Information AboutChrist |
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'' This page is about the title. For the Christian figure, see Jesus . For the Columbia Physics professor, see Norman Christ'' Christ 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 (''''). 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 Church es 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 " 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 Greek term is thought to derive from the Proto-Indo-European Root of ''ghrei-'', which in Germanic Languages , such as English , mutated into ''gris-'' and ''grim-''. Hence the English words ''grisly'', ''grim'', ''grime'', and ''grease'', are thought to be cognate with ''Christ'', though these terms came to have a negative connotation, where the Greek word had a positive connotation. In French , the Greek term, in ordinary usage, mutated first to ''Cresme'' and then to ''Creme'', due to The Loss Of Certain 's' Usages In French , which Was Loaned into English as '' Cream ''. 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 , and one of the few people to have been accorded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship , 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 s 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. 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 the Sacrament s 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. History 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 that this savior is 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 (). 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 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, (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 . {Link without Title} Reference literature
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