The Anointed One. The word comes from the verb chrio, “to anoint,” referring to the consecration rites of a priest or king. Christos translates the Hebrew Mashiyach, “Messiah.” Unfortunately, the transliteration of Christos into English, resulting in the word “Christ,” deprives the word of much of its meaning. It would be better to translate Christos in every instance as “the Anointed One” or “the Messiah,” denoting a title. “Jesus Christ” actually means Jesus the Messiah, or Jesus the Anointed One,