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Mashiach
The Greek word "christos" means the same thing as Hebrew "mashiach", namely, "anointed" or "poured on". The significance of being known as "The Anointed One" is that both kings and priests (cohanim) were invested with their authority in a ceremony of anointing with olive oil. Thus, inherent in the concept of "Messiah" is the idea of being given God's priestly and kingly authority. The Greek word "Christos" is usually brought over into English as "Christ". Only in two verses of the New Testament (John 1:41 and John 4:25) the Greek text has "Messias", obviously, like English "Messiah", a transliteration of the Hebrew word "Mashiach". "Messiah" has a meaning in Jewish religion, tradition and culture; whereas the word "Christ" has an alien ring and a negative connotation because of the persecutions Jews have suffered from those claiming to be his followers. Further, the word "Messiah" is a continual reminder that the New Testament claims Yeshua to be none other than the promised Mashiach for whom the Jewish people have yearned. But the English word "Christ" does not point to Yeshua's fulfilment of Jewish hopes and biblical prophecy. "He made David their king; in his testimony about him He said, 'I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes'. Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as He promised" (Acts 13:22-23). Paul's sermon (Acts 13:16-43) in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia illustrates how he went about presenting the Gospel to Jews. The appeal is through the history of God's dealings with the people of Israel. Jesus is presented as the "Son of David", a term everyone understood to mean "the Messiah". to Index) |