Catechism of the Catholic Church

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436 The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the name proper to Jesus only because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission that "Christ" signifies. In effect, in Israel those consecrated to God for a mission that he gave were anointed in his name. This was the case for kings, for priests and, in rare instances, for prophets. 29 This had to be the case all the more so for the Messiah whom God would send to inaugurate his kingdom definitively. 30 It was necessary that the Messiah be anointed by the Spirit of the Lord at once as king and priest, and also as prophet. 31 Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet and king.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

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SECTION TWO: THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

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CHAPTER TWO: I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD

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ARTICLE 2: "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD"

Notes for the above paragraph:

29 Cf. Ex 29:7; Lev 8:12; I Sam 9:16; 10:1; 16:1, 12-13; I Kings 1:39; 19:16.

30 Cf. Ps 2:2; Acts 4:26-27.

31 Cf. Isa 11:2; 61:1; Zech 4:14; 6:13; Lk 4:16-21.

English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.

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