Theological Term of the Week: Messiah

Messiah
The English rendering of the Hebrew word mashiach, which means “anointed one.” The Old Testament predicted a coming deliverer chosen by God to redeem Israel, and the Jews called this deliverer the Messiah. The Hebrew word for Messiah comes into the Greek as christos, from which we get the English word Christ. 

• In scripture:

  One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). (John 1:40–41 ESV)

  The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” [26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 

  (John 4:25–26 ESV)
  

• From the IVP Bible Background Commentary by Craig S. Keener:

  Messiah. The rendering of a Hebrew term meaning “anointed one,” equivalent to the original sense of the Greek term translated “Christ.” In the Old Testament, different kinds of people were anointed, and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls mention two main anointed ones in the end time, a king and a priest. But the common expectation reflected in the biblical Psalms and Prophets was that one of David’s royal descendants would take the throne again when God reestablished his kingdom for Israel. Many and probably most Jewish people in Palestine believed that God would somehow have to intervene to put down roman rule so the Messiah’s kingdom could be secure; many seem to have thought this intervention would be accomplished through force of arms. Various messianic figures arose in first-century Palestine, expecting a miraculous intervention from God; all were crushed by the Romans. (Jesus was the only one claimed to have been resurrected; he was also one of the only messiahs claiming Davidic descent, proof of which would be more difficult for any claimants arising after A.D. 70.)

Learn more:

1. Compelling Truth: What does Messiah mean? What does Christ mean? Is Jesus the Messiah?
2. Ligonier Ministries: Jesus the Messiah, The Messiah in Prophecy
3. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Messiah
4. Simply Put: Messiah/Christ (audio and transcript)
5. The Bible Project: The Messiah (video)

Related terms: 

• ascension of Jesus
• baptism of Jesus
• incarnation
• offices of Christ
• resurrecton of Jesus
• temptation of Jesus
• Transfiguration
• triumphal entry

Filed under Person, Work, and Teaching of Christ

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Theological Term of the Week: Baptism of Jesus

baptism of Jesus
An important historical event in the life of Jesus in which he was baptized by John the Baptist at the beginning of his public ministry. Accounts of this event are recorded in all four gospels. 

• In scripture:

  [13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” [15] But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13–17 ESV)

• From the ESV Study Bible notes on Matthew 3:15:

  Jesus’ baptism inaugurates his ministry and fulfills God’s saving activity prophesied throughout the OT, culminating with his death on the cross (cf. John 1:31–34). In so doing, Jesus also endorses John’s ministry and message and links his mission to John’s. Although he needed no repentance or cleansing, Jesus identifies with the sinful people he came to save through his substitutionary life and death (cf. 2 Cor. 5:21).

Learn more:

1. Bible Study Tools: Baptism of Jesus (includes the accounts from all four gospels)
2. Got Questions: Why was Jesus baptized?
3. Ligonier Ministries: Jesus Baptism in the Jordon
4. Jonathan Pennington: Why Did Jesus Need to Be Baptized?
5. Alistair Begg: The Baptism of Jesus (audio)

Related terms: 

• ascension of Jesus
• deity of Christ
• incarnation
• resurrecton of Jesus
• temptation of Jesus
• Transfiguration
• triumphal entry

 1 From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof

Filed under Person, Work, and Teaching of Christ

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Theological Term of the Week: Transfiguration

Transfiguration
A transformation in the appearance of Jesus which occurred on a mountain in the presence of Peter, James, and John. Jesus’s face began to shine “like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2 ESV).

• In scripture:

  And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matthew 17:1-8, ESV)

  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts … . (2 Peter 1:16-19, ESV)

• From D. A. Carson’s commentary on Matthew 17:1-8 in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary:

The effect of the Transfiguration on the disciples reminds us of Daniel (Dan 10:7-9 … .). The visible glory of the Deity brings terror, but Jesus calms his disciples fears… . Matthew alone tells us that the divine splendor the disciples “fell facedown to the ground” (v.6), a prelude to their seeing no one “except Jesus” (v.8). These words are pregnant with meaning. Compared with God’s revelation through him, all other revelations pale. Supporting, pointing, prophetic roles such revelation may enjoy; but that Jesus is God’s Son is primary. Therefore, all must “listen to him” (v. 7.) 

The Transfiguration was largely for the disciples (Jesus brought the inner three to it; he was transfigured before “them”; the Voice spoke to “them” … . ) This does not mean that they understood it fully; but it was a crucial step in the symbol-charged self-disclosure of Jesus that would be much better understood (2 Peter 1:16-19) following the Resurrection. For the present, it indelibly confirmed the disciples’ conviction that Jesus was the Messiah.

Learn more:

1. The Bible: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36
2. Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Transfiguration
3. Got Questions: What was the meaning and importance of the transfiguration?
4. Ligonier Ministries Blog: The Transfiguration
5. Nick Batzig: The Transfiguration
6. F. F. Bruce: The Transfiguration (pdf)

Related terms: 

• ascension of Jesus
• baptism of Jesus
• deity of Christ
• incarnation
• resurrecton of Jesus
• temptation of Jesus
• triumphal entry

Filed under Person, Work, and Teaching of Christ

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.