The Deity of Christ
Last Updated on Sunday, 07 March 2010 17:52
Written by ProTheist
Jesus always was and always will be God the Son (The second person of the The Christian Godhead as one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Trinity). When he was born from a human mother he was God ( The act of God the Son where he took to himself a human nature.incarnation), when he died on the cross he was God and - most importantly - after he resurrected from the dead he was God. John 1:1 tells us that 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Then in verse 14 we read that 'the word became flesh and dwelt among us'. What follows are several examples from Any part of the Bible itself, which consists of the Old Testament (39 Books) and New Testament (27 Books).scripture that which lead us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
For starters, the Greek word theos (God) in the New Testament usually refers to God the Father. However, there are a few places where the oldest and better manuscripts use the word theos in reference to God the Son (Jesus). These include (1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.(1:18) No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.(20:28) Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"John 1:1; 1:18; 20:28; To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.Romans 9:5; ... waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...Titus 2:13; But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom."Hebrews 1:8; and Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ2 Peter 1:1.
The Greek word kyrios (Lord) is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament ( A Greek version of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), made for the Greek-speaking Jews in Egypt. It was translated from the 3rd to the 1st century BC. It was was commonly used during the time of Christ and was adopted by the early Christian ChurchesSeptuagint) as a translation of the word yhwh (Also seen as 'Yahweh', 'The Lord', and 'Jehovah'). It does this 6,814 times in total. So it is safe to say that any Greek speaking Jew during the time of the New Testament would recognize in context, that the word kyrios was referring to the creator of heaven and earth ( In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.Genesis 1:1); the one who had brought them up out of Egypt ( "For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."Leviticus 11:45).
In addition to these Old Testament scriptures, many places in the New Testament use the word 'Lord' (kyrios) to refer to Christ in contexts which can only be understood if we call him Yahweh or God himself. Some of these include (3:3) For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"(22:44) "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet'?"Matthew 3:3; 22:44; (1:43) And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?(2:11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.Luke 1:43; 2:11; yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.1 Corinthians 8:6; And, "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end."Hebrews 1:10-12; On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.Revelation 19:16.
Claims to Christ's Deity:
- Jesus told his Jewish opponents that before Abraham existed, he existed ( Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."John 8:58)
- Jesus said that he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end ( "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."Revelation 22:13 [Also said of God the Father in "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."Revelation 1:8])
- John calls Jesus 'God' and 'the Word' ( (1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.(1:14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.John 1:1; 1:14), which from the Greek word logos, readers would've understood the reference to the powerful and creative Word of God by which the heavens and earth were made ( By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.Psalms 33:6).
- Jesus refers to himself as 'the Son of man' eighty-four times in the four gospels (e.g., Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"Matthew 16:13; "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."Luke 19:10). This unique term has its origin in "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed."Daniel 7:13-14, which speaks clearly of someone who has heavenly origin and rule over the entire world. Jesus reaffirms this with his statement to Caiaphas the high priest and the council at his trial ( Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."Matthew 26:64).
- Jesus is referred to as the 'Son of God' ( He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."Matthew 17:5; (1:14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.(1:18) No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.(1:34) "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."(1:49) Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"John 1:14, 18, 34, 49; When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.1 Corinthians 15:28; Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on highHebrews 1:1-3).
Evidence of Christ's Deity:
- He stilled the storm while at sea with a word ( And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"Matthew 8:26-27).
- He multiplied the loaves and fish to feed thousands ( And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.Matthew 14:9).
- He changed water into wine (John 2:1-11).
- He knows people's thoughts ( And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts?"Mark 2:8).
- He knew who would betray him ( "But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)John 6:64).
- He knows everything ( (2:24-25) But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.(16:30) Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God."(21:17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep."John 2:24-25; 16:30; 21:17).
- He can forgive sins ( And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"Mark 2:5-7).
- He has the power to lay down his life and take it up again ( "For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."John 10:17-18).
- He is worthy to be worshipped ( Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:9-11; And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."Hebrews 1:6).
- He rose from the dead ( "He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."Luke 24:6-7)
With this information we can see clearly that Jesus was no ordinary man who walked the earth. He is God in flesh, who in his authority said in Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.John 3:36, "everyone that believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." What is it that we are to obey? The call to believe ( "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."John 3:16), worship ( Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:9-11), and follow him ( (10:27) "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."(12:26) "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."John 10:27; 12:26).