Christ is the English term for the Greek Χριστός (Khristós) meaning "the anointed",[1] which as a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (Mašíaḥ,), carries much of its original Jewish meaning of "Messiah"—"one [who is] anointed" or appointed by God with a unique and special purpose (mission) on Earth.[2]
In the 3rd- to 1st-centuries BC, the Tanakh (what Christians in later centuries would call the Old Testament) was translated into a Greek version called the Septuagint, in which Khristós was used as a translation of מָשִׁיחַ "Mašíaḥ." Jewish traditional customs associated an appointment to a special purpose with the customary "anointment" of a person with holy anointing oil.[citation needed]
In the first century C.E., a growing sect of religious converts believed that Jesus is "the Christ" (Messiah), and these became known as "Christians." This usage remains current, such that while "Messiah" may specifically refer to the Jewish concept of "the Messiah" yet to come, or to the concept of such a being in general, the term "Christ" in English is almost exclusively connected with Christianity. (see the Concise Oxford Dictionary)
In general theological usage, the term "Christ" is largely founded on the concept of the divine presence of God within each and all human beings. In Christian theological contexts, the term "Christ" is more specialized, referring to this same presence of God (cf. Holy Spirit), along with the messianic title, in particular within the 1st century human being "Jesus" (Hebrew Yeshua). Further, Christians since the 4th century C.E. have promoted the view that this divine "presence" was not altogether an identical presence of God as found in all beings, but a special and unique union such that God and Jesus together with the Holy Spirit form one being (either literally or mythically) in "The Christ" (cf. Nicene Creed).[citation needed]
The area of Christian theology focusing on the nature of Jesus as the Christ, particularly with how the divine and human are related in his person, is known as Christology. A central doctrine within the Trinitarian (Nicene) interpretation is that God took human form in the body of Jesus, "the Christ," and accordingly "Christ" was or is both fully human and fully God. Following from this association between God and Jesus, many Christians believe that belief in Jesus either qualifies them as inheritors of a special privilege or else provides for them a conceptual interface to God's being, such that translates to having a greater "personal relationship" with God. Further, these concepts of personal connection with God have claimed relevance, in varied denominational doctrines, to fundamental spiritual concepts including God's love, divine providence, divine illumination and even salvation.[3]
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