CHRIST, THE ORIGIN

Christ is a word and not a name as it is commonly used today. The English equivalent of “Christ” in Greek is (Khristós) which means “the anointed”. The Greek word Khristós) is a translation from the Hebrew word (Mašíah) or "Messiah” or “anointed one”.

Over thousands of years the Jewish people referred to their Deliver as "the Anointed" or "Messiah" the one appointed by God for a unique and special purpose.  In the New Testament the word Christ was almost always used as a title in conjunction with a name, such as; Jesus the Christ. Later, sometime in the first century, the word “Christ” was used as a proper name, as in; Jesus Christ.

JESUS AS THE CHRIST

The debate of whether Jesus was or is the Christ (Messiah) has lasted for nearly two thousand years. Christian scholars point out that in the recorded history of our civilization only one man declared himself to be God the Son, the Messiah, and the one through whom all humanity can ultimately freely commune with God – Jesus. And under the penalty of death he admitted he was the Messiah of God.   

The central doctrine of the Trinity interprets God as one being with three distinctly independent dimensions which operate as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ the dimension of God the Son took bodily form and was both fully man and fully God.

Christian scholars say that believing in Jesus the Christ (John 3:16, 17) qualifies them equally with the Jewish people for the riches of God. The added privilege however is everlasting personal relationship with God through Christ. And understanding Christ as a conceptual interface to God delivers higher spiritual knowledge of God, concepts, salvation, divine providence, and divine illumination.

CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE CHRIST

Many Christians look to Peter the apostle of Jesus for the answer of whether or not Jesus was the Christ. In the gospel of Matthew 16:15, 16 Jesus asks Peter “Who do you say I am?” The New Testament records that Simon Peter answered Jesus with these words, “Your are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Another rich source of information Christian draw information from is the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who was alive at the time of Jesus’ ministry. This is what he wrote as reference for future generations to read.

“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day”. -Book 18-

ISLAMIC VIEW OF THE CHRIST

Even though Muslims believe Jesus to be the Messiah they do not believe he was God the Son. They also do not believe he was crucified, but they do believe he rose from death and continued teaching and then eventually was raptured into heaven.  

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

The largest body of Christian theology anticipates the return of Jesus the Christ fulfilling aspects of Messianic scripture like the resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment, and the establishment of His Kingdom on Earth.