Strong’s Greek 5545, chrísma, denotes a divine “anointing” and, by extension, the spiritual endowment imparted by the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were physically anointed with oil as a sign of consecration and empowerment; chrísma projects that typology into the New Covenant as the direct, internal work of the Spirit rather than an external rite. The term therefore conveys both the event of being anointed and the abiding effect of that anointing—an ongoing participation in the life and knowledge of God.

Occurrences in Scripture

Chrísma appears three times, all in the same chapter:

• 1 John 2:20 – “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.”
• 1 John 2:27 (twice) – “As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, remain in Him.”

These verses emphasize (1) the origin of the anointing (“from the Holy One”), (2) its continuous presence (“remains in you”), and (3) its didactic ministry (“teaches you about all things”).

Context within First Epistle of John

John addresses believers threatened by false teachers whom he labels “antichrists.” The notion of chrísma undergirds his assurance that authentic believers possess an inherent capacity to recognize and reject doctrinal error. Rather than disparaging human teachers altogether, John roots discernment in the Spirit’s witness that corroborates apostolic proclamation (1 John 1:1-3; 4:6). The anointing stabilizes the community amid deceptive claims to secret knowledge, echoing John 16:13 where the Spirit “will guide you into all truth.”

Relation to Old Testament Anointing

Oil-anointing (Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 8:12; 1 Samuel 16:13) signified dedication to divine service and impartation of the Spirit (Isaiah 61:1). Chrísma fulfills these shadows:

1. Consecration – Every believer is set apart as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).
2. Empowerment – The Spirit equips for witness (Acts 1:8) and obedience (Ezekiel 36:27).
3. Authentication – Just as David’s anointing distinguished the true king, chrísma marks authentic faith against counterfeit professions.

Connection to the Messiah

“Christ” (Christos) itself means “Anointed One.” Believers, united to the Messiah, share in His anointing (Hebrews 1:9); therefore chrísma is personal participation in the ministry and privileges of Jesus Christ. This union grants knowledge of the Father (John 17:3) and fellowship within the triune Godhead (1 John 1:3).

Theological Significance

1. Indwelling Presence: Chrísma is not transient; it “remains,” indicating permanence (cf. Ephesians 1:13-14).
2. Illumination: The Spirit enables comprehension of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:12-14) and guards against error (1 John 4:1-6).
3. Assurance: Knowledge via the anointing supplies confidence of eternal life (1 John 5:13).
4. Sanctification: The anointing directs believers to “walk in the same way He walked” (1 John 2:6), marrying orthodoxy with obedience.

Practical Applications for Ministry

• Teaching: Instructors submit to the Spirit’s prior teaching so that preaching resonates with what the Spirit already affirms in believers’ hearts.
• Discipleship: Encourage believers to cultivate sensitivity to the Spirit through prayerful Scripture study, expecting illumination.
• Discernment: Church leadership can rely on the collective witness of Spirit-anointed believers to test prophecies and doctrinal claims.
• Unity: Recognizing a shared anointing fosters humility and mutual honor within the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:3-6).

Historical Reception in the Church

Early fathers (e.g., Irenaeus in “Against Heresies”) appealed to chrísma to refute Gnostic elitism, insisting that the entire church, not an esoteric few, possesses true knowledge. Augustine linked the anointing with the Spirit’s work through Scripture against Pelagian self-reliance. Reformers highlighted chrísma to assert the priesthood of all believers and the sufficiency of Scripture. Modern charismatic movements emphasize empowerment, while evangelical theology underscores illumination and assurance, each drawing from the same Johannine well.

Relationship to Sacramental Anointing

While chrísma informs practices such as chrismation in Eastern Orthodoxy or confirmation in Western tradition, the New Testament’s focus is on the inward reality rather than the rite itself. Any external anointing is meaningful only as a sign pointing to the Spirit’s actual indwelling.

Related Terms and Concepts

• chrió (Strong’s 5548) – “to anoint,” the verb form.
• Christos (Strong’s 5547) – “Anointed One,” title of Jesus.
• Pneuma Hagion – Holy Spirit, the agent of the anointing.
• Paraclete – Advocate/Helper, the Spirit’s role in teaching and guiding.

Chrísma thus encapsulates the believer’s Spirit-given capacity to know God, discern truth, and live out the calling secured by union with the Anointed One, Jesus Christ.