Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  2000 Jesus Christ  »  2200 Jesus Christ, titles and descriptions of  »  2203 Jesus Christ, titles and names of  »  2206 Jesus, the Christ

“Christ” means “Messiah” or “anointed one”. As the Christ, Jesus is the one who fulfils all OT expectations. Paul's phrase “in Christ” indicates the intimate relationship between Jesus Christ and his people.

The Christ as the anointed one

The act of anointing in the OT

1 Samuel 16:13 Anointing symbolises God's calling and being equipped by his Spirit. See also Exodus 40:15; Leviticus 8:12; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 1:39

Anointed OT leaders

Priests:

Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 4:3,5; Leviticus 6:20; Leviticus 16:32

Kings:

1 Samuel 24:6,10; Samuel 26:9,11,16,23; Psalm 18:50; Psalm 20:6; Psalm 132:10

The OT promise of a future anointed leader

Isaiah 11:1-2 See also Isaiah 42:1; Jeremiah 23:5-6

Jesus' own claims to be the Christ

John 4:25-26 See also Matthew 23:10; Matthew 26:63-64 pp Mark 14:61-62; John 10:24-25

Jesus recognised as the Christ

Matthew 16:16 pp Mark 8:29 pp Luke 9:20 See also Luke 2:26-32; Luke 4:41; John 1:41-42; John 11:27

Jesus' demand that his identity as the Christ should not be publicised

Matthew 16:20 pp Mark 8:30 pp Luke 9:21 Jesus' reluctance to be known as the Christ is probably due to Jewish misunderstandings of the Messiah's true role. See also Matthew 12:16; Luke 4:41

Grounds for affirming Jesus as the Christ

Jesus Christ's birth in Bethlehem

Matthew 2:4-6 See also Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-7

Jesus Christ's spiritual anointing from God

Acts 10:38 See also Matthew 3:16 pp Mark 1:10 pp Luke 3:22; John 3:34; Acts 4:27

Jesus Christ's proclamation of Jubilee

Luke 4:17-21 See also Isaiah 61:1-2 Isaiah's words are borrowed from the language of the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus chapter 25), which was to be a time when true freedom was restored.

Jesus Christ's healing ministry

Matthew 8:16-17 See also Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 11:2-5 pp Luke 7:18-23; John 7:31

Jesus Christ's prophetic ministry

John 4:29 See also Matthew 21:45-46; Matthew 26:67-68; John 4:19; John 7:26

Jesus Christ's suffering, death and resurrection

Luke 24:26 See also Luke 24:46; Acts 3:18; Acts 17:3; Acts 26:23; 1 Peter 1:11

Jesus Christ's fulfilment of prophecy

2 Corinthians 1:20 See also Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 26:21-24 pp Mark 14:18-21; Psalm 41:9; Matthew 21:4-7 pp John 12:14-15; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:8-9 pp Mark 11:9-10 pp Luke 19:37-38 pp John 12:12-13; Psalm 118:26; Acts 2:22-36

God's establishment of Jesus Christ as king

Luke 1:32-33 See also Psalm 2:6-7; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 22:29

Messianic titles used of Jesus

Son of David

Matthew 1:1; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 21:9; Matthew 20:30-31 pp Mark 10:47-48 pp Luke 18:38-39; 2 Timothy 2:8

Son of God

Matthew 14:33; Matthew 27:54 pp Mark 15:39; John 1:34

The Prophet

Matthew 21:11; John 6:14; John 7:40

King of the Jews

Matthew 2:2; Matthew 27:37 pp Mark 15:26 pp Luke 23:38 pp John 19:19; Mark 15:32; John 12:13

High priest

Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:14-15; Hebrews 5:5; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:26; Hebrews 8:1

Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Christ

Jesus' messiahship was largely rejected by the Jews

Matthew 27:22 See also John 1:11; John 8:13; John 11:37; Acts 7:52-53; Acts 17:3-5

Jesus was accused of blasphemy because of his claims to be the Christ

Mark 14:61-64 pp Matthew 26:63-66

That Jesus is the Christ is a central Christian belief

John 20:31 See also John 11:27; 1 John 5:1

The apostles' message was that Jesus is the Christ

Acts 5:42 See also Acts 2:36; Acts 9:22; Acts 10:38; Acts 18:5,28

Jesus Christ is the representative head of the church

Baptism is into Christ

Galatians 3:27 See also Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Romans 6:3

Jesus Christ lives within believers

Galatians 2:20 See also Romans 6:8; Romans 8:1; Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 3:1

See also

2212  Christ, head of church
2215  Christ, Son of David
2218  Christ, Son of God
2230  Messiah, coming of
2306  Christ, high priest
2312  Christ as king
2318  Christ as prophet
2351  Christ, miracles
2366  Christ, prophecies concerning
2560  Christ, resurrection
7304  anointing
8102  abiding in Christ