Jesus is More than a Cuss Word - Page 3 of 3

To conclude, we look at the word “Christ” as found in Strong’s. We’ll use this word, also, as an explanation of the Strong’s system, then move through. Most of you probably know how to use Strong’s, but we’ll take a moment to lightly review the entries for those not familiar with his work.

Every word in Strong’s is given an indexing number. We find “Christ” is NT:5547. The “NT” means New Testament. As you probably guessed, if the index number is prefaced by OT, if it is from the Old Testament.

The entry for “Christ” would look like the following, but contain actual Greek lettering in the parentheses. Greek lettering does not transpose well, if at all, to regular text and, so, I have put this entry, (Greek Lettering), in its place here in my explanation of the Strong’s format. It is not in the continued word examination. The concordance entry for “Christ” would look like this:

NT:5547     (Greek Lettering) Christos (khris-tos'); from NT:5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:

        KJV - Christ

Now let’s break this down. We have the index number, NT5547, followed by the Greek lettering, followed by the Greek word, “Christos”, followed by the pronunciation in parentheses, followed by a foundational or root word index number “5548", followed by the definition of the word, that being “anointed,” followed by an explanation of sort as to the meaning.

Last is “KJV” which means “King James Version,” followed by the word or words which would appear in the KJV. In most cases there are several words here which help set the context. In this case there is only one.

The KJV is my benchmark Bible for all studies. At times other versions are consulted but their value is not spiritual, but as a commentaries only, to sense what the present social writers are saying.

With this basic understanding of Strong’s, let’s use his work to develop a message from this one word, Christ, using the derivatives and related meanings and verses from the Bible. Keep in mind this was a personal meandering which ended being quite a message for myself though many may find it stilted and boring. It was also the first message I ever delivered from a church pulpit. That was on Sunday, February 1, 1976. following my accepting Jesus as my personal savior, November 6, 1973. We begin.

For reference, we look at our base word, Christ, again as found in Strong’s number 5547:

NT:5547     Christos (khris-tos'); from NT:5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:

        KJV - Christ

As we see, the Greek word is “Christos” which means “anointed.” So, next, we move to the foundational and related words beginning with NT:5548.

NT:5548 chrio (khree'-o); probably akin to NT:5530 through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service:

KJV - anoint.

This takes us to NT:5530.

NT:5530 chraomai (khrah'-om-ahee); middle voice of a primary verb (perhaps rather from NT:5495, to handle); to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" [touch slightly], light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner:

KJV - entreat, use. Compare NT:5531; NT:5534.

Then on to 5495

NT:5495 cheir (khire); perhaps from the base of NT:5494 in the sense of its congener the base of NT:5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively [power]; especially [by Hebraism] a means or instrument):

KJV - hand.

Here we back up one word to 5494.

NT:5494 cheimon (khi-mone'); from a derivative of cheo (to pour; akin to the base of NT:5490 through the idea of a channel), meaning a storm (as pouring rain); by implication, the rainy season, i.e. winter:

KJV - tempest, foul weather, winter.

Then we back up a bit more to 5490.

NT:5490 chasma (khas'-mah); from a form of an obsolete prim chao (to "gape" or "yawn"); a "chasm" or vacancy (impassable interval):

KJV - gulf.

So what do we have in this “word salad?” We have a message, conflated though it may be, and to some argumentative, but it is there plainly visible to me. And that message is:

Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one who, by our taking his hand, is able to lead us safely through the turgent seas of life and across that great chasm into the presence of God which we call Heaven.

Jesus is more than a cuss word. Jesus is the Christ, the saviour of mankind.