Word 13: Christos
- Greek: Χριστός (christos) – anointed one
- Hebrew: מָשִׁיחַ (māshiach) – Messiah, anointed one
Not a Last Name—The Promised King of God’s Kingdom
“Peter said, ‘You are the Christos, the Son of the living God.’”
— Matthew 16:16
❌ Mistranslated & Misunderstood
For many modern readers, Christ sounds like a religious label—or worse, just simply Jesus’ last name. This makes the Greek word Christos one of the most tragically transliterated words in the entirety of scripture. Over the years of time many have completely forgotten the word means promised anointed King of God’s Kingdom. Many just use it as short hand for Jesus without any Royal, Reign or Kingdom significance at all. This has made its way into misunderstood Gospel’s about Jesus that have nothing to do with God’s Kingdom or Jesus’ Kingship and instead leaves it transliterated and misunderstood taking on very little meaning to the average person even in Christian realms. It is an after thought as if to say it is just another name for Jesus or some religious label that had no meaning to the secular world around them.
But in the first century, no one would have heard it that way.
The Greek word Christos—a translation of the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah)—meant something very specific:
The Anointed King.
To call someone Christos was not just to pay spiritual homage.
It was to make a political, prophetic, and revolutionary claim:
This is the one chosen by God to rule the world.
That’s why this word appears so frequently in the New Testament—especially in the letters, even when “Kingdom” is not mentioned by name. Because when the early church said Christos, they were saying:
Jesus is God’s promised Anointed King—and His Kingdom has already begun.
📜 What Christos Actually Meant
In the Old Testament, kings weren’t simply appointed—they were anointed.
Oil was poured over their heads to symbolize divine selection and empowerment.
- Saul was anointed.
- David was anointed.
- Future messianic kings were anticipated—anointed ones who would bring justice, peace, and covenant renewal.
The Hebrew term Mashiach (Messiah) = “anointed one.”
The Greek translation is Christos.
So when the New Testament writers called Jesus the Christ, or our translations short hand it Jesus Christ, they were declaring:
Jesus is the King.
This is the fulfillment of Israel’s hope.
This is the one whom God has anointed to restore the reign of love, justice, and peace.
🧱 The Kingdom Focus We Lost in Translation
Here’s the tragedy: by transliterating Christos as “Christ” instead of translating it as “Anointed King,” we’ve domesticated one of the boldest claims in all of Scripture.
It’s not just a theological title.
It’s a coronation announcement.
But the modern church often:
- Treats “Christ” as a spiritual label
- Ignores its royal implications
- Disconnects it from the kingdom Jesus preached
And this leaves many confused when the Gospels talk about “the Kingdom of God,” but the Epistles don’t. However, the Epistles very much do talk about the Kingdom and God’s reign being restored.
Here’s the key:
The Gospels proclaim: The Kingdom of God is arriving!
The Epistles proclaim: And Jesus is the King of that Kingdom—Christos!
⚔️ The Unveiling of the True King
If euangelion was the announcement that the reign of God was returning…
Then Christos is the identity of the one bringing it.
This is why Christos is the turning point of the biblical story.
- Before the resurrection, Jesus preached the Kingdom, but His identity as Christos remained largely hidden.
- After the resurrection and Pentecost, the Spirit opened the eyes of the early church:
Jesus is not just a teacher of the Kingdom.
He is the Anointed King of it.
“God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christos.”
— Acts 2:36
This was the earth-shaking claim of the early church.
It got them imprisoned, persecuted, and killed.
Because in saying “Jesus is the Christos,” they were saying:
Caesar is not.
No emperor, no system, no power has the final say.
The world belongs to the crucified and risen King.
🏰 The King of a Spiritual Kingdom—Now and Forever
Many Jews expected a Christos who would restore political power.
But Jesus redefined kingship itself:
- He conquered not by the sword but by the cross.
- He reclaimed His throne by defeating sin, death, and the powers.
- His Kingdom began spiritually, and will one day arrive physically, in fullness.
This is why the Epistles are filled with kingdom implications—even when the word basileia (kingdom) isn’t used.
Every time they say “Jesus Christ,” they mean:
Jesus, the Anointed King of God’s restored reign of Agape love.
🧠 Word Summary: Christos
- Literal Meaning: The Anointed One—God’s chosen King
- Biblical Function: Title of divine kingship—connecting Jesus to Israel’s royal line and God’s covenant promises
- Theological Meaning: The enthroned King of the restored Kingdom of God
- In Our Words:
Christos is not Jesus’ last name—it is the declaration that Jesus is the long-awaited Anointed King, chosen by God to reclaim the world and reign in love.
🔜 Next Word: Metanoia
But if Jesus is now King…
What does it mean to switch allegiance to His Kingdom?
It starts with a change deeper than behavior—a change of mind, heart, and loyalty.
That change is called: Metanoia.
The Logos of Agape 
[…] Mistranslated Series: Word 11- Christos […]
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