‘He’s just so anointed!’

I’ve often heard that phrase used by Christians, but what does being ‘anointed’ actually mean? To state that one person is ‘anointed’ to be a worship leader implies another is not. And if they're not, will their worship have less of an impact?

Where did the term ‘anoint’ originate?

Jesus was anointed: both the Greek ‘Christ’ and Hebrew ‘Messiah’ mean ‘anointed one’. In the Old Testament Moses anointed the priests to serve in the tabernacle (Lev 8:12). This suggests that anointing is used to give someone a special purpose. According to theologian Michael Houdmann, the term originated from a practice of shepherds. To avoid lice burrowing into their flock’s ears, which had fatal consequences, ancient shepherds would pour oil on the heads of the sheep, which made the wool too slippery for the insects. Anointing therefore became a symbol of blessing, protection and empowerment.

So what’s the definition of ‘anoint’?

The New Testament Greek gives us two separate terms for ‘anoint.’ The first is aleipho, which refers to physical anointing: guests were smeared with olive oil on their foreheads for refreshment. Applying oil sometimes symbolised prayer for healing, whilst applying it to the feet was a sign of honour. When Jesus’ feet were ‘anointed’ by Mary, it is this term, aleipho, that is used (John 12:1-8). In light of the fact that Jesus was about to perform His greatest act of divine service on the cross, the other term ‘chrio,’ could almost have been used.

Chrio means to consecrate for office or religious service, and represents the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Who is anointed?

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus says He is ‘anointed,’ in the chrio sense, to

proclaim good news to the poor…freedom for the prisoners…and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour… (Luke 4:18).

If it is now the ‘year of the Lord’s favour’ when the Holy Spirit is poured out on all believers, anointing must be universal (See 1 John 2:27). All believers are empowered to serve God and helped to ‘stand firm in Christ,’ as Paul writes to the Corinthians. He says: 

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Cor 1:21-22).

A specific anointing?

It seems clear then that we all have a measure of anointing. Yet the question remains: are some people specifically anointed for a particular role?

When we consider spiritual gifts, and look back to the definition of chrio, it looks like there’s some correlation. We believe that spiritual gifts are given to us to use for the benefit of others: to serve. Paul writes that there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord (1 Cor 12:4-5). If someone is empowered with a spiritual gift to do a specific task, is this the equivalent of having a specific anointing?

Active or passive?

If Paul urges us to ‘eagerly desire’ the spiritual gifts, then should we be actively pursuing anointing, too? (1 Cor 14:1) Pastor Bill Johnson urges us to pursue those who carry ‘an anointing in their lives for the miraculous,’ because it can be ‘transferred to others through the laying on of hands.’ (When Heaven Invades Earth & see Tim 4:14). This suggests we could become more empowered if we actively sought anointing.

How do you understand anointing?

Is anointing something we should actively seek, or is it something only God dictates?

Language Source: Helps Word Studies