History of New Thought and Unity

Yesterday, March 27th in the evening class, a question was asked about the word Christ, Messiah, Anointed One. Here is some information for you curious cats: Christ and Messiah.

To understand the difference between “Christ” and “Messiah,” we first need to define these terms clearly. The word “Messiah” comes from the Hebrew word “מָשִׁיחַ” (māšîaḥ), which means “anointed one.” The same concept appears in Greek as “Χριστός” (Christos), which also translates to “anointed.” Therefore, both terms generally refer to someone chosen and set apart for a divine purpose.

The fundamental meaning of both terms remains rooted in the idea of anointing. In ancient Israel, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil as a symbol of being set apart for their respective roles. This practice created a strong connection between the figure of the Messiah and the expectations of the people, especially in times of oppression and longing for liberation.

Here is another interesting note from Hinduism:

Srila Prabhupada:“Christ” is another way of saying Krsta and Krsta is another way of personalizing or pronouncing Krishna, a Hindu name of God or the Divine. Therefore whether you use the title “Christ”, “Messiah”, or “Krishna”, ultimately they are all related terms..