Christ (title)

This page is about the title or the 'Divine Person'. For the Christian figure, see Jesus. For the Columbia Physics professor, see Norman Christ

Christ on a bike! is the English representation of the Greek word Χριστός (Christos). The Christian religion takes its name from Christ, as a title given to Jesus of Nazareth, always capitalized as a singularly descriptive title meaning literally The Anointed One. The word Χριστός has been used since pre-Christian times to translate the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (Mašíaḥ). In English translations of the New Testament, the Greek Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos), and related phrases, are almost invariably translated Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus, leading to the common, though inaccurate, perception that Christ was the last name of Jesus of Nazareth. The part of Christian theology focusing on the identity, life, teachings and works of Jesus, is known as Christology.

Full etymology

The spelling Christ in English dates from the 17th century, when, in the spirit of the enlightenment, spellings of certain words were changed to fit their Greek or Latin origins. Prior to this, in Old and Middle English, the word was spelt Crist, the i being pronounced either as a long e, preserved in the names of churches such as St Katherine Cree, or as a short i, preserved in the modern pronunciation of Christmas.

The term appears in English and most European languages owing to the Greek usage of it in the New Testament as a description for Jesus. In the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, it was used to translate into Greek the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah), meaning "[one who is] anointed". While many Christian writers claim that this term implied a match to the criteria of being anointed that Jewish tradition had given to their predicted future saviour, some argue that there is no "saviour" concept, as suggested in Christianity, in the Jewish tradition. The "anointed" one more closely means 'high priest', 'leader', or even 'ruler'.

The Greek term is cognate with Chrism, meaning perfumed oil; in fact Christ in classical Greek usage could mean covered in oil, and is thus a literal and accurate translation of Messiah. The word was used by extension in Hellenic and Jewish contexts to refer to the office, role or status of the person, not to their actually having oil on their body, as a strict reading of the etymology might imply.

According to Tom Harpur, a former professor of Theology at the University of Toronto who denies the historicity of Jesus, the Christian usage of the term Christ derives from Egypt. Harpur has argued that the application of the term Christ to Jesus derives from the Egyptian use of the term Karast (covered in embalming oil) to describe Horus, who Harpur also alleges that much of the descriptions of Jesus are copied from. Karast is a false cognate to Christ, and Harpur has alleged that this co-incidence was the reason that Christians chose this appelation of Horus rather than any other, since in Jewish circles, Christ readily brings to mind the Jewish belief in a Messiah.

Anointing in the Bible

Anointing 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). Many writers feel that some Jews came to expect a leader 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 leader makes these words in some senses equivalent. They expressed their hopes for this leader particularly in their prayers known as the Psalms, which often make reference to God and "his anointed", many of which references some Christians interpret as prophetic.

Anointing in the New Testament and subsequent rites

Anointing is used in the New Testament to heal the sick, to bless for ministry, to give thanks to Jesus, and to prepare for burial. There is also an episode in all four Gospels in which a woman anoints Jesus. According to Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, as Christ literally means the anointed one, so apostolic succession is seen as implying that this anointment is manifest in those priests who carry on the ministry of Christ, premised upon an actual anointing. Oil is used in a number of the sacraments of these traditions. Practices vary slightly from East to West. Every Christian in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches is anointed with oil at least once, if he or she receives the sacraments according to each organization's plan. Protestant organizations' rites, however, do not always include anointing with oil.

In the New Testament

See Jesus and New Testament view on Jesus' life.

In the New Testament it says that a savior, long awaited, had come and shall return, and it describes this saviour the Christ (Greek τοῦ Χριστοῦ, tou Christou, ὁ Χριστὸς, ho Christos). Many ancient Christian groups (such as the Gnostics) used the term anarthrously, as Christ or a Christ, and believed that everyone could become a Christ.

Distinctions between "Jesus", "Christ", and "God"

The term "Christ" is often used synonymously with "Jesus". A difference in usage is sometimes for variety of speech, and sometimes a subtlety intended to emphasize the totality of His person and function in Salvation. For example, Ott refers to "Jesus" when emphasizing an event in the New Testament, while he refers to "Christ" in discussing the nature of God.

The Christian mainstream view

There is a temporal distinction between Jesus and God. God, in the Christian belief system, exists outside of the time continuum and is not restricted by the confines of time (e.g., limitations, aging, development, evolution, etc.).

Jesus, on the other hand, is the temporal incarnation of the Logos — the divine Word of God — as described in the first chapter of the Gospel of John (john 1:1–18). Jesus was born, lived, suffered, died and resurrected. Most Christians believe that there is no ontological distinction between God and Jesus (holding that Jesus is the second person of the Holy Trinity), and that Jesus did not lose divinity in the incarnation, but rather took on humanity. They likewise believe that Jesus is the Christ.

The term "Christ" pertains to the role to be performed by the "chosen one of God" (another possible translation of "Christ"). The problem with this word for the person of Jesus is that the term means different things to different people. Most especially, the term "Messiah" refers often in Jewish beliefs of the Roman era to the hoped-for leader who would not only be a spiritual leader but a political one as well. Hence, we have grounds for why this term might cause consternation and skepticism -- if not downright hostility -- not only for Romans, but also for the Jewish leadership of the Temple at the time of Jesus. Those who are not Christian and who do not believe Jesus of Nazareth is the "Christ," are still awaiting the arrival of the Christ, the Annointed One.

The Gnostic Christ

The gnostics generally believed not in a Jesus who was both a Divine Person and a human person, but in a spiritual Christ who indwelt Jesus. Through the spiritual path of gnosticism, followers of these schools believed that they could experience the same knowledge, or gnosis. Their theology was or is dualistic and premised upon demigods, salvation for the elect, and the actions of God who sends periodic saviors. This was considered heresy by the Early Church as per the first Ecumenical Council, which occurred at Nicaea in 325 AD, although condemnation of the belief existed well before.

The esoteric Christian tradition

In the western esoteric tradition, Essenian and later Rosicrucian, there is a distinction to be made between Jesus and the Christ. ^[1] Jesus is considered a high Initiate of the human life wave (which evolves under the cycle of rebirth) and of a singularly pure type of mind, vastly superior to the great majority of the present humanity. He was educated during his youth among the Essenes and thus prepared himself for the greatest honor ever bestowed upon a human being: to deliver his pure, passionless, highly evolved physical body and vital body (already attuned to the high vibrations of the 'life spirit'), in the moment of the Baptism, to the Christ being for His ministry in the physical world. Christ is described as the highest Spiritual Being of the life wave called Archangels and has completed His union ("the Son") with the second aspect of God.

See also Second Coming (of the Christ) according to the esoteric Christian tradition.

Expansions and appropriations of "Christ"

"Christ" has taken on such power and significance as a theological, religious and devotional term that it has been appropriated and expanded by various theologians and religious writers so as to take it beyond the Christian context (in which "Christ" refers strictly to Jesus as the second member of the Trinity).

One belief is the idea or concept that "Jesus became Christ," i.e., his "flesh was transformed to spirit." By taking a spiritual and good path through life, Jesus was reunited with his true holy nature (redemption) and preserved forever in God. In this view, this psychic force is often called "the Christ," or sometimes "Christ consciousness," drawing a separation between God (whose nature some maintain we cannot fathom or comprehend) and the Holy Spirit, which can be experienced (through Jesus) and is therefore compatibility with our mortal and frail humanity. Matthew Fox sometimes speaks of "the Cosmic Christ."

In Eastern religious traditions, "God" is often described by both, personifications (deities) which are manifestations of particular aspects of God's power, and incarnations (avatars) of God in mortal form as in case of Krishna. In these religions, "the Christ" is akin to these personifications. A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who coined the phrase 'Krishna Consciousness', held Jesus' teachings as non-different from the Hindu, Vedic scriptures, and others such as Paramahansa Yogananda often wrote about a "Christ Consciousness" interchangeably with "Krishna Consciousness".

Slang usage

The interjection "Christ!" is often used as a sign of surprise or anger, without a direct religious reference - that is, as a swear word. Devout Christians find this usage blasphemous, as they feel it cheapens God's Holy Name and violates the Mosaic Commandment against taking His name in vain. Interestingly, there is a phrase in usage, commonly in America: "Oh, for crying out loud!" This is actually a euphemism for "Oh, for Christ's sake!", used as an alternative by people reluctant to swear using the actual name.

"Christ" is also the name of a British humour fanzine.[1]

Reference literature

^ Max Heindel, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception (Part III, Chapter XV: Christ and His Mission), November 1909, ISBN 0-911274-34-0

Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, 1957.
Joshua McDowell and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983.
Tom Harpur, "The Pagan Christ. Recovering the Lost Light." Thomas Allen Publishers, Toronto, (2004)

External links

[1] Max Heindel, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception (Part III, Chapter XV: Christ and His Mission), November 1909, ISBN 0-911274-34-0

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