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Christ, from the Greek Χριστός, or Khristós, means anointed, and is equivalent to the Hebrew term Messiah. In the Christian religion it is a title given to Jesus of Nazareth.
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 (http://drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=03&ch=004&l=16)). The Jews came to expect a savior 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 the savior makes these words in some senses equivalent. They expressed their hopes for this savior particularly in their prayers known as the Psalms, which often make reference to "his anointed", many of which references Christians interpret as prophetical.
History in the New Testament
In the New Testament it is indicated that the savior, long awaited, did come: He experienced not an anointing with oil, but "is inducted by His heavenly Father into His Messianic office" (Ott; see Lk 3:22 (http://drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=49&ch=003&l=22)). As Jesus demonstrates, over time, to his disciples that he is the savior, they come to call him by that name, which again was a title, i.e. normal usage being "the Christ". After the Resurrection "Christ" became a proper name used to refer to Jesus.
Distinctions between "Jesus," "Christ," and "God"
The term "Christ" is often synonymous 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.
But 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.
However in this view, this psychic force is often called 'the Christ,' or sometimes 'Christ consciousness,' etc; drawing a separation between God (whose nature some maintain we cannot fathom or comprehend) and the Holy Spirit, which has experience (through Jesus) and therefore compatibility with our mortal and frail humanity. This separation of spiritual concepts is embodied in the Christian Trinity.
From within certain branches of Christianity, some limitations on extra-cultural interactivity have brought about typically localized and dogmatic interpretations of the meaning of 'the Christ' to refer only to "Christendom" (i.e. confirmed "Christians") as opposed to all of spiritual humanity, that may have equal devotion to 'the Christ,' yet may refer to it by another name: i.e. God, Krishna, Islam, etc.
In Eastern religious traditions, for example, "God" remains mysterious and unknowable and therefore only implied; described instead by personifications
(deities) which are manifestations of particular aspects of God's power. In mortal form, the Christian Jesus is akin to these personifications, with the caveat that he alone is the deity; all of Gods powers that are relevant or understandable to man, are manifest through Jesus. Thus, where Christ is a synonym for the Holy Spirit, the Trinity of Father (God) Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit (Christ) are unified, though each remain distinct.
Related uses of anointing
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. According to Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, as Christ was the anointed one, so is apostolic succession, manifest in those priests who carry on the ministry of Christ, premised upon an anointing. Oil is used in a number of thesacraments 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 they receive the sacraments according to plan.
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 and left him at different times, and who did not suffer death. 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 has from the Early Church been considered heresy by all Christian traditions.
Sanskrit: a possible origin of the term
Hare Krishna writers consider plausible an etymological link between the Sanskrit term krishna and the term christ. According to one example of this theory, "krishna" means "all attractive" and is a term for God. By considering the apparently equivalent functions the respective terms are intended to fulfill, as well as the related sounds, it is proposed that "krishna" is analogous to and a root for "christ".
--This is unlikely for a number of reasons. First, Christ comes from a direct literal translation from the Hebrew word translated Messiah, also meaning 'anointed one.'
Secondly, while Sanskrit is part of the Indo-European language group, the development of meaning through time clearing branched. For example, today the concept of suspender (usually meaning 'to fail') in Spanish has branched from the English concept of suspend. Both have the same root, but no longer have the same meaning in all situations.
By the time of Christ, while there might have been a similar root (this is neither confirmed nor denied), the meaning of the subsidiary words had long since become distant.
Finally, this suggestion differs from the Hare Krishna movement's own conception of God which may be defined as a "Supreme Personality" while at the same time assuming Hinduistic monism (effectively pantheism). (McDowell, Joshua. Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. p. 41ff).
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. Many religious people find this usage offensive, as they feel it cheapens a holy term and violates the Commandment against taking God's name in vain.
"Christ" is also the name of a UK humour fanzine.[1] (http://www.spellingmistakescostlives.com/christ/)
References
- A. J. Maas, Origin of the Name of Jesus Christ, Catholic Encyclopedia [2] (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08374x.htm)
- Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, 1957.
- Paul A. Hughes, The Gnostic Christ: Gnosticism vs. Christianity [3] (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/6111/pneumatikos/gnostic.htm)
- The Etymological Derivation Of The Name "Christ", NZs Hare Krishna Spiritual Network [4] (http://www.salagram.net/jesus-christ-kristos-page.htm)
- Joshua McDowell and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983.
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