Biblical Answer

Step 1: The Meaning of Messiah in the Old Testament

The term Messiah in the Old Testament refers to the anointed one of God, and is often used to describe the kings of Israel who were specially anointed by God for their tasks. The concept of the Messiah was narrowed down to the person of the Messiah through various prophecies, and it was understood that the Messiah would be a redeemer and mediator. The term Messiah is the transliteration of the Hebrew or Aramaic term meaning anointed one, and the Greek word Christos (Christ) has the same meaning.

Step 2: The Development of the Messiah Concept

The concept of the Messiah developed over time, with the Old Testament containing numerous references to a coming deliverer. During the intertestamental period, the doctrine of the advent of a political deliverer, the Messiah, gained strength. Jewish literature on the subject did not suggest that the Messiah was divine, but rather a human figure who assumed royal office and had superlative qualities. The concept of the Messiah was also complemented by the notion of a suffering and dying Messiah, which was a radical departure from the traditional understanding of messiahship.

Step 3: The New Testament Understanding of Messiah

In the New Testament, the title Messiah is consistently replaced with the Greek word Christos (Christ), which means anointed one. Jesus is identified as the Messiah, God's anointed one, and the title is used to describe his role as redeemer and mediator. The New Testament writers followed the Hebrew translators of the Septuagint and consistently used the term Christ to refer to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.

The final answer is: There is no final numerical answer to this question, as it is a theological inquiry. However, the answer above provides a comprehensive and organized explanation of the theological implications of the use of the term 'Messiah' in the Old Testament.