In Luke 23:2, is “an anointed king” a possible translation of «Χριστὸν βασιλέα»?

Question

In Luke 23:2, the Greek text states,

^Βʹ ἤρξαντο δὲ κατηγορεῖν αὐτοῦ λέγοντες Τοῦτον εὕρομεν διαστρέφοντα τὸ ἔθνος καὶ κωλύοντα Καίσαρι φόρους διδόναι λέγοντα ἑαυτὸν Χριστὸν βασιλέα εἶναι ^{TR, 1550}

Most English translations translate «Χριστὸν βασιλέα» as “Christ, a king,” wherein Χριστὸν is functioning as a substantive. However, the Revised Version includes in the footnote “Or an anointed king.”

Does the grammar allow the translation of «Χριστὸν βασιλέα» as “an anointed king,” where Χριστὸν is functioning as an adjective rather than a substantive?

Answer 1

The word χριστός is actually a verbal adjective of χρίω. Verbal adjectives are types of adjectives that are formed from verbs by adding a suffix—usually τέος or τός. In the former (τέος) the accent is always on the penult, and I assume that in the latter (τός) the accent is always on the ultima. Thus the word χριστός can definitely be an adjective. Arguably, it is more of an adjective by right. The noun is a substantive use of the verbal adjective.

I think it can be read both ways: as two nouns in apposition ("Christ, a king"), or as an adjective modifying a noun ("anointed king"). I think there is nothing to suggest otherwise. The fact that the editors of the Greek text chose to capitalize χριστὸν is inconsequential, as the original text had all uppercase letters. It is worth mentioning that βασιλέα is an indefinite noun, thus it should be translated as "an anointed king", not "the anointed king".