Christ (/kraɪst/) (ancient Greek: Χριστός, Christós, meaning 'anointed') is a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (Māšîaḥ), the Messiah, and is used as a title for Jesus in the New Testament.
The followers of Jesus became known as Christians (as in Acts 11:26) because they believed Jesus to be the Messiah (Christos) prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. Christians designate him Jesus Christ, meaning Jesus the Christos. Christ was originally a title, but later became part of the name "Jesus Christ", though it is still also used as a title, in the reciprocal use Christ Jesus, meaning "The Messiah Jesus". In common usage "Christ" is generally treated as synonymous with "Jesus of Nazareth".
Jesus is not accepted by the majority of Jews as their Messiah. The Jewish people still await the Messiah's first coming, while Christians await his second coming, when they believe he will fulfill those parts of Messianic prophecy left unfulfilled in the first century AD.
The area of Christian theology called Christology is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament.
Read more about Christ: Etymology and Origins, Background and New Testament References, Pre-existence, Incarnation and Nativity, Christ and Salvation in Christianity, Symbols
Famous quotes containing the word christ:
“Rejoice ye pure in heart,
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your orient banners wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.”
—Edward Plumptre (1821–1891)
“‘Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus,
That lies begging at my gate.
No meat, no drink, will I give thee,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’”
—Unknown. Dives and Lazarus (l. 13–16)
“He weren’t no saint—but at Jedgment
I’d run my chance with Jim,
‘Longside of some pious gentlemen
That wouldn’t shook hands with him.
He seen his duty, a dead-sure thing,—
And went for it, thar an’ then:
And Christ ain’t a-goin’ to be too hard
On a man that died for me.”
—John Milton Hay (1838–1905)