χριστος: It’s Greek to Me But Not for Long

Key Takeaways

➤ Christ is not Jesus’ last name—it’s His calling. The title Christos means “Anointed One,” linking Jesus to the long line of priests, prophets, and kings in the Old Testament. But unlike them, He didn’t just carry oil on His head—He carried the cross on His back. He wasn’t a Christ. He was the Christ.

➤ The Antichrist isn’t just a boogeyman—it’s anything that replaces or rejects the real Jesus. John makes it clear: anyone or anything that denies Jesus as the Christ is an antichrist. This isn’t just end-times drama—it’s a daily discernment. If it doesn’t lead you to the real Jesus, it’s trying to pull you from Him.

➤ Jesus wasn’t given His name by accident—He was named on purpose, for a purpose. The name Jesus (Iēsous) means “YHWH saves.” From the manger to the cross, His very name was the mission. He didn’t come to be admired—He came to rescue, redeem, and reign.

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Let’s clear something up: Mary and Joseph didn’t walk into Bethlehem introducing themselves as “Mr. and Mrs. Christ.” It’s a lighthearted joke, sure—but it actually points to a serious truth. “Christ” isn’t Jesus’ last name. It’s His title. And it’s bursting with meaning.

The word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos (Χριστός), which means “Anointed One.” It’s the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ). And in ancient times, to be anointed meant more than a splash of oil—it meant being set apart by God for something sacred. Priests were anointed. Kings were anointed. Prophets were anointed. But Jesus? He was all three.

Annointed With Purpose

The Greek verb chriō (χριω), which Christos comes from, literally means “to anoint.” Picture someone being chosen, marked, and publicly set apart for something divine. This wasn’t casual—it was commissioning. In the Old Testament, it happened often: priests were anointed to intercede, kings to govern, prophets to speak on behalf of God.

So when Jesus is called the Christ, He’s not just wearing a title—it’s declaring that He is the fulfillment of every role that came before Him. He is the true Prophet, Priest, and King. The final Word. The long-promised One.

Christos in Scriptures

The title Christos shows up early and often. In fact, Matthew doesn’t waste a single verse: “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Christ...” (Matthew 1:1). It’s more than an introduction—it’s a proclamation.

In Luke 4:18, Jesus reads from Isaiah and essentially drops the mic: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me…” Everyone in the synagogue knew exactly what He was claiming. He wasn’t just reading prophecy—He was fulfilling it.

Even Peter, in a defining moment of clarity, says to Jesus in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” It’s not flattery. It’s revelation.

He wasn’t just reading prophecy—He was fulfilling it.

Now here’s a twist. The opposite of Christos is antichristos—a Greek word made of two parts: anti (meaning “against” or “instead of”) and Christos. So, antichrist literally means “against the anointed one.”

In 1 John 2:18, we’re warned: “Even now many antichrists have come.” It’s not just one villain at the end of time—it’s a spirit, a pattern, a resistance to Jesus and His gospel. It’s anything or anyone that denies who He is or attempts to replace Him.

Jesus (Ἰησοῦς): The Name That Saves

It’s not just a name—it’s a mission statement.

Jesus’ actual name in Greek is Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), which comes from the Hebrew Yehoshua—meaning “YHWH saves.” This is no coincidence. The angel said to Joseph, “You shall name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

It’s not just a name—it’s a mission statement.

So What Do We Do With This?

Here’s the heart of it: Jesus Christ isn’t just a name we say at the end of a prayer. It’s a full sentence. It means: “YHWH saves through the Anointed One.” Every time you say it, you’re proclaiming the gospel in miniature.

And one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11). Because His name isn’t just powerful—it’s true.

TL/DR

Jesus’ title Christ means “Anointed One”—a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy pointing to His roles as Prophet, Priest, and King. His name, Jesus, means “YHWH saves.” Together, they declare who He is and why He came: to rescue and reign. And we bow not just to a name, but to the truth it carries.

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Define Your Terms

(some might call this a glossary)

• TL/DR - Too Long/Didn’t Read

• Christ / Christos (Χριστός) - Greek for “Anointed One,” equivalent to the Hebrew Messiah.

• Messiah / Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) - Hebrew for “Anointed One,” referring to the promised deliverer in the Old Testament.

• Χρίω (chriō) - Greek verb meaning “to anoint.”

• Septuagint (LXX) - The ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, widely used in Jesus’ time.

• Antichrist / Antichristos (ἀντίχριστος) - One who opposes or seeks to replace the Christ.

• Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς) - Greek form of Jesus’ name, derived from the Hebrew Yehoshua (YHWH saves).

• YHWH - The personal, covenant name of God in Hebrew, often translated as “LORD” though it means I AM what I AM.

• Semantic Loan – A borrowed word that keeps the original meaning in another language.

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