Why "Messiah" Is Better to Use than "Christ"

Why "Christ" and not "Messiah?"

Similar to the foregoing components of Sun-worship, which had been adopted into the church, we have similar proof of the adoption of a pagan word or name, although less convincing of its absolute solar origin. However, we can clearly see that, with the Greeks using both the Greeks words, Messiah (a transliteration) and Christos (a translation) for the Hebrew word, Mashiach (Anointed), the word, Christos, was far more acceptable to the pagans, who were worshiping Chreston, Chrestos, and perhaps all those worshiping Krista. But we will come to that later. 

The Hebrew word, Mashiach, has been translated in the Old Testament of the King James Version as "Anointed" in most places, but as Messiah in two places, namely Daniel 9:25 and 26.

This word is a title, although it was used as an appellative (name) later on. Thus, this word was faithfully translated in the Old Testament and only in Daniel 25 and 26 was its Hebrew character retained in the transliterated "Messiah." Likewise, we find that the Greeks admitted their transliterated form, "Messiah," in the Greek New Testament in John 1:41 and John 4:25.

Why then did they introduce or use the word, Christos, in the rest of the Greek New Testament? Even if they had preferred Christos to Messiah, why did our translators transliterate the word as "Christ?" 

Why did they not transliterate the word as was done in Daniel 9:25 and 26 as "Messiah," seeing that the Greeks had also accepted their Greek transliteration of the word, "Messiahin," in John 1:41 and John 4:25?

Ferrar Fenton's translation, The Complete Bible in Modern English, used "Messiah" instead of "Christ" in most places, where the word is used alone, except when used as the combination, "Jesus Christ."

Similarly, the New English Bible has used the "Messiah" in its New Testament in many places. The Good News Bible has restored the word, "Messiah," in no less than 70 places in its New Testament.

The New International Version gives the alternative "Messiah" in almost all places, by means of a footnote. Dr. Bullinger in The Companion Bible, appendix 98 IX, says, "Hence, the Noun (Christos) is used of and for the Messiah, and in the Gospels should always be translated 'Messiah.'" Also, Benjamin Wilson in his Emphatic Diaglott has restored the words, "Anointed," and "Messiah," in many places.

Yashua Himself said in John 4:22, "For salvation is from the Jews, Not only was our Messiah born from a Hebrew virgin, but also all of His Saving Message, the teachings, "the root and fatness (Romans11:17), the Glad Tidings, "spiritual things" (Romans15:27), "the citizenship of Israel" (Ephesians2:12, Rotherham), "the covenant's of promise (Ephesians2:12), The Spiritual Blessings" (Romans15:27}--are all from the Jews (JUDAISM)!

The Good News Bible in its rendering of Romans9:4-5 added the word "True" to the word, "Worship," to make it clearer. Speaking of literal Israel, it read, "They are The Mighty One's (YHWH) people; He made His covenants with them and gave them the Law; they have the True Worship; they have received The Mighty One's promises; they are descended from the famous Hebrew ancestors; and Messiah, as a human Being, belongs to their race."

These New Testament texts irrefutable prove the Jewishness of our Messiah. That well-known scholar of the Old Testament, as well New Testament, Professor Julius Wellhausen, who in all his works expressed his hatred towards Pharisaical Judaism, nevertheless wrote the following bold words, "Jesus... was a Jew. He proclaimed no new faith, but He taught that the Will of God (YHWH) must be done. 

The Will of God (YHWH) stands for Him, as for the Jews, in eh Law, and in the other Holy Scriptures that are classed with it." Yashua could not have been known as Christos amongst His people. His title was known as Mashiach in Hebrew, and Mesiha in Aramaic - to those who accepted Him as such, Matthew16:16, John6:69.

This title is easily transliterated as "Messiah," and is generally accepted, and has been accepted, just like the Greek Messiahs. Why then have they not persisted with it? Even if they wanted to translate it, why have they not translated it as "Anointed," as was done in the English translation of the King James Version's Old Testament?

Our research into this matter has produced some revealing similarities between Christos and certain pagan names and titles. F.D Gearly, writing in The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, vol.1, pp. 571-572, says, "the word, Christos, was easily confused with the common Greek proper name, "Chrestos," meaning, 'good.' He also quotes a French theological dictionary which says, "It is absolutely beyond doubt that Christus and Chrestus, Christiani, and Chrestiani, were used indifferently by the profane and Christian authors of the first two centuries of our era."

He continues, "in Greek, 'e' and 'i' were similarly pronounced and often confused, the original spelling of the word should be determined only if we could fix its provenance (origin). ... The problem is further complicated by the fact that the word, Christianos, is a Latin ism ... and was contributed neither by Jews nor by the Christians themselves."

He quotes various scholars to support his proposition that the word, Christianos, was introduced from one of three origins: (a) The Roman police, (b) The Roman populace, (c) Unspecified pagan provenance (origin)." He then proceeds, "The three occurrences of Christian in the NT suggest that the term was at this time primarily used as a pagan designation. Its infrequent use in the NT indicates not so much lateness of origin as pagan provenance (origin)."

This almost sensational admission as to the confusion and uncertainty between Christos and Chrestos, Christus, and Chrestus, Christiani and Chrestiani, is well documented and shared and published by other scholars too, as well as by the early Fathers: Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Lanctantius, and others.

The confusion and uncertainty can only encourage us to return to the only Source of Truth, the Word [of God], the Scriptures, before it was translated into the languages of the pagans. Only then can we find peace in the truth of Yashua, being the Anointed One, promised to Israel.

Who was this Chrestos or Chreston with which Christos became confused with? We have already seen that Chrestos was a common Greek proper name, meaning "good." Further, we see in Pauly-Wissowa's Real Encyclopedia under "Chrestos," that the inscription, Chrestos, is to be seen on a Mithra's relief in the Vatican. We also read in J.M. Robertson's "Christianity and Mythology," p. 331, that Osiris, the Sun-deity of Egypt, was reverenced as Chrestos. We also read of the heretic, Gnostics, who used the name, Chreistos.

The confusion and syncretism (the amalgamation--action, process, or result of combining or uniting--or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought) is further evidenced by the oldest Christian building, known as the Synagogue of the Marcionites, on Mt. Hermon, built in the 3rd century, where the Messiah's title or appellation is spelled, Chrestos.

Justin Martyr (about 150 C.E.) said that Christians were Chrestoi or "good." Tertullan and Lactantius inform us the "common people were usually called, 'Christ Chrestos.'" Clement of Alexandria, in the same age, said "all who believe in Christ are called Chrestoi, that is, 'good men.'"

The word, Christos, could even have been more acceptable to the Krishna worshipers, because the name of Krishna was pronounced, and still is to the present day, as Krista, in many parts of India. Thus, we can readily see that the word, Christos, was easier to convert the pagans with, than the word, "Messiah," especially because of the anti-Judaism that prevailed amonthe pagans.

The syncretism between Christos and Chrestos (the Sun-deity, Osiris, is further elucidated (made clear) by the fact of Emperor Hadrian's report, which states, "There are in Egypt those Christians, who worship Serapis. And devoted to Serapis are those, who call themselves, "Bishops of Christ." Serapis, who was another Sun-deity, which superseded Osiris in Alexandria.

Once again, we must not falter nor stumble over this confusion among the Gentiles. Rather, we must seek the truth, primarily, from the faithfully preserved Old Testament as well as the New Testament Scriptures, 2Timothy3:16; John17:17; Psalm119:105; Isaiah40:8.

We must worship the Father (YHWH) in Spirit and in Truth, as well as His Son, Yashua the Messiah, Who is sitting at His right hand. We do accept every word in the New Testament, but we do desire to return to the original Scriptures of the New Testament, as far back as we possibly can. As previously mentioned, the Greeks changed Elijah into Helias in the Greek New Testament, the Helios worshiper must have been overjoyed, because of their Sun-deity being assimilated to the Elijah of the Scriptures.

To avoid the confusion between Helias and Helios, we should abide by the Hebrew name, "Elijah." Likewise, to avoid confusion between Christos and Chrestos, we should abide by the word, Anointed. And we should also remember that Osiris the Sun-deity, amongst others, was called Chrestos. And that Mithra was also called Chrestos.

ONE FINAL NOTE AND SUMMARY

According to Wikipedia, in Jesus' day in the Book of Acts, the people "in Antioch, probably first used the term, Christians, to mock the followers of Jesus. But as the people of Antioch called the the followers of Jesus the "Jesus People," which changed to the term, Christians, that it stuck" and the believers went along with it, according to the apparent belief of this ministry's Founder.

Furthermore and integrated with earlier statements in this article, "The first recorded use of the term [or its cognates in other languages] is in the New Testament, in Acts 11 after Barnabas brought Saul (Paul) to Antioch, where they taught the disciples for about a year, the text says, that "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts11:26).

The words, Christ and Christian, derive from the Koine Greek title, Christos, a translation of the Biblical Hebrew term, Mashiach (usually rendered as Messiah in English).

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND COUNSELING: CONTACT TEAM LIFE COACHES, PREACHERS, AND TEACHERS:

* In Orange County, California--Rene' Charles Purvis at: [email protected]

* In Tyler, Texas--Ryan at: [email protected]

[FINANCIAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY STATEMENT:

This ministry is presently a sole proprietorship and is self-funded. Although, this ministry will receive donations from cheerful givers (2Corinthians9:6-8), it also believes in the Parable of the Five Talents (Matthew25:14-30), which is to make one's finances grow through investments. Therefore, may I suggest the following kinds of methods, strategies, and referral systems with a disclaimer of having no liability or responsibility of its results or outcome:

* For Donations: cash.app/OneTripartiteGod

* For Bitcoin Investments: Use Referral Link: https://comosoption.com/User/register/RenePurvis75