office is fulfilled, not abolished; OT Messianic categories carry forward.
All readings agree on the LXX equivalence (Greek Χριστός = Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ) and on Jesus's NT acceptance of the title. They differ on whether the present-Spiritual reign is the totality of the kingdom or anticipatory of a future material reign.