Word Study: Christ
Word family: Christ, Christian
Synonyms: Messiah
Related ideas: Kingship (combined with priesthood), the church, prophecy, salvation
Definitions: “Christ” and “Christian” are proper names. Christian means one belonging to Christ and a follower of him. Christ means “Messiah” or “Anointed” (see Luke 4:18, Acts 4:27, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 1:8-9). This signifies a very special person, uniquely dedicated to God’s purpose, and given pre-eminent power and authority from God.
Greek References: χριστος (Christos) Christ 5547 (Strong) cf 5548 [Hebrew Messiah 4899 cf 4886], χριστιανος Christianos Christian 5546.
Scripture:
Messiah (all occurrences)
- Daniel 9:25-26 “...Messiah the Prince... Messiah will be cut off...”
- John 1:41 “We have found the Messiah (which translated means Christ)”
- John 4:25 “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ)...”
Christ (twelve typical statements)
- Luke 2:11 “...born to you a Saviour who is Christ the Lord”
- John 20:31 “...believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God...”
- Acts 2:36 “God has made him both Lord and Christ —this Jesus whom you crucified”
- Romans 8:17 “...heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ...”
- 1Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided?”
- 1Corinthians 15:3 “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures... was buried... was raised on the third day according to the scriptures...”
- Galatians 3:26-29 “All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ... all one in Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 2:11 “Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...”
- Ephesians 5:23 “Christ is the head of the church... the Saviour of the body”
- Colossians 1:27 “Christ in you, the hope of glory”
- Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, yes and forever!”
- Revelation 12:10 “Now have come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ...”
Christian (all occurrences)
- Acts 11:26 “The disciples were called 'Christians' first at Antioch [in Syria]”
- Acts 26:28 “You have almost persuaded me to be a Christian”
- 1Peter 4:16 “If [any one suffers] as a Christian, let him glorify God in this name”
Comment: The two titles, Messiah and Christ, are synonymous and interchangeable. “Messiah” is the Hebrew for which “Christ” is the Greek equivalent. The basic meaning of these titles is The Anointed One. The name Messiah is used only four times in the Bible —twice in Daniel, and twice in John. In contrast, the New Testament uses the name Christ over 500 times. The name Jesus Christ is not a combination of given name and surname such as we are used to. “Christ” is better regarded as a title identifying Jesus as the Anointed One sent from God as the prophets foretold.