Christus

Christus is the Latin form of Christ, derived from the Greek Christos, meaning “anointed one.” The term designates the Messiah in Jewish expectation and, in Christian usage, refers to Jesus of Nazareth as the one anointed by God to fulfill prophetic promises. In early Christian writings the Greek form Christos was used as a title, which was later Latinized as Christus in Latin texts and liturgy. From there, the form spread into many languages, where it functions both as a title and, in some contexts, as a proper name for Jesus.

In Christian theology, Christus is central as a designation for Jesus in the belief that he embodies the eschatological Messiah and, in mainstream doctrine, that he is both divine and human. Christology, the study of the person and work of Christ, addresses mysteries such as the incarnation, the sinless life, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus. Creeds and confessions in the early and medieval church helped standardize the understanding of Christ as the Son of God and savior within the framework of the Trinity and salvation history.

Culturally, Christus appears in liturgy, hymnody, inscriptions, and religious art across Latin-speaking and vernacular Christian communities. In many languages, the Latin form persists in ecclesiastical contexts, while everyday usage often adopts language-specific equivalents of “Christ” or “Christus.” The term remains a foundational element of Christian religious vocabulary and identity.