[b-greek] Re: Defination of Xristos

From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Tue Apr 17 2001 - 08:40:22 EDT


At 3:57 AM -0400 4/17/01, Amber Dawn Laws wrote:
>I have looked everywhere, and have searched out what the exact root
>meaning of Xristos. I have seen Xristos' meaning listed in a traditional
>dictonary as "the messiah", however, I am not sure if this is taken to
>simply mean the Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah (as it is listed in the
>dictonary as a proper name), or if the original greek meaning of the base
>word etc. meant "a messiah", and if this is true than does this mean that
>Xristos means the same as messiah (anointed one). Esentially I am seeking
>out the absoulute base word root and meaning of xristos. Any additional
>history concerning why the greeks/romans may have called Jesus this would
>also be helpful.
>Thank you!
>Sincerely,
>Amber Laws

The Greek word CRISTOS is a verbal adjective from the Greek verb CRIW (I
use "C to transliterate Chi, "X" to transliterate Xi); CRIW means to anoint
the head with oil, or to put oil on anything. So I think that CRISTOS is
quite appropriate as a Greek equivalent of Hebrew Mashiach.
--

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University
1647 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwconrad@ioa.com
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/

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