“Christ” I am working on an attempt to translate the Name, “Christ” accurately and precisely. I would appreciate any helpful input. In translating any word, it is always helpful to begin with the root or basic core of the word. The core of the Name “Christ” is the feminine noun “Cheir”. Here is Strong’s definition of that word: 1. by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one 2. fig. applied to God symbolizing his might, activity, power a. in creating the universe b. in upholding and preserving (God is present protecting and aiding one) c. in punishing d. in determining and controlling the destinies of men This word is translated “hand”, in the KJV, each time it appears, usually in the context “the hand of God”. From there we go to the verb “Chraomai”. This word means to use (handle) something. It is derived directly from the word meaning “hand”, in the sense of applied force or direction. Thus, its primary meaning is “manipulate”, in the sense of using force or direction to move something or to cause something to happen. This takes us to the verb “Chrio”. This verb means “give”, in the sense of giving the ability to take action to another person. For example, “It is God who gives you the power to get wealth.” So, we have this transition: a word meaning a metaphorical hand, that is, that with which someone controls their environment in some way, is modified into the verb meaning to modify the environment. This, then, is modified into another verb that means giving someone else some ability or power. Now, we are ready to look directly at the Name “Christos”. This name is derived, through several steps, from a word meaning the ability to act in the real world. One of those steps involves adding the concept of empowering another person to have this ability to act. So, the name “Christos” seems to have a double meaning: “The Hand of God” and “The One to Whom God Has Given Power”. A very literal rendering, then, that would convey the whole meaning of the word, as it would have been understood by those who first used it, might be “The God-Empowered Hand of God”. To this, however, we have to add the historical and cultural roots, as opposed to the purely linguistic roots. It is very clear, from the Scriptural Record, that all of those who applied this Name to the Person of Jesus, understood that it was a Greek work standing in for a Hebrew word “Mashiyach”, which was derived from “mashach”, a verb meaning to rub with oil. This Hebrew word was rarely used, in the Old Testament, and always meant “The Anointed, Promised Deliverer”. The historical roots of this were in God’s promises, first to Adam and Eve, then to Abraham, then to Moses, and to many others, that a Descendant of Adam, through Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, would come in all the power and anointing (commissioning) of God to deliver His People from the effects of the Fall. Later in history, many people lost sight of the true bondage, and assumed the Deliverer would free them from the temporal bondage to worldly powers, but this does not affect the true meaning of the Name. Thus, we have as a fullest translation “The Fully-Commissioned, Long-Awaited, Promised, God-Empowered Hand of God”. I know this sounds very strange, at first, but it seems to me to be a very good description of Who Christ really is. The problem, then, lies in trying to compress all of this depth of meaning into something one could actually use as His Name, either in speech or in writing. This is where I ask for your help. My first, feeble attempt has been “The Gifted One”, as this implies both that He was given to us by God and that He has special power and authority. But I am not entirely content with it. Any suggestions?
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:24:51 +0000