The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

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T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

A. Definitions of Messiah

1. Messiah is derived from the Greek Messias (which is a transliteration of the Aramaic form of the Hebrew mashach , which means “to anoint”).

2. NT equivalent terminology: Christos (“anointed one”)

3. Anointing in the OT

a. Kings were anointed (e.g., Saul, 1 Sam. 24.6; David, 2 Sam. 19.21).

b. “Anointed one” translated Messiah in Dan. 9.25-26 was in common use by the Jews at the time close to the birth of Jesus.

4. Messianic prophecy linked to eschatological hope (the expectation that Israel had that God would send an anointed one who as King and Priest would deliver from sin and end oppression)

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B. Characteristics of OT Messianic prophecy

1. The language of Messianic prophecy is anchored in the hope for deliverance, Isa. 9.6-7.

2. Messianic prophecy is filled with figurative language, Isa. 11.

3. The predictions are often written in what scholars call the “ prophetic perfect ” tense (i.e., prophecy is written as if it is already accomplished), e.g., Isa. 53.