The Greeks used both the word Messias (a transliteration) andChristos (a translation) for the Hebrew Mashiach (Anointed). The word Christoswas far more acceptable to the pagans who were worshiping Chreston andChrestos.

According to The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, the wordChristos was easily confused with the common Greek proper name Chrestos, meaning"good." According to a French theological dictionary, it is absolutely beyond doubt thatChristus and Chrestus, and Christiani and Chrestiani were usedindifferently by the profane and Christian authors of the first two centuries A.D. The wordChristianos is a Latinism, being contributed neither by the Jews nor by the Christiansthemselves. The word was introduced from one of three origins: the Roman police, the Romanpopulace, or an unspecified pagan origin. Its infrequent use in the New Testament suggests apagan origin.

According to Realencyclopaedie, the inscription Chrestos is tobe seen on a Mithras relief in the Vatican. According to Christianity and Mythology,Osiris, the Sun-deity of Egypt, was reverenced as Chrestos. In the Synagogue of theMarcionites on Mount Hermon, built in the third century A.D., the Messiah's title is spelledChrestos. According to Tertullian and Lactantius, the common people usually calledChrist Chrestos.