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b-greek-digest V1 #60
b-greek-digest Friday, 29 December 1995 Volume 01 : Number 060
In this issue:
Chrism, Baptism, and the Messiah
Chrism, Baptism, and the Me
Komputer Konkordanz
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From: Timothy Bratton <bratton@acc.jc.edu>
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 1995 11:20:20 -36000
Subject: Chrism, Baptism, and the Messiah
On 27 Dec 95 Mikael <etxroan@flipper.ericsson.se> wrote:
< I do agree that Jesus couldn't have become Christ without
< being born here on earth as a human. He actually came here to
< earth to preach and to become Christ, specifically. But he
< always had the option not to obey God. Why else did Satan try
< to seduce him? Why even mention that he kept his integrity, if
< that was all he COULD do? We're most thankful that he did keep
< his integrity. And from the prophecies and the rest of the
< Bible it's obvious that God never doubted that he would. It's
< even spoken of as a fact before it happened! (his integrity-
< keeping) And, being on the B-GREEK list, you should know that
< the greek word for Christ means anointed; as does the hebrew
< word for Messiah. So -- maybe I'm a bit picky -- he couldn't be
< called Christ until he de facto was anointed, which happened
< when the holy spirit descended in the form of a dove after his
< baptism. Regards, Mikael!
I think that the semantic problem is caused here by several
uses of the word "chrism." Yes, it can refer to the mixture of
holy oil and balsam used on various sacramental occasions,
including baptism; however, it was used also for the coronation
of _monarchs_. Since the Hebrew interpretation of the Messiah
was originally that he would be an earthly ruler who would
restore the Davidic kingdom, he would be the rightful "anointed"
monarch of Israel. Only later did Christians realize that
Jesus's kingdom was not of this world. You are interpreting
"Christ" to mean literally that Jesus could not have become the
Messiah until he was baptized with chrism, while I would maintain
that it refers to the _kingship_ of the Messiah. How do the
other members of this list interpret this?
Incidentally, in running a check for "anoint," "anointed,"
"oil," and "chrism" in *On-Line Bible,* I found no references at
all to any of these being used at Jesus's baptism; John the
Baptist would appear to have used water only. While _epichrio_
and _aleipho_ would refer to applying "chrism" in your sense,
Strong's interpretation of _chrio_ (especially in Luke 4:18,
where Jesus talks about how "the Spirit of the Lord is upon me
because He has anointed me") is "consecrating Jesus to the
Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers
for its administration."
Well, we shall wait for the other members of the list to
weigh in -- after all, "oil's well that ends well"!
Dr. Timothy L. Bratton bratton@acc.jc.edu
Department of History/Pol. Science work: 1-701-252-3467, ext. 2022
6006 Jamestown College home: 1-701-252-8895
Jamestown, ND 58405 home phone/fax: 1-701-252-7507
"All ignorance is dangerous, and most errors must be dearly
paid. And good luck must he have that carries unchastised an error in
his head unto his death." -- Arthur Schopenhauer.
------------------------------
From: Bob Erck <bob_erck@qmgate.anl.gov>
Date: 28 Dec 1995 14:28:58 -0600
Subject: Chrism, Baptism, and the Me
Mail*Link(r) SMTP Chrism, Baptism, and the Messiah
........You are interpreting
"Christ" to mean literally that Jesus could not have become the
Messiah until he was baptized with chrism, while I would maintain
that it refers to the _kingship_ of the Messiah. How do the
other members of this list interpret this?..............
"Little Kittel's" comments on chriw occupy more than 14 pages.
Found in Homer: to rub... to smear with oils (weapons, etc).
christos - smeared on
chrisma - that what is rubbed on, ointment, etc.
OT - Anointing is meant to promote well being. Legally, confers strength or
majesty. Most commonly in OT for a king, part of ritual of enthronement.
Several kings in OT anointed. Extended to priests for purification. Sometimes
to objects (tabernacle). Rare for prophets. Saul most often referred to as
"the Lord's anointed."
Apocypyha/pseudepigrapha - similar idea of priestly, kingly.
Qumran - expected two messianic figures.
Josephus does not use the term messiah for those who lay claim to royal or
prophetic office in 1st c. CE.
Talmud/Midrash - Messiah often associated with David. A non-divine righteous
king and teacher. Reign of abundance. Rebuild temple.
Luke uses christos kyriou, Paul often uses only christos, Jesus gets the title
ho christos <iesous.
A common formula of Paul is "the gospel of Christ," and he uses prepositions
with "Christ."
In the epistles, "Christ Jesus" connects the two.
In Polycarp we find the full form "our Lord Jesus Christ."
I will let wiser heads expound about the other 95% of what is covered, mostly
NT.
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From: Chris Flanders <cfland@ds90.intanon.nectec.or.th>
Date: Fri, 29 Dec 1995 08:33:29 +0700 (TST)
Subject: Komputer Konkordanz
Does anybody know where I can order Aland's Komputer Konkordanz published
by DeGruyter?
Thanks.
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End of b-greek-digest V1 #60
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