Christos

What it means

Greek for the Hebrew mashiach, "anointed one" (Messiah). Kings and priests were anointed with oil; by Jesus' time many hoped for an anointed king from David's line who would set Israel free. In Matthew it's still a title, not yet a surname.

Range of meaning

• AnointedMarked out with oil for a role.
• The MessiahThe promised king from David's line.
• A name for JesusLater, almost a second name ("Jesus Christ").

In Matthew

• Chapter 1

  Jesus is called the Christ, the anointed king, from the first verse (1:1, 1:16-18).

• Chapter 16

  "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (16:16).

• Chapter 21

  The crowd calls him the Son of David (21:9), a royal title tied to the Christ.