In the Old Testament meshiach ( "Messiah"  is a derivative) means anointed. The phrase "ha meschiach," means THE anointed one, it refers to a single specific figure which the Jewish people were waiting for as prophesied in the Scripture. (One accurate scribe said that all of Scripture was but a commentary on Messiah.) Christ (Christos) in Greek means anointed.

"Christ" can mean anointed in a general sense, there are many that were anointed. Satan before he fell was called the anointed Cherub (a certain type of angel). Ezek 28:14-15 "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

Anointed means to be sanctified, set apart for a task or a position by God. We find this same word used anointed in the Old Testament used for prophets, priests and kings, judges. They were often temporarily anointed, empowered to do their task. These offices were types that pointed to Jesus, the anointed one. He is the only one who fulfills all the offices; He came as a prophet, He is now functioning as our high priest and when He returns He will become judge and function as our king. Today we are all anointed priests who are able to bring people to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, our high priest through the message of the gospel.

The New Testament speaks of THE Christ, referring to Jesus as a particular person anointed like no other. He is called the “Only begotten Son.” The singular God-man sent to become the sacrifice that enabled men to be redeemed of their sin and to reclaim our world from sins affect and Satan’s rule for the only one deserving to rule and reign over it.

Jesus began his ministry by reading from the Scripture as proof of who he is:

Luke 4:17-21 “And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

(The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me- is his anointing) Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Isa 11:1-5 “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.”

Jesus is the only anointed man who was able to function with the fullness of the Spirit.

Col. 1:19 “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” Col. 2:9 “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” This anointed one was God. Heb 1:9-10 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

We, the Church are also anointed. We receive the same Holy Spirit by believing in the anointed one (the God-man) and His Gospel (Eph.1:13). He is the head of the church and we are connected to him as the body by his Spirit. Everyone who is born again is part of the body of Christ and shares the same anointing. The Spirit lives in us, comes upon us for service, and we are able to influence others lives by his working.

The apostles taught, 2 Corinthians 1:21: “Now he which establishes with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; who has also sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” All who are in Christ are anointed together -- all of us were given the same Holy Spirit, as a down payment of the resurrection. The Spirit will work through us his gifts to fulfill God’s calling in each of our lives

There are just a few places that speak of the believers anointing in the New Testament. It is not a term that is often used

I Jn. 2:20 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” The all things is in reference to distinguishing the truth from error.

I Jn. 2:27-28 “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” In other words the Holy Spirit who is like an umpire will call out what is false and quicken to us what is true, if we are listening and are trained by his word.

The Holy Spirit is our personal teach who who will reveal what the word means as we rightly divide the word of truth1 Cor 2:13 “…which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

we are anointed to share the life of Christ, the gospel with others so they have an opportunity to come into His kingdom. Phile 1:6  “that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”